The Historical Bible

Does it Contradict It’s self?
If you haven’t been told the Bible contradicts it’s self, you will. In his book, “Self-Contradictions of the Bible” Henry Burr claimed that the Bible contradicts it’s self at least 144 times. Obviously the Bible couldn’t be reliable if it’s authors were that confused! However, Henry Burr seems to be more pre occupied with his impressive number than the facts behind these supposed contradictions. Let’s look at two of the “contradictions” Henry Burr found.

Two Josephs?
In the New Testament there are two genealogies of Christ. One in Matthew chapter 1, and another in Luke chapter 3. At first glance, the two genealogies seem to contradict each other. They don’t even agree on Joseph’s father! Actually, they are two totally different genealogies. Matthew traced Joseph’s genealogy. And Luke traced Mary’s. on Mary’s genealogy Luke simply replaced the name “Mary” with her husband’s name “Joseph”. It was a culture thing. The two genealogies that seem to contradict each other end up complimenting each other, giving us both Joseph, AND Mary’s family line.

Heard, not Understood
Another supposed contradiction is found in Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:9. Saul is confronted by God while traveling to Damascus with his men to persecute Christians. Although the bible is clear enough on Saul’s experience, there seems to be some confusion over what happened to Saul’s men. Acts 9:7 says “The men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.” However, Acts 22:9 says “And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.” Once again, it appears we have a contradiction on our hands. Did Saul’s men hear a voice or not? The answer is found in the original language of the bible. For both passages the Greek word Akouo is used and translated as the English verb “to hear”. But in Acts 22:9 the word is constructed differently. Translated more correctly, Acts 22:9 should say something like “but they understood not the voice of him that spake to me.”

If you actually give the Bible half a chance, and study up on the original language and culture of the Bible you will find that supposed contradictions like these are the very simple and strait forward. despite what you might hear from Bible critics, the Bible passes this test easily. but since some people can make something out of nothing, that's not what the public is hearing.