Expert: Eric Christy - 8/21/2006

Question
Hello there i was wondering if you could show me one of these bible contraditions you say exist ..I have studied them and i find very good answers to all of them.Maby you could show me one that I cannot explain ..  thanks and God bless.

Answer
Hello,

Yes, there are bible contradictions and I will give you two kinds to demonstrate they exist. But I would like to say that though the bible does contain errors, that does not negate its authority. God used man to copy and recopy the texts down through the ages, and this virtually guaranteed that errors would creep into the text sooner or later. If God wanted an inerrant text, He would have been forced to make the copies Himself and then distributed them to humans. The fact that He used man to do the copying guaranteed errors would creep into the text. And, we didn't disappoint Him. We came through!

Now, here are two representative errors in our bible. The first one is less serious and is called "copyist error". These kinds of errors exist showing our bible is not inerrant, but do not affect doctrine, so they are not as serious. The next one is "textual tampering error", and it is serious, though can be dealt with. An example of copyist error is the following.

Copyist Error:
King Ahaziah is 22 years old when he began to reign--2nd Kings 8:26. But in 2nd Chronicles 22:2, King Ahaziah is 42 years old. The error is the discrepancy in the ages of the same King. The error remains in the text in the King James Version, but in the New International Version they state the King Ahaziah was 22, but in their footnotes admit that the Hebrew states he was 42. Clearly, an error in the age for King Ahaziah has occured. Not serious, as it does not affect any doctrines, but proves that the bible does contain error.

Textual Tampering Error:
Read the story of the woman caught in the 'act' of John 8:1-11. This is not a historical event in the life of Christ. It did not happen. In other words, it is a lie! Here is how we know. All copies of John's gospel prior to 400 AD do *NOT* contain this story! Then, all of a sudden, it appears in copies after 400 AD. Some scribe put it there, but it was not in earlier copies of John's gospel. This is a serious error, but can be honestly dealt with by admitting to it and not using it in one's testimony of Jesus Christ as one witnesses to folks. And this isn't all. The story appeared in Luke's gospel, but was removed. We ask, why? It appeared in Mark's gospel, but was removed. Again, we ask, why? Finally, it migrates to John's gospel where it never was! You guessed it, we ask, why?

And no one knows why!

This example of textual tampering has more problems than just the historicity question, which is bad enough to make it a serious error. But it is even worse than this. For this account of the woman caught in the 'act' has also serious doctrinal flaws in it. This account has Jesus violating the very laws He gave to Moses, in His pre-incarnate state as God, explaining what to do to adulterous people. The law He gave to Moses stated that adulterers were to be tried, and if found guilty, to be put to death. Jesus did not demand the requisite trial, but instead said "he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone". But the law He gave to Moses did not require those casting stones to "be without sin". If He had demanded that, then no one could be tried and punished because *ALL* have sinned. Essentially, Jesus broke His own law He gave to Moses and furthermore denies previously stated scripture and doctrine. Jesus makes it easy to commit adultery because there cannot be punishment for it. Jesus concluded this story by saying to the woman "go, and sin no more." But that is not the point. The point is that Jesus lets people off the hook for what He demanded they be killed for in the law that *HE* gave to Moses!

So, here are two examples of real error in our bible. I am not bothered by them like I used to be because I have researched these matters extensively and have understood that if God wanted a perfect book, He would have been forced to write it and make all the copies Himself. God allows errors so that we can learn to know what is true about the bible and what is false. Thank God that there aren't too many errors, but they do exist, as you can now see. Only the ignorant Christian says our bible is inerrant. Ignorant, or worse, dishonest. And I do see how claiming the bible is inerrant is going to further God's Kingdom, when to any honest and thinking person, the bible clearly has errors. Much better for God, and for Christians, is that we Christians admit the truth about our bible. I believe the bible is almost inerrant, and the errors it does contain can be honestly dealt with. The truth demands we be honest with our bible. Truth is the best policy.

I hope this helps. If you have any further questions, please contact me.

Eric