I understand that you believe your text to be divinely inspired but the Bible consists of many doublets that disagree, so which one do you choose to believe. Im going through my NSRV of the Bible and there are two versions of the flood narrative, how do you explain that? I'm not saying these events didn't happen but rather that humans wrote the Bible based on oral and wrriten traditions passed on to them rather than direct involvement with God.

@superchunck - thanks for the explanation on the jewish view on genesis. I didnt know that.

 You're right. My wording was poorly done. I didn't mean to imply that it is 100% or even close to that different. Catholic bibles have a few more books and the translations are obviously different in many cases as well, which is the primary difference among the other various bibles. Translation or interpretation from the aramaic, greek, jewish texts.

@superchunck - i found that part i was talking about. Its the epistle from James. Its Martin Luther that had a problem with, because this epistle goes against his teaching of "Sola Fide" (James mentions the importance of good works). Is this epistle in every protestant bible?

@marciosmg -- sorry I am not sure. If i am not mistaken most christian scholars would say good works is not necessary since that is what Paul/Saul taught; Only belief in Jesus is important.

With that, if the verse of James is there then this is just another example where one book of the bible contradicts the statements of another. Again, merely due to the fact that they were not originally supposed to be bound together as a single book.

That is not true superchunk. The book of James defines what true faith is. Salvation is only by Grace through faith, but James defines what that faith looks like. James states that faith without works is a dead faith, in other words non-existent. That does not contradict anything. It is merely the Bible defining itself. You need faith to be saved, and works are the evidence of that faith. You are not saved because you do good things, you do good things because you are saved.

@ kazadoom

Here are a couple of concrete contradicitons for you.

#1. Was Ahaziah 22 or 42 years old when he became king of Jerusalem?

2 Kings 8:25-26
In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign. Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 22:1-2
And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem.

#2. Was Jehoiachin 18 or 8 years old when he became king of Jerusalem ?

2 Kings 24:8
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 36:9
Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. 

And you still haven't answered whether you believe it's ok (or even a moral imperative) to kill someone who tries to convert a Jew/Christian/Muslim to a different religion, despite the fact that I've twice given you the chapter and verse (Deuteronomy 13:1-10). I even cut-and-pasted it for you! :)

Note that all quotes are from the King James Version, your preferred version.

@superchunk - i have been reading a bit on the subject and many scholars say that what James said is not a contradiction to what Paul said. I dont have time to do this now as i have to leave, but if you look it up on google or wikipedia (epistle of james), you´ll find what i am talking about. Thanks for all the information you gave me today.

P.S. - all this thing about contradictions in the bible (i mean in the new testament), seems to be because each was written to a specific group in mind, so they would emphasize different things and maybe that gives people an idea that is contradictory. But you know more this than me, because you have a degree on this, so i will just shut up now. Thanks again.

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