 What if... ? ◦ North on Hwy 29 ◦ West on Hwy 48 ◦ “Stay in the right lane on 29 and when you see the sign for Hwy 48 go right, and then” Hwy 48 Hwy 29 N S W E

 Aim: How do we deal with Scripture passages that appear to be contradictory? ◦ Who wrote the Scriptures? ◦ What is the nature of God?  I Thessalonians 2:13  John 10:35  Proverbs 8:8,9  Point 1: Since God is Truthful, there can be no real contradictions in his book.

 Proverbs 8:8,9 “to the discerning, to those who have knowledge,” ◦ Study the “problem”  Matthew 21:7 & Mark 11:1-7  I Corinthians 10:8 & Numbers 24:9 ◦ No true contradictions  Point 2: Study passages that seem contradictory to see if a solution can be found.

 When a satisfactory answer can’t be found... ? ◦ Rule 1 in Bible interpretation – Stick to the plain meaning of the words.  Romans 11:33 ◦ God’s wisdom vs. our wisdom  Trinity, Lord’s Supper...  When two clear passages seem contradictory even after much study...

 The nature of Jesus ◦ Luke 3:23, Matt. 24:36, Matt. 8:24, Mark 15:44,45  30 years, didn’t know when world would end, slept, died ◦ John 17:5, John 21:17, Psalm 121:4, I Timothy 1:17  Older than world, knew everything, never sleeps, can’t die  Contradiction? Solutions?

 When two clear passages seem contradictory even after much study...  Point 3: believe both of them without twisting either one, and ◦ Romans 11:33-36 praise God for his mysterious Wisdom.

 Avoid Jumping to Conclusions ◦ John 21:22 ◦ 2 Peter 2:3, 8-9  Aristotle ◦ “That the same thing should at the same time both be and not be for the same person and in the same respect is impossible.”  Matthew 20:29-34 & Mark 10:46-52  Old Covenant and New Covenant  Matthew 11:28 & Hebrews 4:8 (KVJ)