Bible Writers – Did They Contradict?

            There are critics that say the Bible contradicts itself because it teaches that the Sabbath Day is both to be and not to be observed; that divorce for any cause is both permitted and denied, that the physical act of circumcision is both required and forbidden, that feast days are both to be observed and not observed, and also that some flesh may not be eaten and that all flesh may be consumed.  This article will show that these alleged contradictions within the Bible are just that, alleged and prove that the Bible does not contradict itself.

            First of all it must be admitted that the Bible does teach all of the things previously mentioned.  ( Exodus 20:8 ) teaches mankind to observe the Sabbath while it is taught not to be observed ( Colossians 2:16 ).  ( Deuteronomy 21:11-14 ) teaches one may divorce and remarry for any cause while ( Matthew 19:9 ) declares that there is only one reason for which people may divorce and remarry.  The ordinance of circumcision is commanded of man ( Genesis 17:10 ) whereas it is forbidden as a religious act in the New Testament ( Galatians 5:2 ).  Likewise, ( Deuteronomy 16:6 ) demands the observance of feast days, yet these same days are condemned  ( Galatians 4:8-11 ).  There are restrictions placed upon the consumption of certain meats  ( Deuteronomy 14:7 ) but the partaking of all meats is authorized in two other scriptures ( Romans 14:14 and I Timothy 4:3-4 ).

            It is apparent, blatantly so, that at face value the things taught in these scriptures definitely contradict one another.  However, this does not mean that the writers of the Bible contradicted one another.  Upon closer observation of these alleged contradictions, one will notice that the critics have, in every case, pitted an Old Testament scripture against a New Testament one.

            The Old Testament scriptures claimed and even commanded, that the Sabbath Day, Saturday, was to be kept, divorce and remarriage for any cause was permissible, all men were to be circumcised, feast days were to be observed, and some meats were unclean for human consumption.  Whereas, the New Testament scriptures deny all that was taught the the Old Testament.

            The problem is not with contradictions, the problem results from critics that fail to understand how to rightly divide the Bible and its covenants.  The Bible is, as most people realize, may up of two parts, the Old and New Testaments.  The Old Testament portion of the Bible contains the covenant ( law ) given by God, through Moses and the prophets for the children of Israel.  The New Testament, on the other hand, contain the covenant ( law ) given by God, through his Son, Jesus Christ, unto all people.

            When God promised to make this new covenant with us, he said it would be different from the one he had made with Israel.  Yes, He spake through the prophet Jeremiah saying, “Behold, the days come that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.” ( Jeremiah 31:31-32 ).

            Then to we read in the New Testament that with the giving of a new covenant ( or New Testament ) there was going to be a taking away of the first, or Old Testament. ( Hebrews 7:11-15; Hebrews 7:15-19; Hebrews 10:9; Romans 7:1-6; Galatians 1, 3, 4, 5; Ephesians 2; and Colossians 2 ).  Remember what was recorded in ( Jeremiah 31:31-34 previously cited ) “…the new will be different from the old.”  It therefore necessarily follows that with the coming of the new – there was a passing away of the old.  That which is different cannot exist simultaneously with that with which it differs.  This is what Paul meant when he wrote, “He taketh away the first that he may establish the second.” ( Hebrews 10:9 )

            It becomes apparent then, even though these contradictory staements are to be found within the Bible as a whole, this does not mean that the writers of the New Testament contradicted those who penned the Old Testament.  It does mean, and logically so, that one group of people recorded the terms of one covenant, for one specific dispensation of time, and that others recorded the terms of another covenant for another group of people living during a different dispensation of time.  This fact is confirmed by the Lord himself.

            In closing, one fairly must consider that the pitting of these two covenants against one another by the critics hasn’t, nor will it ever, prove that the writers of the Bible have contradicted one another.