It is no longer so frequently heard, but in years past it was sometimes argued that the Bible cannot be verbally inspired since the gospel writers do not quote the same words in some dialogues. Take for example here the dialogue between Jesus and the young man: Matthew 19:16 ” . . . Good Master, […]
The transfiguration – after 6 days or after about 8 days?
Some have wondered why when two gospels record a 6 day gap before the transfiguration, Luke says “about 8 days”. Matthew 17:1 “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and brings them up into an high mountain apart.” Mark 9:2 This is the same as Matthew’s account. Luke 9:28 “And […]
The Death of Jehoiakim
The Death of Jehoiakim is described as follows: 2 Kings 24:6 “So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers . . . ” (In Scripture, “he slept with his fathers” means “he died”. See, for example: 2 Kings 13:9,13; 14:16; 15:7,38) 2 Chronicles 36:6 “Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, […]
“There was none like him” – Hezekiah 2 Kings 18:5 and Josiah 2 Kings 23:25
Acareful reading is all that is necessary to indicate that there is no contradiction. Hezekiah is commended because he “trusted”, 2 Kings 18:5. Josiah is commended because he “turned”, 2 Kings 23:25. Mutually exclusive statements are not made. 2 Kings 18:5 “He {Hezekiah} trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none […]
In 1 Kings 15:14; 2 Chronicles 14:5 how far did Asa’s removal of the high places go?
These two passages are sometimes cited as contradictions in the Bible. The one passage says that the high places were not removed. The other passages says they were removed. 1 Kings 15:14 “But the high places were not removed . . . “ 2 Chronicles 14:5 “Also he {Asa} took away out of all the cities […]
Is there a contradiction between 1 Samuel 15:35 and 19:24 “Samuel came to see Saul no more”?
Some people have seen a contradiction here: 1 Samuel 15:35 “And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death . . . “ 1 Samuel 19:24 “{Saul} . . . prophesied before Samuel . . . “ But a contradiction requires an affirmation and denial of the same proposition. These two […]
Why do GNT1976, JPS1985, NRSV have “the young woman is with child and about to give birth to a son” in Isaiah 7:14?
In 1976 the Good News Translation became the first major translation to depart from translating Isaiah 7:14 as “virgin”, but more importantly also in making the change from “will conceive” to “has conceived”, “is pregnant”: Isaiah 7:14 Well then, the Lord himself will give you a sign: a young woman who is pregnant will have […]
What does the Bible say about “near death experiences” NDEs?
In short – nothing. Because in Bible times the medical care that would allow humans to survive the heart stopping barely existed. While the idea of mouth-to-mouth breathing coupled with manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be traced back as far as references in the medical literature of Ancient Egypt (c. 2686 – c. 2181 BCE), […]
What does it mean “God not of the dead but of the living” (Matthew 22:32, Mark 12:27, Luke 20:38)
This statement of Jesus is recorded three times, once in each of the synoptic gospels: Matthew 22:32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is God not of the dead but of the living.” (NRSV) Mark 12:27 He is not God of the dead, but of […]
Does the New Testament apply Isaiah 9:6 to Jesus?
Indirectly, yes. Matthew has already made reference to the Isaiah 7:14 and 8:8 Hezekiah-Immanuel prophecies, so it is not surprising to find the Isaiah 9 context of the Hezekiah-Wonderful Counsellor prophecy applied to Jesus as well. Matthew is pointing out the full lifespan of Hezekiah as a fore-type, or foreshadow, of Christ.Hezekiah’s royal birth from […]