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Contradiction or Context

Scripture Reading: Acts 11.1-18

Contradiction is such a harsh word. It has no wiggle room in it. It speaks of something amiss. The word contradiction is used in the NKJV Bible one time and that in Hebrews 7.7. The word that is translated contradiction in this passage is used a total of 4 times and it translates the Greek word antilogia. It takes little imagination to see that word is made up of two words, the first being anti and the second word very much akin to logos or logic. Literally the word means to speak against or to oppose by words.

Over the years, thousands of Bible contradictions have been alleged. There have been scores of books written explaining these alleged contradictions. However, the Bible critic frequently will allude to contradictions as though they are real and numerous. Such is hardly the case. Strangely enough many so called contradictions can be settled right in the context if it is read with unbiased eyes. Like many other things however, one has to want to resolve these issues before it can be done. We will look at a prime example of that in today’s devotional.

First, however, we will define when a contradiction actually exists. An actual contradiction exists when there is no possible way that the facts of a particular case can be reconciled. A contradiction does not necessarily exist because I do not know the answer to a difficulty. A contradiction does not necessarily exist because none of my acquaintances is able to provide an answer to a difficulty. A contradiction does not necessarily exist because there are no known reference works which provide a resolution to the problem at hand. Checkmate does not really exist just because I fail to see an escape route for my opponent’s king. It does not exist if a thousand experts fail to see an escape route for my opponent’s king. Checkmate exists when there is no escape route! The same holds true for contradictions. A real contradiction exists when there is no possible way to reconcile the facts of the case.

Now we turn to a specific verse and what might otherwise be seen as a contradiction. “When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.’” (Acts 11.18). How is it that the people being referred to became silent and also spoke? Actually the context will provide the answer to this little riddle. Peter had been called on the carpet for going to the household of Cornelius. The Jews in Judea wanted to know why he had done such a thing. In response to their challenge, Peter offered positive proof that God sanctioned his presence and mission at the house of Cornelius. The case was ironclad that Peter had every right to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. And the evidence was such that his critics also knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he had acted properly in going to the house of Cornelius and converting them though the preaching of the gospel.

When Peter’s critics saw that they did not have a leg to stand on, they became silent, that is, they quit speaking against him as they had previously. Rather, they spoke in support of his work and rejoiced in the conversion of the Gentiles. Their silence was the silence of the opposition, not of words in general. Contradiction or context? Generally the context provides the answer!

Questions for Discussion:

1. What is a contradiction? Why is the discussion of alleged Bible contradictions important?

2. Is it possible for one to be absolutely silent and yet talkative at the same time? Is it possible for one to be silent about a specific topic and talkative about another?

3. In the context of Acts 11, how significant was the Jew’s opposition to the Gentiles becoming Christians?

4. What caused the Jews in Acts 11 to silence their opposition and to speak out glorifying God?

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

The Mantle