1st century Christianity in the 21st century
Who moved David to number the people of Israel? Was it God or Satan? 2 Samuel 24:1 says God did so, but 1 Chronicles 21:1 says it was Satan. Is there a contradiction?
Continue reading “Who moved David to number Israel – God or Satan? Answering the Atheist”How many years of famine were threatened? In 2 Samuel 24:13 God gave David a choice between seven years of famime, three months of fleeing before the enemy, or three days of plague. In 1 Chronicles 21:11, the choices are three years of famime, three months of fleeing before the enemy, or three days of plague. Is there a contradiction?
Continue reading “How many years of famine? Answering the Atheist”What were Jesus’ last words? Matthew records, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?” and says He yielded up His spirit (Matthew 27:46, 50). Luke says He cried out, “Father, unto thy hands I commit my spirit,” and then gave up the ghost (Luke 23:46). John says He said, “It is finished,” and then bowed his head, giving up the ghost. Is there a contradiction?
Continue reading “What were Jesus’ last words? Answering the Atheist”Was Jesus’ first sermon preached on a plain or on a mount? Matthew 5:1-2 says He went up into a mountain to teach the people, but Luke 6:7, 20 says he stood in the plain. Which is it? Is there contradiction?
Continue reading “Sermon on the Mount or Plain? Answering the Atheist”How did Judas Iscariot die? Acts 1:18 says he fell and his bowels gushed out. Matthew 27:5-7 says he hanged himself. Also, did he purchase the field (Acts 1:18) or did the chief priests buy it (Matthew 27:5-7)? Is there a contradiction?
Continue reading “Did Judas hang himself or fall down? Answering the Atheist”Do the righteous live or not? Psalm 92:12 reads, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree.” However, Isaiah 57:1 says, “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart.” Is there a contradiction?
Continue reading “Do the righteous really live? Answering the Atheist”What kind of personality did Moses have? Do Numbers 12:3 and Numbers 31:14, 17, 18 contradict?
Continue reading “Moses’ personality – Answering the Atheist”How satisfied was God with creation? God said “it was good” after each of his labours and rests on the seventh day, evidently, very satisfied.
However, God has to fix up his creation as he goes, and he would certainly not be very satisfied with the disobedience of that primordial couple. (funny thing that an omniscient god would forget things)
Is there a contradiction?
Continue reading “Was God happy with Creation? Answering the Atheist”How orderly were things in creation?
#1: Step-by-step. The only discrepancy is that there is no Sun or Moon or stars n the first three “days.”
#2: God fixes things up as He goes. The first man is lonely, and is not satisfied with animals. God finally creates a woman for him. (funny thing that an omniscient God would forget things)
Is there a contradiction?
Continue reading “Was Creation Really Orderly? Answering the Atheist”There is a problem with the creation accounts. Here is the order of the first (Genesis 1), the Priestly tradition:
Day 1 – sky, earth, light
Day 2 – water, both in ocean basins and above the sky (!)
Day 3 – plants
Day 4 – sun, moon, stars (as calendrical and navigational aids)
Day 5 – sea monsters (whales), fish, birds, land animals, creepy-crawlies (reptiles, insects, etc.)
Day 6 – Humans (apparently both sexes at the same time)
Day 7 – Nothing (the Gods took the first day off anyone ever did)
