Question:
Are there inconsistencies in the Bible? Which “Ten Commandments” are *the* Ten Commandments – the ones listed at Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, or the ones listed at Exodus 34?
Answer:
Are there inconsistencies? Yes, no. (more about that in a minute!) Will I explain the “different” Ten Commandments? No.
Let’s start with the latter. There are endless “trick questions” presented as straw man arguments or that take advantage of the pitifully low level of Scriptural knowledge that exist today in the average professing Christian.
Where did Cain get his wife? How could there be light before the stars were made? How could there be life before the sun? Who created God? Is the mustard seed really the smallest seed? Did Adam have a bellybutton? Then there’s a myriad of “inconsistencies” about numbers that don’t agree, people or places with differing names and varied accounts of the same story.
There are countless websites and teachers who have answered all these “inconsistencies” and “contradictions” already so I will not get into the details of them. I also propose to you dear Reader, that you learn to NOT be trapped into these endless debates about trivialities when the SOLE REASON for the discussion is so the skeptic and “prove” the Bible is a fake.
Now, if someone is genuinely wanting to learn about these so-called problems with the Bible out of a genuine desire to know the truth, then by all means, have the conversation.
As for the inconsistencies in the Bible…. The Bible has been the most scrutinized and evaluated piece of literature BY FAR in all history. It is held to a stratospheric standard of authorship that no other book or “holy book” is even remotely held to. No matter, it has stood up to all tests.
Are there “inconsistencies” and “contradictions”? In one sense, yes.
Given the number of translations, good and poor ones as well as the difficulties that arise with meanings between times, cultures and languages – on the surface there seeem to be many inconsistencies and difficult verses to deal with.
In the end, after 2000 years of intense scrutiny, these “errors” in the Bible have alway come down to 1) translation issues; 2) definition and language problems; 3) misunderstanding about how different people view and communicate the exact same event or idea and 4) a foundational false belief that effects the meaning of Scripture (such as evolution which makes Genesis “false” or not believing in miracles which makes all sorts of people in the Bible liars and fakes).
Nevertheless, when considering these textual “contradictions” or “mistakes”, they make up a ridiculously MINISCULE portion of the entire Bible (less than a fraction of 1%)… and yet that is PROOF to skeptics that the entire Bible is a fraud!
If that same standard was applied to ANY other book, it would be discredited, especially other “holy” books. Only the Bible is held to such standards AND IT SHOULD BE. A book that proclaims to be the only inspired written word from the Creator of the Universe should be INFINITELY more authentic, consistent and accurate than anything man can write.
The skeptics quickly avoid considering the facts: the Bible was written by about 40 men, inspired and directed by God, over 1500 years from all walks of life and locales. Yet in all matters of faith, doctrine, theme, message and teaching it is still a completely harmonious, consistent and beautifully flowing work.
You cannot DELIBERATELY get a group of 10 people together, in the same room, at the same time and have them produce something even the size of one typical book of the Bible that would be anywhere close to being as accurate, harmonious and powerful. To deny this happened by chance or conspiracy over 1500 year in all sorts of disconnected locations and lives, is to simply embrace the absurd to avoid the responsibility of answering to God.
To deny that the Bible is a work of divine power from outside of the human race is simply to ignore the obvious at your own peril.
Given that fact, the Holy Bible is the only book on the planet, using same the standard by which the Bible is scrutinized and judged today, that can be confidently declared as “supernaturally originated”.