I would like some help with these questions, maybe you people can help me out.
These are some unanswered biblical questions, Some of them have already been answered by some of you, you may choose to answer them if you have the time, any of your time is greatly appreciated.Part 1:
(1) "And God said, Let there be light" (Gen. 1:3) and "...And the evening and the morning were the first day" (Gen. 1:5), versus "And God said, 'Let there be light in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night.... ' "And God made two lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.... And the evening and morning were the fourth day" (Gen. 1:14-19).
(a) God created light on the first day; yet there were no moon, sun or stars until the fourth day;
(b) how could it be known when the first three days ended if there was no sun until the fourth day?; and
(c) How could morning be distinguished from evening, if the sun and the moon were yet to be created?
(2) "And God said,'Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yeilding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind.... And the evening and the morning were the third day" (Gen. 1:11-13), versus "And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night; he made the stars also" (Gen. 1:16), and "the evening and the morning were the fourth day" (Gen. 1:19). Vegetation was created on the third day; yet there was no sun for the photosynthesis until the fourth day.
(3) " In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen. 1:1), and"... the evening and the morning were the first day" (Gen.1:5), versus "And God made two great lights; and the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; he made the stars also" (Gen. 1:16) and the evening and the morning were the fourth day" (Gen. 1:19).
(a) According to biblical "science", the earth was created 3 days before the sun, the moon and the stars; •(b) Scientists say there are many stars whose light takes millions of years to reach the earth. How, then, could they be 6,000 to 8,000 years old as many Christians allege?
(4) "And God said, 'Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind...' And the evening and the morning were the third day" (Gen. 1:11-13), versus "And God said, 'Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life... And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly.... And the evening and the morning were the fifth day" (Gen.1:20-23). Genesis says that life existed first on the land as plants and later the seas teemed with living creatures. Geological science says that the sea teemed with animals and vegetable life long before life appeared on land.
(5) " So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds,and every winged bird according to its kind.... And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day" (Gen. 1:21-23 RSV). Geological science says fishes appeared long before the birds. They were not created during the same day or period.
(6) "And God created...every winged fowl after his kind...." (Gen. 1-21) and "And the evening and the morning were the fifth day" (Gen. 1:23), versus "And God made ther beast of the earth... and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind...." (Gen. 1-25), and "... the evening and the morning were the sixth day" (Gen. 1:31). Science says creeping reptiles appeared on the earth before the fowl, not afterwards.
(7) "And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, the beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made...every thing that creepth upon the earth after his kind...." (Gen. 1:24-25). Science contends that reptiles were created long before mammals, not simultaneously. While reptiles existed in the Carboniferous Age, mammals did not appear until the close of the Reptilian Age.
And God said, 'Let the water bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven" (Gen. 1:20). Birds did not emerge from water.
(9) "So God created man in his own image,...male and female created he them" (Gen. 1:27), and "the evening and the morning were the sixth day" (Gen. 1:31). If Adam was created on the 6th day, approximately 6,000 years ago (Bishop Usher's calculations), then nobody lived before 4,000 B.C. Prehistoric men would be fictitious. By tracing the genealogy of Jesus back 77 generations to Adam, the third chapter of Luke also supports belief in a very young earth. If each man had lived approximately 100 years, then the world would be no more than 9,684 (7,700 + 1984) years old. If each of Jesus' ancestors had lived to be 1,000 years old (an age not even reached by Methuselah), the earth would still be only 78,984 (77,000 + 1984) years old, according to creationists.
(10) "And to every beast of the earth, and every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so" (Gen. 1:30). Carnivorous beasts and fowl do not eat green herbs.
(11) "And God saw everything that he had made...." (Gen. 1:31) and "on the seventh day God ended his work" (Gen. 2:2). Scientifically speaking, unless God had male organs or attributes, it is difficult to see how God could be masculine.
(12) "And out of the ground the Lord formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and bought them to Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof" (Gen. 2:19). Environmentally speaking, how could every living creature be brought to any spot in the Middle East or elsewhere without many animals dying because of climatic changes and other factors?
(13) "And Lord God said unto the serpent, 'Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt eat all the days of thy life'..." (Gen. 3:14). If the serpent was a snake, snake-like, or reptilian in character and condemned to crawl upon its belly, how did it move before? And does science know of any serpent that eats dust?
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(a) "... and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, Jusha-bhesed, five." (1 Chron. 3:19-20). How can there be five sons of Zerubbabel when 7 males and one female are listed?
(b) "And it had for its inheritance Beer-sheba, Sheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem, Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazarsuah, Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen- thirteen cities with their villages" (Josh. 19:2-6 RSV). Fourteen cities are listed, not 13.
(c) "The cities belonging to the tribe of the people of Judah in the extreme South, toward the boundary of Edom, were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is Hazor). Amam,Shema, Moladah, Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Bethpelet, Hazar-shual, Beer-sheba, Biziothiah, Baalah, Iim, Ezem, Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon; in all twenty-nine(29) cities, with their villages" (Josh. 15:21-32 RSV). Thirty-six cities are listed, not 29.
(d)"...and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal and Barial, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six" (1Chron. 3:22). Five names don't total six.
(e) "...the sons od Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun,..." (1 Chron. 25:3). Again, five names do not total six.
(f) "And in the lowland, Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, Sha-araim, Adithaim, Gederah, Gederothaim: fourteen cities with their villages" (Josh. 15:33-36 RSV). Fifteen cities are listed, not 14.Bibical authors not only counted inaccurately but often added with comparable precision.
(g) "The whole congregation together (those who returned from the Captivity-Ed.) was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore (42,360)" (Ezra 2:64). The number of people in each tribe that returned from the Captivity are listed from Ezra 2:3 to Ezra 2:60. One need only total the figures to see that 29,818 returned, not 42,360- an error of 12,542.
(h) A similar problem is encourntered in Neh. 7:66, which says, "the whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and three-score (42,360)." One need only add the figures between Neh. 7:8 and Neh. 7:62 to see that the total for all the tribe should have been 31,089, not 42,360-- an error of 11,271. Besides adding inaccurately, Ezra and Nehemiah can't agree on what the total should be. The former supports 29,818 while the latter asserts 31,089.
(i) "And this is the number of them: Thirty (30) charges of gold, a thousand (1,000) charges of silver, nine and twenty (29) knives, Thirty (30) basins of gold, silver basins of a second sort four hundred and ten (410), and vessels a thousand (1,000). All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred (5,400)" (Ezra 1:9-11). Even if all these items were composed of silver and gold, they would not total 5,400 (30+ 1,000+ 29 + 30 + 410 + 1,000=2,499 not 5,400).
(j) "And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari" (Num. 3:17) and "Those that were numbered of them (the Gershonites-Ed.)...were seven thousand and five hundred (7,500)" (Num. 3:22) and "...these are the families of the Kohathites...eight thousand and six hundred (8,600)" and "...these are the families of the Merari. And those that were numbered of them,...were six thousand and two hundred (6,200)" (Num.3:33-34), versus "All that were numbered of the Levites,...were twenty and two thousand (22,000)" (Num. 3:39). The author of Numbers added inaccurately, since 7,500 + 8,600 + 6,200 equals 22,300, not 22,000.
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(a) David took seven hundred (2 Sam. 8:4), seven thousand (1 Chron. 18:4) horsemen from Hadadezer;
(b) Ahaziah was 22 (2 Kings 8:26), 42 (2 Chron. 22:2) years old when he began to reign;
(c) Jehoiachin was 18 ,8 (2 Chron. 36:9) years old when he began to reign and he reigned 3 months 2 Kings 24:8, 3 months and10 days (2 Chron. 36:9);
(d) There were in Israel 8000,000 (2 Sam. 24:9); 1,1000,000 (1 Chron. 21:5) men that drew the sword and there were 500,000 (2 Sam. 24:9), 470,000 (1 Chron. 21:5) men that drew the sword in Judah;
(e) There were 550 (1 Kings 9:23), 250 (2 Chron. 8:10) chiefs of the officers that bare the rule over the people;
(f) Saul's daughter, Michal, had no sons (2 Sam. 6:23), had 5 sons (2 Sam. 21:6) during her lifetime;
(g) Lot was Abraham's nephew (Gen. 14:12), brother (Gen. 14:14);
(h) Joseph was sold into Egypt by Midianites (Gen. 37:36), by Ishmaelites (Gen. 39:1);
(i) Saul was killed by his own hands (1 Sam. 31:4), by a young Amalekite (2 Sam. 1:10), by the Philistines (2 Sam. 21:12);
(j) Solomon made of a molten sea which contained 2,000 (1 Kings 7:26), 3,000 (2 Chron. 4:5) baths;
(k) The workers on the Temple had 3,300 (1 Kings 5:16), 3,600 2 chron 2:18, overseers;
(l) The earth does (Eccle. 1:4), does not (2 Peter 3:10) abideth forever;
(m) If Jesus bears witness of himself his witness is true (John 8:14), is not true (John 5:31);
(n) Josiah died at Megiddo (2 Kings 23:29-30), at Jerusalem (2 Chron. 35:24);
(o) Jesus led Peter, James, and John up a high mountain after six (Matt. 17:1, Mark 9:2), eight (Luke 9:28) days;
(p) Nebuzaradan came unto Jerusalem on the seventh (2 Kings 25:8), tenth (Jer. 52:12) day of the fifth month.
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What was the sign on Jesus' cross?
This is Jesus
The King of the Jews.
(Mt 27:37)
The King
of the Jews.
(Mk 15:26)
This is the
King of the Jews.
(Lk 23:38)
Jesus the Nazarene
The King of the Jews. (Jn 19:19)
1. How many Gods are there?
(GEN 1:26) God said "LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE ACCORDING TO OUR LIKENESS",
(GEN 3:22) God said "MAN HAS BECOME LIKE ONE OF US."
(DEUT 6:4) God is one God
2. When was God first called Jehovah?
(Genesis 4:26) long before Moses, men began to call on the name of the Lord, "Jehovah",
(Genesis 22:14) Abraham named a place Jehovah-jireh. "The Lord will provide."
(Exodus 6:2-3) God informed Moses that previously His name (Jehovah) had been unknown even to the patriarchs such as Abraham Isaac and Jacob
3. When did the Nephilim live?
(Genesis 6:4) The Nephilim (giants) lived on earth prior to the Flood
(Genesis 7:23) Only Noah and his family, and the animals on the Ark, survived the Flood.
(Numbers 13:33) Long after the Flood, the Nephilim (Giants) still lived.
4. Does God repent?
(Genesis 6:6) God does repent.
(Numbers 23:19) God does not repent
(I Samuel 15:11,35) God does repent.
5. Who has ascended to heaven?
(Genesis 5:24) Enoch was taken bodily into Heaven.
(II Kings 2:11) Elijah ascended to heaven in a whirlwind.
(John 3:13) Jesus said that no man but himself has ever ascended to heaven.
(Hebrews 11:5) Enoch was taken bodily into Heaven.
6. Math quiz: How many animals went on the Ark?
(GEN 6:19-20) God told Noah to take with him on the ark two of every king of animal to include birds, animals and creeping things
(GEN 7:2-3) God told Noah to take with him on the ark seven of every clean animal and bird and two of every unclean animal.
7. Math quiz: How long was the flood?
(GEN 7:17, 8:6) The flood was on the Earth 40 days and nights
(GEN 7:24, 8:3) The flood was on the Earth 150 days CONTRADICTS
(GEN 7:11) the flood began during the 600th year, 2nd month, 17th day of Noah's life and finally dried up
(GEN 8:13) during the 601st year, 1st month, 1st day of Noah's life (1 solar year from the date given in Gen7:11).
8. When did the world develop many different languages?
(Genesis 11:1,6-9) In the days of Babel, generations after the Flood, the world had one common language. God "confused the tongues" to create many.
(Genesis 10:5) Prior to Babel, the Bible speaks of many "nations", each with its own language
9. Does God cause confusion?
(GEN11:9) God confused the language of all the Earth at Babel
(EX15:24) God troubled (CONFUSED BY SOME TRANSLATIONS) the army of Egypt.
(1SAM7:10) God thundered upon the philistines so as to confuse them
(1COR14:33) God is not the author of confusion
10. Math quiz: How long did Terah live?
(Genesis 11:26,32) Terah lived 135 years after begetting Abraham (he begat Abram at age 70 and lived 205 years total).
(Genesis 12:4) Abraham was 75 years old when he departed Haran.
(Acts 7:4) Abraham departed Haran when his father (Terah) was dead.
11. Who has seen God?
(Gen 18:1) The Lord appeared to Abraham.
(GEN 32:24-30) Jacob saw and wrestled with God
(EX 24:9-11) Moses & 73 elders gazed upon God.
(Exodus 33:11) God spoke to Moses face-to-face.
(Exodus 33:22-23) God allowed Moses to see his "back parts".
(Deut 34:10) God spoke to Moses face-to-face.
(IS 6:1-13) Isaiah stood before God and saw him
(Ezekiel 1:27-28) Ezekiel saw God in a vision and described Him in some detail.
(Amos 7:7) Amos saw God.
(John 1:18, 6:46) No one has ever seen God.
(1 TIM6:16) God is un-seeable
(I John 4:12) No one has ever seen God.
12. Is God a fair and righteous judge?
(GEN 18:25) God claims to judge right
(GEN 22:1-2) God commands Abraham to sacrifice his own son.
(EX 20:5) God admits jealousy
(DEUT 32:4) God is perfect, just, true, righteous, upright,
(PSALM 92:15) God is not unrighteous
(IS 45:7) God claims to do good AND evil; all things
(JER 18:11) God threatens disaster to make a people be good
(EZEK 18:25) God claims to be fair
(AMOS 3:6) God admits he makes calamity
(ROM 2:11) God is impartial
(JAMES 1:13) God is not tempted by evil and tempts no one with evil
13. Who was Keturah?
(GEN 25:1) Keturah was Abraham's wife
(1 CHRON 1:32) Keturah was Abraham's concubine.
14. Who sold Joseph into slavery?
(Genesis 37:36) The Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, the courtier of Pharaoh
(Genesis 39:1) The Ishmaelites brought Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the courtier of Pharaoh.
15. Where was Jacob buried?
(Genesis 50:13) Jacob was buried in Canaan. in a cave which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite.
(Acts 7:15-16) Jacob was buried in Sychem. in a sepulchre which Abraham had purchased from Emmor.
16. Does God condone or condemn lying?
(EX 2:18-20) God deals well with midwives for lying to the King of Egypt.
(EX 20:16) Lying forbidden
(JOSH 2:4-6) Rahab hides two men from the King of Jericho and lies to him and is dealt well with by God
(PROV 12:22) Lying is an abomination to God
(JAMES 2:25) James preaches that Rahab was justified for hiding two men and lying,
(Revelation 21:8)and all liars will burn in the lake of fire
17. How about stealing?
(Exodus 3:21-22) plundering commanded.
(Exodus 20:15) Stealing forbidden
18. Does God afflict people with illnesses?
(Exodus 4:11) God admitted He is the cause of blindness, deafness, dumbness.
(Lamentations 3:33) God does not willingly cause grief or affliction.
19. Did God kill off the Pharoah's livestock, or didn't he?
(Exodus 9:3-6) God killed all the cattle (field animals) of the Egyptians with a grievous murrain including the horses, asses, camels, oxen and sheep. None survived the plague
(Exodus 9:19-21,25) Later, at least some of the Egyptian field animals were mysteriously alive again, to suffer a plague of hail.
(EX 14:9) Pharaoh later chases Israel with all his horses and chariots.
20. Is God peaceful?
(EX 15:3) He is a God of war.
(1 COR 14:33) He is not a God of confusion but of peace
21. How does God feel about the making of images?
(Exodus 20:4) Image-making forbidden
Exodus 25:18 God commands the making of two cherubim.
22. Who pays for sins?
(Exodus 20:5) God blames children for the iniquities of the father. even for four generations.
(Deuteronomy 5:9) His curse or punishment may extend far beyond the third or fourth generation.
(Deuteronomy 24:16) The son should not be punished for the father's sin. Every man bears guilt only for his own transgressions.
(II Chronicles 25:4) The son should not be punished for the father's sin. Every man bears guilt only for his own transgressions.
(EZEK 18:19-20) Each is responsible for his own actions, a son does not bear guilt for his father's sins
(Romans 5:12,14.19, 6:23) All men are considered sinners because of Adam's sin. Death, the punishment for sin, is inflicted even on those who did not sin, because Adam sinned.
23. How does God feel about selling one's daughter?
(EX 21:7) conditions are set up for selling one's daughters.
(Lev 19:29) It is forbidden to sell a daughter
24. Who inscribed the commandments on stone?
Exodus 24:37,38 God dictated the second set of 10 commandments to Moses while Moses inscribed them.
(Deuteronomy 10:1-2,4) God inscribed the second set of 10 commandments on stones which Moses made
25. So, did God say it, or not?
(Leviticus chapters 1-7) After delivering the Jews from Egypt, God went into minute detail regarding sacrifices and burnt offerings.
(Jeremiah 7:22) God denied that he ever said anything about sacrifices or burnt offerings.
26. Where do the rules on what types of food to eat come from?
(Leviticus 3:17, 11:1-47) God gave many rules about what may be eaten or handled
(Colossians 2:20-23) Such rules come from man, not God.
27. Should we judge others?
(Leviticus 19:15) You must judge your neighbor in righteousness
(Matthew 7:1) Judge not or you will be judged.
28. Can I wear long hair and still be "clean?"
(Numbers 6:2-6) Describes the process for being clean in order to consecrate an offering; involves not allowing a razor to come upon his head and letting the locks of his hair grow
(I Corinthians 11:14) Paul preaches that it is a shame for any man to have long hair.
29. Does God keep his word?
(NUM 23:19) God does not change, Makes good his promises
(I SAM 2:30-31) God admits not keeping his promise
(II KINGS 20:1-6) God says one thing, then changes his mind and says another
(JONAH 3:10) God doesn't keep his promise to destroy
30. Has God ever lied?
(Numbers 23:19) God cannot lie
(I Kings 22:20-30) God deliberately sent a "lying spirit" into the mouth of Ahab's prophets
(II Chronicles 18:19-22) God deliberately sent a "lying spirit" into the mouth of Ahab's prophets
(II Thessalonians 2:11-12) God sends delusions on people to make them believe false things and be damned
(Titus 1:2) God cannot lie
(HEB 6:18) It is impossible for God to lie
31. Is God loving, merciful, kind, etc.?
(NUM 25:4) God commands Moses to hang the leaders in the sun to calm God's anger
(DEUT 4:24) God is a consuming fire, a jealous God
(I SAM 6:19) God strikes 50,070 dead for a sin with no compassion
(I SAM 15:2,3) God commands utter destruction of a nation of people for one man's sin,
(II SAM 21:1) God causes a three year famine because of the doings of one man's house.
(I CHRON 16:34) God is good and merciful
(Psalm 25:8) God is good and upright
(Psalm 145:8-9) God is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, merciful, and good to all
(JER 13:14) God will not pity, not spare, not show mercy, but destroy them
(JER 17:4) God will be angry at Judah forever
(EZEK 18:32) God finds no pleasure in death
(JAMES 5:11) God is very compassionate and merciful
(1 JOHN 4:16) God is love
32. Did the Midianites survive or not?
(Numbers 31:7.9,15-18) The Israelites slew all the Midianites except the female virgins
(Judges 6:1-5) Later, the Midianites invaded the Israelites.
33. Can we love AND fear God?
(Deuteronomy 6:5) We must love God
(Deuteronomy 6:13) We must fear God
(Matthew 22:37) We must love God
(I Peter 2:17) We must fear God
(I John 4:18) Perfect love cannot be mingled with fear.
34.Did Ai burn, or not?
(Joshua 8:28) Joshua burnt the city of Ai, making it an ash heap forever
(Nehemiah 7:32) Ai is counted among the existing cities of Jerusalem approx. 1000 years later.
Part 2:
35. Was Sisera standing or lying down when he was killed?
(Judges 4:21) Jael killed Sisera by driving a tent stake through his head while he slept, fastening his head to the ground
(Judges 5:26-27) When Jael killed Sisera with the tent peg, he sank to the ground at her feet and died.
36. Are women allowed any role of dominance?
(JUDG 4:4,14-15) Deborah is a prophetess of God, commands men to fight for their freedom
(ACTS 2:18) man-servants and maid-servants alike will prophesy.
(I COR 14:34) women commanded to keep silent in church, not permitted to speak, but to be submissive
(1 TIM 2:11-12) Women commanded to learn in silence with submission, not permitted to teach or have authority over a man
37. Who killed the Amalekites, and how many died?
(I Samuel 15:7-8,20) Saul completely destroyed the Amalekites
(I Samuel 27:8-9) David completely destroyed the Amalekites.
(I Samuel 30:1-2,17) David destroyed a raiding party of Amalekites. Only 400 men escaped.
(I Chronicles 4:42-43) the Simeonites killed all the Amalekites.
38. Math quiz: How many sons did Jesse have?
(I Samuel 16:10-11) Jesse had seven sons besides his youngest, David.
(I Chronicles 2:13-15) David was the seventh son.
39. How much did David pay for his wife?
(II SAM 18:27) David collected 200 Philistine foreskins and bought a wife (Michal) with them
(II SAM 3:14) David only paid 100 foreskins for his wife.
40. When did David eat the consecrated bread?
(I Samuel 21:1-6) This event actually occurred in the days of Ahimelech the high priest.
(Mark 2:26) David ate consecrated bread from the House of God. and gave some to his companions, in the days of Abiathar the high priest.
41. Did Saul consult the Lord, or not?
(I Samuel 28:6) Saul attempted to consult the Lord.
(I Chronicles 10:13-14) Saul did not consult the Lord.
42. How did Saul die?
(I Samuel 31:4-6) Saul committed suicide by having his armor-bearer run him through.
(II Samuel 1:8-10) Saul asks an Amalekite to kill him, the Amalekite does so.
(II Samuel 21:12) The Philistines slew Saul in Gilboa.
(I Chronicles 10:4-5) Saul committed suicide by falling on his sword.
43. How many kids did Michal have?
(II SAM 6:23) Michal had no children all her life
(II SAM 21:8) Michal had five children by Adriel.
44. Math quiz: How many horsemen?
(II Samuel 8:4) David took seven hundred horsemen from Hadadezer.
(I Chronicles 18:4) David took seven thousand horsemen from Hadadezer.
(II Samuel 10:18) David slew 700 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 horsemen.
(I Chronicles 19:18) He slew 7000 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 footmen.
46. Math quiz: Census totals? Uhh, could you re-take that census, please?
(II Samuel 24:9) David's census adds up to 800,000 swordsmen of Israel and 500,000 men of Judah.
(I Chronicles 21:5) David's census adds up to 1,100,000 swordsmen of Israel and 470,000 swordsmen of Judah.
47. Who caused the census?
(II Samuel 24:1) God directly incited the census out of anger at Israel.
(I Chronicles 21:1) Satan "rose up" against Israel and incited King David to take a census.
48. Yet another math quiz: How many chiefs?
(I Kings 9:23) Solomon had 550 chiefs or officers to oversee the people
(II Chronicles 8:10) Solomon had 250 chiefs or officers to oversee the people
49. Baasha did what while he was dead?
(I Kings 16:6,8) Baasha, King of Israel died in the 26th year of Asa's reign over Judah.
(II Chronicles 16:1) In the 36th year of Asa's reign, Baasha built a city.
50. How old?
(II Kings 8:26) King Ahaziah was 22 years old when he began to reign.
(II Chronicles 22:2) King Ahaziah was 42 years old when he began to reign.
51. Did God appreciate the deed or not?
(II Kings 9:6-9, 10:11,30) The Lord commanded Jehu to destroy the house of Ahab. Jehu obeyed, destroying everyone in the city of Jezreel who was of the house of Ahab, including friends and priests. God commended him for these actions saying Jehu had done God's will.
(Hosea 1:4) God promises to punish the House of Jehu for the massacre.
52. Was Jerusalem conquered or not?
(II Kings 16:5) King Ahaz of Judah (Jerusalem) was not conquered by the kings of Israel and Syria.
(II Chronicles 28:5-6) The kings of Israel and Syria did conquer Jerusalem.
(Isaiah 7:1-7) Israel and Syria fail to conquer Jerusalem.
53. Where did Josiah die?
(II Kings 23:29-30) King Josiah was slain at Magiddo. Servants brought his dead body to Jerusalem.
(II Chronicles 35:22-24) Josiah was wounded at Magiddo. Servants brought him alive to Jerusalem, where he died.
54. Does it pay to be righteous?
(JOB 2:3-7) God tells Satan how righteous Job is, and then allows (gives permission to) Satan to strike him with painful boils from head to toe..
(PROV 12:21) No evil can happen to the righteous
55. What of the dead?
(Job 7:9) The dead will never rise again. They will have no further reward.
(Ecclesiastes 9:5) The dead will never rise again. They will have no further reward.
(John 5:28-29) The dead will rise again to be rewarded or punished.
(I Corinthians 15:16,52) The dead will rise again to be rewarded or punished.
56. What of the Earth?
(Psalms 104:5) The Earth will last forever.
(Ecclesiastes 1:4) The Earth will last forever.
(Hebrews 1:10-11) The Earth will perish.
(II Peter 3:10) The Earth will perish.
57. Does God always answer?
(Prov 1:24-28) God ignored those who sought him out of anger at them.
(Prov 8:17) Those who seek diligently will find God
58. What is wisdom?
(Prov 3:13-17) Wisdom is a source of joy and peace
(Eccl 1:18) Wisdom is a source of grief and sorrow.
59. Did Coniah have kids?
(Jer 22:28-30) Coniah was declared to be forever childless by God
(Matt 1:12) Coniah (also called by the Greek name Jechoniasis) is listed as a direct ancestor of Jesus Christ.
(Malachi 4:5) Elijah must return before the final days of the world.
(Matthew 11:12-14) Jesus said that John the Baptist was Elijah.
(Matthew 17:12-13) Jesus insists that Elijah has already come, and everyone understood him to mean John the Baptist.
(Mark 9:13) Jesus insists that Elijah has already come.
(John 1:21) John the Baptist maintained that he was not Elijah.
61. Which place first?
(Matthew 4:5-8) The Devil took Jesus first to the parapet of the temple, then to a high place to view all the Kingdoms of the world.
(Luke 4:5-9) The Devil took Jesus first to a high place to view the kingdoms, then to the parapet of the temple.
62. Who did Jesus tell the Lord's Prayer to?
(Matthew 5:1, 6:9-13, 7:28) Jesus delivered the Lord's Prayer during the Sermon on the Mount before the multitudes.
(Luke 11:1-4) He delivered it before the disciples alone, and not as part of the Sermon on the Mount.
63. How many Beatitudes?
(Matthew 5:3-11) The sermon contained nine Beatitudes.
(Luke 6:20-22) The sermon contained only four Beatitudes.
64. Can one pray in public?
(Matthew 6:5-6) Jesus condemned public prayer.
(I Timothy 2:8) Paul encouraged public prayer.
65. Does the Lord help those who help themselves?
(Matthew 6:25-28, 30-34) We should take no thought for ourselves, or for tomorrow: we should not toil: tomorrow will take care of itself.
(II Thessalonians 3:10) If a man does not provide for himself or his own, he is considered disorderly.
66. Peace, or war?
(Matthew 6:38-42) Jesus teaches non-resistance, Non-violence
(Luke 22:36-37) Jesus commands people to take arms for coming conflict
(John 2:15) Jesus uses a whip to physically drive people out of the temple.
67. When did the leper become.. not a leper?
(Matthew 8:1-3,14) Jesus healed the leper before visiting the house.
(Mark 1:29-30,40-42) Jesus healed the leper after visiting Simon Peter's house.
68. Who approached Jesus?
(Matthew 8:5-7) The Centurion approached Jesus, beseeching help for a sick servant.
(Luke 7:3.6-7) The Centurion did not approach Jesus. He sent friends and elders of the Jews.
69. Was she dead or just dying?
(Matthew 9:18) He asked for help, saying his daughter was already dead.
(Luke 8:41-42) Jairus approached Jesus for help, because his daughter was dying. 70.What to take?
(Matthew 10:10) Jesus instructed them not to take a staff, not to wear sandals.
(Mark 6:8-9) Jesus instructed his disciples to wear sandals and take a staff on their journey.
71. When did John find out Jesus was the Messiah?
(Matthew 11:2-3) While imprisoned. John the Baptist sent followers to Jesus to inquire if Jesus was the messiah.
(Luke 7:18-22) While imprisoned. John the Baptist sent followers to Jesus to inquire if Jesus was the Messiah.
(John 1:29-34,36) John already knew Jesus was the Messiah.
72. How long was he in the tomb?
(Matthew 12:40) Jesus prophesied he would be in the tomb three days and three nights
(Matthew 28:1) Jesus was in the tomb three days and two nights
(Mark 16:2) Jesus was in the tomb three days and two nights
(Luke 24:1) Jesus was in the tomb three days and two nights
(John 20:1) Jesus was in the tomb two days and two nights.
73. Did the people of Jesus' generation see any signs?
(Matthew 12:38-40) Jesus announced that no signs would be given to that generation except the Resurrection itself.
(Mark 8:12-13) Jesus announced that no signs would be given to that generation.
(Mark 16:20) They went out preaching, and the Lord confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
(John 20:30) Jesus provided many wonders and signs.
(Acts 2:22) Jesus provided many wonders and signs.
(Acts 5:12, 8:13) many signs and wonders were done through the apostles.
74. When did the Transfiguration occur?
(Matthew 17:1-2) Six days after Jesus made his prophecy of his second coming. the Transfiguration occurred.
(Luke 9:28-29) the transfiguration occurred about eight days after the prophecy of the second coming.
75. Who made the request?
(Matthew 20:20-21) Their mother requested that James and John, Zebedee's children, should sit beside Jesus in his Kingdom.
(Mark 10:35-37) James and John, Zebedee's children, requested that they should sit beside Jesus in his Kingdom.
76. How many blind men?
(Matthew 20:29-30) Following this last incident, on the way out of Jericho, Jesus encountered two blind men.
(Mark 10:46-47) He encountered only one blind man.
77. What animals were brought to Jesus?
(Matthew 21:2-7) two of the disciples brought Jesus an ass and a colt from the village of Bethphage.
(Mark 11:2-7) They brought him only a colt.
78. When did the fig tree hear of its doom?
(Matthew 21:17-19) Jesus cursed the fig tree after purging the temple.
(Mark 11:14-15,20) He cursed it before the purging.
79. When did the fig tree keel?
(Matthew 21:9) The fig tree withered immediately. and the disciples registered surprise then and there.
(Mark 11:12-14,20) The morning after Jesus cursed the fig tree. the disciples noticed it had withered. and expressed astonishment.
80. What was the date of the crucifixion?
(Matthew 26:20-30) The last supper is a Passover Seder making the crucifixion of the following day occur on the first day of Passover, the fifteenth day of Nissan
(Mark 14:17-25) The last supper is a Passover Seder making the crucifixion of the following day occur on the first day of Passover, the fifteenth day of Nissan
(Luke 22:14-23) The last supper is a Passover Seder making the crucifixion of the following day occur on the first day of Passover, the fifteenth day of Nissan
(John 13:1,29) The crucifixion occurs on the day before Passover, fourteenth day of Nissan.
81. How many times did the cock crow?
(Matthew 26:34) Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny Jesus three times before the cock crowed (no number given)
(Matthew 26:69-74) The cock crowed only once.
(Mark 14:29) Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny Jesus three times before the cock crowed twice
(Mark 14:68-72) As Peter denied Jesus three times, the cock crowed twice.
(Luke 22:34) Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny Jesus three times before the cock crowed (no number given)
(Luke 22:60-61) The cock crowed only once.
82. Who arrested Jesus?
(Matthew 26:47) Jesus was arrested by "multitudes" sent by the priests.
(Mark 14:43) Jesus was arrested by "multitudes" sent by the priests.
(Luke 22:47) Jesus was arrested by "multitudes" sent by the priests.
(John 18:12) Jesus was arrested by a detachment of Roman soldiers and some Jewish officials.
83. Who did Jesus see first upon his arrest?
(Matthew 26:57) He was led directly to Caiaphas.
(John 18:19,24) After his arrest, Jesus's preliminary interrogation was before Annas; after that, he was brought to Caiaphas.
84. The second denial was heard by...?
(Matthew 26:71-72) Peter made his second denial to another girl
(Mark 14:69-70) Peter made his second denial to the same servant girl as his first denial
(Luke 22:58) Peter made his second denial to "another" 85.And the third?
(Matthew 26:73-74) Peter made his third denial to by-standers
(Mark 14:70-71) Peter made his third denial to by-standers
(Luke 22:59-60) Peter made his third denial to "another" different from the "another" in his second denial
(John 18: 26-27) Peter made his third denial to a servant girl (a relative of the one whose ear he had cut off)
86. Who carried the cross?
(Matthew 27:32) Simon of Cyrene carries the cross
(Mark 15:21) Simon of Cyrene carries the cross
(Luke 23:26) Simon of Cyrene carries the cross
(John 19:17) Jesus alone carries the cross.
87. Which thief believed?
(Matt 27:44) Neither thief believed in Jesus
(Mark 15:32) Neither thief believed in Jesus
(Luke 23:39-41) One thief believed in Jesus while the other did not.
88. Famous last words. but what were they?
(Matt 27:46) Jesus' last words were "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?"
(Mark 15:34) Jesus' last words were "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?"
(Luke 23:46) Jesus' last words were "FATHER, INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT"
(John 19:30) Jesus' last words were "IT IS FINISHED."
89. What did the sign say?
(Matthew 27:37) The inscription on his cross was, "This is Jesus the King of the Jews."
(Mark 15:26) The inscription was simply, "The King of the Jews".
(Luke 23:38) It was. ''This is the King of the Jews,'' in three languages.
(John 19:19) It was. "Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews."
90. Where did they "spectate" from?
(Matthew 27:55-56) The women, including Mary Magdalene and Jesus's mother, watched the crucifixion from afar.
(Mark 15:40) The women, including Mary Magdalene and Jesus's mother, watched the crucifixion from afar.
(Luke 23:49) The women, including Mary Magdalene and Jesus's mother, watched the crucifixion from a distance.
(John 19:25) They stood near or next to the cross.
91. What did she say?
(Matt 28:8) Mary goes to tell the disciples what happened
(Mark 16:8) Mary says nothing to anyone because she is afraid.
(Luke 24:9) Mary goes to tell the disciples what happened
(John 20:18) Mary goes to tell the disciples what happened
92. What did Mary do after meeting the angel(s)?
(Matt 28:9) Right after seeing the angels, Mary meets Jesus
(Mark 16:9) Right after seeing the angels, Mary meets Jesus
(Luke 24:4-9) Right after seeing the angel Mary meets the disciples and reveals everything to them.
(John 20:14) Right after seeing the angels, Mary meets Jesus
93. Who saw Jesus first?
(Matt 28:9)Jesus makes his first appearance to Mary, the Mother of James
(Mark 16:9) Jesus makes his first appearance to Mary Magdalene only
(Luke 24:15-18) Jesus makes his first appearance to Cleopas and another
(John 20:14) Jesus makes his first appearance to Mary Magdalene only
(1 Cor 15:5) Jesus makes his first appearance to Cephas (PETER).
94. When and where?
(Matt 28:9) Jesus makes his first appearance after Mary leaves the tomb
(Mark 16:8-9) Jesus makes his first appearance after Mary leaves the tomb
(Luke 24:13) Jesus makes his first appearance on the road to Emmaus.
(John 20:11-14) Jesus makes his first appearance at the tomb
95. Does Mary touch Jesus?
(Matt 28:9) Mary is permitted to touch Jesus after the resurrection
(Luke 24:39) Mary is permitted to touch Jesus after the resurrection
(John 20:17) Mary is not permitted to touch Jesus after the resurrection.
96. How many times did Jesus appear to humans after his resurrection?
(Matt 28:9-10,17-20) Jesus appears twice after the resurrection
(Mark 16:9,12,14-18) Jesus appears three times after the resurrection
(Luke 24:13-31,36-51) Jesus appears twice after the resurrection
(John 20:14-17,19-23,26-29,21:1-23) Jesus appears four times after the resurrection
(1 Cor 15:5,6,7,8) Jesus appears six times after the resurrection.
97. In what order exactly?
(Matt 28:8-9,16) Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary on the way to see the disciples; then to the disciples on a mountain in Galilee
(Mark 16:8-9,12,14) Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene after she flees the tomb; then to two strolling followers as they walked to the country then to the disciples at a meal
(Luke 24:13,33,49) Jesus appears to Cleopas and another unknown follower on the way to Emmaus; then to the disciples and others in Jerusalem
(John 20:14,18-29,21:1-2) Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene at the tomb; then to ten of the disciples in Jerusalem behind closed doors; then to eleven of the disciples in Jerusalem behind closed doors; Then to Peter, Thomas, James and John (the sons of Zebed
(1 Cor 15:5,6,7,8) Jesus appears to Cephas (PETER); then to the disciples; then to 500 people; then to James; then to the disciples; then to Paul.
98.How many disciples saw Jesus?
(Matt 28:16)Jesus appears to eleven disciples, the absent one being Judas who was already dead (Matt 27:5, Acts 1:18)
(Mark 16:14) Jesus appears to eleven disciples, the absent one being Judas who was already dead (Matt 27:5, Acts 1:18)
(Luke 24:33) Jesus appears to eleven disciples, the absent one being Judas who was already dead (Matt 27:5, Acts 1:18)
(John 20:24,26) Thomas is absent for Jesus's first appearance to the disciples, but is present for the second; Judas is absent from both visits because he is already dead
(1 Cor 15:5) Jesus appears to all twelve disciples (even though Judas was supposed to have been already dead).
99. When did Mary go to the tomb?
(Matt 28:1) Mary came to the tomb at dawn
(Mark 16:2) Mary came to the tomb after the sun had risen
(Luke 24:1) Mary came to the tomb at dawn
(John 20:1) Mary came to the tomb while it was still dark.
100. How many went with her?
(Matt 28:1) Two people came to the tomb (Mary Magdalene and the other Mary)
(Mark 16:1) three people came to the tomb (Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, and Salome)
(Luke 24:10) more than four people came to the tomb (Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, Joanna, and other women)
(John 20:1) Mary Magdalene came to the tomb alone
Part 3:
101. What about the stone?
(Matt 28:1-2) An angel rolled back the stone after the women arrived at the tomb
(Mark 16:4) the stone was already rolled away when the women arrived at the tomb.
(Luke 24:2) the stone was already rolled away when the women arrived at the tomb.
(John 20:1) the stone was already rolled away when the women arrived at the tomb.
102. Who was where?
(Matt 28:2) One angel was sitting on the stone which he rolled away
(Mark 16:5) one young man was sitting on the right side inside the tomb
(Luke 24:4) two men were standing by the women inside the tomb
(John 20:1-2,12) no one was there at Mary's first visit; at Mary's second visit an angel was sitting at the head and another angel was sitting at the feet.
103. What did the angels tell her?
(Matt 28:6-7) The angel instructed Mary to tell the disciples that Jesus is going to Galilee
(Mark 16:6-7) The angel instructed Mary to tell the disciples that Jesus is going to Galilee
(Luke 24:5-7,49) they were specifically NOT instructed to go to Galilee but to stay in Jerusalem and not leave
(John 20:2, 13-17) Jesus instructed Mary about the resurrection, the angels told her nothing.
(Acts 1:4, 2:1) they were specifically NOT instructed to go to Galilee but to stay in Jerusalem and not leave
104. Where were the disciples?
(MATT 28:16) Disciples departed Jerusalem and went to Galilee
(MARK 16:7) Disciples departed Jerusalem and went to Galilee
(LUKE 24:5-7, 49) the disciples never departed Jerusalem.
(ACTS 1:4) the disciples never departed Jerusalem.
105. That happened after encountering Paul?
(Mark 1:7-13) Immediately after Jesus's baptism and encounter with Paul, Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days, and dwelled alone.
(John 1:27-40) After the encounter, Jesus continued to live near Galilee, and went about gathering disciples.
106. When did he get his disciples?
(Mark 1:14,16-18) Jesus gathered Simon, Andrew and other disciples after John the Baptist was imprisoned.
(John 1:40-42, 3:22-24) Jesus already had his disciples including Simon and Andrew before John was imprisoned.
107. Forgiveness?
(Mark 3:29) Cursing or blaspheming the Holy Spirit is unforgivable.
(Acts 13:39) All sins can be forgiven.
108. What hour?
(MARK 15:25) Jesus is crucified at the third hour
(JOHN 19:14-15) Jesus is crucified at the sixth hour.
109. Did they believe?
(MARK 16:13) when the disciples were told of the encounter with Jesus they did not believe.
(LUKE 24:34) When the disciples were told o fifth encounter with Jesus they declared "IT IS TRUE!"
110. Who and when?
(MARK 16:1) Mary prepared the spices after the Sabbath
(LUKE 23:56) Mary prepared the spices before the Sabbath
(JOHN 19:39) Nicodemus prepared the spices before the Sabbath.
111. To love or not to love. That is the question.
(Luke 14:26) You cannot be a disciple of Jesus unless you hate your father and mother, your siblings, your children, your wife. (John 13:34-35) Jesus commanded us to love one another: in this way, all men will recognize his disciples (as in believers in Jesus).
112. You be the judge.
(John 5:22) Jesus said the Father entrusted all judgment to the son.
(John 5:27,30, 8:26) Jesus claims to be the one that passes judgment
(John 8:15, 12:47) Jesus said that he judges no one.
(John 8:50) Jesus says there is One who seeks and judges (as in God the Father)
(Acts 10:42) Jesus was ordained by god to be judge of the living and the dead.
(I Corinthians 6:2) It will be the "saints" who judge the whole world.
(II Corinthians 5:10) Jesus sits in the judgment seat 113.When did it happen?
(John 20:22) The apostles receive the Holy Spirit on the first Easter Sunday
(Acts 1:5,8,2:1-4) the Holy Spirit was bestowed on Pentecost fifty days later. 114.See no (fill in the blank), hear no (same fill in), speak no. huh?
(Acts 9:7) Men with Paul were struck speechless because they heard a voice but saw nothing
(Acts 22:9) men with Paul saw light and were afraid but heard nothing. 115.Is unrighteousness good or bad?
"...the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness"
(Rom 3:5)"But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say..."(Paul sees no difficulty that his unrighteousness is a useful tool to promote his religion) 116.What's the reward for good?
(Rom 2:6)"Who will render to every man according to his deeds:"
(Rom 5:14, 18-19)"Nevertheless death reigned...even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression...". 117.Who bears the burden?
(Gal 6:2) Bear one another's burdens
(Gal 6:5) each shall bear his own burdens.
113.Smoke it, or eat it? What's with this grass?
(Revelations 8:7) Fire will consume all the grass in the world.
(Revelations 9:4) Later, an army of locusts will be instructed not to harm any of the grass.
Should we kill?
Exodus 20:13 "Thou shalt not kill."
Leviticus 24:17 "And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death."
vs.
Exodus 32:27 "Thus sayeth the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, . . . and slay every man his brother, . . . companion, . . . neighbor."
I Samuel 6:19 " . . . and the people lamented because the Lord had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter."
I Samuel 15:2,3,7,8 "Thus saith the Lord . . . Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. . . . And Saul smote the Amalekites . . . and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword."
Numbers 15:36 "And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses."
Hosea 13:16 "they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with children shall be ripped up."
For a discussion of the defense that the Commandments prohibit only murder, see "Murder, He Wrote", chapter 27 (Losing Faith In Faith: From Preacher To Atheist).
Should we tell lies?
Exodus 20:16 "Thou shalt not bear false witness."
Proverbs 12:22 "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord."
vs.
I Kings 22:23 "The Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee."
II Thessalonians 2:11 "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."
Also, compare Joshua 2:4-6 with James 2:25.
Should we steal?
Exodus 20:15 "Thou shalt not steal."
Leviticus 19:13 "Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him."
vs.
Exodus 3:22 "And ye shall spoil the Egyptians."
Exodus 12:35-36 "And they spoiled [plundered, NRSV] the Egyptians."
Luke 19:29-34 "[Jesus] sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village . . . ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. . . . And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him."
I was taught as a child that when you take something without asking for it, that is stealing.
Shall we keep the sabbath?
Exodus 20:8 "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy." •
Exodus 31:15 "Whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death."
Numbers 15:32,36 "And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. . . . And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses."
vs.
Isaiah 1:13 "The new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity."
John 5:16 "And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day."
Colossians 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy-day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days."
Shall we make graven images?
Exodus 20:4 "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven . . . earth . . . water."
Leviticus 26:1 "Ye shall make ye no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone."
Deuteronomy 27:15 "Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image."
vs.
Exodus 25:18 "And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them."
I Kings 7:15,16,23,25 "For he [Solomon] cast two pillars of brass . . . and two chapiters of molten brass . . . And he made a molten sea . . . it stood upon twelve oxen . . . [and so on]"
Are we saved through works?
Ephesians 2:8,9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith . . . not of works."
Romans 3:20,28 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight."
Galatians 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ."
James 2:24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
Matthew 19:16-21 "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he [Jesus] said unto him . . . keep the commandments. . . . The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven."
The common defense here is that "we are saved by faith and works." But Paul said "not of works."
Should good works be seen?
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works."
I Peter 2:12 "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that . . . they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."
vs.
Matthew 6:1-4 "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them . . . that thine alms may be in secret."
Matthew 23:3,5 "Do not ye after their [Pharisees'] works. . . . all their works they do for to be seen of men."
Should we own slaves?
Leviticus 25:45-46 "Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, . . . and they shall be your possession . . . they shall be your bondmen forever."
Genesis 9:25 "And he [Noah] said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren."
Exodus 21:2,7 "If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. . . . And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the manservants do."
Joel 3:8 "And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the Lord hath spoken it."
Luke 12:47,48 [Jesus speaking] "And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes."
Colossians 3:22 "Servants, obey in all things your masters."
vs.
Isaiah 58:6 "Undo the heavy burdens . . . let the oppressed go free, . . . break every yoke."
Matthew 23:10 "Neither be ye called Masters: for one is your Master, even Christ."
Pro-slavery bible verses were cited by many churches in the South during the Civil War, and were used by some theologians in the Dutch Reformed Church to justify apartheid in South Africa. There are more pro-slavery verses than cited here.
Part 4:
Does God change his mind?
·Malachi 3:6 "For I am the Lord; I change not."
·Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent." ·Ezekiel 24:14 "I the Lord have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent."
·James 1:17 " . . . the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
vs.
·Exodus 32:14 "And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people."
·Genesis 6:6,7 "And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth . . . And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth . . . for it repenteth me that I have made him." ·Jonah 3:10 ". . . and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not."
See also II Kings 20:1-7, Numbers 16:20-35, Numbers 16:44-50.
See Genesis 18:23-33, where Abraham gets God to change his mind about the minimum number of righteous people in Sodom required to avoid destruction, bargaining down from fifty to ten. (An omniscient God must have known that he was playing with Abraham's hopes for mercy--he destroyed the city anyway.)
Are we punished for our parents' sins?
·Exodus 20:5 "For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation." (Repeated in Deuteronomy 5:9) ·Exodus 34:6-7 " . . . The Lord God, merciful and gracious, . . . that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation."
·I Corinthians 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, . . ."
vs.
·Ezekiel 18:20 "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father."
·Deuteronomy 24:16 "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin."
Is God good or evil?
·Psalm 145:9 "The Lord is good to all."
·Deuteronomy 32:4 "a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."
vs.
·Isaiah 45:7 "I make peace and create evil. I the Lord do all these things." See "Out of Context" for more on Isaiah 45:7.
·Lamentations 3:38 "Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?"
·Jeremiah 18:11 "Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you." ·Ezekiel 20:25,26 "I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live. And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord."
Does God tempt people?
·James 1:13 "Let no man say . . . I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man."
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·Genesis 22:1 "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham."
Is God peaceable?
·Romans 15:33 "The God of peace." ·Isaiah 2:4 ". . . and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
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·Exodus 15:3 "The Lord is a man of war."
·Joel 3:9-10 "Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong."
Was Jesus peaceable?
·John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you."
·Acts 10:36 "The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ."
·Luke 2:14 " . . . on earth peace, good will toward men."
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·Matthew 10:34 "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household."
·Luke 22:36 "Then said he unto them, . . . he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."
Was Jesus trustworthy?
·John 8:14 "Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true."
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·John 5:31 "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true."
"Record" and "witness" in the above verses are the same Greek word (martyria).
Shall we call people names?
·Matthew 5:22 "Whosoever shall say Thou fool, shall be in danger of hellfire." [Jesus speaking]
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·Matthew 23:17 "Ye fools and blind." [Jesus speaking]
·Psalm 14:1 "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."
Has anyone seen God?
·John 1:18 "No man hath seen God at any time."
·Exodus 33:20 "Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live."
·John 6:46 "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God [Jesus], he hath seen the Father."
·I John 4:12 "No man hath seen God at any time."
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·Genesis 32:30 "For I have seen God face to face."
·Exodus 33:11 "And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend."
·Isaiah 6:1 "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple." ·Job 42:5 "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee."
How many Gods are there?
·Deuteronomy 6:4 "The Lord our God is one Lord."
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·Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image."
·Genesis 3:22 "And the Lord God said, Behold, the man has become as one of us, to know good and evil."
·I John 5:7 "And there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
It does no good to claim that "Let us" is the magisterial "we." Such usage implies inclusivity of all authorities under a king's leadership. Invoking the Trinity solves nothing because such an idea is more contradictory than the problem it attempts to solve.
Are we all sinners?
·Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
·Romans 3:10 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one."
·Psalm 14:3 "There is none that doeth good, no, not one."
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·Job 1:1 "There was a man . . . who name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright."
·Genesis 7:1 "And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation."
·Luke 1:6 "And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless."
How old was Ahaziah?
·II Kings 8:26 "Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign."
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·II Chronicles 22:2 "Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign."
Should we swear an oath?
·Numbers 30:2 "If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath . . . he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth."
·Genesis 21:22-24,31 " . . . swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me . . . And Abraham said, I will swear. . . . Wherefore he called that place Beersheba ["well of the oath"]; because there they sware both of them."
·Hebrews 6:13-17 "For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself . . . for men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath."
See also Genesis 22:15-19, Genesis 31:53, and Judges 11:30-39.
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·Matthew 5:34-37 "But I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven . . . nor by the earth . . . . Neither shalt thou swear by thy head . . . . But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
·James 5:12 ". . . swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation."
When was Jesus crucified?
·Mark 15:25 "And it was the third hour, and they crucified him."
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·John 19:14-15 "And about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out . . . crucify him."
It is an ad hoc defense to claim that there are two methods of reckoning time here. It has never been shown that this is the case.
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