136
BIBLE “CONTRADICTIONS” … ANSWERED (Part Two - Contradictions 2-5)
A Booklet by Brad McCoy, Th.M.
© Copyright 1985 Reprinted with
author’s permission. May be distributed freely but not sold.
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Note: I thought it would be
interesting for a few posts, to consider some alleged Biblical
contradictions. I hear this all the time, but no one who makes the
complaints will sit down with me and study them. Brad McCoy was my
Theology Professor in Seminary. He is an outstanding theological scholar
and teacher. At my request, he provided me with a booklet he
self-published in 1985. The booklet can be reproduced, but not sold. I
will return to the Calvinism/Arminianism series after awhile, maybe a couple of
weeks. - dh
**
UPDATE ** Recently, I conversed with Dr. McCoy and he confirmed directly
with me that I can post from his booklet. In addition, he informed me
that the book was recently updated to – “150 Bible Contradictions Answered!” He sent me this self-published manuscript
which, by the way, is excellent. If you would like the new manuscript,
let me know and I will pass it on to Dr. McCoy. I see it cost him about
$5.00 to send it to me, so you should be willing to make a contribution to Dr.
McCoy's church to help defray the mailing cost and perhaps a bit more, maybe
$20.00 or so.
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(This
booklet is a response to the pamphlet “136 Bible Contradictions” printed by
Crusade Publications of Redmond, Washington.)
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“Contradictions”
2-5
#2
Genesis 1:20-22, 26-27 which indicates that the man was created after birds is contrasted
with Genesis 2:7, 19 which states that man was created before birds.
This
“contradiction” is based on a faulty translation of the Hebrew. In Genesis
1:20-22, 26-27 birds are created on day five, man on six. In Genesis 2:7, 19
man is created, and then in verse nineteen the pluperfect aspect of the verb is
encountered which is correctly translated “had formed”. That is in referring
back to the origin of the animals, who are being brought to Adam, the author of
Genesis reminds the reader, “...out of the ground the Lord God had formed (on
day five) every beast/bird”.
#3
The fact that man was created after the animals in Genesis 1:20-22, 26-27 is
contrasted with the statement of Genesis 2:7, 19.
Same
issue as #2 above. The “problem” is
solved by the proper translation of the pluperfect “had formed” in 2:19.
#4
Gen. 1:27 which indicates that man and
woman were created at the same time, is contrasted with Genesis 2:7, 18:23 which
states man was created before woman.
Genesis
1:27 is part of the unit 1:1-2:3 and thus part of a general summary of the
events of each day of the Creation Week.
Genesis 1:27 simply states that man and woman were both created on day
six. Genesis 2:7, 18:23 is part of the
unit 2:4-2:25 and thus part of a specific account of day six. Man and woman were both created on day six,
but Adam was created before Eve on that day.
#5 The command of
Genesis 1:28 to be fruitful and multiply and to fill the earth, is contrasted
to the purification rites which were to follow childbirth in Leviticus 12:1-8.
The
implication inherent in this “contradiction” as stated, is that childbirth is
sinful (thus requiring purification) and yet God had commanded man to produce
children in Genesis 1:28. Such reasoning
misses the point of these verses. In
Genesis 1:28 God clearly commissions mankind to fill the earth. The purification ritual of Leviticus 12:1-8
was an object lesson teaching the lesson of original sin. That is babies born are at the same time “in
sin” with no spiritual lfie/relationship to God. The ritual is not teaching that it is a sin
to bear children, but that children are born in sin.
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Next will be
“contradictions” 6-10.
Doug
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