Can We Understand the Bible AlikePart II

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Can We Understand the Bible Alike?Part II
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Can We Understand the Bible?
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Can We Understand the Bible?

• Yes! We can understand the Bible.

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Can We Understand the Bible Alike?

• YES!!
• Not only can we understand it alike, we must
  understand it alike!!
• or, someone has misunderstood it.

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Can We Understand the Bible Alike?

• We can and should understand the Bible alike.
• But, we do not understand the Bible alike.
• Why is that?

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Sometimes our understanding is affected by our
heart.

• A desire to justify a particular doctrine.
• A conclusion we want to keep.
• A prejudice from past experiences or teachings.
• An attitude of not accepting.
• We must be honest seekers.
• (2 Th 210 NKJV) receive the love of the
  truth, that they might be saved.

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Sometimes our understanding is affected by our
head.

• We must be willing to take time to study.
• The Bible is the most important book we will ever
  study.
• We should apply our best abilities in a most
  diligent way to understand its truths.
• We should ever be striving to grow in our ability
  to study the Bible.

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Principles of Bible Study

• Tonight we will look at a few fundamental
  principles of How to Study the Bible.
• Then we will apply them to resolve the alleged
  contradictions.

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Principles 1 Occasion

• Consider the occasion when originally spoken or
  written.
• Who is speaking or writing (and who does he
  represent)?
• Who is being addressed (and who do they
  represent)?
• How would the original audience have understood
  the meaning?

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Principles 2 Context

• Consider the context of the message.
• The immediate contextthe statements just before
  and just after.
• The broader contextthe occasion and message of
  the entire letter or speech.
• The subject contextall that we know from the
  Bible about the subject.
• Gods entire revelation and flow of Scripture.

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Principles 3 Language

• Consider the language used.
• How does the author use those words or phraseson
  this and other occasions?
• How do other NT authors use those words or
  phrases?
• What kind of expression is itliteral,
  figurative, poetic, a proverbial saying?
• Are there translation or textual issues involved?

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Principles of Bible Study

• Let us apply these principles to the following
  eleven alleged contradictions.
• We will see how sound and credible the Bible is
  when objectively and conscientiously studied.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 1

• Let your light so shine before men, that they may
  see your good works. - Matthew 516
• Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to
  be seen of them. - Matthew 61
• Comment by person alleging contradiction Poor
  Jesus! Having to be written about by a man like
  this. That people are confused about Jesus is no
  wonder.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 1 Answered

• ANSWER Immediate context. It shows that the
  mans heart (purpose) is what is under
  consideration.
• (Mat 516 NKJV) Let your light so shine before
  men, that they may see your good works and
  glorify your Father in heaven.
• (Mat 61-2 NKJV) do not do your charitable
  deeds before men, to be seen by them. do not
  sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do
  in the synagogues and in the streets, that they
  may have glory from men.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 2

• ... thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye,
  tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
  burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for
  stripe. - Exodus 2123-25
• ... resist not evil but whosoever shall smite
  thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other
  also. - Matthew 539
• Comment by person alleging contradiction Boiled
  down, this is Jesus saying that the Law of God is
  incorrect and he knows better.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 2 Answered

• ANSWER Broader context. God distinguishes
  between actions taken by individuals and the
  actions of a nation executing judgment.
• God condemns personal revenge.
• (Mat 539 NKJV) But I tell you not to resist
  an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your
  right cheek, turn the other to him also.
• (Rom 1217 NKJV) Repay no one evil for evil.
  Have regard for good things in the sight of all
  men.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 2 Answered (Contd)

• God condones and requires civil justice.
• (Deu 1918-21 NKJV) And the judges shall make
  careful inquiry,
• (Deu 1920 NKJV) And those who remain shall
  hear and fear, and hereafter they shall not again
  commit such evil among you.
• (Deu 1921 NKJV) Your eye shall not pity life
  shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth,
  hand for hand, foot for foot.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 3

• Thou shalt not kill - Exodus 2013
• Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man
  his sword by his side... and slay every man his
  brother... - Exodus 3227

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 3 Answered

• ANSWER Broader context. God distinguishes
  between actions taken by individuals and the
  actions of a nation executing judgment.
• God condemns personal murder.
• (Exo 2013 KJV) Thou shalt not kill.
• (Exo 2013 NKJV/NASB) You shall not murder.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 3 Answered (Contd)

• God approves of death as part of civil justice.
• In the Old Testament.
• (Exo 3227 NKJV) Thus says the LORD God of
  Israel Let every man put his sword on his side,
  let every man kill his brother, every man his
  companion, and every man his neighbor.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 3 Answered (Contd)

• God approves of death as part of civil justice.
  (Contd)
• In the New Testament.
• (Rom 131 NKJV) Let every soul be subject to
  the governing authorities.
• (Rom 132 NKJV) Therefore whoever resists the
  authority resists the ordinance of God, .
• (Rom 134 NKJV) For he is God's minister to you
  for good. But if you do evil, be afraid for he
  does not bear the sword in vain for he is God's
  minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who
  practices evil.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 4

• And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel
  for I have seen God face to face, and my life is
  preserved. - Genesis 3230
• No man hath seen God at any time. - John 118
• Comment by person alleging contradiction I
  guess John was not familiar with the Old
  Testament.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 4 Answered

• ANSWER Use of language. We use the word see
  to refer to seeing the effects of.
• Do you see the wind? Not really. You see the
  effects of the wind in the movement of the grass
  and the trees.
• NOTE This is often used in literature and
  common speech. The name of one thing is used for
  something else it naturally suggests, e.g. a
  cup for the contents. In this case, the effect
  is the movement which is seen, but the cause of
  the movement (the wind) is named.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 4 Answered (Contd)

• Can one literally see God? No.
• God is spirit (John 424) and invisible
• (I Tim 117).
• Spiritual things are eternal and therefore not
  seen (II Cor 418).
• (1 Tim 616 NKJV) who alone has immortality,
  dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has
  seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting
  power. Amen.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 4 Answered (Contd)

• But, when Philip saw the attributes of deity in
  Jesus, he had seen the Father.
• (John 149 NKJV) Jesus said to him, He who
  has seen Me has seen the Father

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 4 Answered (Contd)

• So, when Jacob came face to face with the
  representative of God (or even God taking
  physical form), he said that he had come face to
  face with God.
• But, he had not seen God as He truly isa purely
  spiritual being.
• (John 118 NKJV) No one has seen God at any
  time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom
  of the Father, He has declared Him.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 5

• The son shall not bear the iniquity of the
  father. - Ezekiel 1820
• ... I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting
  the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
  unto the third and fourth generation. - Exodus
  205
• Comment by person alleging contradiction two
  authors putting forth what they believe to be the
  word of God. These two so obviously contradict
  each other that an interpretation is almost
  unnecessary.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 5 Answered

• ANSWER Subject context. From the whole of
  Gods word we see that
• A persons sinful behavior can have con-sequences
  in the lives of others.
• An entire nation suffered because of Sauls sins.
• (2 Sam 211 NKJV) Now there was a famine in the
  days of David for three years, and David
  inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It
  is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house,

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 5 Answered (Contd)

• A persons sinful behavior can have con-sequences
  in the lives of others. (Contd)
• Davids child suffered and died because of
  Davids sinful behavior.
• (2 Sam 1215-18 NKJV) the LORD struck the
  child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it
  became ill. the seventh day the child died.
• Stephen was stoned because of the sinful attitude
  of the Jews (Acts 69-759).

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 5 Answered (Contd)

• But, the guilt of a persons sin is never
  transmitted to another person.
• (Isa 592 NKJV) But your iniquities have
  separated you from your God
• (Rom 512 NKJV) spiritual, sjc death spread
  to all men, because all sinned
• (Rom 1412 NKJV) So then each of us shall give
  account of himself to God.
• (Ezek 1820 NKJV) The soul who sins shall die.
  The son shall not bear the guilt of the father,
  nor the father bear the guilt of the son.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 6

• "In righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor."
  -Leviticus 1915
• "Judge not, that ye be not judged." -Matthew 71
  
• Comment by person alleging contradiction Quite
  clearly a contradiction from the previous
  instruction given by God.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 6 Answered

• ANSWER Immediate context.
• Jesus does not prohibit judging.
• (Mat 71 NKJV) Judge not, that you be not
  judged.
• (Mat 72 NKJV) For with what judgment you
  judge, you will be judged and with the measure
  you use, it will be measured back to you.
• Jesus says that you will not be allowed to be
  hypocritical. The same standard must be applied
  to allincluding yourself.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 6 Answered (Contd)

• Which is exactly what Leviticus says.
• (Lev 1915 KJV) Ye shall do no unrighteousness
  in judgment thou shalt not respect the person of
  the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty
  but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy
  neighbour.
• And, exactly what Jesus says.
• (John 724 NKJV) Do not judge according to
  appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 7

• Therefore Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no
  child unto the day of her death. - II Samuel
  623
• The five sons of Michal, the daughter of Saul. -
  II Samuel 218
• Comment by person alleging contradiction Here
  we see an author who could not follow his own
  story line. I will not interpret this at all,
  for the absurdity of it shall be its own
  interpretation.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 7 Answered

• ANSWER Issue in text/translation.
• Some texts/versions say Merab.
• (2 Sam 218 NASB) and the five sons of Merab
  the daughter of Saul, whom she had born to Adriel
  
• Merab was married to Adriel, not Michal (I Sam
  1819)
• This is one resolution of the alleged
  contradiction.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 7 Answered (Contd)

• Some texts that have the five sons of Merab add
  which Michal the daughter of Saul brought up .
• This idea is reflected in most translations
• (2 Sam 218 KJV) . and the five sons of Michal
  the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for
  Adriel
• Note In the alleged contradiction, he showed
  only part of the verse The five sons of Michal,
  the daughter of Saul.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 8

• Think not that I come to send peace on earth I
  come not to send peace, but a sword. - Matt.
  1034
• ... all they that take the sword shall perish
  with the sword. - Matthew 2652
• Comment by person alleging contradiction The
  author of Matthew should have probably chosen
  another word in one of these words so it does not
  make Jesus look like a fool. Clearly, the author
  wrote these two verses some time apart.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 8 Answered

• ANSWER Use of language. One is a figurative
  usage the other is a proverb.
• Jesus brought a sword (Matt. 1034) in the
  sense that His message would divide families and
  friends (Matt. 1035).
• The proverb is that people often (not always) die
  as a consequence of the way they live.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 9

• And the men which journeyed with Paul stood
  speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
  - Acts 97
• And they that were with me Paul saw indeed the
  light and were afraid but they heard not the
  voice of him that spake to me. - Acts 229
• Comment by person alleging contradiction The
  first says the men heard a voice but saw no man,
  while the second says that they saw a light but
  did not hear a voice.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 9 Answered

• ANSWER Use of language. There are two (or more)
  different ways that we use the word hear.
• Sometimes hear means detect sounds.
• Sometimes hear means understand.
• We ask, Can you hear me? The reply is, No,
  speak louder.
• Those with Paul could hear a noise but not
  discern the words that were spoken.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 10

• Abraham had two sons one by a bonds-maid, the
  other by a free woman. - Galatians 422
• By faith, Abraham when he was tried offered up
  Isaac... his only begotten son. - Hebrews 1117
• Comment by person alleging contradiction The
  author clearly knew that Ishmael was also
  begotten by Abraham, but must have forgotten it
  when he wrote this letter.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 10 Answered

• ANSWER Use of language. The Bible is a special
  book and must be used to define its own terms.
• The term only begotten (one word in the Greek)
  is a special word.
• It has to do not only with birth, but purpose in
  the eyes of God.
• We are children of God (John 112, I John 31,
  but Christ is the only begotten son.
• Abraham had other children, but Isaac was the
  only begotten child of promise.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 11

• Cursed is he that lieth with his sister, the
  daughter of his father, or the daughter of his
  mother. - Deuteronomy 2722
• And Abraham said... She is my sister she is the
  daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my
  mother and she became my wife. - Genesis
  2011-12
• Comment by person alleging contradiction We
  know that Abraham was indeed not cursed, but one
  of the most beloved of God's men.

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Alleged Bible Contradiction 11 Answered

• ANSWER Overall message and flow of Scripture.
  A man cannot be condemned for violation of a law
  that was not in effect when he committed the act.
• Abraham lived around 2000 BC.
• The Law of Moses was given around 1400 BC600
  years later!
• Knowing Bible chronology can prevent
  erroneous/embarrassing statements.

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Conclusion

• The Word of God is without error.
• If we believe we have found an error in the
  Bible, we need to revise our understanding, based
  on diligent study.
• We can know the truth, and only the truth can
  make us free (John 832).
• But, we must be honest seekers of the truth (II
  Thess 210).