Bible Contradictions

Articles About Bible Contradictions

• Book Chapter

  Does Genesis Contradict Itself About the Order of Nations

  

  Sept. 18, 2023 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 1

  What do Genesis 10 and 11 say about the origin of nations and people groups?

• Book Chapter

  Location, Location, Location

  

  Sept. 7, 2023 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 1

  Why do names of certain places appear both pre-Flood and post-Flood? Does this refute a global Flood that should have destroyed such places?

• Book Chapter

  Noah’s Three Sons

  

  Sept. 2, 2023 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 1

  Were Noah’s sons born when he was 500 as Genesis 5:32 says or not as stated in Genesis 7:6 and Genesis 11:10?

• Book Chapter

  Underneath a Solid Sky

  

  Aug. 8, 2023 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 1

  Does Genesis 1 teach the sky was solid like some critics claim? What does the original Hebrew say?

• Book Chapter

  Meat of the Matter

  

  July 26, 2023 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 1

  Was Abel eating meat soon after the curse when he wasn’t supposed to be (Genesis 1:29) since he kept the flocks and sacrificed an animal in Genesis 4:2–4?

• Book Chapter

  Act Like a Child

  

  June 3, 2023 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 2

  Why does the Bible say to be like a child, but then to put away childish things?

• Why Do Mark and John’s Gospels Not Mention Jesus Was from Bethlehem?

  

  Dec. 20, 2022

  Do Mark and John not mention Jesus was from Bethlehem because he wasn’t?

• How Did David Kill Goliath?

  

  Nov. 15, 2022

  Did David kill Goliath with a sling and stone or by beheading?

• Spurgeon on Genesis 2:17

  

  Feb. 26, 2022

  The theological implications of this verse are profound and beyond the scope of this short article. We will briefly list some of them with a short explanation.

• Feedback: Does Deuteronomy 23:3 Invalidate Jesus’ Messianic Claim?

  

  Nov. 5, 2021

  Some suggest Jesus could not be the Messiah since he descended from a Moabitess and an Ammonite, but the charge fails to understand all of Scripture.

• Spirits, Ghosts, and Angels

  

  Oct. 26, 2021

  There is no contradiction with Jesus saying he was not a spirit to his disciples. He was not an apparition, whether ghost, phantasm, shade, or any other paranormal entity.

• Has Anyone Seen God?

  

  Oct. 8, 2021

  Some argue that the Bible contradicts itself on whether a person can see God face-to-face—but all biblical data should be considered in context.

• Feedback Article

  Proving Virginity: Another Alleged Case of Biblical Misogyny?

  

  Aug. 20, 2021

  How Deuteronomy 22:20–21 and related passages do not only condemn women for immoral behavior, but assume a similar standard for men in context with the rest of Scripture.

• Did Elijah Write a Letter from Heaven?

  

  June 11, 2021

  Did Elijah write a letter to King Jehoram from heaven? And is it possible he personally delivered it?

• Genesis 17:17: An Age-Old Question—Too Old to Have Children?

  

  March 26, 2021

  Some suggest a biblical contradiction about Abraham’s having a child in old age & his father’s late fertility, but the critique doesn’t consider the context of Genesis.

• Does 2 Samuel 12 Support Polygamy?

  

  July 28, 2020

  Scripture never established concubines or polygamy as an ordained institution, but it did establish marriage between one man and one woman.

• Does Job Contradict James 3:7?

  

  June 2, 2020

  Job teaches Behemoth and Leviathan cannot be tamed, while James suggests “every kind of beast and bird . . . has been tamed by mankind.” Does Job 40–41 contradict James 3:7?

• Did John the Baptist Know Jesus Was the Messiah?

  

  April 10, 2020

  Some have tried to claim a biblical contradiction between John 1 and the parallel passages of Matthew 11 and Luke 7. Did John the Baptist know Jesus was the Messiah?

• Does an Eagle Carry Its Young on Its Wings?

  

  Aug. 13, 2019

  Deuteronomy 32:11 has become a popular topic for sermons and inspirational social media posts. But has the verse been misunderstood, misapplied, or misused?

• Sodom and Gomorrah: What Was the Primary Sin?

  

  Aug. 3, 2019

  While many believe Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of rampant homosexual behavior, others say Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of pride.

• Are Paul's Letters Hard or Easy to Understand?

  

  June 11, 2019, p. 20

  An alleged contradiction is said to occur between 2 Corinthians 1:13 and 2 Peter 3:16. Is this an irreconcilable contradiction?

• Does Luke 16:29–31 Contradict John 11?

  

  June 8, 2019

  Does Luke 16:29–31 contradict John 11? Once we dig deeper into the two texts, we will see that this apparent contradiction is not one at all.

• Did God Command the Israelites to Sacrifice to Him Before Sinai?

  

  May 28, 2019

  It is alleged that Jeremiah 7:22 contradicts Exodus 3:18, 5:3, and 10:25, where there are mentions of sacrifice just before the time of the Exodus.

• Was Either Matthew or John Color Blind?

  

  May 25, 2019

  An alleged Bible contradiction is claimed for Matthew 27:28 and John 19:2. During Jesus’ trial, he is mentioned as wearing a scarlet or a purple robe.

• How Many Times Was Jesus Anointed?

  

  May 14, 2019

  One supposed Bible contradiction is that the Gospel accounts seem to indicate that Jesus was anointed before and after the Triumphal Entry.

• Book Chapter

  How Did Judas Die?

  

  April 19, 2019 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 1

  Did Judas Iscariot die by hanging (Matthew 27:5) or did he die by falling and bursting open (Acts 1:18)?

• How Did King Saul Die?

  

  Feb. 22, 2019

  How did King Saul die? By his own hand, or by the hand of an Amalekite who came upon Saul in mortal agony?

• Magazine Department Article

  One Indivisible Word

  

  May 25, 2018 from Answers Magazine

  Some believe that the Bible speaks authoritatively about morality and religion, but not history and science. Is that viable, based on Scripture?

• Did Herod Want to Kill John the Baptist?

  

  Aug. 29, 2017

  Indeed when we look closely at what the Bible says about Herod and his dealings with John, we see that there is no contradiction here.

• Book Chapter

  Longevity or Countdown?

  July 19, 2016 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 2

  David Chakranarayan, AiG–US, explains why the Bible seems to contradict itself in Genesis and Psalms when speaking about the expected lifespans of individuals.

• Book Chapter

  War and Peace

  

  May 30, 2016 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 2

  Romans 15:33 calls God a God of peace, but Exodus 15:3 calls Him a man of war. Is this a contradiction? Bodie Hodge, AiG–US, explains.

• Feedback Article

  Do Genesis 1 and 2 Contradict Each Other?

  May 16, 2016 from Feedback

  The issue that people have with Genesis 2 is that the order of the creation of man, animals, and trees seems to be contrary to the order stated in Genesis 1.

• Contradictions: Did Abraham Really Live to a “Good Old Age”?

  

  April 12, 2016

  How can Abraham be said to have lived to a good old age when there were people much older than him still alive at the time of his death?

• Contradictions: Bearing Burdens and Loads

  Sept. 21, 2015

  Are burdens and loads to be borne collectively or individually?

• Recruiting Violation

  Sept. 7, 2015

  What one reads in John’s Gospel is not a competing narrative, but rather a passage complementing what Matthew already recorded.

• Centurion Contradiction?

  Sept. 1, 2015

  When Jesus entered Capernaum he healed the slave of a centurion. Did the centurion come personally to request Jesus for this?

• Magazine Department Article

  The Whole Counsel of God

  

  Aug. 12, 2015 from Answers Magazine

  The Bible is full of claims that are often hard to understand and reconcile.

• Was Jairus’ Daughter Dead or Near Death When He Came to See Jesus?

  

  June 16, 2015

  This is a historical narrative passage in all three accounts. Yet there may be a translational issue at the heart of this apparent contradiction.

• Magazine Article

  Christ’s Resurrection—Four Accounts, One Reality

  

  April 5, 2015 from Answers Magazine

  Christ’s Resurrection led to a confusing day, as His followers raced around the city. Skeptics point to alleged contradictions in the Gospels.

• Contradiction: Who Incited David to Count the Fighting Men of Israel—God or Satan?

  March 31, 2015

  We are told in 1 Chronicles 21:1 that Satan provoked David to number Israel. Did God incite David to take a census of Israel, or did Satan?

• Are There 20 Commandments?

  March 2, 2015

  The Bible is inerrant, yet some have tried to state that the Bible erroneously records 20 commandments.

• Feedback Article

  Feedback: Why Are the Gospels of Matthew and John Different?

  Nov. 1, 2013

  A straightforward reading of the Gospels presents numerous differences in perspective and detail that supplement each other but do not contradict.

• Who Really Carried the Cross of Jesus?

  July 30, 2013

  Ty Benbow addresses a supposed Bible contradiction and concludes that Jesus not only bore His cross but He bore our sins as well.

• Book Chapter

  Cock-a-Doodle, One or Two?

  Aug. 28, 2012 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 2

  At Peter’s denials of Christ, did the rooster crow once or twice, and how does this affect inspiration of Scripture? Bodie Hodge, AiG–U.S., explains.

• Book Chapter

  A Famine of Three or Seven Years?

  Aug. 14, 2012 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 2

  After sinning by performing a census of Israel and Judah, was David offered three years of famine or seven years of famine? Michael Belknap, AiG–U.S., explains.

• Book Chapter

  Figuring out the Root of the Matter

  July 17, 2012 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 2

  When Jesus cursed the fig tree, did it whither immediately or the next day? John Bartlett Jr., AiG–U.S., examines this alleged contradiction.

• Book Chapter

  Root of All Evil?

  July 10, 2012 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 2

  Have you ever heard of the phrase, “Money is the root of all evil”? This expression is derived from a passage of Scripture, but is it accurate? Erik Lutz, AiG–U.S., explains.

• Book Chapter

  Unacceptable Offering?

  Feb. 21, 2012 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 2

  Tim Chaffey, AiG-US, examines the curious case of Jephthah’s rash vow. Did God endorse child sacrifice? Is this a contradiction in Scripture?

• Book Chapter

  Do Rabbits Really “Chew the Cud”?

  Feb. 14, 2012 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 2

  The Bible clearly states that rabbits chew their cud, but simple observation seems to show this isn’t true. Dr. Tommy Mitchell, AiG-U.S., explains this apparent contradiction.

• Book Chapter

  Mother Knows Best

  Jan. 17, 2012 from Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 2

  Why does the book of Matthew state that the mother of James and John asked Jesus for a special privilege, while the book of Mark declares that James and John actually asked for this honor?