Table of Contents

These are the questions asked of the Bible that give contradictory answers.

Here I’ve given space to add context to the verses for which you disagree on the supposed contradiction. Please be courteous.

1. How long does Yahweh’s anger last?

Micah 7:18 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

18 Who is a God like You, (A)

    removing iniquity and passing over rebellion (B)

    for the remnant of His inheritance? (C)

    He does not hold on to His anger forever, (D)

    because He delights in faithful love. (E)

Jeremiah 3:12 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

12 Go, proclaim these words to the north, and say:

    Return, unfaithful Israel. (A)

          [This is] the LORD's declaration.

    I will not look on you with anger, [a]

    for I am unfailing in My love. (B)

          [This is] the LORD's declaration.

    I will not be angry forever. (C)

Jeremiah 17:4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

4 You will, of yourself, relinquish your inheritance

    that I gave you.

    I will make you serve your enemies

    in a land you do not know, (A)

    for you have set My anger on fire; (B)

    it will burn forever.

Context:

2. Does Yahweh tempt people?

Genesis 22:1 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Genesis 22

The Sacrifice of Isaac

 1 After these things God tested Abraham (A) and said to him, "Abraham!"

    "Here I am," he answered.

James 1:13 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

13 No one undergoing a trial should say, "I am being tempted by God." For God is not tempted by evil, [a] and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone.

Context:

-test vs. tempt

3. Can salvation be attained by works?

Galatians 2:16 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

16 yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law (A) but by faith in Jesus Christ. [a] And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ [b] and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will [c] be justified.

Romans 3:28 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

28 For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. (A)

Matthew 19:17 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

17 "Why do you ask Me about what is good?" [a] He said to him. "There is only One who is good. [b] If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." (A)

Luke 10:26-28 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

26 "What is written in the law?" He asked him. "How do you read it?"

    27 He answered:

    Love the Lord your God (A) with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; (B) and your neighbor as yourself. (C) (D)

    28 "You've answered correctly," He told him. "Do this and you will live." (E)

James 2:24 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Context:

-it can be, but it’s impossible to do the works he’s asking for, because mankind does evil works as well, which he needs faith in Jesus Christ to save him from. Jesus atones for sin, but Jesus (who was man) got into heaven because he did good works(that is, never sinned).

4. What are the consequences of seeing Yahweh’s face?

Genesis 32:30 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

30 Jacob then named the place Peniel, [a] "For," [he said,] "I have seen God face to face, and I have been delivered." (A)

Exodus 33:11 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

11 The LORD spoke with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his assistant, the young man Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the inside of the tent. (A)

Exodus 24:9-11 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

9 Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and 70 of Israel's elders, 10 and they saw (A) the God of Israel. Beneath His feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire [a] stone, as clear as the sky itself. (B) 11 God did not harm [b] the Israelite nobles; they saw (C) Him, and they ate and drank.

Exodus 33:20 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

20 But He answered, "You cannot see My face, for no one can see (A) Me and live."

John 1:18 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

18 No one has ever seen God. [a]

    The One and Only (A) Son [b] —

    the One who is at the Father's (B) side [c]

    He has revealed Him. (C)

1 Timothy 6:16 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

16 the only One who has immortality,

    dwelling in unapproachable light, (A)

    whom none of mankind has seen or can see, (B)

    to whom be honor and eternal might. (C)

    Amen. (D)

Context:

-It is technically true that no man has seen him and lived, like how the consequences for sin is death (adam and eve lived a long time after they ate the fruit that would kill them, but they still died.) However, I thought it would be something more along the lines of touching the arc of the covenant(2 Samuel 6:2-7), where the man was killed instantly.

-why would god kill people for looking at him? isn’t that a kind of relationship builder, being able to see the person?

5. Does Yahweh delight in burnt offerings?

Jeremiah 7:22 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

22 for when I brought your ancestors out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak with them (A) or command them concerning burnt offering and sacrifice.

Exodus 20:24 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

24 "You must make an earthen altar for Me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats, as well as your cattle. I will come to you and bless you in every place where I cause My name to be remembered. (A)

Context:

-not speaking to somone is entirely different from telling someone explicitly that they do not like burnt offerings.

-why does he like burnt offerings?

-why don’t we burn offerings nowadays?

6. Is God the author of evil?

Isaiah 45:7 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

7 I form light and create darkness, (A)

    I make success and create disaster; (B)

    I, the LORD, do all these things.

1 John 4:8 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Context:

7. According to genesis, were humans created before the animals?

Genesis 2:18-19 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is like him." (A) 19 So the LORD God formed out of the ground each wild animal and each bird of the sky, and brought each to the man to see what he would call it. (B) And whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.

Genesis 1:25-27 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

25 So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

    26 Then God said, "Let Us (A) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. (B) They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals, all the earth, [a] and the creatures that crawl [b] on the earth." (C)

    27 So God created man in His own image;

    He created him in the image of God;

    He created them male and female. (D)

Context:

8. On the road to Damascus, did Paul’s traveling companions hear the voice that spoke to paul?

Acts 9:7 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. (A)

Acts 22:9 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

9 Now those who were with me saw the light, [a] but they did not hear the voice of the One who was speaking to me. (A)

Context:

9. Will the Earth last forever?

2 Peter 3:10 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

10 But the Day of the Lord (A) will come like a thief; (B) [a] on that [day] the heavens will pass away (C) with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, (D) and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. [b]

Ecclesiastes 1:4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

4 A generation goes and a generation comes,

    but the earth remains forever. (A)

Context:

10. Is Jesus the only man to have accended into heaven?

2 Kings 2:11 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire (A) suddenly appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind. (B)

John 3:13 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

13 No one has ascended (A) into heaven (B) except the One who descended from heaven (C) —the Son of Man. (D) [a]

Context:

11. In Old Testament Law, were children to be punished for the sins of their fathers?

-well at least now there’s hope for those little Schrodinger’s children.

Deuteronomy 24:16 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

16 "Fathers are not to be put to death for [their] children or children for [their] fathers; each person will be put to death for his own sin. (A)

Deuteronomy 5:9 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

9 You must not bow down to them or worship them, because I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers' sin to the third and fourth [generations] of those who hate Me, (A)

Context:

12. Does God get tired/Is God Omnipotent?

(The reason these two were paired together is that if God gets tired, it implies that God has given out so much of his power that he needs to recharge, indicating that he has a finite amount of power.)

Isaiah 40:28 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

28 Do you not know?

    Have you not heard?

    Yahweh is the everlasting God, (A)

    the Creator of the whole earth.

    He never grows faint or weary;

    there is no limit to His understanding. (B)

Psalm 33:8-9 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

8 Let the whole earth tremble before the LORD;

        let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. (A)

    9 For He spoke, and it came into being;

        He commanded, and it came into existence. (B)

Jeremiah 32:27 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

27 "Look, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. (A) Is anything too difficult for Me?

Isaiah 1:14 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

14 I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals.

    They have become a burden to Me;

    I am tired of putting up with [them].

Isaiah 43:24 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

24 You have not bought Me aromatic cane with silver,

    or satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices.

    But you have burdened Me with your sins;

    you have wearied Me (A) with your iniquities. (B)

Genesis 2:1-3 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Genesis 2

 1 So the heavens and the earth and everything in them [a] were completed. (A) 2 By the seventh [b] day, God completed His work that He had done, and He rested [c] on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. (B) 3 God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested (C) from His work of creation. (D) [d]

Judges 1:19 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

19 The LORD was with (A) Judah and enabled them to take possession of the hill country, but they could not drive out (B) the people who were living in the valley because those people had iron chariots. (C) [a]

Context:

The Isaiah verses are speaking more along the lines of God’s patience than God’s power.

Deuteronomy 20:4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

4 For the LORD your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you (A) against your enemies to give you victory.'

13. Does God accept human sacrifices?

Christ, who in no way was a “sacrificial lamb,” was a human. He was an adult male homo sapien.

Deuteronomy 12:31 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

You must not do the same to the LORD your God, because they practice for their gods every detestable thing the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

2 Samuel 21:8-14 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, who were the two sons whom Rizpah (A)daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, and the five sons whom Merab (B) [a] daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite 9 and handed them over to the Gibeonites. They hanged [b] them on the hill in the presence of the LORD; the seven of them died together. They were executed in the first days of the harvest at the beginning of the barley harvest. [c]

The Burial of Saul's Family

 10 Rizpah, Aiah's daughter, took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on the rock from the beginning of the harvest until the rain poured down from heaven on the bodies. [d]She kept the birds of the sky from them by day and the wild animals by night.

    11 When it was reported to David what Saul's concubine Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, had done, 12 he went and got the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the leaders of Jabesh-gilead. They had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan where the Philistines had hung them the day the Philistines killed Saul at Gilboa. (C) 13 David had the bones brought from there. They also gathered up the bones of Saul's family who had been hung. [e] 14 They [also] buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan at Zela in the land of Benjamin in the tomb of Saul's father Kish. They did everything the king commanded. After this, God answered prayer for the land. (D)

Genesis 22:2 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

"Take your son," He said, "your only [son] Isaac, whom you love, (A) go to the land of Moriah, (B) and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

Exodus 22:29 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

29 "You must not hold back [offerings (A) from] your harvest or your vats. Give Me the firstborn of your sons.

Judges 11:30-39

This is too long to post here.

Hebrews 10:10-12 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

10 By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all. (A)

    11 Now every priest stands day after day ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.(B) 12 But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.

1 Corinthians 5:7 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

7 Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, since you are unleavened. For Christ our Passover (A) has been sacrificed.

Context:

Deut 12:31 says that God detests human sacrifice.

But Not that he wouldn’t accept one. - wearyroad

2 Samuel 21 This is ALL read out of context. Read all of the verses that come before it. Never does it say that it was a sacrifice to God. However, King David asked what he could do for the Gibeonites (because king Saul mistreated them) and the Gibeonites asked for 7 descendants of Saul so they could kill them before the Lord. Probably like a vengence, but it is NOT a sacrifice. It is a blood debt. Again, this is history being recorded. It was what happened... not what should have happened.

That, my dear, is a cop-out. It happened. I wonder why it happened. I'm not asking why it shouldn't have happened, I know it shouldn't have happened, but it happened and I'm curious as to why it happened. That is the question. Why did it happen, Why did God let it happen?

It does say that this sacrifice was before the Lord, and that God answered the prayers on behalf of the land after it was all done. It may not have been a sacrificeTO God, but God wouldn't give the people FOOD unless something was done about Saul's impure house. (remember the famine? What did God say about the famine? 2 Samuel 21:1.) So, in a way, God forced David's hand to obey those evil Gibeonites and kill Saul's family. (Maybe this is more of God's punishing children for the sins of their fathers.) - wearyroad

Gen 22:2 was God testing Abraham's faithfulness and loyalty to Him. If you know the story... God stopped Abraham. God KNEW Abraham would obey him.

It never said that God knew he would obey him, in fact, it says that God knew only after Abraham had almost killed his son. (in Gen 22:12 God says: “For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from Me." This implies that God did NOT know before. If God knew before, then why “test” Abraham in the first place?) God stopped him, sure, but why? Not because he cared about the son, because he wanted to know how loyal Abraham was.

- wearyroad

Exodus 22:29 doesn't necessarily mean kill them. It probably means their service. Like the story of Hannah. She asked God for a son, and said she would "give him to the Lord after he has been weened." When her son was weened, he was brought to the temple to work there.

That’s a personal interpretation. It is actually a little unclear as to what exactly God meant when he said that.<http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus%2022:29&version=HCSB> (I mean, if Biblical scholars are unclear as to what it means, who are we to say what we think it means?) So I'm at a loss on this one. Moving on. (I will add thatthis does prove that the Bible is at least contradictory.) 

- wearyroad

Judges 11: 30-40 (DO NOT IGNORE THE LAST VERSE... it is not saying that sacrificing people is the custom) Jephthah is dumb. He made a promise that he shouldn't have made. It's like the phrase "be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it." And no where in these verses does it say that God endorsed this sacrifice.

Nowhere does it say that God didn't endorse it, that's what worries me. God was powerful enough to help his follower slay 20 entire towns (the act of a loving God.) but not to warn his daughter that he loved (apparently. It didn't explicitly say that he loved her, either.) not to come out of the door before, say, one of the tambourines that the daughter was dancing to. (Would God have accepted a burnt tambourine offering? I'll ask him. [He said only if it's 100% mahogany.]) Sounds a little fishy that an omnipotent, omniscient God who loves us wouldn't have stayed his followers hand like he stayed Abraham's (for he did burn his daughter to death, and God knew that he burnt his daughter to death for him. (Judges 11:39))

Also: Jepthah is dumb? He sacrificed his daughter. He burnt her alive. Of course he’s dumb.

 - wearyroad

Hebrews 10:10-12 Okay, Jesus dying on the sin wasn't a sacrifice, like other sacrifices are. It wasn't a ceremony where everyone is like "Oh God, we have now killed Jesus and offer Him up to you... so could you like... save us permanently now?" When Jesus died, everyone just wanted Him dead. This is not referring to the ceremonial-type of sacrifice. It is referring to the literal meaning "To forfeit (one thing) for another thing considered to be of greater value." Think of the verse John 15:13 "No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends." Jesus was sacrificing His own life to save ours. Let me know if you have any further questions on this.

How does Christ’s death intervene on our behalf? Is he constantly threatening his father, who is the same person as Christ, that he'll kill himself again if he doesn't let his followers, God's followers into heaven? If he layed down his life for his friends because of a danger that he had a power over, isn't that just a waste of life? Even if he came back from the dead, (because God is immortal, isn't he?)

how does his dying excuse the millions of sins that everyone has committed, ever? An innocent man cannot replace a guilty one on the death penalty charge, that's ridiculous! God should know better than that, and if such an innocent man rose from the grave, so much the better for him, but the murderer he replaced is still alive and killing more people! Sins are not just disobedience to God, they are crimes against humanity; they cannot be forgiven by God, but by men! No man can account for the sins of everyone, No Righteous God should account for the sins of everyone. It might be merciful, but it is not just. (and it really isn't that merciful to the victims of that murderer who just happens to still be on the loose... No wait, God smites murderers, doesn't he? Kills them dead, even before they commit the crime!)

 - wearyroad

1 Corinthians 5:7 Same answer.

Same questions, see above

20. What is Jesus’ Lineage?

Due to space constraints, I’ll just list the parts where the lineages contradict each other.

Luke 3:23-38 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

 23 As He began [His ministry], Jesus was about 30 years old and was thought to be [a] the

son of Joseph, (A) [son] [b] of Heli,

    24 [son] of Matthat, [son] of Levi,

[son] of Melchi, [son] of Jannai,

[son] of Joseph, 25 [son] of Mattathias,

[son] of Amos, [son] of Nahum,

[son] of Esli, [son] of Naggai,

    26 [son] of Maath, [son] of Mattathias,

[son] of Semein, [son] of Josech,

[son] of Joda, 27 [son] of Joanan,

[son] of Rhesa, [son] of Zerubbabel, (B)

[son] of Shealtiel, [son] of Neri,

    28 [son] of Melchi, [son] of Addi,

[son] of Cosam, [son] of Elmadam,

[son] of Er, 29 [son] of Joshua,

[son] of Eliezer, [son] of Jorim,

[son] of Matthat, [son] of Levi,

    30 [son] of Simeon, [son] of Judah,

[son] of Joseph, [son] of Jonam,

[son] of Eliakim, 31 [son] of Melea,

[son] of Menna, [son] of Mattatha,

[son] of Nathan, [son] of David,

    32 [son] of Jesse, (C) [son] of Obed,

[son] of Boaz, [son] of Salmon, [c]

[son] of Nahshon, 33 [son] of Amminadab,

[son] of Ram, [d] [son] of Hezron,

[son] of Perez, [son] of Judah,

    34 [son] of Jacob, [son] of Isaac,

[son] of Abraham, (D) [son] of Terah,

[son] of Nahor, 35 [son] of Serug,

[son] of Reu, [son] of Peleg,

[son] of Eber, [son] of Shelah,

    36 [son] of Cainan, [son] of Arphaxad,

[son] of Shem, [son] of Noah, (E)

[son] of Lamech, 37 [son] of Methuselah,

[son] of Enoch, [son] of Jared,

[son] of Mahalaleel, [son] of Cainan,

    38 [son] of Enos, [son] of Seth,

[son] of Adam, [son] of God.

Matthew 1:6-16 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

6 and Jesse fathered King David.

From David to the Babylonian Exile

    Then [a] David fathered Solomon by Uriah's wife, (A)

    7 Solomon fathered Rehoboam,

Rehoboam fathered Abijah,

Abijah fathered Asa, [b]

    8 Asa [c] fathered Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat fathered Joram,

Joram fathered Uzziah, (B)

    9 Uzziah fathered Jotham,

Jotham fathered Ahaz,

Ahaz fathered Hezekiah,

    10 Hezekiah fathered Manasseh,

Manasseh fathered Amon, [d]

Amon [e] fathered Josiah, (C)

    11 and Josiah fathered Jechoniah and his brothers

at the time of the exile to Babylon. (D)

From the Exile to the Messiah

 12 Then after the exile to Babylon

Jechoniah fathered Salathiel,

Salathiel fathered Zerubbabel,

    13 Zerubbabel fathered Abiud,

Abiud fathered Eliakim,

Eliakim fathered Azor, (E)

    14 Azor fathered Zadok,

Zadok fathered Achim,

Achim fathered Eliud,

    15 Eliud fathered Eleazar,

Eleazar fathered Matthan,

Matthan fathered Jacob,

    16 and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary,

who gave birth to [f] Jesus who is called the Messiah. (F)

Context:

What day did Nebuzaradan arrive in Jerusalem?

2 Kings 25:8

Jeremiah 52:12

Context: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/563

How did Saul die?

1 Samuel 31:4-6

2 Samuel 21:12

23 What did Jesus say as he died?

Luke 23:36

John 19:30

Numbers in the Bible

The context here is obviously a misinterpretation somewhere along the line.

(Can you call context on a numerical value?)

Nonetheless, it does go to show that there can be errors in the Bible just as easily as there were errors in the men writing it down.

How many men drew the sword for Israel as counted by Joab?

2 Samuel 24:9 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

9 Joab gave the king the total of the registration of the troops. There were 800,000 fighting men from Israel and 500,000 men from Judah. (A)

1 Chronicles 21:5 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

5 Joab gave David the total of the registration of the troops. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 swordsmen and in Judah itself 470,000 swordsmen.

Context:

How many horsemen did David capture?

2 Samuel 8:4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

4 David captured 1,700 horsemen [a] and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horses, (A) and he kept 100 chariots. [b]

1 Chronicles 18:4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

4 David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers from him and hamstrung all the horses, and he kept 100 chariots. [a]

Context:

How much did David pay for the threshing floor? And who did he buy it from?

1 Chronicles 21:25 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

25 So David gave Ornan 15 pounds of gold [a] for the plot.

2 Samuel 24:24 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

24 The king answered Araunah, "No, I insist on buying it from you for a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost [me] nothing." David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 50 ounces [a] of silver.

Context:

How many thieves reviled Jesus while they were all being crucified?

Luke 23:39-42 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

39 Then (A) one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at [a] Him: "Aren't You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!"

    40 But the other answered, rebuking him: "Don't you even fear God, (B) since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we're getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong." (C) 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me (D) [b] when You come into Your kingdom!" (E)

Mark 15:32 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

32 Let the Messiah, (A) the King (B) of Israel, (C) come down now from the cross, (D) so that we may see and believe." (E) Even those who were crucified with Him were taunting Him.

Matthew 27:44 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

44 In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with Him kept taunting Him. (A)

Context: Matthew and Mark do not mention the rebuker, does not necessarily mean he was not there.

However, Dan Barker (Godless) brings an interesting point to the table when he says that mythology tends to increase in “amazingness” over time, becoming more and more epic, like Grandfather’s stories. Because Luke was written after Matthew and Marh, it’s possible that he borrowed from them and added a little “extra” to the plotline.

How many blind men did Jesus heal near Jericho?

Mark 10:46-52 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

A Blind Man Healed

 46 They (A) came to Jericho. (B) And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind (C) beggar, (D) was sitting by the road. (E) 47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, (F) he began to cry out, "Son of David, (G) Jesus, have mercy (H) on me!" (I) 48 Many people told him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, "Have mercy on me, (J) Son of David!"

    49 Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."

    So they called the blind man and said to him, "Have courage! (K) Get up; He's calling for you." 50 He threw off his coat, (L) jumped up, and came to Jesus.

    51 Then Jesus answered him, "What do you want (M) Me to do for you?"

    "Rabbouni," (N) [a] the blind man told Him, "I want to see!"

    52 "Go your way," Jesus told him. "Your faith has healed you." (O) Immediately he could see and began to follow Him on the road.

Luke 18:35 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

A Blind Man Receives His Sight

 35 As (A) He drew near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging.

Matthew 20:30 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

30 There were two blind men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"

Context:

Matthew 28:2 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached [the tomb]. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. (A)

John 20:12 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

12 She saw two angels (A) in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus' body (B) had been lying.

Mark 16:5 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

5 When (A) they entered the tomb, (B) they saw a young man (C) [a] dressed (D) in a long white (E) robe sitting on the right side; they were amazed and alarmed. [b]

Luke 24:4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling (A) clothes.

How many of what kind of being were at the tomb when the women came?

Sitting vs standing

 vs

one man vs two men

vs

red fish vs blue fish

vs

false fish vs true fish.

Context:

John 20:1 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

John 20

The Empty Tomb

 1 On (A) the first day of the week (B) Mary Magdalene (C) came to the tomb (D) early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone (E) had been removed [a] from the tomb.

Matthew 28:1 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Matthew 28

Resurrection Morning

 1 After the Sabbath, (A) as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.

Mark 16:1 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Mark 16

Resurrection Morning

 1 When (A) the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, (B) Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so they could go and anoint Him.

Luke 24:10 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

10 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, (A) and the other women with them were telling the apostles (B) these things.

How many women saw Jesus? (remember, this is one of the most crucial elements of the Bible.)

Context:

Moving on to things that are not numbers.

Exodus 34:6(Holman Christian Standard Bible)

6 Then the LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed:

    Yahweh—Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, (A) 7 maintaining faithful love to a thousand [generations], forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin. (B) But He will not leave [the guilty] (C) unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers' wrongdoing on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.

-remember vs 7? Dueteronomy 2:16

What was yahweh’s originally designated punishment for:

-fortunetelling? Lev 20:27

-hitting a parent? Exodus 21:13

-cursing a parent? Leviticus 20:9

-not listening to a priest? Deuteronomy 17:12

-following another religion? Exodus 22:12

-adultery?Leviticus 20:12, 20:10

-not seeking the lord God of israel? 2 Chronicles 15:12-13

-prostitution? Leviticus 21:9

-false prophecy? Zechariah 13:3 (his own parents must then stab him.)

-homosexuality? Leviticus 20:13

-blasphemy? Leviticus 24:10-16

-working on the Sabbath? Ex 31:12-15

-having a few people in your community or town worship another God? Deut 13:13-16

Death

Death

Death

Death

Death

Death

Death

Death

Death

Death

Death

Death

Deuteronomy 13:15-16 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

15 you must strike down the inhabitants of that city with the sword. Completely destroy everyone in it as well as its livestock with the sword. 16 You are to gather all its spoil in the middle of the city square and completely burn up the city and all its spoil for the LORD your God. The city must remain a mound of ruins forever; it is not to be rebuilt.

the consequences of sin are OVERKILL.

Context:

14. Why would a loving God order so much unnecessary death?

Why don’t we kill like this anymore?

Why would a loving God want to destroy/create strife in his creation?

15. Did the temple curtain rip before of after Jesus died?

-Maybe one of the important parts of the Bible.

Mark 15:37-38 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last. 38 Then the curtain (A) of the sanctuary [a] was split in two from top to bottom.

Matthew 27:50-51 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

50 Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. (A) 51 Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary (B) [a] was split in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked and the rocks were split.

Luke 23:45-46 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

45 because the sun's light failed. [a] The curtain (A) of the sanctuary was split down the middle. 46 And Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit. " (B) (C) Saying this, He breathed His last.

Context:

16. Did Jesus Curse the fig tree before or after he drove the merchants from the temple?

Matthew 21:12-19 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Cleansing the Temple Complex

 12 Jesus went into the temple complex (A) [a] and drove out all those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers' tables and the chairs of those selling doves. (B) 13 And He said to them, "It is written, My house will be called a house of prayer. (C) But you are making it a den of thieves! " (D) (E)

Children Cheer Jesus

 14 The blind and the lame came to Him in the temple complex, and He healed them. 15 When the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonders that He did and the children in the temple complex cheering, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these [children] are saying?"

    "Yes," Jesus told them. "Have you never read:

    You have prepared [b] praise (F)

    from the mouths of children and nursing infants ?" (G)

    17 Then He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, (H) and spent the night there.

   The Barren Fig Tree

 18 Early in the morning, (I) as He was returning to the city, He was hungry. 19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves. And He said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" At once the fig tree withered.

Mark 11:12-17 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

The Barren Fig Tree Is Cursed

 12 The (A) next day when they came out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 After seeing in the distance a fig (B) tree with leaves, He went to find out if there was anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit (C) from you again!" (D) And His disciples (E) heard it.

Cleansing the Temple Complex

 15 They came to Jerusalem, (F) and He went into the temple complex (G) and began to throw out those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers (H) ' tables and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple complex.

    17 Then He began to teach them: "Is it not written, (I) My house (J) will be called a house of prayer (K) for all nations ? (L) But you have made it a den of thieves !" (M) (N)

Context:

17. When the women arrived at Jesus tomb, was it opened or closed?

-maybe another important part of the Bible.

Matthew 28:1-2 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Matthew 28

Resurrection Morning

 1 After the Sabbath, (A) as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached [the tomb]. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.

Luke 24:1-2 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Luke 24

Resurrection Morning

 1 On (A) the first day of the week, (B) very early in the morning, they [a] came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Context:

18. How did Judas die?

Acts 1:16-18 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

16 "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David spoke in advance about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. (A) 17 For he was one of our number and was allotted a share in this ministry." (B) 18 Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages; and falling headfirst, he burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out. (C)

Matthew 27:3-5 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Judas Hangs Himself

 3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. (A) 4 "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood," he said.

    "What's that to us?" they said. "See to it yourself!"

    5 So he threw the silver into the sanctuary (B) and departed. Then he went and hanged himself.

Context:

19. What was the consequence of eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?

Genesis 2:17 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

17 but you must not eat [a] from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die." (A)

Genesis 5:5 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

5 So Adam's life lasted 930 years; then he died.

Context:

20. Does God lie?

2 Samuel 7:28 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

28 Lord GOD , You are God; Your words are true, and You have promised this grace to Your servant.

Jeremiah 20:7 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Jeremiah's Compelled to Preach

 7 You deceived me, LORD, and I was deceived.

    You seized me and prevailed.

    I am a laughingstock all the time; (A)

    everyone ridicules me.

Context:

21. Is God the author of confusion?

He wrote the Bible, didn’t he? What other book has been so confusingly controversial?

1 Corinthians 14:33 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

    As in all the churches of the saints, (A)

Deuteronomy 32:4-6 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

4 The Rock—His work is perfect;

    all His ways are entirely just.

    A faithful God, without prejudice,

    He is righteous and true.

    5 His people have acted corruptly toward Him;

    this is their defect [a] —they are not His children

    but a devious and crooked generation.

    6 Is this how you repay the LORD,

    you foolish and senseless people?

    Isn't He your Father and Creator?

    Didn't He make you and sustain you?

Jeremiah 20:7 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Jeremiah's Compelled to Preach

 7 You deceived me, LORD, and I was deceived.

    You seized me and prevailed.

    I am a laughingstock all the time; (A)

    everyone ridicules me.

Context: