Changes

:*Consider the apparent contradiction of the command of God to not touch the carcasses of unclean animals that "walk on paws"(this includes badgers), and the command of God to cover the holy [[Tabernacle]] with the skins of unclean animals in the midst of the encampment of Israel, and then the command of God to remove everything unclean so that nothing unclean may be found within the encampment of Israel. For a detailed discussion of this apparent contradiction see the article '''[[Badger skins (Bible)]]'''.

:*The ''[[Torah]]'' says the Levitical sacrifices of atonement forgive sins, that they cleanse from sins, take sins away, and even remove them. [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+30%3A10&version=RSVCE Exodus 30:10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+16%3A30&version=RSVCE Leviticus 16:30] (see entire [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+16&version=RSVCE chapter 16]); and [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+15%3A22-31&version=RSVCE Numbers 15:22-31]. <br>—The ''[[New Testament]]'' says the sacrifices of the law of Moses can never take away sins.[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+10%3A1-11&version=RSVCE Hebrews 10:1-11] <br>—The Bible in the Old Testament says without any qualification that the sacrifices of the law take away sins, but in the New Testament it contradicts itself because it says without any qualification that they never did.

:This kind of fundamentalistic "either/or" reasoning is devoid of :—The ''[[intelligenceNew Testament]]. This is the kind of [[specious reasoning]] which takes any one particular statement of scripture as an absolute doctrinal truth isolated in contrast and in opposition to others, apart from the whole of the context of the Bible and 20 centuries of developing understanding of the unity of the Christian faith, and sees only contradiction, because "the Bible '' says so", but sees no apparent resolution of the dilemma sacrifices of discrepancy, because the entire Bible is the truth law of GodMoses can never take away sins. See [[Law of Non-Contradiction]] "''Two truths cannot contradict one another''"https://www. Compare [[Paradox]]biblegateway. See also [[Relativismcom/passage/?search=Hebrews+10%3A1-11&version=RSVCE Hebrews 10:1-11]], [[Casuistry]], [[Sophistry]] and [[Polemic]].

::—The Bible in the Old Testament says without any qualification that the sacrifices of the law take away sins, but in the New Testament it contradicts itself because it says without any qualification that they never did. :This kind of fundamentalistic "either/or" reasoning is devoid of [[intelligence]]. This is the kind of [[specious reasoning]] which takes any one particular statement of scripture as an absolute doctrinal truth isolated in contrast and in opposition to others, apart from the whole of the context of the Bible and 20 centuries of developing understanding of the unity of the Christian faith, and sees only contradiction, because "the Bible says so", but sees no apparent resolution of the dilemma of discrepancy, because the entire Bible is supposed to be the truth of God. See [[Law of Non-Contradiction]] "''Two truths cannot contradict one another''". Compare [[Paradox]]. See also [[Relativism]], [[Casuistry]], [[Sophistry]] and [[Polemic]]. :Conservative Christian believers who believe the Bible is the inspired word of God expressed in human language believe that the Bible does not lie or contradict itself, because God the Author cannot lie or deny Himself. Compare<br> [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3%3A16-17&version=RSVCE '''2 Timothy 3:16-17''' "all scripture is inspired by God"]; <br>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+1%3A2&version=RSVCE '''Titus 1:2''' "God, who cannot lie"]; <br>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A35&version=RSVCE '''John 10:35''' "scripture cannot be broken"]. <br>Apparent contradictions in the Bible cannot simply be ignored in hope that no one will notice and the problem will go away ([[Cafeteria Christianity]]). For some Bible readers the apparent dilemma finally becomes unavoidable, and the apparently inescapable difficulties seen can become a real crisis of faith. These apparent contradictions disappear when read within the context of the whole of the Bible, within the whole history of the understanding (mind) of the community of the whole body of Christ. This is what is called the ''sensus fidelium'', the "sense of the faithful", according to discernment of the truth contained in divine revelation. It is not identical with the meaning of what is called a consensus of the majority based on [[Public Opinion Poll|polls]] of public [[opinion]]. See [[Apostolic succession]] (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, etc.). Catholics in addition to this also have recourse to the [[Magisterium]]. Protestants look to the Reformation tradition based on the principles of the ''[[Five Solas]]''.

:[[Specious reasoning|Speciously apparent]] contradictions in the biblical text have been seen by some as providing sufficient ground for a willing pretext, or (unfortunately) an ''unwilling'' pretext, or opportunity for [[apostasy]] from the faith. Many have been so [[scandal]]ized by what they think are inconsistencies in the Bible that they have decided that Christian belief is [[Logical fallacy|wrong]]ly founded on [[falsehood]]s and [[myth]]s without any basis in reality and therefore cannot be true (''"so why should we believe it?"''). The majority of [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologists]] could easily cite the parable of the sower of the seed, and the meaning of "[[Satan]]" as "accuser, faultfinder", the [[Devil]], "the birds of the air" taking away the word ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A18-30&version=RSVCE Matthew 13:18-30]). This is evident in those Christians and non-Christian observers who find fault with Christians in general, with their pastors and ministers, with the preaching of the sermon or homily, with the way the Bible is read in church, with the reasoning of [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologists]], and with all sorts of other things in Christianity, either with things in particular, or things as a whole. The word of truth when they hear it is taken away from their heart by the "nitpicking" accusations of a spirit of faultfinding. The word is taken away by the Accuser of the Brethren.  :There are Christians who place their faith solely in Christ and the truth of the Bible alone without relying on the Church or any scholarly research (''[[sola spiritu]]''), and there are Christians who place their faith in Christ and the Church alone without feeling the necessity of relying solely on understanding the truth of the Bible to confirm their faith. There are also those [[Hypocrites|hypocritical individuals]] who are comfortable in being [[Christian In Name Onlyin name only|nominal believers]] for whom doctrine is simply a casual matter of [[opinion]] and [[indifference]], like those careless individuals who are [[Cafeteria Catholic|Catholic in name only]], Christians who believe the Bible does not actually need to be true, who see no need for debate over its meaning, content to be "reasonably moral citizens" who go to church when it is convenient, who pray from time to time when it occurs to them, and are untroubled by apparent inconsistencies and contradictions. They indirectly support the [[Social Gospel|social gospel]] without being [[Activism|activists]] and implicitly accept a vague and indefinite form of [[preterism]]. For them a culturally rich Christianity is ''[[Aesthetics|esthetically pleasing]]''; intellectually, morally, and emotionally satisfying. The simple faith of those untroubled by "contradictions" rests on the belief that ultimately all mysteries will be revealed in heaven. [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+131&version=RSVCE Psalm 131]. Compare [[Eternal security (salvation)]].

:Those whose faith dismisses, even strenuously resists, on ''doctrinal principle'', all appeals to supportive arguments based on reasonable logic and scholarly research outside of the Bible, in defense of the reasonable truth of Christianity, are said to have "blind faith". They are presented by liberal [[Skepticism|skeptics]] as evidence of the "ignorant stupidity" of Christian belief ([[Nutpicking]]). But the adherents of "blind faith" Christianity represent only a small minority among Christian believers in the truth of the Bible and the claims of the Christian faith of the apostles. They have been misled ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A29&version=RSVCE Matthew 22:29]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12%3A24&version=RSVCE Mark 12:24]). They claim to know the Bible, but they do not know the Bible. They utterly ignore (''disobey, don't believe'') the scripture that says, "'''and ''be'' ready always to ''give'' an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you'''" ([https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/1Peter%203%3A15 1 Peter 3:15]). They stand on the simple, uncomplicated truth that all scripture is inspired of God for training in righteousness that the "man of God" may be complete, equipped for every good work ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3%3A16-17&version=RSVCE 2 Timothy 3:16-17]). It is enough for them to read it. But in their unconscious pride of being "plain and simple" believers, "''unlike those who have been misled by the [[relativism]] of academically trained intellectuals who ''[[ipso facto]]'' heed deceitful spirits and doctrines of devils''" ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+4%3A1&version=RSVCE 1 Timothy 4:1]), they are unaware of the very real danger of the possibility that, being deliberately ignorant, they can unintentionally "wrest" (twist) the scriptures to their own destruction ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+3%3A16-17&version=RSVCE 2 Peter 3:16-17]). When confronted with what seem to be apparently contradictory inconsistencies in the Bible, and not knowing how to answer, and finally believing that there is no answer (because they have no confidence in the intelligent scholarship and research of academics and theologians with university degrees who do believe in the [[Biblical inerrancy|inerrantly]] inspired truth of the Bible, and thus are self-deprived of the possibility of having any recourse to informed, knowledgeable insights and answers in defense of the truth), they may lose their faith and fall away ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+6%3A4-8&version=RSVCE Hebrews 6:4-8]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+10%3A23-31&version=RSVCE 10:23-31]), because they have no confidence in the intelligent scholarship and research of academics and theologians with university degrees who '''do''' believe in the [[Biblical inerrancy|inerrantly]] inspired truth of the Bible, and have thus deprived themselves of the possibility of having any recourse to informed, knowledgeable insights and answers in defense of the truth. Satan has gained advantage over them because they have been kept ignorant of his designs by their own ignorant teachers who in many cases are perhaps not deliberately and personally at fault, and are [[Invincible ignorance|innocentinnocently ignorant]]ly ignorant even though intelligent, having been themselves ignorantly taught by their own teachers , whom they trusted , who likewise trusted those who taught them before them, all the way back to those who first decided to do away with intelligent understanding as being inherently fraught with danger, who reject intelligence as being hostile to the purely innocent simplicity of faith alone, [[sola fide]] ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+15%3A14&version=RSVCE Matthew 15:14];[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+2%3A11&version=RSVCE 2 Corinthians 2:11]). They can "fall away from Christ" when they cannot "give a reason for the hope that is in them", based solely on their belief in the truth of the Bible, when confronted by apparent contradictions of inconsistency within it, and they know not what to do. This is tragic. Satan (Accuser, Faultfinder) has snared them by their own ignorance and they have fallen into Its trap. But if in the midst of their innocent ignorance and confusion they truly desire to know the truth, God will not finally abandon them, and he will ultimately bring them to Himself ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A7-11&version=RSVCE Matthew 7:7-11]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+18%3A24-28&version=RSVCE Acts 18:24-28]). See [[Invincible ignorance]].

:There are many competent verse-by-verse biblical commentaries available in print and online which deal with internal consistency of the Bible regarding particular passages that appear to contradict or to be contradicted by other passages. Most of them offer traditional Christian understandings of how apparent contradictions are in reality only [[Eisegesis|superficial misinterpretations of interpretive readings ]] based on a lack of sufficient knowledge, inknowledge—in-depth ''extra-biblical'' knowledge, of [[Hermeneutics]]and [[Historical-critical method (Higher criticism)|legitimate, knowledge faith-based Higher Criticism]]—knowledge which is not provided by the Bible itself as a whole, but which provides means to discern ''the true [[Historical-critical method (Higher criticism)#The literal sense of scripture|literal sense of scripture]]''. They ably demonstrate that these apparently contradictory texts are in fact verses and passages known to experts in [[Hermeneutics|biblical criticism]] to be reconcilable and resolved without any contradiction, primarily because within the context of the whole teaching of the Bible there is actually no real conflict or contradiction of meaning between them. This is part of the profoundly consoling spiritual work of mercy called "counselling the doubtful" (see [[Corporal and spiritual works of mercy]]). [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+5%3A19-20&version=RSVCE James 5:19-20].

:But not all biblical commentators offer individual explicit commentary on particular difficulties of particular verses and texts which might or might not appear to be contradictory, but only indirectly touch on them, or simply pass over them in silence without specifically addressing the particular issue the inquiring reader might wish to find resolved or examined. The inquiring student and Bible reader can occasionally come away unsatisfied and unexpectedly disappointed with available commentaries and Bible dictionaries.

:Those few independent, liberal biblical scholars and textual critics in the field of [[Historical-critical method (Higher criticism)|Higher Criticism]] , who do '''''not ''''' believe in the inspired and [[Biblical inerrancy|inerrant unity of the biblical text]] , often (''but not always'') regard the results of successful harmonization of scriptural "difficulties" by conservative biblical scholars , results submitted by those researchers who are in full accordance with Christian doctrine and dogma , as unconvincing, dishonest denials of facts presenting what liberal scholars see as "undeniably" opaque mysteries involving unsolvable difficulties. It is a fact that researchers can reach radically different interpretations when confronted with the same identical textual evidence ([[Cognitive bias]]; [[Confirmation bias]]; [[Prejudice]]; [[Enmity]]; [[Invincible ignorance]]; [[Fallacy of invincible ignorance]]). Compare [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+14%3A1&version=RSVCE Romans 14:1].

:An excellent example of apologetic writing in defense of the internal consistency of the Bible is '''John Grigg Hewlett, D.D. Bible difficulties explained (1860)''' (pdf text available free at [http://menuadvisor.co.uk/pdfbooks/519653-read-bible-difficulties-explained-pdf.html Bible difficulties explained epub download free])<br>See also [https://defendinginerrancy.com/bible-difficulties/ '''Solutions to Bible "Errors"''' (defendinginerrancy.com)]

::[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+19%3A18&version=RSVCE Leviticus 19:18]<br>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+139%3A21-22&version=RSVCE Psalm 139:21-22]<br>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+5%3A15&version=RSVCE Amos 5:15a] "''Hate evil, and love good...''"

:Their ''primary'' purpose is to appear righteous, to get glory from men, not to pray to God (which is only incidental to their purpose). To be seen praying is only a means to an end, to be praised by an audience, to gain advantage for themselves by cultivating a reputation (Matthew 23:5-7). They think that God will be compelled to honor them as well, because they outwardly praise His name. They make themselves the primary object of honor, not God. The same intent is seen in the ostensibly righteous objection that money spent of the purchase of things donated in honor of the Lord ought to have been given instead to the poor [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12%3A4-6&version=RSVCE John 12:4-6] "''This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief''".:Parallel Matthew 6:5 "'''''[[Charity|alms]]'''...that they may be '''seen ''' by men...'''they have received their reward.'''''", 6:16 "''that they may be '''seen ''' by men to be '''[[fasting]]'''...'''they have received their reward'''''"; 23:5-7. Compare [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+6%3A4-10&version=RSVCE 1 &nbsp;Timothy 6:4-10"imagining that godliness is a means of gain"]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16%3A14-15&version=RSVCE Luke 16:14-15"who were lovers of money"]; [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/josephus/ant-20.htm Josephus ''Ant.'' 20.9.'''2''' <nowiki>[205-207]</nowiki> "the high priest Ananias...he was a great hoarder up of money..." (''scroll down from chapter one to chapter nine and locate paragraph'' '''2''')].

:That is their primary reward, their hope. They have achieved their whole end, that is their goal. No further reward remains to them. The additional praise they expect as a result of being seen may not always follow (''not all Jews admired them, because of their reputation for pride'' [Ant. 20.9.2], ''and their arrogant contempt for the common people who did not know every detail of the [[Torah]]'' John 7:49), but they have what they desired, to be seen by an audience (1 &nbsp;Timothy 6:3-10). The interpretation of Jesus of the real meaning of genuinely good works as the works of evildoers in Matthew 7:21-23 is clearly explained, "''I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.''" Those who prophesy in Jesus' name, cast out demons in his name, and do many mighty works in his name, "to be seen by men", are not doing these good things for the glory of God, or from a motive of compassion, but for their own reputation and glorification. Their hearts are not right with Him ([https://biblehub.com/john/5-42.htm John 5:42] and [https://biblehub.com/acts/8-21.htm Acts 8:21]). They are not in fact actually "'''''DO'''''-ing the will of my Father who is in heaven", but their own will. Whatever real good they do is incidental to their true purpose, to serve their real ends. (see Matthew 25:34-46; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Sirach+14%3A7&version=NRSVCE Sirach 14:7].) <br>Compare [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_timothy/5-24.htm 1 Timothy 5:24-25"''the sins of some are conspicuous...others appear later''"] and <br>[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/revelation/22-11.htm Revelation 22:11] "''let them continue''", in light of Matthew 15:13-14 "''leave them alone''"; also <br>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A24-30&version=RSVCE Matthew 13:24-30] "''Let both grow together''" and [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+4%3A5&version=RSVCE 1&nbsp;Corinthians 4:5]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+14%3A10-12&version=RSVCE Romans 14:10-12].

:In light of Matthew 23:15, 33 and Luke 11:39-52, many instead interpret the phrase, "''they have their reward''", as a warning of future judgment, "''they will have the'' [evil] ''fruit of their labors''", "''they will get what's coming to them''" or "''they will be punished for their hypocrisy''". But while this is undeniably and fundamentally true on the final day of judgment for unrepentant religious hypocrites, that is not the immediate lesson Jesus is teaching here. The hypocrites already have what they wanted: to be seen. He urges his disciples, his listeners, to not thus deprive themselves of the true blessing of God, but instead to honestly from their hearts glorify God by their [[corporal and spiritual works of mercy]] sincerely done in his name, with compassionate love for God and man (Mark 12:29-34), so that God Himself, pleased with them for their sincerity of heart in seeking to be like Him as faithful sons and daughters (Matthew 6:48), will openly reward them for their obedient fear and love of Him in their delighting to do good to those in need, to those in pain and despair who wish to know by visible, living, practical example the truth of God's goodness toward all mankind, by "'''''good works'''''" <br>([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A14-16&version=KJV Matthew 5:14-16] ''contrast'' [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A1-18&version=KJV Matthew 6:1-18]; see [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A10&version=KJV Ephesians 2:10]).

:The Greek word here is '''βαττολογήσητε''' ''battologesete'' from '''βαττολογέω''' ''battologeo'', which comes from '''βάττος''' ''battos,'' a "stammerer", someone who stutters or uses meaningless syllables. This would apply much more to the practice of '''γλωσσολαλία''' ''glossolalia'' "[[speaking in tongues]]", than to the frequent repeating of a great prayer, such as [[The Lord's Prayer]] or [[Psalm 23|The Twenty-third Psalm]]. <br>(Greek '''γλωσσολαλία''' ''glossolalia'', from '''γλώσσα''' ''glossa'' "tongue" and '''λαλέω''' ''laleō'' "talking" or "vocalizing" (with or without any apparent meaning) ''speak, chat, prattle, or make a sound''), to "[[speaking in tongues]]", than to the frequent repeating of a great prayer, such as [[The Lord's Prayer]] or [[Psalm 23|The Twenty-third Psalm]].

:Jesus does not condemn repetitive prayer, but vain, empty, mechanical, "parroting" of prayer without any understanding or awareness of the meaning of the prayer, in imitation of the practice of [[Paganism|pagan]] and [[Gnosticism|gnostic]] [[cult]]s, the mechanical rotating of [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] prayer wheels without thinking about the prayers, and the repetitive chanting of ''mantras''. All of the major Christian denominations, Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, likewise condemn "empty" prayers.

:Compare <br>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+136&version=KJV '''Psalm 136''' "his mercy ''endureth'' forever" — '''26 times!''']<br>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+5%3A17&version=KJV '''1 Thessalonians 5:17''' "''pray without ceasing''"]<br>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A15&version=KJV '''Hebrews 13:15''' "''continually offer up a sacrifice of praise''"]<br>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A19-20&version=KJV '''Ephesians 5:19-20''' "''always and for everything giving thanks''"]<br>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A16&version=KJV '''Colossians 3:16''' "''sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God''"]<br>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18%3A1&version=KJV '''Luke 18:1'''] and [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18%3A7&version=KJV '''18:7'''] [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18%3A1-9&version=KJV (''verses'' '''1-9''')]<br> —'''Jesus:''' "''pray always''", "''constantly''"<br>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+5%3A7&version=KJV '''Hebrews 5:7''' "''in the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears''"]<br>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+10%3A2-4&version=RSVCE '''Acts 10:2-4''' "''a devout man who...prayed constantly to God''"]

:This phrase is not found in the best early manuscripts of Matthew 6:13. Luke does not include it (Luke 11:2-4). The early Church scholars and biblical authorities (historically called "the [[Apostolic Fathers]]" and "the early Church Fathers") who commented on the Lord's Prayer make no mention of it. Jerome does not mention it and it does not appear in his Latin translation of the Bible, the [[Vulgate]]. See

:A direct allusion to the [[Septuagint]] text, <br>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Sirach+29%3A11-12&version=RSVCE '''Sirach 29:11-12'''].

:The minor pagan deity of wealth or money, of economic financial gain and business profit. According to the ''Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary'', the word "<small>MAMMON</small>", in general use was a personification of riches as an evil spirit or deity.<br>:—''Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary'', General Editors Chad Brand, Charles Draper, Archie England; Associate Editors Steve Bond, E. Ray Clendenen; General Editor, Holman Bible Dictionary Trent C. Butler; copyright 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, all rights reserved, p.1073a. ISBN: 978-0-8054-2836-0

:Jesus also said, "Do not judge by appearances, but '''judge with right judgment'''." John 7:24<br>This is no contradiction.

:"Judge not" in Matthew 7:1 is part of a Semitic form of expression called parallelism in which "judge not" is joined to "condemn not". [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A37&version=RSVCE '''Luke 6:37''']. The idea expressed is the same. <br>The passage in John 7:24 expresses a different intention of "judging rightly" as "''[[Discernment|discerning properly]]''" according to the truth. Compare

::7:12 parallels LXX [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Tobit+4%3A15&version=RSVCE '''Tobit 4:15 '''] <br> 7:16 and 20 both parallel LXX [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Sirach+27%3A6&version=RSVCE '''Sirach 27:6 ''']