false allegations of discrepancies in the bible
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False Allegations of Discrepancies in the Bible
Some falsely allege that there are real discrepancies in the Bible, but
when any of these are closely examined it is always found that what
appeared on the surface to be a discrepancy really is not. Here is an
example of one such case investigated by Caleb Colley and his findings:
Apologetics Press :: Alleged Discrepancies
Did Jesus Come to Bring Peace-or Turmoil?
by Caleb Colley
Militant, violent, religious extremists have caused legitimate concern
for America's security. In Palestine, on the very soil Jesus walked,
people kill each other in warfare motivated by religion. Do the
teachings of Christ authorize or encourage such behavior? In John
14:27, Jesus said: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not
as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid." Some have charged that Jesus' promise of
peace in that verse contradicts His message in Matthew 10:34: "Do not
think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring
peace but a sword." Did Jesus come to Earth to bring peace-or turmoil?
Based on scriptural evidence, it is indisputable that Jesus wants Hisfollowers to have peace. The words "Christ" and "peace" are found
together in the same verse no less than 24 times in the New King James
Version. Consider Philippians 1:2: "Grace to you and peace from God our
Father and Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:2 reads: "Grace to you
and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Paul urged
the Thessalonians, "Be at peace among yourselves" (1 Thessalonians
5:13). The message of Christ is called "the gospel of peace" (Ephesians
6:15), and Philippians 4:7 says that the peace of God "surpasses all
understanding" and that peace will guard the hearts and minds of
Christians. Jesus, Who is called the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6,
most definitely came to bring peace.
Could it also be that Jesus came to bring turmoil? Certainly. In the
context of Matthew 10:34, Jesus was explaining to His disciples that
the Gospel, in some cases, would cause division. A son would believe in
Jesus, but his father might not. A mother would believe, but her
daughter might refuse even to hear the Gospel. In Matthew 10:37-38,
Jesus presented a hard truth: "He who loves father or mother more than
Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me
is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow
after Me is not worthy of Me." Richard Lenski offered insight into the
implications of the "turmoil" brought by Christ:
The idea is this: if Christ had not come, the earth would have gone on
undisturbed in its sin and its guilt until the day of its doom. Now
Christ came to take away that sin and that guilt. At once war resulted,
for in their perversion men clung to their sin, fought Christ and the
gospel, and thus produced two hostile camps. Christ foresaw this effect
and willed it. Emphatically He declared that He came to throw a swordon the earth. Better the war and the division, saving as many as
possible, than to let all perish in their sin (1943, p. 415).
Many react with hostility to the Gospel. This is not because Christ's
teaching promotes hostility (see Matthew 5:44; 7:12; John 13:14;
13:35), but because Jesus' teachings are highly controversial. In
Matthew 10:34, Jesus did not mean to suggest that His purpose was to
bring hostility or turmoil, but that hostility would, in some cases, be
an effect of His teaching (Barnes, 1949, p. 115). It always will be the
case that some people will respond negatively to Christ's teachings,
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for some always will prefer spiritual darkness to the light of Jesus
(John 3:19). Christ, Who came to Earth to bring both peace and turmoil,
never contradicted Himself.
REFERENCES
Barnes, Albert (1949), Notes on the New Testament: Matthew and Mark
(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker).
Lenksi, Richard C. H. (1943), The Interpretation of St. Matthew's
Gospel (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg).
[source - Alleged Discrepancies, Apologetics Press, 230 Landmark Drive,
Montgomery, Alabama 36117, U.S.A., (334) 272-8558,
http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/534]
Why do people try and cast doubts and insult and attack the Bible?
Because they are trying to promote something that is not in harmony
with it, and it stands in their way.
Your Friend in Christ Iris89