Answers to Supposed Bible Contradictions [back]
THE BOOK OF GENESIS TO DEUTERONOMY
C: Genesis c1v3-5 On the first day, God created light, then separated light and darkness.
Genesis c1v14-19 The sun (which separates night and day) wasn't created until the fourth day.
A: The Bible says in 1 John c4v5 “God is light”. Therefore God could easily have brought in light, probably from Himself, for four days before He created a separate source of light i.e. the sun. The components for night and day are a rotating earth and a light source, both of which where present before the sun was created. Once God had created the sun, which shows something of His Almighty power, then the original light was not needed and withdrawn. So there is no contradiction.
C: Genesis c1v11-12 , 26-27 Trees were created before man was created.
Genesis c2v4-9 Man was created before trees were created.
A: Genesis c1 gives a condensed and chronological view of creation. Chapter 2 expands parts of c1 and is not chronological. c2v4-5 and it says that the Lord God created “every plant ... and every herb” and then in v7 God says that “God formed man of the dust of the ground ...”. v8 “God planted a garden ...” and v9 says, “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food ...” So after the initial creation God made a garden and planted trees in it. Therefore again there is no contradiction.
C: Genesis c1v20-21 , 26-27 Birds were created before man was created.
Genesis c2v7, 19 Man was created before birds were created.
This passage does not infer that. Genesis c2 expands parts of c1 and is not chronological. Therefore again there is no contradiction.
C: Genesis c1v24-27 Animals were created before man was created.
Genesis c2v7, 19 Man was created before animals were created.
A: Same answer as no 3.
C: Genesis c1v26-27 Man and woman were created at the same time.
Genesis c 2v7, 21-22 Man was created first, woman sometime later.
A: Again, there is nothing in the passage suggesting that man and woman were not created on the same day as c2 merely goes into more detail. Therefore again there is no contradiction.
C: Genesis c1v28 God encourages reproduction.
Leviticus c12v1-8 God requires purification rites following childbirth which, in effect, makes childbirth a sin. (Note: The period for purification following the birth of a daughter is twice that for a son.)
A: It is illogical and wrong to think that the purification of the mother after childbirth infers that childbirth is a sin. In Leviticus c12v2 God does not condemn the woman for having a child. Various events, not at all connected with morality, required an individual to be purified e.g. touching a dead body (Numbers c19v11-21) and leprosy (Leviticus c13 & 14). Thus the supposed contradiction shows a misunderstanding regarding the Israelite law. Also why was the “Note” written? Was it to insinuate unfairness or bias to God? Do the criticisers know the medical or other reason why God doubled the purification period for the baby girl? If not then it is better not to infer out of ignorance in case when the information is available criticisers are made to look silly.
C: Genesis c1v31 God was pleased with his creation.
Genesis c6v5-6 God was not pleased with his creation.
A: Genesis c1v31 was written before Genesis c3 where mankind disobeyed God and brought sin into the world with its consequential wickedness and death. Genesis c6v5 “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth and the imagination of his heart was only evil continually,” and so God was not pleased that His beautiful creation had been marred by sin. Some seem to think that just because someone is omniscient, i.e. knows everything, that they therefore agree with everything. I may know everything, but I do not necessarily agree with or like it all. One person was complaining about all the evil and suffering in the world. The response was, “If you are so concerned about the evil in the world then what are you doing about the evil in your heart?”