326. How many soldiers were in Nicanor’s army?
This subject can’t be counted among Bible Contradictions. The critic should know that the books of the Machabees are not Bible Books at all.
40,000 (1 Machabees 3:38-39)
Wrong. This was the total army that accompanied three military leaders: Ptolomeus, Nicanor and Gorgias who was the strategist of them. It seems that Ptolomeus had a military power equal to that of Nicanor: 20,000 and 7,000 men cavalry (3:39).
20,000 (2 Machabees 8:9)
Right. This was the army under the command of Nicanor personally (8:9).
No Contradiction
327. If God likes you, will everyone else like you?
If God likes you, so will your enemies. (Proverbs 16:7)
“When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Wrong. These enemies will not be your best friends. They know that they can better remain at peace with you; that’s more profitable.
If you are faithful to God, you will be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3:12)
“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
Right. But building the house on the rock Jesus Christ is enough to trust in God.
No Contradiction
328. When did Noah enter the ark?
Seven days before the flood began. (Genesis 7:7-10)
Right. He and his family went into the ark to live there some days before the flood began. There was a lot to be done as the animals came to the ark in this week. It is remarkable that the Hebrew imperfect is used; that is, the action of entering is not wholly completed (7:7).
The day that the flood began. (Genesis 7:11-13)
Right. Here the perfect is used of the verb (enter), that is: it is finished. The meaning of entering here is that everyone and every animal had been entered (7:13-16).
No Contradiction
329. How should non believers be treated?
1. Kill them! (Deuteronomy 13:6-10)
“If your brother, your mother’s son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods …you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.”
Very wrong. In Old Israel it was a prescript for Israel to remain in the service of JHWH. If someone or some people started to preach new gods within the institutions of JHWH (e.g. local and or national assemblies) he or they was/were punishable (capital punishment). This had nothing to do with a general treatment of nonbelievers, but to save the national codes of protection and rights.
2. Shun them! (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)
“Do not be bound together [lit. unequally yoked] with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?”
Wrong. Sometimes there are relations that are not acceptable, or not anymore, for a Christian if he is forced to act against the righteousness of life and of the Christian faith. That's all and rightfully so.
3. Love and be kind to them! (several instances)
“Love thy neighbour as thyself.” “Love your enemies.” “..treat people the same way you want them to treat you, …”
Right. This is the true Christian code to be proud of. As Paul said: “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.” (Philippians 4:5)
See the article.
No Contradiction
330. Is it OK to take oaths?
Yes (18 instances)
Partly right. Jesus reacted positively when he was forced to speak on an oath of the high priest. “And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You [charge You under oath] by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself…” Jesus could have remained silent to avoid the oath of the high priest, but he answered positively.
No (Matthew 5:34-37, James 5:12)
“Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.” (Matthew 5:36-37)
Right. Jesus' prescript of the new covenant was that swearing was not acceptable for the Christian. That became the new moral standard in daily life and inside the Church.
See the article.
No Contradiction
331. Are those who believe Jesus is the Christ ‘of God’?
Yes (1 John 4:2, 15, 5:1)
Right. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, they can confess rightly, they are ‘of God’. Let’s look at the Bible verse “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:15) The Greek word in these cases is homologéoo = agree, correspond. The idea is: agree in thought and conviction, and: agree with yourself. The verb ‘confess’ has the same idea acknowledge = say what you really know, what is in you. Now let’s look at 4:15. If (the Spirit of) God is in the speaker he will always speak righteously about Jesus, i.e. He is the Son of God. It is recognizable for the hearer, as the heart of the speaker is recognizable.
No, some are devils. (Mark 1:23-24, 3:11, 5:2-7, James 2:19)
Partly right. “And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.” (3:11)
The verb homologéoo is not used in these instances, a different meaning is used: cry, say. But it is not speaking with the intention of personal commitment. James 2:19 is different: “…You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe …” Nothing about Jesus and who He is, so this example is not relevant to the issue.
No Contradiction
332. How many officers did Solomon have?
550 (1 Kings 9:23)
Partly right. "These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people doing the work." It is clear that the leaders are men who controlled the great undertakings of Solomon: building activities, trading etc.
250 (2 Chronicles 8:10)
Partly right. "These were the chief officers of King Solomon, two hundred and fifty who ruled over the people." Here we are dealing with Solomon's top advisers to govern the people (the nation). Actually two different groups of leadership are meant in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles.
No Contradiction
333. How old was Abraham when he left Haran?
At least 135 years old (Acts 7:4, Genesis 11:26, 32)
Wrong. After the death of his father, Abraham left Haran. He was not 135 years then. The critic supposes that Terah got three sons in one year when he was 70. This is not convincing at all. After his seventieth he got three sons of which Abraham was the last when Terah was 130 years.
At least 75 years old (Genesis 12:4)
Right.
See the article.
No Contradiction
334. Was the tomb opened or closed when the women arrived?
The tomb was open. (Luke 24:2, Mark 16:3-4, John 20:1)
Right.
The tomb was closed. (Matthew 28:2)
Wrong. “1. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the Stone …” The critic reads mistakenly: ‘came at the grave to look’ instead of ‘came to look at the grave’. So actually is said that they were moving, walking to the grave while the earthquake happened. And that means that when they entered the garden the stone was rolled away already.
See also the article: Were men or angels inside or outside the tomb when the women arrived?
No Contradiction
335. Do Christians need to obey Old Testament laws?
Yes, they are binding forever. (Genesis 17:19, Exodus 12:14, 17, 24 a.o. Matthew 5:18-19, Luke 16:17)
Wrong. Do Christians need the Old Testament?
1. Yes, Jewish- as well as gentile-Christians are in need to understand the teaching of God's work through the ages (the Law), culminating in the revelation of Jesus Christ. Jewish-Christians have certainly the possibility to keep the old Jewish traditions to live according to them as they feel it should be. 2. Gentile-Christians are not bound to keep all the old traditions (Acts 15:19-21). Only four specific things they have to reject: idolatry, fornication, (consumption of) what is strangled and blood.
See the article.
No, Christians are not under the law. (Luke 16:16, Romans 3:28, 6:14 a.o.)
Wrong. Gentile-Christians are not under the law to perform all what is said in the Law. However they are under the law to understand who Jesus was who fulfilled the law.
No Contradiction
336. How many overseers did Solomon have?
3,300 overseers (1 Kings 5:16)
Right. Foremen: overseers over the people at work for the building of the temple.
3,600 overseers (2 Chronicles 2:18)
Right. Not only the 3,300 foremen over the people are taken into account, but also 300 inspectors who controlled the plans and the work itself.
See the article.
No Contradiction
337. Who owns the earth?
God (Genesis 14:19, 22 a.o.)
Right. God is the legal owner of the earth as He is the Creator. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.” (Psalm 24:1)
Satan (Matthew 4:8-9, Luke 4:5-6)
Wrong. He is not the legal owner of the earth. He has stolen the earth to rule over it. He is the usurper. Paul calls him ‘the god of this world’, as his power is great (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Humans (Psalm 115:16)
Partly right. Adam and Eve received the earth from God as He gave it to mankind to rule over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28). We were set by God as stewards, but later we lost our authority by our submission to the devil. However this is not the end as the Bible describes: faith sets people free for the kingdom of God to rule again on earth, to be even more than conquerors through Jesus Christ (but not without suffering, Romans 8:37).
See also SAB 289.
No Contradiction
338. How many of Pahatmoab, Jeshua, and Joab’s offspring returned from Babylon?
2812 (Ezra 2:6)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that Ezra recorded in Babylon at the meeting place of departure.
2818 Nehemiah 7:11)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that was made up after the journey to Jerusalem. It shows that after the departure, some came up later and joined the stream of immigrants; Or that some births took place en route.
See the article: Contradictory lists about Israelites that returned from Babel?
No Contradiction
339. How should parents be treated?
Honor your parents! (Exodus 20:12 a.o.)
Right.
Disrespect and hate your parents (Matthew 12:47-48, 23:9, Mark 3:32-33, Luke 9:59-60, 14:26)
Wrong and absurd! There is in these texts no question of disrespect or hate against parents, but of an order of respect. God and the Lord Jesus Christ earn our first respect and not parents. That’s all. E.g.
1. Luke 9:59-60 ‘And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” ’ Jesus isn’t saying here that it is forbidden to bury family members, He is only saying that we have to present the gospel and it’s mercy on any place where we are, even at a burial. Especially there. Jesus is correcting a misinterpretation: delay of grace (follow Him) is no option.
2. Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”
The Greek miseoo has the basic meaning: hate. However it has a variegation of submeanings; here: love less, postpone (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon); in short: subordinate.
No Contradiction
340. How many days is unleavened bread to be eaten during the Passover?
6 days (Deuteronomy 16:8)
Wrong. Unleavened bread was eaten on Passover. The six days thereafter it was also eaten. Together seven days of the Festival week of Unleavened Bread.
7 days (Deuteronomy 16:3, Exodus 12:15, 23:15)
Right.
Take note: It was also eaten one day (14 Nisan) before the week of Unleavened Bread (15-21 Nisan).
No Contradiction
341. Was Jesus crucified the day before or the day after the Passover meal?
Remark. In Judaism there have always been two days in succession for Seder meal, i.e. two possibilities to have Seder. After the day of the first Seder and before the second evening of Seder Jesus was crucified.
The first Seder was the evening of the 14th Nisan, when the meat of a lamb was eaten.
Take Note 1: this evening was following after daytime of 13 Nisan, when the lamb was slaughtered. After the first Seder evening came daytime of 14 Nisan, the day of liberation, a festival day but no Sabbath. Then followed the 15th Nisan and this was a Sabbath beginning at the evening after daytime of 14 Nisan. With the 15th Nisan (Festival Sabbath) began the week of Unleavened Bread and this week was also called Pesach in broader sense.
Take Note 2. So there were 2 periods of “Preparation”. (1) Daytime of 13th Nisan, cleaning the house from leavened bread and preparations for the first Seder evening (compare Mark 14:12-16). (2) Daytime of the 14th Nisan for the Sabbath of 15 Nisan (John 19:14, 31; compare also Leviticus 23:4-7).
Take Note 3: Pesach of John 18:28 is the second Seder evening of 15 Nisan.
After noon on the day before the Passover meal (John 18:28, 19:14-16)
Wrong. The sixth hour Pilate decided to crucify Jesus (19:14), that was formal time reckoning 6 a.m. After preparations and the walk to Golgotha the crucifixion was at 9 a.m. at 14 Nisan (daytime) and about 3 p.m. Jesus died.
Wrong. This was before the second Seder evening (Passover meal of John 18:28), and not before the first Seder evening. Those who brought Jesus before Pilate wanted to eat the Passover and so they didn't enter Pilate's palace to remain pure. John 19:14 states "Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover," i.e. the second preparation (before the Festival Sabbath, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread).
Mid-morning on the day after the Passover meal (Mark 14:12, 15:25)
Right. He was crucified at the third hour in the morning (common timereckoning). That is (reckoned from 6 a.m.) about 9 a.m. in the morning (formal time reckoning). It was at 14 Nisan after the Passover meal the evening before (first Seder evening).
See the article, and: Ehrman-Contradictions
No Contradiction
342. Did Paul see Jesus on the road to Damascus?
Yes (1 Corinthians 9:1)
Right. This is Paul’s testimony about the occurrence.
No (Acts 9:8, 1 Corinthians 15:8)
Wrong.
1. Acts 9:8. “Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.” After the occurrence Paul couldn’t see anything, but in the beginning and during a great part of the event he certainly could see.
2. 1 Corinthians 15:8. “and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” Again no word that Paul didn’t see the Lord.
No Contradiction
343. Did Paul visit all of the disciples when he went to Jerusalem after his conversion?
Yes (Acts 9:26-28)
Wrong. This was his first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion (take note: not immediately after it!) with the goal to join Christians in general, not to meet apostles. “When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.”
No, only Peter and James (Galatians 1:18-19)
Wrong. This happened three years after his conversion. “Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.”
No Contradiction
344. Is God warlike or peaceful?
Warlike (Exodus 15:3, Psalm 18:34, 144:1)
Wrong. He is not warlike, but always ready for war against evil.
Peaceful (Romans 15:33, a.o.)
Right. In essence He is, and therefore He is also a revenger of all evil.
No Contradiction
345. Is the Law of God perfect?
Yes (Psalm 18:30, 19:7)
Right. But it doesn’t gain perfection for man. Jesus did.
No (Hebrews 8:6-7)
Wrong. “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.” No word about a better law. The new covenant doesn’t mean a new law. Part of the new covenant is even (Hebrews 8:10): “I will put My laws into their minds and I will write them on their hearts” Why? Of course as the Law is perfect.
No Contradiction
346. Is it OK to use perfume?
Yes (Proverbs 27:9 a.o.)
Right.
No (Exodus 30:37, Proverbs 7:17, Isaiah 3:16-24, 57:9)
Wrong.
1. Exodus is speaking about ceremonial perfume used in the tabernacle and temple, not permitted for ordinary people to use.
2. Proverbs doesn’t reject perfume but sexual misbehaviour: "“I have sprinkled my bed, with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon." (said by a prostitute)
3. Isaiah rejects (a) the empty wealth of his time expressed in meaningless luxury of women, among others perfume. He doesn’t say that perfume is wrong, neither in the next. (b) He also rejects ceremonial sacrifices (with perfume) for the Moloch, an evil god of the Canaanites.
No Contradiction
347. Who wrote the Pentateuch?
Moses wrote the entire Pentateuch. (Deuteronomy 31:9, 1:1)
(Pentateuch = First five books of the Hebrew Bible, Old Testament)
Partly right. Yes, in wider sense. Compare: “Solomon built the temple.” That is Solomon was responsible for all the ins and outs of the building: it was built under his guidance. He used precious materials brought together by his father David. This is the broad meaning of ‘Solomon built’. In the same way we have to use the broad meaning of “Moses wrote the Pentateuch”. It was written by prophetical writers under his control and approval. His own notes got a dominant place in the work. He even used historic documents from the patriarchs (e.g. Genesis 26:5) up to his time, which were continued by Moses with the story of the people of Israel in Egypt and in the desert. The last chapter (34) of Deuteronomy describing Moses end no doubt had been added under Joshua’s supervision which was not inappropriate as he had got the authority of Moses (Deuteronomy 31:7). Moreover Joshua was Moses' companion when they went up the mountain before Moses died.
There were other authors. (Numbers 12:3, Deuteronomy 34:5-6, 10)
Right, but that is not a contradiction within the broad meaning of “Moses wrote the Pentateuch.”
See the article: Did Moses write the Pentateuch?
No Contradiction
348. How did Peter find out the Jesus was the Messiah?
God revealed it to him; no human told him. (Matthew 16:16-17)
Right. ‘Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”’
His brother Andrew told him. (John 1:40-41)
Partly right. Yes, his brother Andrew told him about Jesus as the Messiah to bring him in contact with Jesus, but that wouldn’t be enough for Peter’s personal conviction. Divine revelation is necessary to come to this creed.
No Contradiction
349. Where was the home of Peter and Andrew?
Capernaum (Mark 1:21, 29)
Right. The disciples of a teacher formed a learning community. Often the members had to leave their town to live in the Rabbi’s neighborhood. And so it was quite natural that Peter and Andrew also left their home town Bethsaida to move to Capernaum. There they bought (or hired) a house, as they also had to care for Peter’s mother-in-law.
Bethsaida (John 1:44)
Partly right. In the beginning they lived in Bethsaida, later on they moved to Capernaum.
See the article.
No Contradiction
350. Were the Pharisees baptized by John?
Yes (Matthew 3:7-11)
Wrong. It is not said here that they actually had been baptized by John the Baptist. The Pharizees came to the baptism. Yes, but before this John preached to them in strong words that they had to repent before the baptism and immediately following he said “I baptize you with water for repentance,” (NASB). So in the end he invited them to be baptized. However here the story ends. Obviously the Pharizees then refused the baptism not needing repentance as ordinary people, as they supposed.
No (Luke 7:29-30)
Right.
No Contradiction
No Bible Contradictions