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PROVEN: Biblical Inerrancy


Guest Mr. Thomas

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Guest Mr. Thomas

Sorry for the clickbait title, but this is something that has really been weighing on me for a few years. I've sought answers from everyone I know, from Catholics to Evangelicals, and have never received a satisfactory answer. I'm in danger of losing my faith here and I really need help.

So faith, especially for us Baptists is predicated on Biblical Inerrancy. The argument goes (and please don't get hung up on the details to follow, I'm just setting up my problem; I'm okay being wrong for now in my history or some other minor aspect of my setup, instead I'd like you to treat the thing that is sucking my soul out) that God would never allow all knowledge of himself to be lost from the earth. But at the same time he doesn't want to mess with free will, so he couldn't just make everybody teach their kids and remember for all time. His solution in the old testament was to pick one particular race (The Isrealites) to hammer it into, never letting them forget so the true faith wouldn't be lost without hope to us. Now the old jewish covenant was completed with Jesus, so God doesn't create many prophets or appear with divine revelations very often to hammer to true faith into us like he did the jews, and in their absence a billion different denominations, pseudo-Christian cults, ect. have shown up. Now the pro-Inerrancy argument is that God wouldn't have let the truth die out, so he made sure to leave an absolute reference for us so we can distinguish the true faith from the fake. That reference is the Bible, and for example the only way we know that these churches are wrong: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations_affirming_LGBT , or these churches: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordination_of_women_in_Protestant_denominations are the Bible verses Leviticus 18 & 20 and 1 Timothy 2 respectively. Now I've stuck to my guns for biblical inerrancy my entire life, which causes alot of problems in my personal life (I bet you can guess how the dating scene is when you have a reputation as a misogynist for believing in the 'no women teaching in church' thing). I don't hold these views because I like them, I hold them because the Bible tells me to. I hate having confrontations with every gay rights activist or abortionist who comes near me, and I hate how hard it is to find a job because of my extremely non-PC beliefs, but I do it anyways because I love the truth and want to follow it.

Imagine my chagrin when I then read verse combinations like Matthew 27:5 (Judas hanged himself) and Acts 1:18 (Judas died by falling down in a field) or 1 Chron 21:5 vs. 2 Sam. 24:9 (number of fighting me in Isreal) or in 2 Chron 36:9 and 2 Kings 24:8 (was King Jehoiachin 8 years old or 18 when he was crowned). I've heard a half-butt explanation for Judas (maybe he hanged himself and then fell down?), but nothing at all for the other two or for literally dozens more. Apparently, as much distress as it causes me to admit, the Bible is not strictly speaking inerrant, because some books contradict others. I've heard it theorized that God made it this way on purpose, that he made the Bible slightly errant for the same reason Jesus spoke in parables instead of speaking plainly; God doesn't want any more Pharisees who become so attached to a law that they forget their God in their fervor for keeping rules. This way, everybody has to do what they genuinely think is right because no one will be able to agree to a set of rules to worship instead of God. And after all, the theory continues, the saints and prophets may not have been inerrant in an absolute sense, but they were still directly chosen (and often directly spoken to) by God, and they will always be much better authorities than you, so you can be confident enough in their teaching to trust what they say. Well, ok, that does make me feel a little better, but I'm the type to sweat the details. If some specific things are said by one prophet/saint/author (is Luke a saint?) that seem out of alignment with the rest of scripture and are never confirmed by other saints/prophets/authors or Jesus himself (like Paul's 'No women teaching men in church" policy seems kinda harsh, I mean shouldn't mothers teach their male children, and aren't most women going to be a better Christian than at least one man they know?), how do we know that they are giving us a Godly policy instead of making another error that no one else happened to contradict? But you can't just ignore the Bible altogether and do whatever you think is right; you wouldn't be believing in God anymore, just yourself, and you would just be doing whatever you already wanted to do anyways, but with a self-righteous feeling and a vaccination against Godly correction.

This is really, really messing me up inside, and I am very close to losing my faith all together, because I have no idea at all what to believe; if we can't trust Mathew and Luke to record accurately or even agree with each other, how do we even know what Jesus said and what he didn't? What if the whole truth really has been lost, or worse yet none of it was ever true at all? I'm pleading with you, please, does anybody have an answer?!?!?

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2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Peter 1:21 (KJV) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

These two scriptures speak to the issue of God being the author of scripture. Men penned the words, but God gave the information He wanted to impart. He cannot contradict himself because to do so He would have to deny himself.

You post causes me to wonder what bible you read and what church affiliations you have been exposed to. I think in your post I am seeing different denominational teaching and leaning. You indicate you are Baptist, but seem very unfamiliar with Baptist teaching and doctrine. You speak of saints as Roman Catholics do when they indicate that only people like the men who wrote the gospels were saints because the church said so. The reality is that all who are believers are saints.

Lastly you talk about losing your faith, but there is no indication in what you wrote to indicate that you are indeed saved. It may help us some if you went over to the introduction forum and told us a bit about yourself and your religious background. So please help us to help you.

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Longer answer than I intended, so sorry about that, but if you are really interested you will read it all. ?

 

 

As Wretched said, if you are looking for a 100% kind of thing, then you are looking to do without faith.

Heb 11:6

(6)  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

 

However, to address the three examples you cite:

First of all, we must confirm that you are talking about the KJV. Most of the other versions have some pretty gross errors in them, and the rest are less obvious but still notable.

Secondly, I am taking this as a genuine question, although these are the three most common “issues” that people bring up…….

Thirdly, if you take single verses in isolation, then it is very easy to become “disoriented” from the account. As a result, I will quote passages in most cases rather than single verses.

 

“Matthew 27:5 (Judas hanged himself) and Acts 1:18 (Judas died by falling down in a field)

Mat 27:4-8

(4)  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

(5)  And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

(6)  And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

(7)  And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

(8)  Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

 

 

Act 1:18-19

(18)  Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

(19)  And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

 

 

There are actually 2 issues with this passage: the one you mentioned (the manner of his death), and the purchase of the field.

Judas didn’t purchase the field, as Acts 1 18 says, but Matthew 27:7-8 tells us that the chief priests purchased the field – but they did so with the money they paid to Judas, so in effect they purchased it for him. Neither is in error. It was the money of Judas, and therefore he paid for it, although the transaction was not done by Judas himself, but on his behalf. I point this out, because it shows that things stated in different ways can correctly refer to the same event.

Now in regard to your actual issue with this passage, Matthew 27 tells us that Judas hanged himself. This would be the manner of his death.

Acts 1:18 doesn’t actually mention his death at all – you are assuming it is how he died, but the verses do not say that. If you look at the verse it says that he purchased the land, then fell over and his bowels gushed out. But if you look in Matthew 27 you see that he hanged himself, THEN the land was purchased in his name. Paupers who died in those days were thrown into a rubbish pile outside the city walls, and if he was dropped over the wall into that rubbish pile I would think that he would likely burst asunder and his bowels would gush out…… Of course, the money was used to buy “the Potter’s Field” so that practice (Bodies on the rubbish pile) should have ceased after Judas, for then there was a place to bury strangers in. But only after this event, for even in those days it would take time to find, purchase, and organise the land for this purpose.

The order of events, and an understanding of history is enough for us to address this "problem".

 

 

“1 Chron 21:5 vs. 2 Sam. 24:9 (number of fighting me in Isreal)”

1Ch 21:1-7

(1)  And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

(2)  And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.

(3)  And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

(4)  Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

(5)  And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.

(6)  But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.

(7)  And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.

 

 

One million one hundred thousand men in Israel (Northern Kingdom), and four hundred and seventy thousand men in Judah (Southern Kingdom).

 

 

2Sa 24:1-10

(1)  And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

(2)  For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

(3)  And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?

(4)  Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

(5)  And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:

(6)  Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,

(7)  And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.

(8)  So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

(9)  And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

(10)  And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

 

 

Eight hundred thousand in Israel, and five hundred thousand in Judah.

A seeming difference of three hundred thousand in Israel and thirty thousand in Judah.

 

 

My first thought is that in 1 Chron 21:6 it says that Joab didn’t count the Levites nor the Benjamites, so we would expect a difference in the numbers, with the 1 Chron 21 being the lower number, because it specifically says that some were not counted. That might explain the difference from Judah, but the difference in Israel is the wrong way for that simple explanation. We must therefore cast our net a little wider.

 

 

And we come to this passage:

1Ch 27:1

(1)  Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand.

 

 

It seems that there was a system of “reserves” called up each month 24000 from each tribe, which equals a total over the year of 288000.

For me, that is close enough to 300000 to make up the difference.

 

 

So Joab refused to count the Levites and the Benjamites – I assume they were associated with the Temple and with Jerusalem – I can happily assume that takes care of the 30000 of Judah missing from 1 Chron 21, and if the count from 2 Sam 24 didn’t include all those who were “already on the books” as it were as soldiers of the regular rotation, then we have a close enough number on the second figure to explain it as a “rounding to the nearest….”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“2 Chron 36:9 and 2 Kings 24:8 (was King Jehoiachin 8 years old or 18 when he was crowned).

 

 

This is one of the most common issues we hear – I think that there is a thread from some time ago about this on this site…..

 

2Ch 36:8-10

(8)  Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

(9)  Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.

(10)  And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.

 

 

2Ki 24:6-9

(6)  So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

(7)  And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.

(8)  Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.

(9)  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.

 

 

This at first seems like a problem, but in this case we need to look at the situation and see if we can find a solution.

In cases like this it would be easier for us if God made it super clear, but He does tell us to 2Ti 2:15

(15)  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

 

….so we really can’t complain if we have to put some effort in……

What was the situation in which he became “king”.

In the first place it is interesting that in 2 Chron 36 it says he was 8 when he began to reign in Jerusalem.

But in 2 Kings 24 it says he was 18 when he began to reign in Jerusalem.

Both accounts mention the same length of reign – I don’t see the 10 days being an issue.

In fact aside from the 8 vs 18 the only other difference is the mention of the mother in 2 Kings 24. The point about that is that in the passage which says he began to reign when he was 8 it doesn’t mention his father’s death, and in the passage where it mentions 18 and his mother, it specifically mentions his father’s death.

If you look at the situation of his father’s reign, you see Babylon was all around the place causing trouble and laying on pressure.

And in fact the last few verses 2 Kings 24 tells us that when Jehoiachin was taken to Babylon the Babylonian king put someone else as King over Jerusalem.

This is why he reigned only three months.

So is this an indication that Jehoiachin was appointed by his father as co-regent or heir in waiting? With the unsettled nature of the rule under Babylon (see the early part of that chapter), and the resultant replacement soon after Jehoiakim’s death, it is entirely reasonable to think that he may have appointed his son as co-regent in the hope that his claim to the throne would be established.

Therefore, he began to reign with his father at the age of 8, but began to reign in his own right 10 years later. In any case, he reigned only 3 months before he was taken by the Babylonians and put into a prison in Babylon, and another man put into the place of  king instead of him, thereby proving his father’s wisdom in making him co-regent, but that not succeeding in its plan.

Now, none of these is a watertight answer, but each of them gives a satisfactory answer to the problems presented.

Edited by DaveW
typos......
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Howdy, I'm Mr. Thomas, but I couldn't figure out how to edit my earlier post or reply directly to each of your posts, so I'll have to take them one at a time:

To Mr. Wretched: One of the New Testament Saints (I believe it was Peter) said that every man should have an apologia, a strict logical defense of their faith. But more importantly, in other parts of the Bible God constantly presses the importance of truth, in fact that's even one of the names of Jesus (The way, the truth, and the life). I think that God makes it pretty clear that truth and tool he gave us to search for it (logic) are not only important but holy. Also, to my knowledge God very rarely asked for people to believe in anything without a logical reason to. Jesus didn't just show up and demand people worship him without any explanation at all, he reasoned with people and did a lot of miracles to provide physical proof for people who couldn't be reasoned with. In fact most of God's saints and prophets also acted in a similar manner; by a combination of logic and divine feats. I respect your single-minded determination, but like CS Lewis said: faith is not a move into wholly unknown territory, its remaining calm when the surgeon puts the anesthesia to you. You know that the surgeon is practiced and capable, and your logic dictates that you have no reason to fear, but it's not logic that keeps you confident or brave, it's your faith and trust in what you know to be true. In short, faith is believing in what you already know to be true. I believe that the kind of blind faith you advocate is not only a (unintentional) perversion of the principle of faith, but also a rejection of God's holy gifts of logic and the quest for truth. this I am unwilling to do.

To Mr. Jim Alaska: I was raised Baptist and thoroughly understand the Baptist belief system. Also, you might notice that I used the word Saint not only in my original post, but also many times in this response. I stand by my original usage of the term, I believe you are using it incorrectly, not me. The word "Saint" is not synonymous with "Christian" or "Saved" any more than the work "Prophet" is synonymous with "Jew". Both words do, and has always been a special title of reverence for our elders/superiors in the faith, especially those directly spoken to by God or given miraculous abilities. Furthermore, I am not a Catholic, nor does the use of the word "Saint" specifically advocate for the process or procession of Catholic Canonization (which again, I can assure you I am not a fan of). One more time: I use the word "Saint" in it's common, informal sense as a general term of respect (not a formal title) for the great men of God. Also, I don't think you read my question thoroughly (although I do admit it is pretty long), because you did not address the passages I referenced that do, indeed, contradict. in fact, you completely sidestepped my question entirely to instead insult my intelligence and my grammar. To reiterate, this is my problem: As you pointed out in your paragraph, if the Bible was shown to have contradictions it would seriously jeopardize the legitimacy of our faith (I'm not sure in exactly what sense he would 'deny himself', but your point is nevertheless well taken). I believe to have found such passages, and as you predicted, this has led to much emotional and spiritual turmoil that is causing me to lose my faith. If you have any genuine help for this lost soul on this issue I would very much genuinely appreciate hearing it.

To Mr. Jordan Kurecki: Yeah, that's pretty much where I sat for a long time (~10 years), but I can't hold back the doubt and despair any longer. Though, even while my beliefs are being stripped from me, I still wholeheartedly cling to the pursuit of the truth. I figure that if God is going to rescue me, he won't do it while I'm sitting in an easy chair; I've got an obligation to seek him as hard as I can, wherever I can. For me, this takes the form of many, many logical debates with anybody who will humor me. I figure that if the Bible is somehow inerrant and true after all, or if Bible-less Christianity can survive, then God will have given someone somewhere the knowledge and skills to convince me and settle my heart.

To Mr. DaveW: I can't tell you how much I appreciate your long and detailed answer; your effort has greatly moved me, and I am very grateful to you for your time and thoroughness! I have heard these answers or ones similar to them over years of asking these kinds of questions, but I am still uneasy; they are ad-hoc, or like you said, 'put together' and 'not watertight', and some are still strictly speaking errant (even if rounded in the inconsistent way suggested, the numbers of soldiers in the army are still not the same, and couldn't be referenced in an exact sense, like in a scientific paper or a court of law, to which standards surely God's own word should meet). This doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the strict Biblical Inerrancy either, and as I'm sure you're aware there are many more contradictions in various degrees to be found through out the texts. However, like I said before, I am very, very grateful to you for your effort and dedication, and any more insight from you would be most welcome!

Edited by Guest Mr. Thomas
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I will address the scriptures you have listed as supposed contradictions. But before I do, I would like to exhort you, and say that there are many things in the scriptures that cannot be simply explained, or at times may not make sense, and seem to be contradictions. My suggestion to you is 1) Take what the scripture says as it reads. If you do not understand it or think there is a contradiction, give it time, and pray to God to reveal to you what the meaning is. 2) Keep your heart sincere. If you are truly seeking for the truth, and not proof there are errors, then God will either show you the answer through the Holy Ghost by opening your eyes to it, or he will show it to you through the Holy Ghost by using a preacher and teacher. Just as he used Philip to preach and teach the Ethiopian eunuch. 3) Accept and receive the truth you already have. If you cannot accept and receive the truth you already know, why would God reveal more to you? You must first be able to handle the milk of the word before you can handle the meat the word, or even the strong meat of the word.

I personally always default to the fact that I am the one that is not smart enough to figure it out or to understand it, and so I ask God to reveal it to me with sincere prayer, much study, and seeking preachers and teachers.

If you are sincere in your desire to know the truth, God will show it, and hopefully you will learn that when we think the scripture is wrong, that, eventually, God will reveal that the scripture is ALWAYS true, and we are the liars. (Rom 3:4)

EXAMPLE #1

Matt. 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Acts 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

As far as the example you gave above, you say that you were given a “half-butt” explanation, but if I may say, it was a PLAUSIBLE explanation. Is there not some cases where people hanged were decapitated or the rope broke, or what they were tied off to broke? (See the deaths of George Painter 1894, Tom Ketchum 1901, and Eva Dugan 1930 for a few examples)

OSHA says that a man tied off in a safety harness must be attached to an anchorage point that can withstand 5,000 lbs of force. They have determined that the average 200 pound man “falling” and then immediately stopping (in this case, very likely, a rope around the neck probably tied to a tree branch?) generates just under 5,000 lbs of weight. So basically his fall is generating enough force to turn him into the weight of a pickup truck if he were to suddenly stop. So yes it is very plausible that he BOTH hanged himself and when the rope tightened the weight he generated from his inertia broke either the limb, the rope, or his head, and he falling headlong burst asunder when he hit the ground.

So the question is, is the scripture contradicted or is it just giving some information here by one man's account, and a little more information from another man's account? This is no different than a detective interviewing more than one witness to piece the entire story together. And so it is with the bible...a little here, and a little there. And you are to be the workman studying and rightly dividing to fit the pieces together to make the whole puzzle fit together.

 

EXAMPLE #2

1 Chron 21:5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.

2 Sam. 24:9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

Notice the wording. 1 Chron. 21:5 is a total all men that drew the sword while 2 Sam. 24:9 is a number of valient men that drew the sword – It would be the same if you were to say the total number of the US army was 1 million fighting men, but the number of Green Berets that are a part of the 1 million, was 100 thousand men.

And then again look at the words of the scripture with the number of men from Judah. The total number of men that drew the sword was 490,000, while the total of the entire army was 500,000.

 

EXAMPLE #3

2 Chron 36:9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Kings 24:8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.

Let us start at the beginning. Nebuchadnezzar began to reign, and had been reigning for 5 years before Jehoiakim became his servant for 3 years, and then he rebelled. Then Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiakim captive, which put Jehoiachin reigning the throne by default, with his mother acting as queen and reigning by proxy. This reign only lasted for 3 months and 10 days because according to scripture, he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. Which means he (his mother by proxy) was rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar (See 2 Chron. 36:13 when talking about Zedekiah “And he ALSO rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar…”) Therefore, because of this rebellion, he took him and his mother captive and carried them away to Babylon in the 8th year of his reign (2 Kings 24:12). Nebuchadnezzar then puts Zedekiah on the throne, which lasted only 11 years. Now notice, while Jehoiachin was still 8 years old, Zedekiah started his reign. Which means that when Zedekiah was taken off the throne after 11 years, Jehoiachin was 18, not 19, because Jehoiachin was 8 all during the first year of his reign. So with some simple math you can see that when Zedekiah was removed from the throne, Jehoiachin is now 18. So he was given the throne a second time by Nebuchadnezzar. Giving the “18 year old” with FULL reigning authority, and no mother to reign by proxy, an opportunity to show he can be in subjection to him. But this reign only lasts 3 months, because he was right back doing what his father had done (rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar). And so he was taken into captivity once again, being released in his 37th year of captivity (2 Kings 25:27) making him 44 years old. Which coincides with Nebuchadnezzar’s reign of 43 years. So, the way I interpret it, is as the scripture states with no contradictions. It just takes believing the bible is true, even when it seems it isn’t, diligent study, and having the patience to piece the puzzle together.

 

Hopefully, these explanations are clear enough for you to see, and has given you some more faith in believing that the bible is truth from cover to cover. It just needs to be studied and rightly divided in order to make sense of it, otherwise you could fall into a ditch. I am not sure what materials you have to help you in your studies, but if you are serious about learning the bible, may I suggest a vast library of commentaries and books by Dr. Peter S. Ruckman to help you with getting to know your bible. He has actually done an extensive and exhaustive work entitled “Problem Texts” that could assist you with these supposed contradictions within the scriptures.   

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11 hours ago, Guest Mr. Thomas said:

Howdy, I'm Mr. Thomas, but I couldn't figure out how to edit my earlier post or reply directly to each of your posts, so I'll have to take them one at a time:

To Mr. Wretched: One of the New Testament Saints (I believe it was Peter) said that every man should have an apologia, a strict logical defense of their faith. But more importantly, in other parts of the Bible God constantly presses the importance of truth, in fact that's even one of the names of Jesus (The way, the truth, and the life). I think that God makes it pretty clear that truth and tool he gave us to search for it (logic) are not only important but holy. Also, to my knowledge God very rarely asked for people to believe in anything without a logical reason to. Jesus didn't just show up and demand people worship him without any explanation at all, he reasoned with people and did a lot of miracles to provide physical proof for people who couldn't be reasoned with. In fact most of God's saints and prophets also acted in a similar manner; by a combination of logic and divine feats. I respect your single-minded determination, but like CS Lewis said: faith is not a move into wholly unknown territory, its remaining calm when the surgeon puts the anesthesia to you. You know that the surgeon is practiced and capable, and your logic dictates that you have no reason to fear, but it's not logic that keeps you confident or brave, it's your faith and trust in what you know to be true. In short, faith is believing in what you already know to be true. I believe that the kind of blind faith you advocate is not only a (unintentional) perversion of the principle of faith, but also a rejection of God's holy gifts of logic and the quest for truth. this I am unwilling to do.

To Mr. Jim Alaska: I was raised Baptist and thoroughly understand the Baptist belief system. Also, you might notice that I used the word Saint not only in my original post, but also many times in this response. I stand by my original usage of the term, I believe you are using it incorrectly, not me. The word "Saint" is not synonymous with "Christian" or "Saved" any more than the work "Prophet" is synonymous with "Jew". Both words do, and has always been a special title of reverence for our elders/superiors in the faith, especially those directly spoken to by God or given miraculous abilities. Furthermore, I am not a Catholic, nor does the use of the word "Saint" specifically advocate for the process or procession of Catholic Canonization (which again, I can assure you I am not a fan of). One more time: I use the word "Saint" in it's common, informal sense as a general term of respect (not a formal title) for the great men of God. Also, I don't think you read my question thoroughly (although I do admit it is pretty long), because you did not address the passages I referenced that do, indeed, contradict. in fact, you completely sidestepped my question entirely to instead insult my intelligence and my grammar. To reiterate, this is my problem: As you pointed out in your paragraph, if the Bible was shown to have contradictions it would seriously jeopardize the legitimacy of our faith (I'm not sure in exactly what sense he would 'deny himself', but your point is nevertheless well taken). I believe to have found such passages, and as you predicted, this has led to much emotional and spiritual turmoil that is causing me to lose my faith. If you have any genuine help for this lost soul on this issue I would very much genuinely appreciate hearing it.

To Mr. Jordan Kurecki: Yeah, that's pretty much where I sat for a long time (~10 years), but I can't hold back the doubt and despair any longer. Though, even while my beliefs are being stripped from me, I still wholeheartedly cling to the pursuit of the truth. I figure that if God is going to rescue me, he won't do it while I'm sitting in an easy chair; I've got an obligation to seek him as hard as I can, wherever I can. For me, this takes the form of many, many logical debates with anybody who will humor me. I figure that if the Bible is somehow inerrant and true after all, or if Bible-less Christianity can survive, then God will have given someone somewhere the knowledge and skills to convince me and settle my heart.

To Mr. DaveW: I can't tell you how much I appreciate your long and detailed answer; your effort has greatly moved me, and I am very grateful to you for your time and thoroughness! I have heard these answers or ones similar to them over years of asking these kinds of questions, but I am still uneasy; they are ad-hoc, or like you said, 'put together' and 'not watertight', and some are still strictly speaking errant (even if rounded in the inconsistent way suggested, the numbers of soldiers in the army are still not the same, and couldn't be referenced in an exact sense, like in a scientific paper or a court of law, to which standards surely God's own word should meet). This doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the strict Biblical Inerrancy either, and as I'm sure you're aware there are many more contradictions in various degrees to be found through out the texts. However, like I said before, I am very, very grateful to you for your effort and dedication, and any more insight from you would be most welcome!

Well no surprises here my friend. You seem to display tremendous faith in your "doubts". 

Your fatal error is how you view God's Word. As with most of the religious you regulate it as merely a reference for yours or others theology and not the Bread of Life. Until you decide that true life can come only from it, you will remain in doubt. 

MATTHEW 4

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To Mr. Wretched: In what sense can you believe in something that you don't believe to be true? How would you, for instance, have faith that the sky is orange and not blue? That doesn't make any sense. You write as if faith and truth are disconnected, but I don't see how. Perhaps you use "faith" to mean something else than I do. Applying my sky analogy to my case, I see an orange sky, not blue. How do you convince me the sky is blue ..  without convincing me the sky is blue? I don't see how faith in biblical inerrancy is possible without believing in biblical inerrancy. I would very, very much like to be convinced, but you can't get me there by sidestepping the logic. I have unfortunately been beset with some fairly strong evidence that the bible is errant, and faith in inerrancy is intrinsically impossible without both strong evidence to support inerrancy and a strong disproof of the offending evidence. I don't think brainwashing myself into obedience is the same thing as faith, and I don't think God would approve of it either (if that was an option he could have just done it himself, but instead he goes to pretty extreme lengths to properly convince people). I'm not calling the 'Bread of Life' method you suggested self-brainwashing, but I think it's definitely a determined step in the wrong direction, so I won't be doing that. I am genuinely grateful for your attempt to help me though, I just don't think God would approve of me using that method.

To Mr. SAB76: I wrote a reply to you earlier today, but I guess it didn't go through. It was similar in tone and context to my earlier reply to Mr. DaveW. First, I am extremely grateful for your effort and long reply, so thank you! However, a lot of these explanations seem pretty contrived. True, you might be able to work out a way where technically the explanations you provided could work. Yeah, Luke could have been describing Judas' body falling from a noose, but it really seems like he was talking about him walking around then tripping or something. When was the last time you heard someone say something like 'Oh he fell head-over-heels and broke his tailbone' about a dead body? If that's what he meant wouldn't he say 'the body fell down and burst' or something like that? Why would he use the word 'he' instead of 'it', or use the word 'headlong' instead of just 'down'? It seems to me that these words indicate the lateral motion of a man walking or running in a field, not a body in a tree. But anyways, even if the specific wording isn't inescapable, it is still very disquieting, because it definitely doesn't live up to the kind of clarity and precision you would expect from God. I don't find those explanations satisfying or relieving at all, but like I said, I do really appreciate the effort, and would appreciate any more comments or references you can provide!

Edited by Guest Mr. Thomas
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1 hour ago, Guest Mr. Thomas said:

To Mr. Wretched: In what sense can you believe in something that you don't believe to be true? How would you, for instance, have faith that the sky is orange and not blue? That doesn't make any sense. You write as if faith and truth are disconnected, but I don't see how. Perhaps you use "faith" to mean something else than I do. Applying my sky analogy to my case, I see an orange sky, not blue. How do you convince me the sky is blue ..  without convincing me the sky is blue? I don't see how faith in biblical inerrancy is possible without believing in biblical inerrancy. I would very, very much like to be convinced, but you can't get me there by sidestepping the logic. I have unfortunately been beset with some fairly strong evidence that the bible is errant, and faith in inerrancy is intrinsically impossible without both strong evidence to support inerrancy and a strong disproof of the offending evidence. I don't think brainwashing myself into obedience is the same thing as faith, and I don't think God would approve of it either (if that was an option he could have just done it himself, but instead he goes to pretty extreme lengths to properly convince people). I'm not calling the 'Bread of Life' method you suggested self-brainwashing, but I think it's definitely a determined step in the wrong direction, so I won't be doing that. I am genuinely grateful for your attempt to help me though, I just don't think God would approve of me using that method.

 

Friend, it is your only hope. What do you have to lose? Besides everything that is. You claim to be truly seeking Him and all who truly seek Him will find Him but only through His Word. Your choice but choose wisely.

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To Mr. Wretched: I'm only skittish because I believe that is away, not towards God. That's the sort of thing pagans and Muslims have to do alot; memorization and recitations for salvation, but to my knowledge that's never something God has asked or required.

Edited by Guest Mr. Thomas
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Your beginning premise is wrong.

Your beginning is that the Bible is NOT TRUE, and you are asking people to prove to you that it is true.

This is you (and I suspect why you have chosen that name....):

Joh 20:24-25
(24)  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
(25)  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
 

This is the clear attitude that you have displayed in your answers.

In contrast to your dismissing of Wretched's comments, I point you to what Jesus said to Thomas:

Joh 20:29
(29)  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Thomas said he would not believe unless he had 100%solid proof, but the Lord said it is more blessed to believe WITHOUT THAT 100% solid proof.

I can show you verse after verse after verse after verse that are absolutely 100% true and accurate, and you are sweeping aside any explanation that you do not like for three passages that YOU find doubtful. 

You are beginning from the premise that the Bible is in error, and asking people to prove to you that what you have already decided is false, is true.

From that starting point, you cannot come to real faith in either the Lord or in His Word.

I am not asking you to believe in "blind faith", but to start from a position of faith, not a position of opposition.

 

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To Mr. DaveW: I chose this name ironically because I predicted that accusation would come out at one point or another. The truth is that I'm not like doubting Thomas, who saw Jesus perform miracles on countless occasions, and personally heard his sermons and speech 24/7 (including the parts where Jesus said he would die and be resurrected) only to abandon his faith the week things looked bad. Doubting Thomas did have proof of the things he believed, then turned away out of fear. The difference is that I have no such proof. I desperately want to believe in biblical inerrancy; my fear is pushing me towards blind acceptance, not away like Thomas. I wouldn't be on this forum asking for help if that wasn't so. But where Thomas abandoned what he knew to be true out of fear, I am reluctantly remaining in this position because I love truth and will not move out of fear or any other emotion, just logic. My heart won't move my brain, I will only move when I think it is right. And I think this is how Christians are supposed to act (remember Jeremiah's 'the heart is deceitful above all things' line?). But to humor you, I'll perform a little exercise.

1. Ok, I now believe in inerrancy

2. Oh wait, here are some passages that contradict, does this mean the Bible is errant?

3. Let's pray, study, and ask some people for help:

4. Ok, I hear some kinda-sorta explanations, but they all rely on the authors suddenly talking in weird, unnatural ways or having strange secret meanings that mean the opposite of what words used in that combination usually mean. Either way, these explanations clearly don't jive with the author's obvious meanings.

5. Huh, well that was no help, I wish somebody had a real explanation that didn't involve grammatical gymnastics, or failing that, could prove that faith is valid even without the Bible, because I'm feeling pretty lost

6. Oh, well here we are in the exact same place as before

I did start from a position of faith, that's exactly why I'm in this unenviable position. Now I don't know how to verify that anything in the Bible is true. Maybe it's like CS Lewis said about Genesis and Job, or what Jordan Peterson says about it all, that they're all just stories like Aesop's Fables. Holy no doubt, and full of knowledge and life lessons, but fictional all the same. That's a very discomforting thought to me; in fact almost torturous, but the one thing I do know is that God loves truth and hates lies, if it is possible to find the way, the truth, and the life, I must cling only to things I know are true and not follow anything that I don't. However badly I want it to be, the Bible is not something I know to be true, but that's why I'm asking to be convinced in a logical, truthful, un-deceptive manner. I feel like the answers you have given me are deceptive; reliant on little tricky plays on words and foggy/unclear. However, like I said, I'm in a really tough spot, and I really do appreciate the effort you've put in to read and respond to my posts, even if I do end up finding them unhelpful sometimes.

P.S. As to your comments regarding Mr. Wretched... I mean, come on. I do appreciate his attempt to help, but do you really think repetition of full books will resolve this issue?

Edited by Guest Mr. Thomas
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28 minutes ago, Guest Mr. Thomas said:

But to humor you, I'll perform a little exercise

Nuff said..... I am out.

28 minutes ago, Guest Mr. Thomas said:

chose this name ironically because I predicted that accusation would come

No accusation - your starting position is the same as Thomas - I  WILL NOT BELIEVE...….

This attitude displayed in your responses to anyone who has tried to help, and displayed further in the quotes above tells me that you are not actually after answers You are convinced that the Bible is not true, and until you move from that premise you cannot make any forward progress.

You need to worry less about what men like CS Lewis or Peterson say and try studying the Bible in order to answer your own questions.

You are obviously not interested in what other people have to say (because you reject it without consideration), so the ONLY course of action for you to take is to diligently study the Word of God and find the answers for yourself.

If you are indeed in any way interested in getting the answers...….

Have fun, but I will take no further part.

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On 10/21/2019 at 12:57 PM, Guest Mr. Thomas said:

clickbait

You said enough in the first sentence for me to know not to waste my time replying, except to say its clear from your replies that you already have enough information to make a decision one way or another. You just need to make it.

1 Kings 18:21a And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him:...

Edited by John Young
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