Is the Bible full of contradictions?

Published on 6 December 2025 at 08:20

bible objections answered

[i]Is the Bible full of contradictions?

Christians hold that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, authored by a perfect and truthful God, ensuring its reliability and authority.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV): “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
John 17:17 (NIV): “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
Since God is infallible, His Word cannot contain contradictions, as it reflects His perfect nature and divine intent.
Written over approximately 1,500 years by about 40 authors across diverse cultures and languages, the Bible maintains a unified message centred on God’s redemptive plan for humanity.
Alleged contradictions often stem from misunderstandings, lack of context, or misinterpretations, not from actual errors within the text itself.
Cultural and historical context is crucial, as ancient literary styles, idioms, and perspectives must be understood to interpret texts accurately.
Biblical accounts are frequently complementary rather than contradictory, providing multiple perspectives that enrich understanding.
The Bible is self-explanatory, serving as an authoritative document when studied holistically, harmonising its teachings across its diverse books.
Faith and reason work together, with Christians trusting in divine inspiration while employing logic, history, and textual analysis to affirm the Bible’s consistency.

[ii] Principles for dealing with apparent contradictions

Start with a fair-minded attitude

Approach the Bible with an open mind, treating it as you would any historical text or eyewitness testimony, assuming coherence until proven otherwise.
For example, the Gospels provide varying accounts of Jesus’ resurrection; rather than indicating contradiction, these multiple perspectives enhance credibility, similar to diverse yet truthful witness testimonies in a courtroom.

Examine the text in context

Read verses within their full literary and historical context to discern their intended meaning, avoiding superficial interpretations.
Matthew 7:1 (NIV): “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” This verse is often misused to prohibit all judgement, but Matthew 7:1-5 clarifies it addresses hypocritical judgment, not discernment or accountability.

Let the Bible explain itself

Use clearer biblical passages to interpret difficult ones, ensuring a harmonious understanding across Scripture.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV): “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast,” appears to conflict with James 2:24 (NIV): “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.”
Context reveals that Ephesians emphasises salvation by faith apart from works, while James clarifies that genuine faith produces good works, harmonising the two without contradiction.

Don’t confuse approximation with error

Ancient cultures permitted numerical approximations without viewing them as errors, reflecting their literary conventions.
For example, 2 Samuel 24:9 reports 800,000 soldiers, while 1 Chronicles 21:5 cites 1,100,000. One account may include reserve forces, while the other counts only active troops, providing different but accurate details.

Old Testament quotations are not always literal

New Testament writers often paraphrased Old Testament prophecies to highlight their fulfilment, prioritising meaning over verbatim quotation.
Matthew 2:6, quoting Micah 5:2 (NIV): “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” The wording differs slightly, but the core meaning about the Messiah’s birthplace remains consistent.

Different perspectives do not mean contradiction

Different accounts emphasize varied details without contradicting each other, offering complementary viewpoints.
Matthew 28:2-5 (NIV) mentions one angel at Jesus’ tomb: “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.” John 20:12 (NIV) mentions two: “and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.”
There is no contradiction; Matthew focuses on the speaking angel, while John notes the presence of two, reflecting selective emphasis.

Considering People’s Earthly Perspective

Biblical descriptions often reflect human perspectives and language, not scientific inaccuracies, aligning with the audience’s worldview.
Critics cite Isaiah 11:12 (NIV): “He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth,” as implying a flat earth. The phrase “four quarters” refers to cardinal directions (north, south, east, west), not the earth’s shape.

Description does not imply approval

The Bible records events without necessarily endorsing them, distinguishing between descriptive and prescriptive texts.
For example, David’s polygamy in 2 Samuel 5:13 is described, but Deuteronomy 17:17 (NIV) warns: “He [a king] must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray.” David’s family struggles in 2 Samuel 13-18 illustrate the negative consequences, showing God’s disapproval.

Don’t be afraid of copyist variants

Minor manuscript variations, such as numerical differences, do not affect core theological teachings, as they are typically scribal errors.
Numbers 25:9 (NIV): “Those who died in the plague numbered 24,000,” contrasts with 1 Corinthians 10:8 (NIV): “We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.”
Paul may refer to deaths in a single day, while Numbers accounts for the entire event, with minor copyist errors not impacting doctrinal truths.

Remember who the boss is

God’s actions, though sometimes appearing harsh, reflect His justice and divine purposes, which surpass human understanding.
For example, God’s command to destroy the Canaanites in Deuteronomy 20:16-18 (NIV): “However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. so that they may not teach you to do all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and so you do not sin against the LORD your God.”
Canaanite practices, like child sacrifice (Leviticus 18:21, NIV: “Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God”), justified God’s judgment.
Genesis 15:16 (NIV): “In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure,” shows God’s patience, giving them over 400 years to repent, protecting Israel’s covenant purity for His redemptive plan.

Conclusion

The Bible is not full of contradictions but is a coherent, unified document when studied in its historical, cultural, and literary context.
Apparent contradictions arise from misunderstandings or lack of context, not from flaws in the text itself.
By applying logic, historical and textual analysis, and faith in its divine inspiration, the Bible emerges as an authoritative and consistent revelation of God’s plan for humanity.

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