Contradictions in the Bible

[Nancy]

Hi there all,

Over the years i have read many books with different points of view and i try to get as much scriptural backing as possible. Book such as Conversations with God, The Power of Now, Deepak Chopras' books, Eric Butterworths', and a brilliant book by Brother John Raul called 'Who told you that you were naked'. And many many more.  And of course i am fascinated by near death experiencers testimonies.

My puzzle is how come even in the bible, there are numerous contradictions between what St. Paul said about God and what Jesus said?
For instance, Jesus said that the Father judges no man and yet St Paul says 'Why is He (God) still blaming?'.
Jesus said that the Father lets the sun shine on the good and evil alike and St Paul says 'Don't be avenging yourselves because the Father will do the avenging.
Jesus told the disciples who wanted to bring fire from heaven that they didn't know what spirit they were of.
St Paul talks about those who are perishing and eonian extermination from the Lord.

In his book John Raul mentions that God doesn't see evil but to Him there is only good, so how is there going to be any judgement?
The only thing i can think of is when near death experiencers say that they judged themselves but God didn't.
Hope this isn't too much information to get your head around!

Godbless
Nancy

[Jerm]

Very interesting topic Nancy, should provide some good discussion.  I too have also noticed the differences that you mention but to be honest, I haven't spent enough time studying to provide any good answer.  One thing I think should not be overlooked as far as the differences between what Paul and Jesus respectively said is the time frame.  With Jesus, He was speaking to an (almost) exclusively Jewish audience who were awaiting the arrival of the Kingdom of God on Earth. With Paul, he is speaking to both Jews and Gentiles (mostly Gentiles) after the Cross and Resurrection (Notice that the concept of Grace is almost exclusively mentioned in Paul's letters.)  Like I said, I haven't studied enough yet to provide a more expanded answer, but still, I think what I've mentioned here is something that shouldn't be overlooked.

[jabcat]

differences between what Paul and Jesus respectively said is the time frame.  With Jesus, He was speaking to an (almost) exclusively Jewish audience who were awaiting the arrival of the Kingdom of God on Earth. With Paul, he is speaking to both Jews and Gentiles (mostly Gentiles) after the Cross and Resurrection (Notice that the concept of Grace is almost exclusively mentioned in Paul's letters.) 

Not saying I've got every specific answer to this either, much in scripture I don't fully understand...bares some study and discussion.  But I so strongly agree with this Jerm.  To whom, about what, when, etc. can be crucial keys to understand and reconcile ...(the Coverdale/Wycliffe quote in my signature...IMO, a concept often missed, often a mistake  :bigGrin:)

[willieH]

willieH: Hi Nancy...  :cloud9:

The only contradictory things in Scripture are due to MEN and their additions/deletions... such as translating GEHENNA, Hades, Tartarus, and Sheol into the single English word HELL, then making it a never-ending HORROR... for those who reject CHRIST...

You are welcome to disagree with my thoughts, but here is how I see it:

My puzzle is how come even in the bible, there are numerous contradictions between what St. Paul said about God and what Jesus said?

These amongst others, are the veilings (cherubim) sown into the WORD which will not appear to unspiritual (veiled) eyes... and which render BLINDNESS unto them... Rom 11:25  ...They cannot SEE the WORD, even though it is RIGHT BEFORE their EYES...  :dontknow:

For instance, Jesus said that the Father judges no man and yet St Paul says 'Why is He (God) still blaming?'.

GOD does not "blame" the SPIRIT (vessel of HONOR), and does not JUDGE the SPIRIT, for it is the portion of HIM that is US (Father) and the portion of US that is HIM (children) as He IS, ALL in ALL, and NEVER CHANGES... 

He finds fault with the FLESH, the vessel of DISHONOR... Rom 9:21-22 -- Some are "chosen" [elect] to be light in this world, but most are not.  This truth is found even amongst those who bear His name -- Matt 7:22-23

Many read this verse which are "Christian" and either dismiss it, or find it contrary, for no man can call JESUS "Lord" except by the Holy Spirit, and the CONFESSION of the Name of CHRIST, "cements" SALVATION -- Rom 10:13 --  yet we see CHRIST rejecting these who CALL HIM LORD...

It is in the understanding of WHEN "that DAY" mentioned in Matt 7:22 -- actually occurs that tells the tale!  Most observe this "DAY" ...to be at the END of time... but this is actually speaking of ...NOW... for NOW is the DAY of GOD... ALL "generations" appear in the CREATIVE, "DAY" of GOD --

Gen 2:4  These are the GENERATIONS of the Heavens and the Earth in the ...DAY... that YHVH God made the Earth and the Heavens.

Jesus said that the Father lets the sun shine on the good and evil alike and St Paul says 'Don't be avenging yourselves because the Father will do the avenging.

The "avenging" is the destruction of the FLESH which takes place for ALL, in THIS LIFE... The flesh is then SOWN into the earth from which it came, to ARISE to LIFE again, this time putting on INCORRUPTION... (without ADVERSITY present within -- James 1:14)

Paul notes that FIRE which actually DESTROYS, is a SAVING element:  1 Cor 3:11-15... in this passage ALL works of men are placed upon the ONLY foundation (FIRE of this life -- Lake of FIRE), when this is done... those works done IN CHRIST will abide, and works NOT IN CHRIST shall be destroyed (moments of our lives), but the FIRE (this life), when it is done... actually SAVES the one IN IT... (vs 15)

Jesus told the disciples who wanted to bring fire from heaven that they didn't know what spirit they were of.
St Paul talks about those who are perishing and eonian extermination from the Lord.

Again Nancy... this is speaking of being IN CHRIST while in the FLESH of destruction... CHRIST noted that it was INCORRECT to call for GOD to destroy... for DESTRUCTION was already IN PROGRESS for ALL... and it is HIS CALL, when destruction of each individual occurs, and prompting via ONES WILL (prayer) for it to come as a matter of YOUR DESIRE, is NOT acceptable.

Many "preachers" beckon others to pray, that God might "move the day of redemption closer"... and thereby prompt their hearers, to give them money, so the work can get "done", so that "closer date" can be accomplished...

This is FALSE teaching.  Father YHVH has already picked out the LAST DAY... No amount of money or prayer will change that day, by "moving it up" in time...

It is not wrong to offer the prayer of HOPE that this day will be SOON... but to insist before GOD, to "change His Plan" to fit our desires, is misled...

In his book John Raul mentions that God doesn't see evil but to Him there is only good, so how is there going to be any judgement?

I believe this as well, with one difference... JUDGMENT is not a BAD thing... It is a GOOD THING, for when JUDGMENT is enacted, then HOLINESS points out UNHOLINESS... and IN this, is HOLINESS understood... This is the process which occurs in those who are "DRAGGED" -- John 12:31 - John 6:44 -- to CHRIST while in the FLESH...

JUDGMENT:  You are shown YOURSELF by GOD... and simultaneously shown CHRIST, to which you fall to your knees, and confess... ALL shall have done this by the completion of the LAST DAY in which JUDGEMENT and RESURRECTION takes place -- John 6:44 -- John 12:48

Those who are called and chosen in THIS LIFE, find their "JUDGMENT" in this life and as, their SIN shown is to them, they are then CLOTHED by CHRIST... Rev 3:18 -- Also see that in the Parable of the LOST SON, ...at his CONFESSION of himself -- Luke 15:21-22 the Father CLOTHES him with the BEST "ROBE" [CHRIST/WORD]...

Most shall find this to occur at the Resurrection.  The TEARS that God wipes away -- Rev 21:4 -- aren't from those who came to know Him in this life... they are wiped away from those whose SIN came forth with them from the grave of death, as they arose.  In this moment, is INCORRUPTION (which is the WORD), put on them, as with the LOST (Prodigal) Son...

:Peace:

...willieH  :cloud9:

[martincisneros]

My puzzle is how come even in the bible, there are numerous contradictions between what St. Paul said about God and what Jesus said?

Different contexts, different statements.

For instance, Jesus said that the Father judges no man and yet St Paul says 'Why is He (God) still blaming?'.

All judgment is committed to the Scriptures through the Church.

Jesus said that the Father lets the sun shine on the good and evil alike and St Paul says 'Don't be avenging yourselves because the Father will do the avenging.

Ever had a sunburn?  Seriously though, God's avenging is simply giving the increase on the seeds sown.  1Corinthians 3, I believe, says that one plants, another waters, but God gives the increase, so that neither is he that planteth anything nor he that watereth, but God that gives the increase.  Therefore, it looks like He's harder on some than others, because if they never were planting the good seed of the Scriptures then they were planting their own words and ideas and when He started giving the increase, things got pretty ugly.  Simple as that.  He prospers what you're doing, and if it's not the incorruptible seed of the Kingdom, you're really not going to like it.  Anything being sown and watered that's not the seed of the Kingdom is literally an abhorence to all flesh.  But it still comes up "Night of the Living Dead" style until someone gets ahold of faith in God's Word and brings the fire of His promises to bare on the situation and brings about either a year of release or of Jubilee, depending on what's appropriate in working with Christ Jesus in His High Priestly ministry in worshipping the Father over the Covenants of Promise.

Jesus told the disciples who wanted to bring fire from heaven that they didn't know what spirit they were of.
St Paul talks about those who are perishing and eonian extermination from the Lord.

Carefully pray about my previous statement over Mark chapter 4.

In his book John Raul mentions that God doesn't see evil but to Him there is only good, so how is there going to be any judgement?

God walks by faith and not by sight.  I don't see any evil either whatsoever, but that's 'cause my eyes are glued to what He's said and I'm expecting the harvest of that as I faithfully plant that in my heart and water it with my thanksgiving and praise (Colossians 2:6-7)

The only thing i can think of is when near death experiencers say that they judged themselves but God didn't.

Yup!  He shined the full light on what they were doing (John 3:19-21), and at harvest time they're like "oooo! I didn't want that!  I repent!!!! Thank You for showing me that!!!!!!  Is there any way that I can have something else instead??" and mercy begins to triumph over judgment.  Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound.

[Nancy]

Hi there,
thanks willieH. i completely understood what you meant. very profound. i am such a simple person that i feel to my shame that i don't understand the bible very well even though i have read and read it.  i take a long time whatever i undertake to do and i suppose the bible is no exception. maybe God knows that my brain is a little one!!!!!!
Martin i agreed with your statement about the NDEs'.

Godbless
Nancy

[Cardinal]

willieH:
These amongst others, are the veilings (cherubim) sown into the WORD which will not appear to unspiritual (veiled) eyes... and which render BLINDNESS unto them... Rom 11:25  ...They cannot SEE the WORD, even though it is RIGHT BEFORE their EYES...  :dontknow:

:cloud9: Willie, the cherubim ARE woven into the Word made flesh and is one of the more spiritually profound truths that is LITERALLY done by the Spirit. Thank You Father for witness.  :thumbsup:

He placed them there so that no man could come to the Father (thru ANY doctrines) unless the Father call him, lest any man should boast and say he did it (by his "correct" doctrines). Not gonna happen. He looks at the motive of the heart. Blessings....