Bible Difficulties and Contradictions - some suggested solutions

These are some of the bible difficulties that interest me. Most of the answers are short but I try to refer you to others larger sites that give much more detailed answers (e.g. J P Holding's Tekton, and Glenn Miller's Christian Thinktank). If you have a particular bible verse difficulty then I suggest trying the Tekton Encyclopedia run by my friend J P Holding that covers a much larger number than I can.

Bible Difficulties

Old Testament

Trees made before man in Gen 1 but not in Gen 2 (8k)

Abraham sacrificed his ONLY son - Gen 22:2

Bible condones child sacrifice? Exo 22:29-30 (3k)

God doesn't repent, or does he? Num. 23:19 (5k)

Wasn't God cruel to the Midianite boys? Num 31:17-18 (41k)

Saul killing the Amalekites including the children 1 Sam 15:3 (26k) - see also Glenn Miller

Jephthah - did he sacrifice his daughter?

Jonathan and David's romantic love?

Wasn't God unfair in hardening Pharaoh's heart? (62k)

The Israelites had no cities with gates when Moses lived, Ex 20:10 (3k)

The value of Pi is not correct in 1 Kings 7:23 (9k)

Ezion Geber on the shore of the Red Sea? 1 Kings 9:26 (4k)

Where did Jeroboam's son die? I Kings 14:12 (3k)

Nothing new under the sun? Eccl. 1:9 (7k)

Noah was perfect, but all have sinned Rom 3:23 (1k)

The Destruction of Tyre by Alec Field - 8 Jan 99

The bible is pornographic and we don't want our children reading it. (2k)

The Prophets failed to discern the two comings of Jesus

New Testament

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Words of despair or triumph? Matt. 27:46 (6k)

Three days and three nights, or on the third day ? Mat 12:40 (3k)

Failed prophecy of Jesus about his Second Coming Matt. 16:28 (5k)

Jesus silence on homosexual unions

How did Judas die? Mat 27:3-10, Acts 1:18-19 (2k)

Jesus owned a house? Mark 2:15 (3k)

Jesus got the Ten Commandments wrong Mark 10:19 (5k)

Was Jesus crucified in the third hour or the sixth hour? Mark 15:25 (4k)

The two genealogies of Jesus Mat 1, Luke 3:23 (16k)

The Messiah must be a physical descendant of David (8k)

Objection to Luke's genealogy stemming from Mary (2k)

Jesus hid, escaped, and slunk around often. Luke 12:4 (4k)

What must we do to be saved? (40k)

Will you drink poison for me? Mark 16:18 (2k)

Jesus mission is only for the Israelites or the world? (11k)

Who killed Jesus, Jews or Gentiles? (5k)

Resurrection is a common occurrence (12k)

The Resurrection the biblical evidence and articles (40k)

Non-christian ancient references to Jesus (1k)

Jesus told a man to 'take up his cross' before he had died on the cross (2k)

Calvary or Golgotha? (2k)

Stephen got the number 75 wrong. Acts 7:14

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ isn't in the bible. Acts 20:35 (2k)

Paul said Jesus was wrong about baptizing? 1 Cor. 1:17 (5k)

Paul on wine: to drink or not to drink 1 Tim 5:23 (3k)

There are no OT prophecies about Timothy, 1 Tim.1:18 (2k)

All of the grass on earth is burned up, and then ... Rev 8:7 (3k)

Rev 12:7 shows that there is war in heaven, I would not want to go there. Rev 12:7 (5k)

More Revelation bible difficulties (6k)

The time elements in Revelation especially "I am coming soon" (13k)

More philosophical issues

If Jesus is God then why did he have to pray? (1k)

The Trinity? Who can understand that? (7k)

Why do the innocent suffer? (17k)

Can God be right to torture people for eternity? (4k)

God is not fair to blame us for Adam's sin (5k)

What kind of proof does an atheist require? (31k)

The responsibility is on us to seek God (15k)

The invisibility of God: a test of faith for the Christian, a problem for the seeker. (21k)

Couldn't God have done a better job than the bible? (44k)

Is there a personal God? (11k)

What are the differences and similarities between the Old and New Testaments? (26k)

Why does God punish some men immediately for their sins and not others? (34k)

The Deity of Christ - biblical proofs that Jesus is God (61k)

What is the Destiny of the Unevangelised? (66k) see also Glenn Miller (50k)

Faith is blind?

What is faith? see Tekton

Who died Man or God? see Glenn Miller

The Christian and the Mind. (36k)

Refuting pro-gay theology

Common pro-gay theological arguments

The theology of Genesis 1-2 and its relationship to sexual ethics in the bible.

The biblical case against homosexual practice.

Jonathan and David's romantic love?

Jesus silence on homosexual unions

Common pro-gay arguments:

Malakos and arsenokoites

Sodom and Gomorrah

Pascal's Wager

A parody of the pro-gay theologian, the pro-alcoholic theologian.

Conservative and pro-gay books

Other articles (off-site)

Articles Defending the Existence of God

Articles Defending the Resurrection and Deity of Christ

Articles Defending the Inspiration and Trustworthiness of the Bible

Articles on the Exclusiveness of Christianity

Creation

My review of Encyclopedia of Biblical Errancy (EBE) by C Dennis McKinsey

Many other bible difficulties are answered at Tekton Apologetics Ministries by J P Holding who is known for his satire and at the Christian Thinktank by Glenn Miller who deals (in great detail) especially with those difficulties that cause us the most heart-ache (for Christians and Skeptics alike). See also Bible Contradictions on the CARM website.