The Holy Bible Contradicts Itself.

Thank You, emospongebob527. My opponent has composed a list of verses found on the website www.ffrf.org. When I refer to something as "outrageous, incredulous, outlandish, absurd, insane, unintelligent, buffoonish, or make reference in that nature, I am not speaking ill of my opponent. Rather, I am simply being frank in regard to this website and the man who wrote it. He has egregiously mislead you in your understanding of God's Holy Word. Before I begin to refute specific instances this website has compiled, I feel the need the explain the Biblical interpretation process. When reading the Bible, one must take into account that although all scripture is God-breathed, and communicates a perfect message, it was written by many different authors, throughout several thousand years of time, and most importantly, in different contexts. The Bible gives us many prescriptive and descriptive instructions for what we ought to do in many different circumstances.In realization of the above, one can understand that in order to accurately interpret the Bible, the usage of Observation, Interpretation, and Application is vital. What this means is that one must first observe what the scripture says, than he must interpret, or translate contexts. Only then is the correct application to our life found. Most of these allegedly contradictory verses appear to be so simply because they have been ripped out of context. A Caricature of "Context-ripping." Lets say, for the sake of the analogy, that two men are debating the Quran. One is a muslim, and one is looking for flaws in the Muslim's book. (I have no affiliation with Muslims, nor do I believe what they say, this is a pure example. Neither do I have any idea what the Quran actually says.) The flaw-seeker has found two lines in the Quran. One reads: "Listen to the Quran." Another, somewhere else in the book, says "Do not listen to the Quran when it is preached from the mouths of liars." The flaw-seeker says: "AH! Look: It says 'Listen to the Quran', and it also says 'Do not listen to the Quran.' What a contradiction! Absurd, right? We all know what the Muslim will say: "You idiot! read the rest of the line." Obviously, this is a caricature, and the actual instances of this are far less obvious. However, they still contain this flaw.Now Allow Me to Show Demonstrate to Interpret Scripture, the right way. I doubt the character limit will allow me to examine every one of these verses, but if my opponent has a particular verse he wishes me to explain which I did not, I would be more than happy to do so in the future rounds, the comment section, or through private message.Argument 1: Should we kill? "Thou shalt not kill." It is true that the Bible makes the distinction between killing and murdering. There most certainly is a difference. While killing is the lawful taking of life, murdering is the unlawful taking of life. The Bible also makes the distinction between capital punishment and unjust murder. The word for "kill" in hebrew, ratsach actually has several English translations. One being kill, another being murder, another being murderer, and many more. It is up to the translators to chose the right word. In our modern English context, the correct translation is "thou shalt not murder." Such is translated in the ESV version of the Bible, a newer translation. Indeed, the first two verses refer to unjust killing, or murdering. The second set of verses refers to capital punishment. God does have the right to inflict judgement and punishment when people have sinned. Argument 2: Should we Lie? Once again, the first set of verses are commandments. As to the second set: While God never lies, he has allowed Satan to deceive us. Those who are deceived have no one to blame but themselves. Much of the alleged contradiction has to do with God allowing us to experience consequences after repeatedly and unrepentantly sinning. This is perfectly just. When we do not repent, we are "given" to lies and evil desires. This is our fault. God allows allows Satan to deceive us, but those who follow God are not deceived. As to the situation in Joshua, Concerning Rahab, we see countless times throughout the Bible situations in which people attempt to fulfill God's will in the wrong way. Luckily for us, God knows how to work through our mistakes. If he didn't we'd be in a seriously worse mess right now. Read the story of Jacob tricking his father into giving him his older brother, Esau's, birthright. This was not how God intended it, but God worked through Jacob's mistake and accomplished his plan another way. Should we Steal? Again, the first set are commandments. The second set is a perfect example of the utter lack of contextual analysis. In actuality, the Israelites asked for silver, gold, and clothing from the Egyptians. The Egyptians gave it to them. That is certainly not stealing. The Egyptian example is so close to my blatant explanatory caricature that it is downright desperate and buffoonish. In this case, the beginning of the verse is neglected, and the end is quoted. The actual verse: "The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the Lord had given the people favor in sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians." Exodus 12: 35-36 Whoever wrote ffrf.org ripped that right out of the context of its own verse! How absurd and desperate! As to the donkey situation- Everything belongs to God. I belong to God, you belong to God, all you voters belong to God. Our lives belong to God the air that we breathe belongs to God! He made it all! It was gratuitous of Jesus to offer an unneeded explanation. The Donkey was the Lord's. Everything you and I have has been given to us by God. Everything, even our own lives, are privileges, not rights. Should we keep the Sabbath? Again, Contextual analysis. This time in the Old vs New testaments. The commandments given to the Jews before Christ were specific to them. In Romans and Galatians, Paul clears some of the differences up. Things change with the coming of Christ. No longer is it forbidden to eat certain things, etc. The Old and New testaments are almost like two sides of the same coin, of the same story. Jesus makes everything new. "The old testament is like a shadow of the New. And there are differences between shadows and reality. But such differences are not considered contradictions." bcbrs.com Should good works be seen? This is an issue of motivation. We cannot "parade around" arrogantly, and full of conceit. When good works "fill our lives" so that they are "seen by others", we are spreading the gospel through our actions. The emphasis here is not on vain arrogance, but on glorifying God and spreading the Gospel! That is quite a big difference, my friend! Does God Change his mind? God's essence is unchangeable. All of his character and attributes will never change. Much of God's judgment is conditional. It is contingent upon our actions. We see countless times in the Bible where one has repented of their sin due to impending judgement, and thereafter God shows mercy and does inflict the often fatal judgment. (Joseph and the Ninevites is a perfect example of this.) As to the discussion with Abraham, God had allowed Abraham to intercede. Just as he allows Moses to intercede for the Israelites, and in the same way Jesus is interceding for you and I as we speak. This upholds one of God's unchangeable attributes, to listen to the prayers of the godly. The Bible never contradicts itself. Those who claim it does and provide examples have ripped those examples out of their context and portrayed them as something they are not. Again, this blasted character limit forces me to be concise. If my opponent feels I have been too vague or wishes me to explain other verses in further detail, I am more than happy to do so. In Conclusion, does the Bible contradict itself? Absolutely not. bcbrs.com