Contradictions

Theology

questions

126

Questions where the tension is one of Theology — 126 in all.

Showing 121–126 of 126

• Scholarly consensus: Genuinely disputed among scholars

  Did Jesus lay down his life for friends or enemies?

  The tension: John 15:13 and 10:11 describe Jesus laying down his life for his friends (philoi) and for the sheep — the in-group, the disciples, those who love him.

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• Scholarly consensus: Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction

  Are reward and punishment bestowed in this world?

  The tension: Proverbs 11:31 declares that the righteous are recompensed in the earth — "much more the wicked and the sinner." The traditional Deuteronomic-Wisdom theology u…

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• Scholarly consensus: Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction

  Is annihilation or endless misery the portion of manking?

  The tension: Job 3, Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10, and Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 articulate a thoroughgoing annihilationist anthropology — the dead know nothing, all go to dust, man has…

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• Scholarly consensus: Leans toward reconciliation

  Is the Christian yoke easy?

  The tension: Matthew 11:28-30 has Jesus offering rest to the weary — his yoke is easy (chrestos) and his burden is light (elaphron).

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• Scholarly consensus: Leans toward a genuine contradiction

  Is prophecy a sure thing?

  The tension: 2 Peter 1:19 calls the prophetic word more sure (bebaioteron) — a lamp shining in a dark place that the faithful do well to heed.

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• Scholarly consensus: Genuinely disputed among scholars

  Are miracles proof of divine mission?

  The tension: Matthew 11:2-5 has Jesus point to his miracles — blind seeing, lame walking, lepers cleansed, deaf hearing, dead raised — as the answer to John the Baptist's q…

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