19 Apostle Paul says it’s good to be unmarried!

Now Mr. Genesis vs Mr. Paul

                Genesis says:
                It was not good for Adam to be alone, that is, without a mate 


Hold on there! 

The Apostle Paul says:
It’s good to stay unmarried 

In the beginning, the Book of Genesis says that God made a suitable companion for Adam 

Genesis 2:18 It is not good for the man [Adam] to be alone. I will make a suitable companion to help him. ... 22 He formed a woman out of the [man’s] rib and brought her to him. 

But in the New Testament letter Corinthians, Paul says that it’s good to stay unmarried 

1 Corinthians 7:8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am.

Recap: Does the Bible say that men and women deserve to have a mate or not? Thus Genesis vs Paul. 

18 Does everyone really share Adam’s sin

It’s Mr. Paul vs Mr. Ezekiel

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul says: 
That everybody is a sinner since they share Adam’s sin (Adam ate the forbidden fruit)


But wait! 

In the Old Testament, God says:
That the son doesn’t share the guilt of the father!

In the New Testament letter Romans, Paul blames Adam for eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. And thereby Adam made sinners of everyone else

Romans 5:19 Through the disobedience of the one man [Adam] the many were made sinners.

But centuries before Paul, God declares that the children don’t share the guilt of the fathers

Ezekiel 18:20 The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. 

Deuteronomy 24:16 Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.

Recap: Paul (mid first century AD) says everybody shares the sin of Adam, the first man. But the Old Testament has already said that the descendants don't share the guilt of the fathers. Thus Paul vs Ezekiel.

Related post:
50 Which one would you blame: God or garden snake 

17 Does just God commend and not man

Yet again Paul vs Paul 


                In the New Testament, Paul says:
                Only the Lord commends 


Wait now!


                 In the New Testament,
                 Paul murmurs that:
                 He ought to have been commended by fellow believers 

In 2 Corinthians, Paul (mid first century AD) teaches that only the Lord may commend

2 Corinthians 10:18 It is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

But in 2 Corinthians, too, Paul does an about-face and writes that fellow believers should have commended him

2 Corinthians 12:11 I ought to have been commended by you [Corinthians], for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.

Recap: Paul says that only the Lord should commend. Yet Paul wants other Christians to commend him. It sounds as if he should follow his own teachings about who may commend. Thus Paul vs Paul.

Related post:
15 Does Paul think he's the least of the apostles

16 Does Paul seriously teach to bless your foes

It's another Mr. Paul vs Mr. Paul

                Paul (mid first century) writes:
                Bless those who persecute you.

But hold on!

Paul also says:
The Lord will get the guy who persecuted him.


Paul says in his New Testament letter to the Romans:

Do not curse those who persecute you

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

But then he writes in 2 Timothy, also a New Testament letter by him:

Not to worry about those who cross you, the Lord will get them good for it

2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.

Recap: Paul preached forgiveness, but he sought the opposite for his opponents.

15 Does Paul think he's the least of the apostles

Paul vs Paul again

In the New Testament letter 1 Corinthians, by Paul (AD 55), Paul says he feels he shouldn’t be called an apostle 

1 Corinthians 15:9 I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

And in the New Testament letter Ephesians, also by Paul (AD 61), he says he’s the least among God's people 

Ephesians 3:8 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

But in 2 Corinthians (AD 56), Paul says he feels equal to the worthiest of the apostles 

2 Corinthians 11:5 I [Paul] do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.

Recap: So, does he look upon himself as unfit to be an apostle, or does he look upon himself as equal to those of highest rank?

Related post:

17 Does just God commend and not man

14 Can Moses' Law from God make you righteous

Mr. Paul vs Mr. Paul again

In a New Testament letter, Paul teaches:
You’re declared righteous by obeying the Law of Moses


 But hold it!

In the same letter Paul teaches:
That nobody will be declared righteous by obeying the Law of Moses


Paul says you can be righteous through obedience to Old Testament Law

Romans 2:13 It is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

But later Paul turns around and says you can't be righteous through your observance of the same Law

Romans 3:20 No one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Recap: Say what, Paul?

Look it up:
Romans 2:13 and
Romans 3:20

13 When did God command to make burnt offerings

Book of Jeremiah vs Book of Exodus

In the Book of Jeremiah, God says he didn't ever command the people to make burnt offerings to him


But hold on!


In the Book of Exodus, God gave commands to make burnt offerings in plenty

In the Old Testament, Jeremiah the prophet says God didn't give commands to make burnt offerings before

Jeremiah 7:22 I gave your ancestors no commands about burnt offerings or any other kinds of sacrifices when I brought them out of Egypt.

But in the Old Testament book Exodus, God gave numerous commands for burnt offerings when the Hebrews came out of Egypt and well before Jeremiah.  

In passages in Exodus God commands burnt offerings

Exodus 10:24 The king called Moses and said, "You may go and worship the LORD; even your women and children may go with you. But your sheep, goats, and cattle must stay here." 25 Moses answered, "Then you would have to provide us with animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings to offer to the Lord our God.” 

Exodus 20:24 Make an altar of earth for me, and on it sacrifice your sheep and your cattle as offerings to be completely burned and as fellowship offerings. In every place that I set aside for you to worship me, I will come to you and bless you.

Recap: Commentators may say the Jeremiah verse to “make burnt offerings” is supposed to be a deliberate irony. But it's a hard sell to other Biblicists that complain of its difficulty.

12 Did Jesus say love others but hate your family

          Here's John vs Luke

                  In the Gospel of John:
                  Jesus commands his followers
                  to love one another.

But wait a sec!

In the Gospel of Luke:
Jesus commands his followers
                  to hate their family.



The Gospel of John says to love one another

John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

But the Gospel of Luke says hate your family and your life

Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple."

The Greek word for “hate” there, means to detest or to reject. Now it’s not really very nice to oblige people to feel that way about their family much more hate their life.

Related post:
06 Does Jesus turn the family against itself

11 So tell me, is it easy to follow Jesus

Mr. Matthew vs Mr. Paul

The Gospel of Matthew says:

That following Jesus will be easy.

Hold on!

In the New Testament letter 2 Timothy, by Paul, Paul writes (mid first century):

That every believer will be persecuted.

Jesus says that it’s easy to follow him

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest, 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

But Paul says it's a hardship to follow Jesus

2 Timothy 3:12 Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Recap: Jesus and Paul send opposing messages. Thus Matthew vs Paul.

10 So, will the earth last forever

 

An Old Testament Psalm tells us:

That the earth remains forever.

 

Just a sec!

 

A different Psalm says:

The earth will perish.

Psalm 78 says that the earth will be forever

Psalm 78:69 He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever.

Ecclesiastes 1:4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.

But Psalm 102 says that the earth will perish

Psalm 102:25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.

Recap: So the earth will last forever, sort of. Thus Psalm vs Psalm.