false allegations of discrepancies in the bible

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  • 8/3/2019 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