The following message are all parts of a file of contradictions and curious things in the Old and New

Testaments. It was written by a friend of mine several years ago. I've taken it from the WordPerfect file it was originally in, but there are some characters that may have been obliterated, particularly some of the verse and chapter numbers. In a few cases, I have put a bracketed note with question marks; in others, I left the original mangled character. I encourage people to look at all the verses first in order to appreciate the original verse. I found as I was typing this and reading it that I was getting angry: there are thousands of people who want us to be good christians and believe as they do, and they have no idea what they believe, only that It's All True. "Every word of God proves true." says the Bible, Proverbs 30:5. KJ version). Is the Bible, then, entirely the word of God? Does every word prove true? Also, is the traditional King James (KJ) bible an inspired translation, literal, infallable, down to every jot and tittle, as some denominations have claimed? Consider the following. and decide.... CONTRADICTIONS (This first item is apparent in the KJ version. but much clearer in other translations, such as the New American Bible.) At least two Creation stories appear in the Bible, and they disagree. The first is in Genesis 1:1 to 2:3, the second in the remainder of Chapter 2. In the first version, God (Elohim in the manuscripts) created men & women on the same day (1:27). subsequent to the creation of all animals (1:25). In the second version, God (Jehovah) created Adam first (2:7). then animals & birds (2:19). then Eve (2:22). In the first version. trees appeared before man (1:11): in the second. the world was barren of vegetation at the time of man's creation (2:5). and plantlife was created later (2:8-9).

Compare these with Genesis 5:1-2, a third creation story, which strongly suggests the simultaneous creation of man & woman. It states that at the time of the creation of men and women. God blessed them and called them "man" (in the Hebrew text, adam). Most translators and Bible scholars candidly admit the differences in the Creation stories. and call the first two the Priestly and the Yahwehist versions. (In particular, see the New American Bible and its fine commentary.) The versions differ strongly in texture and language as #ell as content. ln some translations, however, verb tenses are subtly altered to conceal the problems. (This item is clearest in the New International Bible and the Revised KJ Bible.) Genesis 6:4 The Nephilim (9iants) 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.

Genesis 9:3-4

God makes a covenant with Noah: Mankind will be permitted to eat the flesh of any living creature, as long as the blood is drained. God goes back on his word.

Deuteronomy 14:7-20

Genesis 11:1,6-9 In the days of Babel, generations after the Flood, the world had one common anguage. God "confused the tongues" to create many. Genesis 10:5 Prior to this. the Bible speaks of many "nations", each with its own language.

Some apologists suggest the Babel story was a "flashback"; the events in Genesis 11:1-9 actually occured prior to those in Genesis 10:5. It's possible, but nothing in the source manuscripts support it. The narrative link at the beginning of Chapter 11 is the same which elsewhere is translated as "and", and invaribly implies a normal sucession of events. Exodus 4:11 God admitted He is the cause of blindness. deafness. dumbness. It is sometimes God's will to crush people or to cause them to suffer.

Isaiah 53:2

Lamentations 3:33 Yet, God does not willingly cause grief or affliction. (In the KJ version:) Genesis 15:13.16 God fortold the enslavement of the descendants of Abram (Abraham). but said they would return in the "fourth generation". The return actually occured in the fifth generation--or the sixth. if you wish to count Abraham. The generations were: 1. Abraham: 2. Isaac (Gen 21:3): 3. Levi (Ex 1:3); 4. Kohath (Ex 6:16); 5. Aram (Ex 6:18): 6. Moses (Ex 6:20).

Genesis 11:26.32 Terah lived 135 years after begetting Abraham. Acts 7:4 Genesis 12:4 Abraham departed Haran when his father (Terah) was dead. Abraham was 75 years old when he departed Haran. Thus, after living 135 years. Abraham was only 75 years old! (In the KJ version:) Genesis 23:1 OR 22:1 James 1:13 God tempted Abraham. God tempts no one.

Who brought Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the courtier of Pharaoh? Genesis 37:38,36 Geneis 39:1 The Midianites. The Ishmaelites.

Exodus 3:10. 4:19-23 God sent Moses to Egypt to speak to Pharaoh. Exodus 4:24-26 God immediately and arbitrarily attempted to kill Moses before Moses could carry out the mission. No explanation provided. Exodus 9:3-6 God killed all the cattle (field animals) of the Egyptians with a grevious 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. God informed Moses that previousiy His name (Jehovah) had been unknown even to the patriarchs. such as Abraham. Isaac and Jacob. Genesis 4:26 long before this. men began to call on the name of the Lord, "Jehovah". Genesis 22:14 Abraham named a place Jehovah-jireh. "The Lord will provide." Note: In each passage in the Pentateuch manuscripts. the name given is Yod-He-Vau-He, YHVH. generally interpreted as "Yahweh", "Yehovah" or "Jehovah". Exodus 20:4 Image-making forbidden. Exodus 25:18 Commanded. Exodus 20:13 Exodus 23:27 Exodus 20:15 Exodus 3:21-22 Murder forbidden. Commanded. Stealing forbidden. Commanded. Exodus 6:2-3

Exodus 20:16 I Kings 22:20 Leviticus 11:6

Lying forbidden. Commanded.

The Bible maintains that hares chew cud, like cows. leviticus 11:21-23 Also, that locusts. beetles and grasshoppers have four legs. Leviticus 3:17, 11:1-47 God gave many rules about what may be eaten or handled. Colossians 2:21-22 Such rules come from man, not God. Leviticus 19:15 Matthew 7:1 You must judge your neighbor. Judge not. (In the KJ version:) Numbers 23:19; I Samuel 15:29 Genesis 6:6; Exodus 32:14: I Samuel 15:11.35: Psalms 42:10: Jonah 3:10 God does not repent.

God does repent.

Numbers 23:19: Titus 1:2 God cannot lie. I Kings 22:20-30: 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. Ezekiel 13:9. 14:9 The Lord deceives prophets (puts false words into their mouths) in order to get rid of them. Numbers 31:7.9,15-18 The Israelites slew all the Midianites. except some of the female children. Judges 6:1.5 Later. the Midianites invaded the Israelites. Numbers 33:37-42 Aaron died on Mount Hor, on the border

of Edom. Immediately thereafter. the Israelites went to Zalmonah and Punon. Deuteronomy 10:6-7 Aaron died in Moserah. Right after that, the Israelites traveled to Gudgodah and Jotbathah. (See also Deut 32:50.) Deuteronomy 6:5: Matthew 22:37 We must love God. Deuteronomy 6:13: I Peter 2:17 We must fear God. I John 4:18 Perfect love cannot be mingled with fear. Who inscribed the Ten Commandments on the second set of stone tablets? Deuteronomy 10:1-2.4 God inscribed them. Exodus 34:27-28 God dictated whiie Moses inscribed them. Joshua 8:28 Joshua burnt the city of Ai, making it an ash heap forever. Nehemiah 7:32 Ai still exists as a city. Joshua utterly destroyed the inhabitants of Debir; he did not leave a living soul. Joshua 15:15,17; Judges 1:1,11,13 Othniel the son of Kenaz conquored Debar. It's evident that this was after Joshua's death. 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. he sank to the ground at her feet. and died. Joshua 10:38-39

I Samuel 15:7-8,20 Saul completely destroyed the Amalekites. I Samuel 27:8-9 Then David completely destroyed the Amalekites. I Samuel 30:1-2,17 Later, David destroyed a raiding

party of Amalekites. Only 400 men escaped. I Chronicles 4:42-43 Finally the Simeonites killed all the Amalekites. I Samuel 16:10.11 Jesse had seven sons besides his youngest, David. I Chronicles 2:13-15 David was the seventh son. How did King Saul become acquainted with David? Two contradictory accounts: I Samuel 16:18-23 Saul met David when David entered Saul's servce as a royal harper. David was a warrior. A servant informed Saul of the identity of David's father. Thereafter David remained in Saul's service as both harper and armor bearer. I Samuel 17:14-15,26,31-32,55-56, 18:1-2 David was a shepherd, and unlike his brothers did not follow Saul to war. Saul sent for him. having heard that David was asking about the reward for killing Goliath. Saul did not know the identity of David's father, and had to ask. Thereafter David remained in Saul's service and did not return home. I Samuel 28:6 I Chronicles 10:13-14 Saul attempted to consult the Lord. Saul did no such thing.

How did King Saul die? I Samuel 31:4-6: I Chronicles 10:4-5 He committed suicide. II Samuel 1:8-10 An Amalekite slew him. II Samuel 21:12 The Philistines slew him. How many horsemen did David take from Hadadezer? II Samuel 8:4 I Chronicles 18:4 II Samuel 10:18 Seven hundred. Seven thousand. David slew 700 Aramean charioteers

I Chronicles 19:18 II Samuel 24:9 & I Chronicles 21:5

and 40,000 horsemen. He slew 7000 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 footmen. Contrary census totals for Israel.

I Kings 6:2: II Chronicles 3:3 The size of Solomon's temple was about ninety feet by thirty feet by fourty-five feet high. I Chronicles 23:4 And yet, managing it required 23.000 servants. How many chiefs or officers did Solomon have to oversee the people? I Kings 9:23 Five hundred fifty. II Chronicles 8:10 Two hundred fifty. 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. I Chronicles 21:1 II Samuel 24:1 Satan "rose up" against Israel and incited King David to take a census. It was God who directly incited the census (apparently seeking an excuse to vent anger on Israel). I Kings 16:6,8

In both versions, God responded by killing thousands of Israelites (I Chron 21:7 onward & II Samuel 24:15 onward). In both versions, David criticised God for slaughtering so many innocents (I Chron 21:17, II Samuel 24:17). II Samuel 24:24 King David paid 50 shekels of silver for the threshing floor, oxen, wheat, etc.. which he appropriated for ceremonial purposes. I Chronicles 21:1 He paid 600 shekels of gold.

(Most explicit in the New American Bible and the International Bible:) I Samuel 17:23.50-51 David slew the Philistine, Goliath of Gath. II Samuel 21:19 Elhanan son of Jair slew Goliath of Gath. Note: In the standard KJ translation, the story is altered in the second instance, so that Elhanan slays the cousin of Goliath; the prevarication is disclosed by the italics in most editions. The contradiction stands in the source texts. See any good Bible commentary.

(Clearest in the Revised KJ version:) II Samuel 6:23 childless. II Samuel 21:8 Michal. the daughter of Saul, was She bore five sons.

Note: The Authorized (standard) KJ version says Michal "brought up" the five sons. but the more honest Revised KJ version makes it clear that these were her sons by birth. Some other translations substitute "Merab" or "Merob" for Michal in the same passage, but translators and commentators admit that in the majority of Septuagint sources, the name is Michal.

(In the New International Bible:) II Kings 1:17 Joram became King of Israel in the second year that Jehoram son of Jehosaphat reigned over Judah. 11 Kings 8:16 Jehoram son of Jehosaphat became King of Judah in the fifth year of Joram's reign over Israel. Note: Joram (son of Ahab). the King of Israel. was also sometimes called

Jehoram. Do not confuse him with the other Jehoram (son of Jehosaphat). the King of Judah. Again. see any good commentary.

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 #ezreei who was of the house of Ahab, including friends and priests. God commended him for these actions. Hosea 1:4 the massacre. God promises to punish the House of Jehu for

(In the KJ and Revised KJ versions only:) How old was King Ahaziah when he began to reign? II Kings 8:26 22 years old. 42 years old.

II Chronicles 22:2

II Kings 16:5 King Ahaz of Judah (Jerusalem) was not conquered by the kings of Israel and Syria. (See also Isaiah 7:1-7. in which God prophesied that Israel and Syria will fail to conquor Jerusalem.) II Chronicles 28:5-6 conquer him. The kings of Israel and Syria did

II Kings 23:29-30 King Josiah was slain at Magiddo. Servants brought his dead body to Jerusalem. II Chronicles 35:22-24 He was wounded at Magiddo. Servants brought him alive to Jerusalem, where he died.

II Kings 25:19-20 Nebuzaradan, commander of the invading Babylonian army, took five royal advisors as prisoners. Jeremiah 52:25-26 He took seven advisors as prisoners.

Compare Ezra 2:1-67 with Nehemiah 7:6-68 to find a number of contradictions. Each passage purports to be a comprehensive list, by family unit, of the inhabitants of Jerusalem who returned from Babylonian captivity. Compare numbers for each family: fourteen of them disagree. Moreover the addition is wrong. Both Ezra and Nehemiah put the total at 42,360 plus 2,337 servants. but simple addition shows it to be 29,818 in Ezra, and 31.089 in Nehemiah.

Psalms 104:5 (KJ version); Ecclesiastes 1:4 The Earth will last forever. II Peter 3:10; Hebrews 1:10-11 The Earth will perish.

Proverbs 26:4 & 26:5 verses!

Contradictory advice, in adjacent

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.

Job 7:9: Ecclesiastes 9:5 The dead will never rise again. They will have no further reward. John 5:28-29: I Corinthians 15:16,52 again to be rewarded or punished. The dead will rise

Deuteronomy 24:16: II Kings 14:16; II Chronicles 25:4 The son should not be punished for the father's sin. Every man bears guilt only for his own transgressions. Ezekiel 18:20 sins of the father. Again. the son does not bear guilt for the

Exodus 20:5 Ang yet. 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. Romans 5:12,14.19, 6:23 Also, 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.

Who was the father of Joseph--Jacob (Matthew 1:16) or Heli (Luke 3:23)? The Bible provides two geneoiogies for #oseph. Jesus's earthly Father, one in Chapter 1 of Matthew and the other in Chapter 3 of Luke. Both are by line of male descent. They contradict. See Luke 3:23-31 and Matthew 1:6-15 for the conflicting Portions. The two versions occasionally come together so other questions occur. For example, who was father to Sheatiel and grandfather to Zerubbabel? Was it Neri (Luke

3:27) or Jeconiah (Matt 1:12)? More problems arise when we compare the New Testament geneologies with the version in the first chapters of I Chronicles. For example, in Matthew, the son of Zerubbabel (Zorobabbel) is Abiud (Matthew 1:13). In Luke, his son is Rhesa (Luke 3:27). But I Chronicles lists seven sons for Zerubbabel (I Chron 3:19-20), and neither Abiud nor Rhesa are among them.

Another problem with the geneology: Matthew 1:8-9 Joram was the father of Uzziah (Ozias). who was the father of Jotham (Joatham). I Chronicles 3:11-12 Joram was the father of Ahaziah, father of Joash, father of Amaziah. father of Azariah--who. finally. was the father of Jotham.

Yet another problem: Matthew 1:11 Josiah was the father of Jechoniah. I Chronicles 3:15-16 Josiah was the grandfather of Jechoniah.

And another: Matthew 1:12: Luke 3:27 Shealtiel (Salathiel). I Chronicles 3:17-19 Shealtiel was his uncle. Zerubbabel was the son of

Zerubbabel was the son of Pedaiah:

And another: Matthew 1:17 Matthew says there were fourteen generations from the Babylonian captivity to the birth of the Messiah. Matthew 1:12-16 thirteen. Count carefully. There were only

And another: Luke 3:35-36 Shelah was the son of Cainan, and greatgrandson of Shem. Genesis 11:11-12 grandson of Shem. Shelah was the son of Arpachsnad. and

John 1:18, 6:46: I John 4:12 No one has ever seen God. Exodus 33:11 God says no man will ever see His face and live. But ... the Lord appeared to Abraham (Gen 18:1#. Jacob saw God face-to-face (Gen 32:30). Moses and the Elders gazed upon God (Exodus 24:9-11). God spoke to Moses face-to-face (Exodus 33:11: Deut 34:10). God allowed Moses to see his "back parts" (Exodus 33:22-23). Isaiah saw God in a vision (Isaiah 6:1,5). Ezekiel also saw God in a vision and described Him in some detail (Ezekiel 1:27-28). Amos saw God (Amos 7:7).

Matthew 1:20: Luke 1:26-35 Before Jesus's birth, angels appeared and clearly informed both Joseph and Mary that their

child was the Son of God. Luke 2:49-50 In spite of this, Joseph and Mary did not understand Jesus when he refered to God as his "father".

Matthew 2:1,14-15,22-23 Joseph and his family fled Judea (Bethlehem) in order to avoid Herod. stayed in Egypt a while, feared to return to Judea after Herod's death, and so settled in Galilee (Nazareth). Luke 1:26-27, 2:1,4-5,39-40 Joseph was an original resident of Galilee (Nazareth) at the time of his marriage. only briefly visited Judea (Bethlehem) to register for the census, and returned peacefully to Galilee after fulfilling ritual prescriptions concerning childbirth.

Mark 1:7-13 Immediately after Jesus's baptism and encounter with Paul, Jesus went into the wilderness for fourty days, and dwelled alone. John 1:27-40 After the encounter, Jesus continued to live near Galilee, and went about gathering 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 imprisioned.

Mark 1:29-30,40-42 Simon Peter's house.

Jesus healed the leper after visiting

Matthew 8:1-3.14 the house.

Jesus heaied the leper before visiting

(Most explicit in the New American Bible and the New International bible:) 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.

Matthew 11:2-3: Luke 7:18-22 While imprisioned. 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.

John 3:13 Jesus said that no man but himself has ever ascended to heaven. II Kings 2:11 Elijah ascended to heaven in a whirlwind. Genesis 5:24: Hebrews 11:5 Enoch was taken bodily into Heaven.

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. I Samuel 21:1-6 This event actually occured in the days

of Ahimelech the high priest. I Chronicles 24:6: I Samuel 23:6 Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech (they were high priest at different times).

Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus will give rest and peace to his followers: his yoke is easy, his burden light. Hebrews 12:6 God will disciplin and punish, or scourge, everyone who comes to him. II Timothy 3:12 great persecution. The followers of Christ will suffer

John 2:14-16 The purging of the temple occured near the beginning of Jesus's ministry. two or three years before the crucifixion. Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46 purging occured The

Note: Some apologists have suggested that Jesus purged the temple twice. If so, and if we assume the gospels are independent accounts as apologists insist. it is remarkab|y unlikely that one of them shouid mention oniy the first purging. and three should mention only the second.

John 3:36 be saved.

Only those who beiieve in the Son of God will

Luke 10:25-28 No! To be saved. it suffices to love God and your fellow man. Matthew 19:16-21 Jesus told one man that to gain "eternal

life", it was necessary only to obey the Ten Commandments. Only if the man wanted to be "perfect" did he need to sell his possessions and follow Jesus. Acts 10:34-5 God will accept anyone who fears Him and "works righteousness".

John 6:17,19.21 Jesus walked all the way across the lake: he did not climb into the boat. Matthew 14:25,32: Mark 6:48,51 Jesus walked only part way. and finished the journey in the boat.

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.

Matthew 5:3-11 Luke 6:20-22

The sermon contained nine Beatitudes. The sermon contained only four Beatitudes.

Matthew 6:5-6 I Timothy 2:8

Jesus condemned public prayer. Paul encouraged public prayer.

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 has denied his faith. and he is worse than an infidel. I Corinthians 3:8 If anyone does not work, he should not be allowed to eat.

Matthew 8:26, 9:9 Jesus acquired Matthew as a disciple after stilling the tempest. Mark 2:14. 4:39 Jesus acquired Matthew (Levi) before stilling the tempest. Note: The context identifies Levi as another name for Matthew. Compare Matt 9:9-17 with Mark 2:14-22 & Luke 5:27-39. or see any good commentary.

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.

Compare the names of the Twelve Apostles, meticulously listed in four places in the Bible. Matthew 10:2-4: Mark 3:16-19 Lebbaeus Thaddaeus was one of the Twelve. Luke 6:14-16: Acts 1:13 Judas the brother of James (not Iscariot) has replaced him.

Acts 13:39 Mark 3:29 unforgivable.

All sins can be forgiven. Cursing or blaspheming the Holy Spirit is

Luke 8:41-42 Jairus approached Jesus for help, because his daughter was dying. Matthew 9:18 already dead. He asked for help, saying his daughter was

Mark 6:8 Jesus instructed his disciples to wear sandals and take a staff on their journey. Matthew 10:9 Jesus instructed them not to take a staff, not to wear sandals.

Matthew 11:12,14. 17:12-13 Baptist was Elijah.

Jesus said that John the

John 1:21 John the Baptist maintained that he was not Elijah. See also Malachi 4:5. which predicts that Elijah must return before the final days of the world. And see Mark 9:13, where Jesus insists that Elijah has, indeed. returned.

John 5:22 God the Father entrusted all judgment to Jesus. John 5:27,30, 8:26: Matthew 25:31-32: II Corinthians 5:10; Acts 10:42 Other verses which imply that Jesus passes judgment. John 8:15, 12:47 Jesus. however, said that he judges no one. Luke 12:14; John 8:50 Verses which agree that Jesus does not judge. I Corinthians 6:2 It will be the "saints" who judge the

whole world.

Mark 8:12-13; Matthew 12:38-40 Jesus announced that no signs would be given to that generation. except possibly the Resurrection itself. John 20:30: Acts 2:22 Yet. Jesus provided many wonders and signs. See also: Mark 16:20: Acts 5:12, 8:13

Matthew 12:40 Jesus predicted that he would spend "three days and three nights" in the earth. Matthew 27:57-60,62, 28:1-6: Mark 15:42-43,46, 16:1-6; Luke 23:53-54, 24:1-3 In fact. Jesus was paced in the tomb on the evening of Preparation Day, the day before the Jewish Sabbath, and arose by the morning after the Sabbath. Time elapsed in the earth: two nights. one day.

Matthew 13:55-56: Mark 6:3; Galatians 1:19 These passages imply that James the Less, Joseph (Joses), Simon and Judas were Jesus's brothers. Jesus also seemed to have several sisters. Matthew 27:56: Mark 15:40,47 These imply that James and Joseph (Joses) were sons of some other Mary, not Jesus's mother. Matthew 10:3: Mark 3:18 These state that Alpheus was father to James. Matthew 27:56 & John 19:25 Taken together, these imply that Clophas, not Alpheus. was husband to the Mary the mother of James. Note: The Greek word generally translated as "brother" in the Gospel manuscripts can also sometimes mean "cousin": this

may be a partial resolution to these problems. On the other hand. Luke 2:7 imples that Jesus was the first of several offspring. and John 1[11? - typist]:26-27 suggests that he had at least one sibling.

Matthew 17:1-2 Six days after Jesus made his prophecy of his second coming. the Transfiguration occured. Luke 9:28-29 It occured after about eight days.

Who requested that James and John, Zebedee's children, should sit beside Jesus in his Kingdom? Matthew 20:20-21 Mark 10:35-37 Their mother requested it.

James and John made the request.

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.

Matthew 21:2-7 Next, two of the disciples brought Jesus an ass and a colt from the village of Bethphage. Mark 11:2-7 The brought him only a colt.

Matthew 21:17-19 the temple. Mark 11:14-15.20

Jesus cursed the fig tree after purging

He cursed it before the purging.

Mark 11:12-14,20 The morning after Jesus cursed the fig tree. the disciples noticed it had withered. and expressed astonishment. Matthew 21:9 The fig tree withered immediately. and the disciples registered surprise then and there.

Matthew 23:35 Jesus said that Zechariah was the son of Berechiah. II Chronicles 24:20-22 Zechariah was the son of Jehoiada.

John 13:34-35 Jesus commanded us to love one another: in this #ay. all men will recognize his disciples. Luke 14:26 You cannot be a disciple of Jesus unless you hate your father and mother, your siblings, your children. your wife.

Mark 14:16-18: Luke 22:13-14 Passover meal.

The Last Supper was the

John 13:1. 18:28,39. 19:14-18 The Last Supper occured the day just before Passover. The trial and curcifixion occured on Passover Day.

John 18:12 Jesus was arrested by a detachment of Roman soldiers and some Jewish officials. Matthew 26:47: Mark 14:43: Luke 22:47 arrested by "multitudes" sent by the priests. Jesus was

John 18:19,24 After his arrest, Jesus's preliminary interrogation was before Annas; after that, he was brought to Caiaphas. Matthew 26:57 He was led directly to Caiaphas.

Matthew 27:28 Immediately after Pilate had Jesus flogged. the soldiers dressed Jesus in a scarlet robe. Mark 15:17: John 19:2 It was a purple robe.

Mark 14:30,57-72 As Peter denied Jesus three times, the cock crowed twice. Luke 22:34.60-61: Matthew 26:34.69-74 The cock crowed only once. Note that each version of the story conveniently adjusts Jesus's prophecy to fit the events.

To whom did Peter make his three denials? First denial: to a maid and others (Matt 26:69-70): to the maid only (Mark 14:66-68). Second denial: to another maid (Matt 26:71-72); to a man (Luke 22:58): to several people (John 18:55).

Third denial: to several bystanders (Matt 26:73-74): to a single man (Luke 22:59-60); to one of the servants (John 18:2627).

Matthew 27:3-8 Judas returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests, then hanged himself. The priests used the silver to establish a graveyard. Acts 1:16-18 Judas purchased land with the silver, and subsequently died in a fall.

John 19:17

Jesus carried his own cross. Simon the Cyrenian

Matthew 27:32: Mark 15:21: Luke 23:26 was forced to carry Jesus's cross.

Mark 15:25 Jesus was crucified at about 9:00 a.m. (the "third hour"). John 19:14-15,31 He was crucified after noon on Preparation Day (the "sixth hour").

Each Gospel reports a different wording for the inscription placed above Jesus during the crucifixion. Matthew 27:37 King of the Jews." Mark 16:26 Jews". Luke 23:38 The inscription was, "This is Jesus the

The inscription was simply, "The King of the It was. ''This is the King of the Jews,'' in

three languages. John 19:19 Jews." It was. "Jesus of Nazareth the King of the

Mark 15:32: Matthew 27:44 Both of the criminals crucified with Jesus taunted him. Luke 23:39 Only one of the criminals taunted him.

Matthew 27:46-50: Mark 15:34-37 Jesus's last words were: "My God. my God. why hast thou forsaken me?" (KJ version). (According to Matthew, he cried out once more in a loud voice.) Then Jesus died. Luke 23:46 Jesus's last words were. "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Then Jesus died. John 19:30 Jesus died. The last words were, "It is finished." Then

Matthew 27:55-56: Mark 15:40; Luke 23:49 The women, including Mary Magdalene and Jesus's mother, watched the crucifixion from a "distance" or from ''afar". John 19:25 cross. They stood near the cross or next to the

(KJ Version only:) Luke 23:44 At the moment of Jesus's death, darkness covered

the whole earth for three hours. But extensive documents are available from this period in history. No historian. no scientist. no astronomer--in Rome. Greece. Egypt. Palestine. Arabia. India. China or any other land--reported such an unusuai phenomenon.

(In the New American Bible and the New International Bible:) Luke 23:54-56, 24:1 On the day before the Sabath, the women prepared spices and ointments for Jesus's body. Mark 16:1 They did not purchase the spices until the day after the Sabath.

How many women visited Jesus's tomb on the morning of the Resurrection, and when? What did they discover? John 20:1 Mary Magdalene. alone, first visited the tomb. It was "still dark." She found the stone rolled away. Matthew 28:1-2 It was Mary Magdaline and another Mary who visited the tomb. It was dawn. They found the tomb still covered: thereupon an angel rolled back the stone. Mark 16:1-4 The visitors were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Johanna, and an undetermined number of other women. They found the stone rolled back.

John 20:8-9 The disciples did not know or understand that Jesus was to rise from the dead.

Luke 14:6-8: Matthew 20:17-19. 27:63-64: Mark 8:31, 10:34 Jesus had carefully explained to them. in simple terms. that this was to happen. Even Jesus's enemies understood the prophecy of the Resurrection.

Matthew 28:2.5: Mark 11 [???]:5-6 Immediately upon visiting Jesus's tomb. the women met one young man or angel. who addressed them. Luke 24:4-5 angels. The women encountered two young men or

John 20:8-12 Mary Magdalene met two angels, but only later, after the disciples had examined the tomb and found it empty.

Mark 16:1,8 Mary Magdalene, Mary and Salome. discovering that Jesus had risen from death. fled in fear and said nothing to anyone. Luke 24:8-9 Mary Magdalene, Mary. Johanna and other women. discovering this, returned and reported to the eleven apostles.

Matthew 28:9 The women saw Jesus on their way back to report to the disciples. Luke 24:9,22-23 The women apparently did not see Jesus.

Matthew 28:1,9 Mary Magdaline obviously recognized Jesus when she first saw him after the Resurrection. John 20:14 She did not recognize him.

Matthew 28:16-17 After the Resurrection. Jesus first appeared to the disciples in Galilee. Luke 24:33.36 He first appeared to them in Jerusalem.

Luke 24:15,18,32-34.36,50-51 Jesus appeared first to Celopas and Simon Peter, then to all eleven disciples; then he immediately ascended to heaven. John 20:14.19,26. 21:1 Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, then to most of the disciples, a week later to a larger group of disciples, and later still to the disciples while they were fishing. I Corinthians 15:4-8 Jesus appeared, in order. to Cephas (Peter). then to "the Twelve" (although Judas was dead at this time. and the others had not yet appointed Matthias to replace-see Acts 1:23.26). then to a crowd of five hundred. then to James, then to all the apostles, and lastly to Peter.

John 2:13. 5:1 (?). 6:4, 11:55 Jesus's ministry spanned at least three, perhaps four passovers. Matthew 26:1: Mark 14:1: Luke 22:1 The other Gospels mention only one passover. and strongly imply that Jesus's ministry lasted only about one year.

Acts 5:21 [???] We ought to obey God rather than man. I Peter 2:13-14 Submit yourselves to man's 1aw.

Acts 7:15-16 Jacob was buried in Sychem. in a sepulchre which Abraham had purchased from Emmor. Genesis 50:13 Jacob was buried in Canaan. in a cave which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite.

Acts 9:7 voice. Acts 22:9

The men travelling with Saul heard Jesus's

They did not hear the voice.

Acts 9:19-20,26-30 After his conversion, Paul (Saul) stayed with the disciples in Damascus, preached in the synagogues. fled to Jerusalem and preached there also, then went to Tarsus by way of Caesarea. Galatians 1:16-21 After his conversion, Paul "conferred not with flesh and blood" (KJ version). but instead went off to Arabia, then returned to Damasucs. Three years later he went to Jerusalem; the only apostle he met was James. This account. Paul swears before God, the the true one. Thereafter, Paul says, he went to Syria and Cilicia.

Acts 13:18-22 (KJ version) The Israelites wandered 40 years in the wilderness after the release from Egypt. After that they had judges for 450 years. Then, Saul was king for 40 years. Total: 530 years. Acts 13:18-22 (New International Bible) The time in the wilderness and the subsequent conquest of seven nations in Cannan

took 450 years. After that, the Jews had judges for an unspecified period. Then Saul ruied for 40 years. Total: more than 490 years. I Kings 6:1 (both versions) Much, much later, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, only 480 years had passed since the release from Egypt. (Some versions of the Septuagint make this only 440. making the contradiction even more drastic.)

I Corinthians 11:14 Paul preaches that it is a shame for any man to have long hair. Judges 13:15; Numbers 6:2,5: I Samuel 1:11 All verses which imply that long hair on a man is. or can be, a sign of holiness.

Galatians 2:7-8 Acts 15:7

Peter was apostle to the Jews.

Peter was apostle to the Gentiles.

Galatians 4:22: Genesis 16:15-16, 21:2-3 sons: first Ishmael, then Isaac. Hebrews 11:17 Isaac was his only son.

Abraham had two

I John 4:1-2 If a spirit confesses that Christ has come, it is a spirit of God. Matthew 8:29; Mark 1:23-24. 3:11, 5:7: Luke 4:41 Cases where demons or unclean spirits confessed that Christ has come.

John 12:3#-40 # Isaiah 6:10 God causes people not to believe the truth in order to prevent them from being "healed". II Thessalonians 2:11-12 God sends strong delusions on certain people in order to make them believe false things and be damned. Romans 9:18 (& subsequent verses) More of the same. Salvation is a matter of God's whim: people have no choice or control or responsibility in the matter. I Timothy 2:4 Contrary to all this, God "desires all men to be saved" and to have the truth!

Galatians 6:2 Galatians 6:5

We should bear one another's burdens. Every man should bear his own burdens.

Romans 2:13 just. Romans 3:19

Those who keep the law will be declared

Keeping the law does not make anyone just.

Romans 3:23 Genesis 6:9 Job 1:1

All men have sinned in God's eye. Noah was perfect.

Job was perfect.

Revelations 8:7 world.

Fire will consume all the grass in the

Revelations 9:4 Later, an army of locusts will be instructed not to harm any of the grass.

***

FAILED PROPHECIES

Genesis 15:18 God promised Abram (Abraham) that his descendants. the Jews, would receive all the land from the River of Egypt (the Nile) to the river Euphrates. Joshua 1:3-4 Israelite territory will extend as far as the Euphrates. But Israelite territory has never extended to the Euphrates, and it is very doubtful that it ever even extended to the Nile.

Genesis 17:3.8 God gave the whole land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants, to inhabit forever. (See also: Gen 13:15, Ex 32:13.) Canaan was the land west of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, between those waters and the Mediterranean. the general region later called Palestine. As a matter of history. the Jews did not receive all of Canaan for an everiasting possession. Revolts of the Jews against Rome in 132-135 AD led to their dispersal throughout the world. For eighteen centuries, Turkish, Persian and Arabic peoples occupied Palestine. The Jews began to return in significant numbers only in 1921, shortly before the creation of the modern state of Israel in 1948. See Acts 7:5 and Hebrews 11:13, which candidly admit that

God's promise or prophecy, in this case. failed.

Psalms 89:3-4 God promised David this his royal line and throne would last through "all generations". Psalms 89:35-37 Again, God promised that David's royal throne will last as long as the sun and the moon. Yet, after Zedekiah, there was no Davidic king for 450 years. The royal line was finally restored with Aristobulus, of the Hasmonean dynasty, but eventually that ended also. According to New Testament prophecy, Jesus will receive the throne of David and reign forever (Luke 1:32-33). but even so. the royal line has a very evident break and the prophecy has failed.

Isaiah 17:1 A prophecy of the city of Damascus. It will become "a heap of ruins." But Damascus, the capital of Syria, thrives today. one of the oldest cities in the world, and has been continuously inhabited since its founding. It has never been a heap of ruins.

Isaiah 34:8-10 A prophecy that the land of Edom (which borders the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba) will become "burning pitch". The streams will become pitch. the soil will become brimstone. it will lay waste for generations. none will pass through it forever, and the smoke from the burning will go up forever. But this has never happened, and people continue to pass through Edom to this day.

Jeremiah 9:11 A prophecy that Jerusalem and the cities of Judah will become heaps of ruins, desolate, without inhabitants. Neither Jerusalem nor Judah have ever been desolate and

uninhabited for any period. (The New Testament predits that Jerusalem will be an eternal city.)

Jeremiah 42:17 The Jews who returned to live in Egypt will all die by the sword, by famine or by pestilence: none will survive. But many Jews have lived in Egypt and died peacful deaths. Many live there today. In fact. in Alexandria the Jews established a great cultural center in the first century A.D.

Jeremiah 49:33 Hazor, an ancient city of Israel, will become a dwelling place for jackals (or dragons. KJ version). and no one will live there, forever. But people have never stopped living in the city of Hazor. and continue to do so today.

Jeremiah 51:24-26.28-31,40,53-55,58 Highlights from a long prophecy of the violent demise of Babylon and of all inhabitants of Babylonia or Chaldea. Many enemies will attack them: the walls of Babylon will be leveled, the gates set on fire: it will be as a burned-out mountain, a heap or ruins. a desolation forever. Isaiah 14:23 Another prophecy of Babylon's destruction. It will become swampland. a haunt for owls. Apologists have claimed that the fulfillment of these prophecies proves the literal veracity of the Bible. Yet history shows that the violent permanent destruction of Babylon never happened. The context of the prophesied destruction indicates that it was to be a punishment for Babylon's domination of the Israelites. from 586 to 538 B.C. But when Babylon finally died, it was with a whimper, not a bang, in the second century A.D., when its last inhabitants abandoned it--long, long after the citizens could still be considered responsible for ancient Babylon's treatment of Israel.

Many enemies marched against Babylon throughout its history, and from time to time an enemy would capture or occupy it or cause some damage. as occured to most other great cities, but there was never a holocaust with permanent effects. In 538 b.c., for example, the Persians conquored Babylon. The city later revolted. then the Persians captured it again. destroying the city walls in the process. But the walls were rebuilt and the city suffered little damage. In 330 B.C.. Alexander the Great captured Babylon. Most of the inhabitants move to the new city of Selucia. Henceforth, Jews inhabited the city until the second century A.D., when it was peacefully abandoned. Babylon is even mentioned in the New Testament (I Peter 1:1, 5:13). Ezekiel 26:3-4,7-12, 27:32,36, 28:19 A prophecy of the downfall of Tyre (Tyrus). King Nebuchadnezzer of Babylon will come with an army, batter down the walls and towers, trample the streets, kill all the people, and toss the rubble into the sea. Tyre will come to a terrible end and "never shalt be any more" (KJ version). Despite the prophecy, and in spite of much effort. Babylon failed to capture or destroy Tyre. (The Bible admits, in fact, that the effort failed -- so God gave Egypt to Nebuchadnezzer as compensation! See Ezekiel 29:18-19.) The eventual conquest of Tyre was a feat reserved for Alexander the Great, 240 years later. Again. in spite of all prophecy. Tyre was rebuilt, and the New Testament even mentions it (Acts 7:20; Luke 10:13; Mark 7:24.31). Today, Tyre (Sur) has over 10.000 inhabitants.

Ezekiel 29:9-12 Egypt will become "utterly waste and desolate", and no man or animal will pass through it, and no one will inhabit it, for fourty years. The Egyptians will be scattered through other nations. None of this has ever occured, and history shows that Egypt has been continuously inhabited since the days of this prophecy. Ezekiel 29:15 Egypt will be "diminished" and never again

rule over other nations. Yet, in the 1820's, Egypt conquered and ruled the Sudan. Ezekiel 30:4-16.22-26 King Nebuchadnezzar will destroy the multitudes of Egypt. Ethopia, Libya and "all the mingled people" will fall by the sword. The rivers will run dry, the Egyptians will be scattered among other nations and dispersed through many countries. There will be no more Egyptian prince. Historically. this never occured. Egyptians still live in Egypt (the United Arab Republic): they were never scattered or dispersed. Nebuchadnezzer never destroyed Egypt, nor conquored Ethopia, Libya or Lydia. Princes continued to rule in Egypt long after Nebuchadnezzar's death. The rivers of Egypt have not run dry.

Daniel 9:26 Jerusalem will be destroyed by a flood. No flood has ever destroyed Jerusalem, nor caused permanent damage.

Micah 7:13: Zephaniah 1:2-3,18 God will destroy everything on earth, including man and beast. fish and fowl: the whole world will be consumed, and become desolate, because of the wicked deeds of its inhabitants. Of course this has never occured. And in the light of New Testament prophecy, it never will occur!

Matthew 16:27-28 Jesus predicted his Return within the lifetime of some of his listeners. He will be accompanied by his angels, he said, and will "reward each man according to his works" (KJ version). Matthew 24:3-35; Mark 13:24-30; Luke 21:27-32 Jesus's extensive and detailed description of the end of the world, and of his second coming. All will occur before the present generation passed away. (Some apologists have defended these

passages with the observation that the word "generation" may also be translated as "race". But God had promised Abraham that the Jewish race would possess Palestine forever, so such an interpretation would simply render the passages meaningless.) John 5:25 Very specific statement by Jesus that the "hour has now come" when the dead will #hear the voice of the Son of God" and "those who hear will live." John 21:20-23 A suggestion by Jesus. after the Resurrection, that he would "return" during the lifetime of at least one of his disciples. Note that the anonymous author or scribe of the Book of John recognized the ostensible failure of this prophecy, and attempted to explain it in the subsequent verses. I Thessalonians 4:15-17 Another statement, by Paul, that Jesus's return would occur within the lifetime of some of his contemporaries. I Peter 4:7: I Corinthians 7:29-31: Hebrews 10:37 Further statements that Jesus's second coming was imminent. Paul even advised people not to make plans for the future. I John 2:18 John was even more specific than Paul. The final hour was at hand, and various Antichrists had already appeared on the earth. See also: Matthew 23:25: Hebrews 1:2. 9:26: I Timothy 6:13-14: I Peter 1:20: Revelations 22:20. All these passages imply that the apocalypse was very close, not in some mystical sense, but in human terms.

Acts 18:9-10 In a vision. Jesus guaranteed Paul that he would not be harmed or attacked so long as Paul continued preaching. Acts 21:20. a crowd attacked Paul: 23:2, the priests's attendant struck Paul: 24:27, Paul was imprisoned: 27:41-43. shipwrecked.

Isaiah 52:1 A prophecy that the "uncircumcised and unclean" shall no longer enter the city of Jerusalem. In spite of the prophecy. the uncircumcised and the unclean travel in Jerusalem to this day.

** *

CRUELTIES AND INCONGRUITIES

Genesis 3:14,17 God punished Adam & Eve for disobeying.His warning and eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Genesis 2:25. 3:6-7, 3:22 But as God admits. until Adam & Eve ate from this tree, they did not know right from wrong. Therefore they could have not known it was wrong to disobey God's warning.

Exodus 4:21. 7:1. 10:1 It was actually God who caused Pharaoh to be obstinate about freeing the Jews. (Pharaoh's refusal was not an act of free will.)

Exodus 21:17 God proclaimed that a child must be put to death if. in a moment of anger. he reviles either of his parents for any reason.

Exodus 21:20-21 God also proclaimed that it is permissible

for a man to beat a slave. as long as death does not occur immediately. The reason: "For the slave is the man's property."

(KJ version only:) Exodus 22:28 other "gods." God commanded us not to revile or denigrate

Exodus 24:12. 31:18, 32:19. 34:1.4,10-28 These passages demonstrate great confusion about the identity of the Ten Commandments, the Decalogue inscribed on both the first and second set of stone tablets, which Moses placed in the Ark of the Covenant. The traditional version of the commandments appears in Exodus Chap. 20. According to Exodus. however. these are not the true Ten Commandments. Read the passages carefully. The true Commandments appear in Exodus 34:10-26, and they include such curious injunctions as: "Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk," and "Do not offer a sacrifice to the Lord along with anything containing yeast." Deuteronomy 5:4-22 here. The traditional Commandments appear

Exodus 32:27-28 Moses had the Levites murder their brothers, neighbors and companions over a religious difference. Three thousand people die.

Leviticus 19:21 or sideburns.

God declared it a sin to trim your beard

Leviticus 19:28

God said that tatoos are a sin.

Leviticus 25:44-46

God authorized slavery.

Numbers 15:32-36 God commanded a man to be stoned to death for gathering sticks on the Sabbath Day.

Numbers 31:17-18 Moses ordered innocent women and chiidren ki|ied. and commanded his officers to keep the virgins alive for themselves.

Deuteronomy 2:34 Again. Moses ordered the slaughter of women and chiidren captured in war.

Further bioody injunctions from Moses to the Israelites: Deuteronomy 13:6-10 A man must slay his daughter, wife, son or friend for a difference in religion. Deuteronomy 13:12-16 Whole cities must be destroyed. plundered and burned, the inhabitants all slaughtered, for the same reason.

Deuteronomy 20:12-17 God's injunction to Moses: If a city does not enslave itself to him immediately, lay seige to it. kill all the males and take women and children as slaves. Some cities, however, must be destroyed utterly: even women, children and babies must be murdered.

Deuteronomy 21:11-14 Female prisoners-of-war. said God, must be subject to the sexual whims of their captors. They may have only one month of mourning for slain parents. Thereafter, when the captor grows tired of a prisoner, he may cast her aside.

Deuteronomy 22:25-29 The penalty for raping a betrothed virgin is death: but the penalty for raping an unbetrothed virgin is to pay a fine to the father and then marry the woman. (This is the only Biblical injunction against rape!)

Deuteronomy 23:1-3 A man who has suffered sexual injury or mutulation has no right to worship in church (enter the assembly of the Lord). Illegitimate children. or children of incestious relationships, also may not worship or enter. In fact. you may not attend if any of your ancestors were illegitimate, up to ten generations back.

Deuteronomy 25:11-12 If a wife attempts to attempts to rescue or protect her husband from an assailant. and if in so doing she deliberately or accidently touches the assailant's private parts, her hand must be cut off. This is God's direct command.

Joshua's acts of mass murder, commanded or condoned by the Lord: Joshua 6:21 After capturing Jericho, the Israelites under Joshua's command slaughtered women, children and old men. Even the animals of the city were killed.

Joshua 8:2,24-25 Under God's command. Joshua killed all the inhabitants of the city of Ai, including women and children. Joshua 10:28-37,40 Continuing in this fashion, Joshua obliterated the complete populations of Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, Hebron, and all who dwelled in "the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs'' (KJ version). He destroyed everything that breathed, and did not even spare suckling babies.

Joshua 7:20-26 A man named Archen kept some of the plunder from Jericho for himself, instead of turning it all over to the priests. He confessed to the crime. As punishment. Joshua not only had Archen stoned and burned, but Archen's innocent sons and daughters as well. This deed appeased God.

Judges 8:16 Gideon, the son of Joshua (and the same Gideon for whom the Gideon Bible is named) used torture on the captive elders of Succoth.

Judges 11:24 The Bible recognizes the existence of the Ammonite god. Chemosh.

Intimations of human sacrifice in the Bible: Judges 11:30-32.34.39 God delivered Jepthah's enemies into his hands in exchange for a human sacrifice. Leviticus 27:28-29 Human beings "devoted" or made sacred to God must be put to death. (See also Exodus 22:28-29 in this context.)

II Samuel 21:1,8,9,14 God accepts the sacrifice (by dismemberment) of seven innocent men, and removes a famine.

I Samuel 15:3.8 On God's orders, Saul killed all the Amalekits, including women, infants and suckling babies.

II Samuel 6:6-7 Uzzah saved the Ark of the Covenant from tipping over by steadying it with his hand. God's response was to strike him dead.

II Samuel 12:14-18 innocent child.

God punished a man by killing his

II Kings 2:23-24 The prophet Elisha (protegee of Elijah) caused bears to tear children apart for laughing at his bald head. David, the "favorite of God," lived by robbery and unprovoked massacre of neighboring tribes, slaughtering both men and women (I Sam 27:8-9). lied afterwards about the killings (I Sam 27:10-11). ordered the blind and lame of the city of Zion to be killed (II Sam 5:8). murdered prisoners of war (II Sam 8:2). maimed horses (II Sam 8:4)# tortured and killed more prisoners of war (II Sam 12:31 & I Chron 20:3, KJ version). With his last breath, he betrayed an oath and advocated murder (I Kings 2:8-9). I Kings 11:6. 15:3,5; Acts 13:22 David followed the Lord completely. All his deeds were right in the eyes of God. except for those regarding Uriah (a small matter of adultery, betrayal and a single murder: see II Sam 11). David was a man after God's

heart.

I Chronicies 16:30 space.

The earth does not move through

Matthew 4:8; Luke 4:5 earth is flat.

Also, two verses that suggest the

II Chronicles 1:11-12 God promised that Solomon would have material wealth greater than any other king, before or since. History shows otherwise. Solomon was weathy. but several kings in Solomon's day. and many since, were much wealthier. Some have been so wealthy that could have misplaced the value of all of Palestine without missing it. Note that if you reinterpret "wealth" to mean "spiritual wealth", the prophecy also fails. because Solomon lived his later years in spiritual darkness. Job 1:6-12 III John 1:11 Satan saw God. Those who have seen God do not do evil.

The Bible (KJ version and sourcetexts) seems to insist that the soul, or consciousness, exists in the kidneys (reins) and heart. Psalms 73:21 "Thus my heart was grieved. and I was pricked in my reins." Psalms 16:7 seasons." Psalms 7:9 "My reins also instruct me in the night

"God trieth the hearts and reins."

Proverbs 23:16 "My reins shall rejoice when my lips speak right things.'' Reve#ation 2:23 "' am He which searchelh the reins and heart. On the other hand, the Bible never mentions the brain as the center of anything mental or spiritual.

Psalms 109:9.10,12 A holy psalm which cruelly calls down misery and suffering on a man's innocent wife and children. Psalms 139:21.22 A holy psalm which declares "nothing but hatred" on those who oppose God. Psalms 137:9 This psalm proclaims happiness for those who dash Babylonian children against rocks.

Biblical statements and prophecies about the "son of man" (KJ version): Psalms 146:3 Put not your trust in the son of man, in whom there is no help. Job 25:6 The son of man is a worm, or like a worm. Psalms 8:4 & 144:3, in the KJ version, also belittle the "son of man".

Proverbs 14:15 The wise man does not have blind faith in everything said to him. but looks for proof. (Clearest in the New English Bible.)

Ecclesiastes 3:18-22 Men are as beasts: they have the same fate, the same "breath" (spirit): all go to the same place: none know if the breath (spirit) of man and beast have different

destinies. Ecclesiastes 12:9-10,12 The preacher or teacher who wrote these things was wise, and what he wrote was true. Be warned of any attempt to add to his words or change them.

Isaiah 23:17-18 Revenue from prostitution will be used to provide abundant food and fine clothes for those living in God's grace.

Jeremiah 19:9 God intentionally forces people into acts of cannabalism. The victims are innocent children.

Hosea 13:16 Because Samaria rebelled against God, God ordained that its pregnant women will be ripped open and innocent children dashed to the ground.

(KJ version only:) Exodus 32:14 Isaiah 45:7 God does evil. God creates evil. God inflicts evil.

Jeremiah 26:3 Amos 3:6

God causes evil. Evil comes from the mouth of God.

Lamentations 3:38

Mark 4:11-12 Jesus deliberately spoke in parables in order

to exclude some people from being converted and being forgiven their sins. See also: John 12:39-40: Isaiah 6:10.

Matthew 5:31-39 Jesus admitted that scripture contains errors. He disagreed with several specific teachings from the Old Testament, in particular Deut 24:1, Ex 21:24, Lev 24:20. Deut 19:21.

John 14:12 Jesus declared that anyone who believes in him will perform the same miracles and greater miracles than He performed. (Thus, anyone who does not perform greater miracles is. by Jesus's own words, an unbeliever.) Mark 16:17-18 Also, that believers will be immune to poison and poisonous serpents, and will cure the sick by laying-on of hands. Note: The passage from Mark is absent from the two earliest. most reliable Greek manuscripts of the gospel.

Matthew 5:33-37 The Bible prohibits oaths or vows in any form, even oaths before God or oaths on the Bible.

Matthew 10:34-36 Jesus's purpose on earth was not to bring peace, but conflict, strife, discord. Luke 12:49,51 Jesus came to spread fire on the earth, and to cause not peace. but division. Luke 22:3# swords. Jesus commanded his followers to procure

Matthew 15:22-28 A Canannite woman pleaded with Jesus to he|p her aflicted daughter. Jesus refused to answer. She continued to plead. The disciples reviled her. Jesus announced that he will only help Israelites: to help Gentiles would be like taking bread from the Jews and casting it to dogs. The woman continued to humiliate herself. Finally, Jesus relented and agreed to heal the child, using the occasion the deliver a little homily on the virtues of faith and persistence.

Luke 7:36-50 By Jesus's own words, a woman was saved by her faith even before the crucifixion. Thus the crucifixion was not absolutely necessary for salvation.

Luke 15:7 repentence.

A verse that implies that some people need no

(KJ version & New International version:) Luke 14:26 Jesus demanded that his disciples hate their parents. Matthew 10:35-36 Jesus said he came to turn children against their parents.

Luke 19:27 Jesus implied, in a parable. that those who do not accept him are to be killed.

Matthew 19:17; John 14:28 Verses implying that Jesus believed he was not God, but less than God.

John 14:28 God is Jesus's God as well as our God. Again, it appears that God and Jesus are not identical.

Matthew 19:21; Luke 14:33; Mark 10:21: Luke 3:11 implying that those with wealth will never enter heaven.

Verses

Matthew 19:28 Speaking to the twelve disciples, Jesus gave his solemn word and prophecy that all twelve of them--including Judas!--will sit on twelve thrones in Heaven and judge the Twelve Tribes of Israel. (This was clearly when Judas was still a disciple.)

Matthew 24:29: Revelation 6:13 In the days of the Apocalypse. the stars will fall from the sky and land on the earth like ''figs". In other words, the stars are small and subject to earthly gravity.

Matthew 27:52-53 At the moment of Jesus's death, many of the Jewish saints or patriarchs rose from the dead. They waited in their tombs until after Jesus's resurrection. three days later, then came forth and wandered about Jerusalem. The resurrection of the Jewish saints is easily the most spectacular miracle in Jesus's career. yet one hears very little of it. Not a word of it appears in the other gospels!

Acts 5:10 Ananias. a new convert to Christianity, sold his land and turned most of the money over to the apostles, but kept part for himself. Saint Peter. who wanted all the money.

considered this deceitful. Peter reviled and criticised Ananias. and Ananias fell down dead. Heartlessly, Peter's followers threw him into a grave without telling his wife what had happened. Three hours later, the wife came looking for him. Peter reviled her the same way. She also expired on the spot. and the same followers threw her summarily into the ground.

Romans 13:1-7 Civil authorities receive their power from God, and everyone should submit to them. To rebell against governmental authority is to rebell against God. (See also Titus 3:1 and I Peter 2:13-14.) Therefore. faithful Christians must not disobey or oppose laws they regard as distasteful--e.g., laws regarding abortion. taxation. the teaching of evolution, and even restriction of worship in Communist countries.

What about Universalism, the doctrine that all souls must eventually be saved? Many fundamentalists regard it as a terrible heresy. and yet some passages in the Bible seem to support it. Psalm 72:11: Daniel 7:14.27 All nations. all kings, all people will serve and obey the messiah. Joel 2:27-28 God will pour out his spirit upon all flesh. Psalms 103:9: Lamentations 3:31 The Lord will not reject anyone forever, or keep His anger forever. Colossians 1:20 himself. God will reconcile all things to

Romans 11:26 All Israel shall be saved; salvation will be universal among the Jews.

II Peter 3:9 It is God's will that none will perish, that all will come to repentance.

I Corinthians 11:5 heads covered.

When women pray, they must have their

I Corinthians 12:24-37 There will be only harmony and no conflict or disagreement (discord) within the "body of Christ" (the Christian church). 2000 years of conflict and schism show this is untrue. Or else, nearly all Christians are damned.

I Corinthians 14:34-35

Women may never speak in chruch.

II Corinthians 12:2

There is more than one Heaven.

Galatians 5:2-3 Saint Paul insists that Christ is of "no use" to those who have themselves circumcised. Anyone circumcised is obligated to obey the entire Jewish law. Philippians 3:5; Luke 2:21 And yet. Paul himself was circumcised: Jesus was circumcised.

I Timothy 2:11-12 authority over men.

No woman is to teach, nor to have

(In the KJ and Revised KJ versions:)

I Timothy 3:2.12: Titus 1:6

Bishops may wed.

I Timothy 6:1: Titus 2:9 Two of many passages in the New Testament which explicitly condone slavery.

Ephesians 6:5: I Peter 2:18: Colossians 3:22 Slaves should serve their masters in all respects: never question: never rebell.

Revelation 21:1 have no sea.

After the Apocalypse, the new Earth will

** *

Scholars have estimated that the Bible contains over two thousand explicit or implicit contradictions. Some are major. some trivial: this list is only a small selection. Through history, attmpts to resolve these contradictions have produced thousands of volumes, few of which agree. And in the process, men have spilled thousands of gallons of blood. Yet, the contradictions remain. What do you make of them?

Perhaps the best answer is the simplest: that the Bible is not all the perfect, infallable word of God. Interestingly, the Bible itself confirms this. It tells us that all scripture is by inspiration of God (II Timothy 3:16). but also tells us that some of its parts are not from divine inspiration (I Corinthians 7:6. 5:12: II Corinthians 11:17). What could be clearer?

Please understand the purpose of this booklet. It is not to make believers into non-believers, but simply to make some nonquestioners into questioners.

I hope it has succeeded.

Kenneth E. Nahigian Sacramento July, 1988

X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -=-=-=-=-=-X Another file downloaded from: NIRVANAnet(tm)

& the Temple of the Screaming Electron Jeff Hunter 510-935-5845 Burn This Flag Zardoz 408-363-9766 realitycheck Poindexter Fortran 510-527-1662 Lies Unlimited Mick Freen 415-583-4102 My Dog Bit Jesus Suzanne D'Fault 510-658-8078 New Dork Sublime Demented Pimiento 415-566-0126 Specializing in conversations, obscure information, high explosives, arcane knowledge, political extremism, diverse sexuality, insane speculation, and wild rumours. ALL-TEXT BBS SYSTEMS.

Full access for first-time callers. We don't want to know who you are, where you live, or what your phone number is. We are not Big Brother. "Raw Data for Raw Nerves" X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -=-=-=-=-=-X