Breaking Free Ministries USA
Scriptures: Do They Contradict Themselves?
by James Swinton
There are many scriptures that appear to contradict themselves. Let us see if this is correct?
Scriptures Have Three Applications
* Historical: It could be either past, present, or future.
* Spiritual: All scriptures can be applied spiritual or practical in our daily life.
* Doctrinal: Major teaching of the Bible such as Salvation [works (law) or no works (grace); Holy
Spirit Baptism or both; tithing or free will offerings or both.
“Rightly Dividing” Clears Assumed Contradictions
All scriptures are spoken to God’s people who were under the “law,” and those under “grace” (II
Timothy 3:16). “Study to shew thyself approved of God, a workman needs no be ashamed, rightly
dividing the Word of Truth.” (II Timothy 2:15 KJV). The key words here are “rightly dividing.” What
do these words means? The Greek word for dividing (3718) is “orthotomeo” means to make straight cut...
to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message). [Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, (Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Word Publishing), 1986]
“II Tim. 2:15 explains how God’s workman may get the most out of the Bible, while II Tim. 3:16 declares
that all of it indeed profitable when ‘rightly divided,’ but when wrongly divided or not divided at all, the
truth is changed into a lie and becomes most unprofitable.”[Cornelius Stam, Things That Differs,
(Stevens Point, Wisconsin: Worzalla Publishing), 1985, p 15]
“To help us rightly divide Scriptures [doctrinally] we should ask these questions:
(1) WHO is this particular book, chapter or verse talking to? A nation, an individual or a certain group
of people.
(2) WHEN is the period of time: before or after the Resurrection of Christ, during the Tribulation or
Millennium?
(3) WHAT is the context (main subject) of the chapter or verse, and what dispensation does that place it
in?” [Bread of Life Bible Study Course Vol 1 by Chaplain Ted L. Warmack. Bible Believer's Outreach,
9835 Woodlands Way, Tallahassee, FL 32309).
After answering these questions and rightly dividing the Word of Truth, you will find that these assumed
contradictions are not contradictions. Here are a few of those contradictions (those scriptures found in
the gospels and the O. T. refers to the people of Israel under law and those scriptures in Paul’s epistles
refer to the Church, the Body of Christ under grace):
(1) Forgive others in order to be forgiven (Matt. 6:12,14,15 vs forgive because Christ has already forgiven
us (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13).
(2) Love enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them which
despitefully use you that ye may be children of God (Matt. 5:44,45) vs by faith in Jesus ye are all the
children of God (Gal. 3:26).
(3) By works a man is justified (Js.2:24-26) vs to him that works not his faith is counted for righteousness
(Rom. 4:5).
(4) Mercy is received by being merciful (Ps. 18:25) vs mercy is received by grace (Eph. 2:4,5; Titus 3:5).
(5) Christ told the little flock to “sell all” and “give alms” (Luke 12:33, which was obeyed - Acts 2:44,45,
4:32-35 - they now had all things in common) vs parents should “lay up” - have a saving for their
children and provide for them (II Cor. 12:14; I Tim. 5:8).
(6) If our righteousness don’t exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, we won’t be in the
Kingdom of God (Matt. 5:20 [this makes ##salvation conditional] vs we are saved through faith - it is the
gift of God (Eph. 2:8,9); no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by observing the law (Rom. 3:
20).
(7) Christ commanded His disciples don’t carry money to provide for their expenses when they preached
the gospel to the Gentiles (Luke 10:4,9) but now He said provide for your own expenses (Luke 22:35-36
Conclusion
According to II Timothy 2:15 (KJV) you will be “ashamed” if you don’t rightly divide God’s Word -
applying His Word to you that is meant for someone else. Not all Scriptures should be applied to us
doctrinally because God has different doctrines and plans for those under law (Israel) and us under grace
(the church today).
REFERENCE
Stam, Cornelius R. Things That Differ: The Fundamentals of Dispensationalism.
www.beareanbiblesociety,org
Note: If this article has been of any help to you, please e-mail me. I would appreciate it very much.
God bless you,
James
There are many scriptures that appear to contradict themselves. Let us see if this is correct?
Scriptures Have Three Applications
* Historical: It could be either past, present, or future.
* Spiritual: All scriptures can be applied spiritual or practical in our daily life.
* Doctrinal: Major teaching of the Bible such as Salvation [works (law) or no works (grace); Holy
Spirit Baptism or both; tithing or free will offerings or both.
“Rightly Dividing” Clears Assumed Contradictions
All scriptures are spoken to God’s people who were under the “law,” and those under “grace” (II
Timothy 3:16). “Study to shew thyself approved of God, a workman needs no be ashamed, rightly
dividing the Word of Truth.” (II Timothy 2:15 KJV). The key words here are “rightly dividing.” What
do these words means? The Greek word for dividing (3718) is “orthotomeo” means to make straight cut...
to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message). [Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, (Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Word Publishing), 1986]
“II Tim. 2:15 explains how God’s workman may get the most out of the Bible, while II Tim. 3:16 declares
that all of it indeed profitable when ‘rightly divided,’ but when wrongly divided or not divided at all, the
truth is changed into a lie and becomes most unprofitable.”[Cornelius Stam, Things That Differs,
(Stevens Point, Wisconsin: Worzalla Publishing), 1985, p 15]
“To help us rightly divide Scriptures [doctrinally] we should ask these questions:
(1) WHO is this particular book, chapter or verse talking to? A nation, an individual or a certain group
of people.
(2) WHEN is the period of time: before or after the Resurrection of Christ, during the Tribulation or
Millennium?
(3) WHAT is the context (main subject) of the chapter or verse, and what dispensation does that place it
in?” [Bread of Life Bible Study Course Vol 1 by Chaplain Ted L. Warmack. Bible Believer's Outreach,
9835 Woodlands Way, Tallahassee, FL 32309).
After answering these questions and rightly dividing the Word of Truth, you will find that these assumed
contradictions are not contradictions. Here are a few of those contradictions (those scriptures found in
the gospels and the O. T. refers to the people of Israel under law and those scriptures in Paul’s epistles
refer to the Church, the Body of Christ under grace):
(1) Forgive others in order to be forgiven (Matt. 6:12,14,15 vs forgive because Christ has already forgiven
us (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13).
(2) Love enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them which
despitefully use you that ye may be children of God (Matt. 5:44,45) vs by faith in Jesus ye are all the
children of God (Gal. 3:26).
(3) By works a man is justified (Js.2:24-26) vs to him that works not his faith is counted for righteousness
(Rom. 4:5).
(4) Mercy is received by being merciful (Ps. 18:25) vs mercy is received by grace (Eph. 2:4,5; Titus 3:5).
(5) Christ told the little flock to “sell all” and “give alms” (Luke 12:33, which was obeyed - Acts 2:44,45,
4:32-35 - they now had all things in common) vs parents should “lay up” - have a saving for their
children and provide for them (II Cor. 12:14; I Tim. 5:8).
(6) If our righteousness don’t exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, we won’t be in the
Kingdom of God (Matt. 5:20 [this makes ##salvation conditional] vs we are saved through faith - it is the
gift of God (Eph. 2:8,9); no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by observing the law (Rom. 3:
20).
(7) Christ commanded His disciples don’t carry money to provide for their expenses when they preached
the gospel to the Gentiles (Luke 10:4,9) but now He said provide for your own expenses (Luke 22:35-36
Conclusion
According to II Timothy 2:15 (KJV) you will be “ashamed” if you don’t rightly divide God’s Word -
applying His Word to you that is meant for someone else. Not all Scriptures should be applied to us
doctrinally because God has different doctrines and plans for those under law (Israel) and us under grace
(the church today).
REFERENCE
Stam, Cornelius R. Things That Differ: The Fundamentals of Dispensationalism.
www.beareanbiblesociety,org
Note: If this article has been of any help to you, please e-mail me. I would appreciate it very much.
God bless you,
James
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