Freethought & Rationalism Archive

John Kesler · 06-03-2005, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moxy
I'm sure bible contradictions have been thoroughly discussed around here, but I can't seem to find exactly what I'm looking for. I've seen some examples from the list at SAB, but many of them do not seem solid enough, there is always some wiggle room to explain it away.

Does anyone have a few examples that are so opposed they simply cannot be resolved as something other than a contradiction?

As has been mentioned, there is no such thing as an unanswerable Bible contradiction. However, here is what I consider to be an inconsistency not easily explained away. In 1 Samuel 16 is the story of King Saul's torment by "an evil spirit from Yahweh" (V: 14). In an effort to gain some relief, Saul requests that a skilled musician be found. I will quote the remainder of the chapter. Pay attention to the highlighted portions:

Quote:

1 Samuel 16:18-23 (NRSV with Yahweh)
18 One of the young men answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a warrior, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence; and Yahweh is with him." 19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me your son David who is with the sheep." 20 Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a kid, and sent them by his son David to Saul. 21 And David came to Saul, and entered his service. Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. 22 Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight." 23 And whenever the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand, and Saul would be relieved and feel better, and the evil spirit would depart from him.

The highlighted words clearly indicate that Saul was well acquainted with David and knew who David's father was. Chapter 17 contains the famous story of David's slaying of Goliath. But look at what the narrative says in verses 55-58. Saul seems unfamiliar with David!

Quote:

1 Samuel 17:55-58 (NRSV)
55 When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this young man?" Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know." 56 The king said, "Inquire whose son the stripling is." 57 On David's return from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."

Keep in mind that David wasn't just another servant who could "get lost in the shuffle." David, we are told in chapter 16,
1) Was Saul's armor-bearer
2) Was "loved greatly" by Saul
3) Was the person who could relieve Saul's suffering at the hands of the "evil spirit"

How likely is it that Saul would forget who David was?

Joan of Bark · 06-06-2005, 12:28 PM

I haven't had time to read all the posts, so forgive me if these have already been mentioned ...

(From the New Revised Standard Version)

Mark 10-18: "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone". Even Jesus claims he is not good, so how can Christians contradict him?

Or how about this one, that rarely gets mentioned?

Luke 9-50: (Jesus says to his disciples) "for he that is not against you is for you"
Luke 11-23 (Jesus again) "he who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters"

Does this mean that if a disciple meets an undecided voter, he/she is FOR the disciples but AGAINST Jesus?

By the way, don't let believers use the "you have to put it in context" argument. When this objection comes up, demand that they actually PUT IT IN CONTEXT, supported with scripture. Usually, they can't.

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06-06-2005, 12:28 PM	#142
Joan of Bark Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pua, in northern Thailand Posts: 2,823	I haven't had time to read all the posts, so forgive me if these have already been mentioned ... (From the New Revised Standard Version) Mark 10-18: "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone". Even Jesus claims he is not good, so how can Christians contradict him? Or how about this one, that rarely gets mentioned? Luke 9-50: (Jesus says to his disciples) "for he that is not against you is for you" Luke 11-23 (Jesus again) "he who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters" Does this mean that if a disciple meets an undecided voter, he/she is FOR the disciples but AGAINST Jesus? By the way, don't let believers use the "you have to put it in context" argument. When this objection comes up, demand that they actually PUT IT IN CONTEXT, supported with scripture. Usually, they can't.

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