Sometimes, there are numerical and mathematical discrepancies between Bible translations. For example, in 2 Samuel 15:7, Absalom plotted his coup against David’s kingdom for 40 years in some translations, but for four years in other translations. What do we do about those?
Continue readingCategory Archives: Bible Skepticism
Answering criticism of the biblical text by skeptics.
The Christmas Story
The pop-culture version of the Christmas story is that Jesus was born in Bethlehem at night under a star, aThe pop-culture version of the Christmas story is that Jesus was born in Bethlehem at night under a star, and three wise men (the Magi) showed up and gave him a bunch of gifts. Then, immediately that same night, they fled to Egypt to escape a city-wide infanticide initiated by the regional ruler, King Herod. This is an oversimplification, and it is not accurate.
Continue readingContradiction: Jesus Anointed at Bethany
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all tell the story of Jesus being anointed by a woman with oil (identified as Mary Magdalene in some accounts), and she is rebuked for it (by Judas in John’s account). Still, some details don’t seem to harmonize across all four Gospel accounts. Are they different events but with similar actions, or in the same event with conflicting information?
Continue readingContradiction: Paul Conversion Testimony
Let’s take a look at one of those “contradiction” controversies. In the book of Acts, Luke records Paul’s testimony about his conversion to following Jesus three different times. The first time is the event itself, and the second and third are retellings by Paul before the authorities. There is a discrepancy between them. Let’s look at variations between English translations (NLT and KJV).
Continue readingDid God Rape Mary?
Some Bible skeptics have made the argument that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was raped by God because she didn’t give consent for Jesus’ birth. Is this true? Is there any evidence to the contrary?
Continue readingExodus 4:24-26 The Deadly Circumcision
Exodus 4:24-26 involves a circumcision that happened under pressure from the threat of God’s judgment. It seems God was willing to kill Moses right after calling him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Why would he do that, even after he told Moses that it had to be him when Moses asked him to send someone else? This incident seems to imply a failure to circumcise in Moses’s family. Since circumcision was a part of the requirements for the Abrahamic covenant and Moses was leading the Israelites, it was important that he at least kept that rule.
Continue readingExodus vs Numbers: Firstborn Male Redemption
Some people view Numbers 3:39-50 as a contradiction to Exodus 13:1-16 and Exodus 34:19-20, specifically regarding the topic of firstborn male sacrifice and substitution. However, there is a simple explanation for why the rules have changed.
Continue readingCommand: You Shall Not Lie
Is lying a sin? Yes, but oftentimes some people point out biblical characters “lying” and not getting punished for it. Or use it to personally attack people for saying something untrue without examining their motives. Some have claimed that it was lying when King Solomon threatened to cut a child in half to reveal who the real mother was. Or that God lied when he told Abraham He wanted Isaac to be sacrificed. God also threatened to kill the Israelites and start over with Moses, but didn’t follow through with it, did he lie? The real questions are, what is a lie, and why is it a sin?
Continue readingGospel Contradictions: Blind Men and Demons
There are four Gospels, and they are all slightly different because they were written by other people who either witnessed or spoke with witnesses of the same events. Some variation is natural, so it should be expected; however, the Bible remains spiritually inspired, and minor variations are not contradictions. Nevertheless, some Bible skeptics will make a big deal out of them. The story of Jesus exorcising the legion of demons is one of the most famous stories associated with Jesus. There are two men possessed by a legion of demons in Matthew 8:28-34, but only one demon-possessed man is mentioned in Mark 5:1-20 and Luke 8:26-39. Additionally, there are two blind men in Matthew 20:29-34, but only one blind person is mentioned in Luke 18:35-43, and he is identified as Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52. Is this a contradiction?
Continue readingEsau’s Wives
How many wives did Esau have? He first had two Hittite wives, Basemath, the daughter of Elon, and Judith, the daughter of Beeri, as recorded in Genesis 26:34-35. Then the sister of Nebaioth, Ishmael’s daughter Mahalath (Gen 28:8-9). However, later in Gen 36:2-3, it is stated that his wives are Adah, the daughter of Elon, Bashemath, the daughter of Ishmael, and Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, the Hivite. Esau’s children were Eliphaz (from Adah), Reuel (from Bashemath), and Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah (all three from Aholibamah).
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