From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!npoiv!hou5f!hou5b!hou5c!hou5e!hou5a!hou5d!houxz!ihnp4!laidbak!trsvax!ljw Newsgroups: net.religion Title: Re: Biblical contradictions Article-I.D.: trsvax.223 Posted: Tue Mar 1 14:00:33 1983 Received: Tue Mar 8 03:05:26 1983 References: utcsrgv.1122 Every once in a while, someone who hasn't done any research on the matter points out what on the surface appear to be errors or contradictions in the Bible, yet after 1900+ years no one has come up with any "contradiction" that doesn't have an answer. Let's look at the Lev. 20:21 / Deut. 25:5 example: Lev. 20:21 states, "If a man takes his brother's wife, it is impurity; he has uncovered his brother's nakedness, they shall be childless." Deut. 25:5 states, "If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead shall not be married outside the family to a stranger; her husband's brother shall go in to her, and take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her." (both quotes from RSV). If one studies the context, one will find that the first case deals with incest or adultery ("takes" would be better translated "rapes"), while the brother is still alive. But when the brother dies, his wife is no longer married (see Rom. 7:2, I Cor. 7:39, et. al) and is freed to remarry. No in those days, all possessiwere handed down to the sons. If there was no sons to get the possessions, then the brother was to marry his sister-in-law, and raise up a son who would get to keep the dead brother's possessions, thus keeping the possessions in the family and not giving it to "strangers." If anyone is interested, there are several books on the topic of answering supposed contradictions and errors in the Bible. In my opinion, the best (and must reading for anyone thinking about coming up with a "new contra-diction") are those edited by Josh McDowell ("Evidence that demands a Verdict," "More Evidence that demands a verdict," "Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask about the Christian Faith," et. al.). There are of course other books, but his are the most researched ones I've seen. By the way, as long as we are on the subject of "contradictions" and "absurdities", does anyone know of any books that answer point-by-point some of the "contradictions" in evolution (books similar in style to those mentioned above). I am specifically interested in why there are so many gaps in the fossil records among transitional life forms (i.e. half fish, half amphibian, quarter fish, three-quarter amphibian, etc.). Since you asked for a list of "absurdities", I'll offer one that is probably appropriate: Prov. 26:4 states that we are NOT to answer fools (lest you be like him yourself), whereas Prov. 26:5 states that we ARE to answer fools (lest he be wise in his own eyes). The reason for this difference is not visible to the unenlightened, for there are two different Hebrew words translated fool here. The "fool" in verse five means someone who doesn't know any better, and if you would correct them, they would accept the correction and would increase in knowledge. This word is often translated "simple (minded)". The fool in verse four, on the other hand, is a person whose mind is so closed that even if sound evidence were offered to the contrary, they would not accept the instruction due to the hardness of their heart (see also Prov.23:9). An example of this is the refusal of some scientists to visit the place in Texas where dinosaur tracks and human footprints were found side-by-side to see if it actually was true. Their "minds were made up and didn't want to be confused by the facts." I don't want to be a verse four type of fool (which is why I am asking for more information on evolution's reply to it's "alledged contradictions" before I offer any criticism on the subject.) and I hope this letter has helped. Larry J. West ...microsoft!trsvax!ljw P.S. If you find any "real" contradictions (and I don't mean smokescreens you developed to justify some sin), mail them to me. I live only a couple of miles from the largest seminary in the world (Southwestern Baptist), and would be delighted to research it for you and help you (and I) come to a fuller understanding of what the Bible teaches.