# What should we do with apparent Bible contradictions?

Document: study/contradictions

Trust the truthful God and read his Word carefully.

Topic: bible
Keywords: errors, inerrancy, Gospel harmony, discrepancies

## Starting answer

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Because God is truthful, we receive Scripture as truthful in what it affirms. Apparent conflicts call for careful reading of wording, context and genre. Different details are not necessarily incompatible claims, and a suggested reconciliation must not be dressed up as a demonstrated fact.

Basis: Titus 1:2; John 17:17; [R. C. Sproul · Ligonier Ministries — Difference and logical contradiction](https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/difference-or-contradiction)

## Reasoning 1

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Two accounts can select different details without denying each other.

Basis: [R. C. Sproul · Ligonier Ministries — Complementary accounts](https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/difference-or-contradiction)

## Reasoning 2

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A genuine contradiction affirms and denies the same thing in the same respect.

Basis: [R. C. Sproul · Ligonier Ministries — What counts as a contradiction](https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/difference-or-contradiction)

## Reasoning 3

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Our interpretation is accountable to Scripture, including clearer passages on the same subject.

Basis: [Westminster Assembly · OPC text — 1.9](https://opc.org/wcf.html)

## Conclusion

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Confidence in God's Word should produce patient attention to the text, not a willingness to invent details.

Basis: Acts 17:11; [R. C. Sproul · Ligonier Ministries — The truthfulness of inspired Scripture](https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/bible-errors)

## Compare the actual assertions

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As a reading exercise, note each passage's speaker, setting and explicit claim. Identify what you have inferred. Then state exactly why the two assertions would exclude each other. This applies the distinction between difference and contradiction.

Basis: [R. C. Sproul · Ligonier Ministries — Difference or Contradiction?](https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/difference-or-contradiction)

## Be honest about what you can establish

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A possible scenario may show that two statements could both be true. It does not establish that the scenario happened. If you cannot resolve a difficulty yet, say so while continuing to examine the text.

Basis: Proverbs 18:17; [Westminster Assembly · OPC text — 1.7–9](https://opc.org/wcf.html)

## Objection

Is harmonisation just making excuses?

## Reply

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It can become special pleading if it ignores the wording. But examining complementary perspectives is legitimate. The proposed explanation must respect what the passages actually assert.

Basis: [R. C. Sproul · Ligonier Ministries — Complementary testimony and contradiction](https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/difference-or-contradiction)

## Scope and limits

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Our inability to answer a particular challenge is not itself proof of an error in Scripture. Nor is our confidence permission to call an unsupported reconstruction certain.

Basis: [R. C. Sproul · Ligonier Ministries — God's truthfulness](https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/bible-errors); Proverbs 18:17

## Conversation starter · editorial application

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Which two statements do you think cannot both be true, and what does each say in context?

Basis: Proverbs 18:13-17

## Read in Scripture

- Luke 1:1-4: Luke's stated purpose
- John 17:17: God's Word is truth

Related studies: scripture, resurrection, manuscripts

## Sources and their limits

### Difference or Contradiction? [sproul-differences]

R. C. Sproul · Ligonier Ministries · Reformed exposition

[Read source](https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/difference-or-contradiction)

For distinguishing genuinely incompatible assertions from complementary accounts. A possible reconciliation must not be presented as a demonstrated historical event.

### Does the Bible Have Errors? [sproul-inerrancy]

R. C. Sproul · Ligonier Ministries · Reformed exposition

[Read source](https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/bible-errors)

For the truthfulness of Scripture because its divine author is truthful. This is distinct from claiming that every copy, translation or proposed interpretation is error-free.

### Westminster Confession of Faith [wcf]

Westminster Assembly · OPC text · Reformed confession

[Read source](https://opc.org/wcf.html)

Our subordinate doctrinal standard for these guides. Citations specify chapter and paragraph. Scripture judges the confession itself (1.10); the confession does not replace Scripture.

## Connected documents

- [editorial/library](editorial-library.md)
- [source/sproul-differences](source-sproul-differences.md)
- [source/sproul-inerrancy](source-sproul-inerrancy.md)
- [source/wcf](source-wcf.md)
- [study/manuscripts](study-manuscripts.md)
- [study/resurrection](study-resurrection.md)
- [study/scripture](study-scripture.md)
- [topic/bible](topic-bible.md)