101 Clear Contradictions in the Bible
Shabir Ally
1. Who incited David
to count the fighting men of Israel?
-
God
did (2 Samuel 24: 1)
-
Satan
did (I Chronicles 2 1:1)
2. In that count how
many fighting men were found in Israel?
-
Eight hundred thousand
(2 Samuel 24:9)
-
One million, one hundred thousand (I Chronicles
21:5)
3. How many fighting
men were found in Judah?
-
Five hundred thousand (2 Samuel 24:9)
-
Four hundred and seventy thousand (I Chronicles
21:5)
4. God sent his
prophet to threaten David with how many years of famine?
-
Seven (2 Samuel 24:13)
-
Three (I Chronicles 21:12)
5. How old was
Ahaziah when he began to rule over Jerusalem?
-
Twenty-two (2 Kings 8:26)
-
Forty-two (2 Chronicles 22:2)
6. How old was
Jehoiachin when he became king of Jerusalem?
-
Eighteen (2 Kings 24:8)
-
Eight (2 Chronicles 36:9)
7. How long did he
rule over Jerusalem?
-
Three months (2 Kings 24:8)
-
Three months and ten days (2 Chronicles 36:9)
8. The chief of the
mighty men of David lifted up his spear and killed how many men at one time?
-
Eight hundred (2 Samuel 23:8)
-
Three hundred (I Chronicles 11: 11)
9. When did David
bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem? Before defeating the Philistines or
after?
- After
(2 Samuel 5 and 6)
- Before
(I Chronicles 13 and 14)
10. How many pairs of
clean animals did God tell Noah to take into the Ark?
- Two
(Genesis 6:19, 20)
- Seven
(Genesis 7:2). But despite this last instruction only two pairs went into
the ark (Genesis 7:8-9)
11. When David
defeated the King of Zobah, how many horsemen did he capture?
- One
thousand and seven hundred (2 Samuel 8:4)
- Seven
thousand (I Chronicles 18:4)
12. How many stalls
for horses did Solomon have?
- Forty
thousand (I Kings 4:26)
- Four
thousand (2 chronicles 9:25)
13. In what year of
King Asa's reign did Baasha, King of Israel die?
-
Twenty-sixth year (I Kings 15:33 - 16:8)
- Still
alive in the thirty-sixth year (2 Chronicles 16:1)
14. How many
overseers did Solomon appoint for the work of building the temple?
- Three
thousand six hundred (2 Chronicles 2:2)
- Three
thousand three hundred (I Kings 5:16)
15. Solomon built a
facility containing how many baths?
- Two
thousand (1 Kings 7:26)
- Over
three thousand (2 Chronicles 4:5)
16. Of the Israelites
who were freed from the Babylonian captivity, how many were the children of
Pahrath-Moab?
- Two
thousand eight hundred and twelve (Ezra 2:6)
- Two
thousand eight hundred and eighteen (Nehemiah 7:11)
17. How many were the
children of Zattu?
- Nine
hundred and forty-five (Ezra 2:8)
- Eight
hundred and forty-five (Nehemiah 7:13)
18. How many were the
children of Azgad?
- One
thousand two hundred and twenty-two (Ezra 2:12)
- Two
thousand three hundred and twenty-two (Nehemiah 7:17)
19. How many were the
children of Adin?
- Four
hundred and fifty-four (Ezra 2:15)
- Six
hundred and fifty-five (Nehemiah 7:20)
20. How many were the
children of Hashum?
- Two
hundred and twenty-three (Ezra 2:19)
- Three
hundred and twenty-eight (Nehemiah 7:22)
21. How many were the
children of Bethel and Ai?
- Two
hundred and twenty-three (Ezra 2:28)
- One
hundred and twenty-three (Nehemiah 7:32)
22. Ezra 2:64 and
Nehemiah 7:66 agree that the total number of the whole assembly was 42,360. Yet
the numbers do not add up to anything close. The totals obtained from each book
is as follows:
- 29,818
(Ezra)
- 31,089
(Nehemiah)
23. How many singers
accompanied the assembly?
- Two
hundred (Ezra 2:65)
- Two
hundred and forty-five (Nehemiah 7:67)
24. What was the name
of King Abijahs mother?
-
Michaiah, daughter of Uriel of Gibeah (2 Chronicles 13:2)
-
Maachah, daughter of Absalom (2 Chronicles 11:20) But Absalom had only one
daughter whose name was Tamar (2 Samuel 14:27)
25. Did Joshua and
the Israelites capture Jerusalem?
- Yes
(Joshua 10:23, 40)
- No
(Joshua 15:63)
26. Who was the
father of Joseph, husband of Mary?
- Jacob
(Matthew 1:16)
- Hell
(Luke 3:23)
27. Jesus descended
from which son of David?
-
Solomon (Matthew 1:6)
-
Nathan(Luke3:31)
28. Who was the
father of Shealtiel?
-
Jechoniah (Matthew 1:12)
- Neri
(Luke 3:27)
29. Which son of
Zerubbabel was an ancestor of Jesus Christ?
- Abiud
(Matthew 1: 13)
- Rhesa
(Luke 3:27) But the seven sons of Zerubbabel are as follows: i.Meshullam,
ii. Hananiah, iii. Hashubah, iv. Ohel, v.Berechiah, vi. Hasadiah, viii.
Jushabhesed (I Chronicles 3:19, 20). The names Abiud and Rhesa do not fit in
anyway.
30. Who was the
father of Uzziah?
- Joram
(Matthew 1:8)
-
Amaziah (2 Chronicles 26:1)
31. Who was the
father of Jechoniah?
- Josiah
(Matthew 1:11)
-
Jeholakim (I Chronicles 3:16)
32. How many
generations were there from the Babylonian exile until Christ?
-
Matthew says fourteen (Matthew 1:17)
- But a
careful count of the generations reveals only thirteen (see Matthew 1:
12-16)
33. Who was the
father of Shelah?
- Cainan
(Luke 3:35-36)
-
Arphaxad (Genesis II: 12)
34. Was John the
Baptist Elijah who was to come?
- Yes
(Matthew II: 14, 17:10-13)
- No
(John 1:19-21)
35. Would Jesus
inherit Davids throne?
- Yes.
So said the angel (Luke 1:32)
- No,
since he is a descendant of Jehoiakim (see Matthew 1: I 1, I Chronicles
3:16). And Jehoiakim was cursed by God so that none of his descendants can
sit upon Davids throne (Jeremiah 36:30)
36. Jesus rode into
Jerusalem on how many animals?
- One -
a colt (Mark 11:7; cf Luke 19:3 5). And they brought the colt to Jesus and
threw their garments on it; and he sat upon it.
- Two -
a colt and an ass (Matthew 21:7). They brought the ass and the colt and put
their garments on them and he sat thereon.
37. How did Simon
Peter find out that Jesus was the Christ?
- By a
revelation from heaven (Matthew 16:17)
- His
brother Andrew told him (John 1:41)
38. Where did Jesus
first meet Simon Peter and Andrew?
- By the
sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18-22)
- On the
banks of river Jordan (John 1:42). After that, Jesus decided to go to
Galilee (John 1:43)
39. When Jesus met
Jairus was Jairus daughter already dead?
- Yes.
Matthew 9:18 quotes him as saying, My daughter has just died.
- No.
Mark 5:23 quotes him as saying, My little daughter is at the point of death.
40. Did Jesus allow
his disciples to keep a staff on their journey?
- Yes
(Mark 6:8)
- No
(Matthew 10:9; Luke 9:3)
41. Did Herod think
that Jesus was John the Baptist?
- Yes
(Matthew 14:2; Mark 6:16)
- No
(Luke 9:9)
42. Did John the
Baptist recognize Jesus before his baptism?
- Yes
(Matthew 3:13-14)
- No
(John 1:32,33)
43. Did John the
Baptist recognize Jesus after his baptism?
- Yes
(John 1:32, 33)
- No
(Matthew 11:2)
44. According to the
Gospel of John, what did Jesus say about bearing his own witness?
- If I
bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true (John 5:3 1)
- Even
if I do bear witness to myself, my testimony is true (John 8:14)
45. When Jesus
entered Jerusalem did he cleanse the temple that same day?
- Yes
(Matthew 21:12)
- No. He
went into the temple and looked around, but since it was very late he did
nothing. Instead, he went to Bethany to spend the night and returned the
next morning to cleanse the temple (Mark I 1:1- 17)
46. The Gospels say
that Jesus cursed a fig tree. Did the tree wither at once?
- Yes.
(Matthew 21:19)
- No. It
withered overnight (Mark II: 20)
47. Did Judas kiss
Jesus?
- Yes
(Matthew 26:48-50)
- No.
Judas could not get close enough to Jesus to kiss him (John 18:3-12)
48. What did Jesus
say about Peters denial?
- The
cock will not crow till you have denied me three times (John 13:38)
- Before
the cock crows twice you will deny me three times (Mark 14:30) . When the
cock crowed once, the three denials were not yet complete (see Mark 14:72).
Therefore prediction (a) failed.
49. Did Jesus bear
his own cross?
- Yes
(John 19:17)
- No
(Matthew 27:31-32)
50. Did Jesus die
before the curtain of the temple was torn?
- Yes
(Matthew 27:50-51; Mark lS:37-38)
- No.
After the curtain was torn, then Jesus crying with a loud voice, said,
Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit! And having said this he breathed
his last (Luke 23:45-46)
51. Did Jesus say
anything secretly?
- No. I
have said nothing secretly (John 18:20)
- Yes.
He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own
disciples he explained everything (Mark 4:34). The disciples asked him Why
do you speak to them in parables? He said, To you it has been given to know
the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given
(Matthew 13: 1 0-11)
52. Where was Jesus
at the sixth hour on the day of the crucifixion?
- On the
cross (Mark 15:23)
- In
Pilates court (John 19:14)
53. The gospels say
that two thieves were crucified along with Jesus. Did both thieves mock Jesus?
- Yes
(Mark 15:32)
- No.
One of them mocked Jesus, the other defended Jesus (Luke 23:43)
54. Did Jesus ascend
to Paradise the same day of the crucifixion?
- Yes.
He said to the thief who defended him, Today you will be with me in Paradise
(Luke 23:43)
- No. He
said to Mary Magdelene two days later, I have not yet ascended to the Father
(John 20:17)
55. When Paul was on
the road to Damascus he saw a light and heard a voice. Did those who were with
him hear the voice?
- Yes
(Acts9:7)
- No
(Acts22:9)
56. When Paul saw the
light he fell to the ground. Did his traveling companions also fall to the
ground?
- Yes
(Acts 26:14)
- No
(Acts 9:7)
57. Did the voice
spell out on the spot what Pauls duties were to be?
- Yes
(Acts 26:16-18)
- No.
The voice commanded Paul to go into the city of Damascus and there he will
be told what he must do. (Acts9:7;22: 10)
58. When the
Israelites dwelt in Shittin they committed adultery with the daughters of Moab.
God struck them with a plague. How many people died in that plague?
-
Twenty-four thousand (Numbers 25:1 and 9)
-
Twenty-three thousand (I Corinthians 10:8)
59. How many members
of the house of Jacob came to Egypt?
-
Seventy souls (Genesis 4 & 27)
-
Seventy-five souls (Acts 7:14)
60. What did Judas do
with the blood money he received for betraying Jesus?
- He
bought a field (Acts 1: 18)
- He
threw all of it into the temple and went away. The priests could not put the
blood money into the temple treasury, so they used it to buy a field to bury
strangers (Matthew 27:5)
61. How did Judas
die?
- After
he threw the money into the temple he went away and hanged himself (Matthew
27:5)
- After
he bought the field with the price of his evil deed he fell headlong and
burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out (Acts 1:18)
62. Why is the field
called Field of Blood?
-
Because the priests bought it with the blood money (Matthew 27:8)
-
Because of the bloody death of Judas therein (Acts 1:19)
63. Who is a ransom
for whom?
- The
Son of Man came...to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Christ
Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all... (I Timothy 2:5-6)
-
The
wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright
(Proverbs 21:18)
64. Is the law of
Moses useful?
- Yes.
All scripture is... profitable... (2 Timothy 3:16)
- No. .
. . A former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and
uselessness... (Hebrews 7:18)
65. What was the
exact wording on the cross?
- This
is Jesus the King of the Jews (Matthew 27:37)
- The
King of the Jews (Mark 15:26)
- This
is the King of the Jews (Luke 23:38)
- Jesus
of Nazareth, the King of the Jews (John 19:19)
66. Did Herod want to
kill John the Baptist?
- Yes
(Matthew 14:5)
- No. It
was Herodias, the wife of Herod who wanted to kill him. But Herod knew that
he was a righteous man and kept him safe (Mark 6:20)
67. Who was the tenth
disciple of Jesus in the list of twelve?
-
Thaddaeus (Matthew 10: 1-4; Mark 3:13 -19)
- Judas
son of James is the corresponding name in Lukes gospel (Luke 6:12-16)
68. Jesus saw a man
sitat the tax collectors office and called him to be his disciple. What was his
name?
-
Matthew (Matthew 9:9)
- Levi
(Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27)
69. Was Jesus
crucified on the daytime before the Passover meal or the daytime after?
- After
(Mark 14:12-17)
-
Before. Before the feast of the Passover (John 1) Judas went out at night
(John 13:30). The other disciples thought he was going out to buy supplies
to prepare for the Passover meal (John 13:29). When Jesus was arrested, the
Jews did not enter Pilates judgment hail because they wanted to stay clean
to eat the Passover (John 18:28). When the judgment was pronounced against
Jesus, it was about the sixth hour on the day of Preparation for the
Passover (John 19:14)
70. Did Jesus pray to
The Father to prevent the crucifixion?
- Yes.
(Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42)
- No.
(John 12:27)
71. In the gospels
which say that Jesus prayed to avoid the cross, how many times did he move away
from his disciples to pray?
- Three
(Matthew 26:36-46 and Mark 14:32-42)
- One.
No opening is left for another two times. (Luke 22:39-46)
72. Matthew and Mark
agree that Jesus went away and prayed three times. What were the words of the
second prayer?
- Mark
does not give the words but he says that the words were the same as the
first prayer (Mark 14:3 9)
-
Matthew gives us the words, and we can see that they are not the same as in
the first (Matthew 26:42)
73. What did the
centurion say when Jesus dies?
-
Certainly this man was innocent (Luke 23:47)
- Truly
this man was the Son of God (Mark 15:39)
74. When Jesus said
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me ? in what language did he speak?
-
Hebrew: the words are Eloi, Eloi ..(Matthew 27:46)
-
Aramaic: the words are Eloi, Eloi .. (Mark 15:34)
75. According to the
gospels, what were the last words of Jesus before he died?
-
Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit! (Luke 23:46)
- "It is
finished" (John 19:30)
76. When Jesus
entered Capernaum he healed the slave of a centurion. Did the centurion come
personally to request Jesus for this?
- Yes
(Matthew 8:5)
- No. He
sent some elders of the Jews and his friends (Luke 7:3,6)
77.
- Adam
was told that if and when he eats the forbidden fruit he would die the same
day (Genesis 2:17)
- Adam
ate the fruit and went on to live to a ripe old age of 930 years (Genesis
5:5)
78.
- God
decided that the life-span of humans will be limited to 120 years (Genesis
6:3)
- Many
people born after that lived longer than 120. Arpachshad lived 438 years.
His son Shelah lived 433 years. His son Eber lived 464 years, etc. (Genesis
11:12-16)
79. Apart from Jesus
did anyone else ascend to heaven?
- No
(John 3:13)
- Yes.
And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven (2 Kings 2:11)
80. Who was high
priest when David went into the house of God and ate the consecrated bread?
-
Abiathar (Mark 2:26)
-
Ahimelech, the father of Abiathar (I Samuel 1:1; 22:20)
81. Was Jesus body
wrapped in spices before burial in accordance with Jewish burial customs?
- Yes
and his female disciples witnessed his burial (John 19:39-40)
- No.
Jesus was simply wrapped in a linen shroud. Then the women bought and
prepared spices so that they may go and anoint him [Jesus) (Mark 16: 1)
82. When did the
women buy the spices?
- After
the Sabbath was past (Mark 16:1)
- Before
the Sabbath. The women prepared spices and ointments. Then, on the Sabbath
they rested according to the commandment (Luke 23:55 to 24:1)
83. At what time of
day did the women visit the tomb?
- Toward
the dawn (Matthew 28: 1)
- When
the sun had risen (Mark 16:2)
84. What was the
purpose for which the women went to the tomb?
- To
anoint Jesus body with spices (Mark 16: 1; Luke 23:55 to 24: 1)
- To see
the tomb. Nothing about spices here (Matthew 28: 1)
- For no
specified reason. In this gospel the wrapping with spices had been done
before the Sabbath (John 20: 1)
85. A large stone was
placed at the entrance of the tomb. Where was the stone when the women arrived?
- They
saw that the stone was Rolled back (Mark 16:4) They found the stone rolled
away from the tomb (Luke 24:2) They saw that the stone had been taken away
from the tomb (John 20:1)
- As the
women approached, an angel descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and
conversed with the women. Matthew made the women witness the spectacular
rolling away of the stone (Matthew 28:1-6)
86. Did anyone tell
the women what happened to Jesus body?
- Yes. A
young man in a white robe (Mark 16:5). Two men ... in dazzling
apparel later described as angels (Luke 24:4 and 24:23). An angel - the one
who rolled back the stone (Matthew 16:2). In each case the women were told
that Jesus had risen from the dead (Matthew 28:7; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:5
footnote)
- No.
Mary met no one and returned saying, They have taken the Lord out of the
tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him (John 20:2)
87. When did Mary
Magdelene first meet the resurrected Jesus? And how did she react?
- Mary
and the other women met Jesus on their way back from their first and only
visit to the tomb. They took hold of his feet and worshipped him (Matthew
28:9)
- On her
second visit to the tomb Mary met Jesus just outside the tomb. When she saw
Jesus she did not recognize him. She mistook him for the gardener. She still
thinks that Jesus body is laid to rest somewhere and she demands to know
where. But when Jesus said her name she at once recognized him and called
him Teacher. Jesus said to her, Do not hold me... (John 20:11 to 17)
88. What was Jesus
instruction for his disciples?
- Tell
my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me (Matthew 2 8: 10)
- Go to
my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to
my God and your God (John 20:17)
89. When did the
disciples return to Galilee?
-
Immediately, because when they saw Jesus in Galilee some doubted (Matthew
28:17). This period of uncertainty should not persist
- After
at least 40 days. That evening the disciples were still in Jerusalem (Luke
24:3 3). Jesus appeared to them there and told them, stay in the city until
you are clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49). He was appearing to
them during forty days (Acts 1:3), and charged them not to depart from
Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise ... (Acts 1:4)
90. To whom did the
Midianites sell Joseph?
- To the
Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:28)
- To
Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh (Genesis 37:36)
91. Who brought
Joseph to Egypt?
- The
Ishmaelites bought Joseph and then took Joseph to Egypt (Genesis 37:28)
- The
Midianites had sold him in Egypt (Genesis 37:36)
- Joseph
said to his brothers I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt
(Genesis 45:4)
92. Does God change
his mind?
- Yes.
The word of the Lord came to Samuel: I repent that I have made Saul King...
(I Samuel 15:10 to 11)
- No.
God will not lie or repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent (I
Samuel 15:29)
Yes. And the
Lord repented that he had made Saul King over Israel (I Samuel 15:35). Notice
that the above three quotes are all from the same chapter of the same book! In
addition, the Bible shows that God repented on several other occasions:
i.
The Lord was sorry that he made man (Genesis 6:6)
I
am sorry that I have made them (Genesis 6:7)
ii. And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do to his people
(Exodus 32:14).
iii. (Lots of other such references).
93. The Bible says
that for each miracle Moses and Aaron demonstrated the magicians did the same by
their secret arts. Then comes the following feat:
- Moses
and Aaron converted all the available water into blood (Exodus 7:20-21)
- The
magicians did the same (Exodus 7:22). This is impossible, since there would
have been no water left to convert into blood.
94. Who killed
Goliath?
- David
(I Samuel 17:23, 50)
-
Elhanan (2 Samuel 21:19)
95. Who killed Saul?
- Saul
took his own sword and fell upon it.... Thus Saul died... (I Samuel 31:4-6)
- An
Amalekite slew him (2 Samuel 1:1- 16)
96. Does every man
sin?
- Yes.
There is no man who does not sin (I Kings 8:46; see also 2 Chronicles 6:36;
Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; and I John 1:810)
- No.
True Christians cannot possibly sin, because they are the children of God.
Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God.. (I John
5:1). We should be called children of God; and so we are (I John 3: 1). He
who loves is born of God (I John 4:7). No one born of God commits sin; for
Gods nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God (I
John 3:9). But, then again, Yes! If we say we have no sin we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us (I John 1:8)
97. Who will bear
whose burden?
- Bear
one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2)
- Each
man will have to bear his own load (Galatians 6:5)
98. How many
disciples did Jesus appear to after his resurrection?
- Twelve
(I Corinthians 15:5)
- Eleven
(Matthew 27:3-5 and Acts 1:9-26, see also Matthew 28:16; Mark 16:14
footnote; Luke 24:9; Luke 24:3 3)
99. Where was Jesus
three days after his baptism?
- After
his baptism, the spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And
he was in the wilderness forty days ... (Mark 1:12-13)
- Next
day after the baptism, Jesus selected two disciples. Second day: Jesus went
to Galilee - two more disciples. Third day: Jesus was at a wedding feast in
Cana in Galilee (see John 1:35; 1:43; 2:1-11)
100. Was baby Jesus
life threatened in Jerusalem?
- Yes,
so Joseph fled with him to Egypt and stayed there until Herod died (Matthew
2:13 23)
- No.
The family fled nowhere. They calmly presented the child at the Jerusalem
temple according to the Jewish customs and returned to Galilee (Luke
2:21-40)
101. When Jesus
walked on water how did the disciples respond?
- They
worshipped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God (Matthew 14:33)
- They
were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but
their hearts were hardened (Mark 6:51-52)