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Religion

2008-07-01 15:11:00

Can the Bible be contradictory?

Question: The Bible seems contradictory in several areas. For instance: 1) Jesus taught that people who would go to heaven (be saved) must become as little children (Matt 18:3-4 and 19:14; Mark 9:36-37 and 10:14-15; and Luke 18:15-17). But St. Paul wrote that maturity demands us to forsake the things of childhood (1 Cor 13:11). Also, 2) The Bible states that “Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11). But Jesus stated, some 900 years after Elijah’s time, that “none has ascended to heaven except the One who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man” (John 3:13). Can you explain these two instances, and then give an overall comment in regard to the Bible not being contradictory?

Answer: Being inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, Who is Truth and cannot contradict Himself, the Bible expresses truth. But the Holy Spirit used human authors to express the ideas He inspired. These men expressed that truth in words and phrases and terms familiar to them, as also we humans do when we speak and write. Although we know from early childhood that the sun does not move, that the earth revolves around the sun, we still use the words “sunrise” and “sunset.” To understand what a text is saying: it is necessary to read that text in it’s context. In regard to Jesus’ teaching about heaven being reserved for little children, Jesus was referring to those virtues or qualities commonly associated with children, e.g. openness to learning, obedience to parents and superiors, candid honesty, trustfulness, open to learning, welcoming strangers, simplicity, lovableness, innocence, faith and hope and charity, etc. Note Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:2: “Unless you change and become LIKE little children, you will not enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus means: “Unless you retain or acquire those virtues and qualities, you cannot enter heaven. Be childlike, but not childish!” Jesus is not encouraging silly childhood pranks, irresponsibility, immaturity, lying, and other vices characteristic of immature adults and also of some children, whose parents neglected to teach them correct manners. It is beautiful to see some of the virtues of childhood exhibited in elderly persons, who have lived worthy lives. The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these, God’s children. And in heaven they will remain forever young. Elijah’s death and ascension into heaven is a problem. Aware of the universality of death, a consequence of the original sin described in the first book of the Bible, the Jewish scribes insisted that Elijah must return to earth and die. Taking his clue from that opinion, Jesus applied it to John the Baptist. In Matthew 17:10-13 Jesus says: “‘Elijah is indeed coming, and he will restore everything. I assure you though, that Elijah has already come, but they did not recognize him, and they did as they pleased with him. The Son of Man will suffer at their hands in the same way.’ The disciples then realized that he had been speaking to them about John the Baptizer.” But John himself insisted: “I am not Elijah” (John 1:21). Recognizing this apparent contradiction, the Catholic Catechism says: “Going before Jesus ‘in the spirit and power of Elijah,’ John bears witness to Christ in his preaching, by his baptism of conversion, and through his martyrdom” (paragraph 523). We don’t know when or how Elijah died. But he did die before he entered heaven. The flaming horses and chariot, which took him up to heaven, symbolize God’s approval of Elijah’s ministry. Perhaps that great prophet expired in the chariot on the flight to heaven? Perhaps he returned to earth to die and (like Moses) was buried secretly? The Bible does not say. Before Jesus’ ascension, no one could enter into heaven. The saints of the Old Testament, including Elijah and the holy patriarchs and prophets, waited in some situation of natural peace and happiness: until Jesus opened the entrance to heaven, which had been closed since the fall of Adam and Eve in their original sin, which caused them to be expelled from paradise. And all these saints entered heaven along with Jesus (cf Micah 2:13): “With a leader to break the path, they shall burst open the gate and go through it; their King shall go through before them, and the Lord at their head.” Truth cannot contradict itself. But often there are various aspects of the one truth. Several persons may witness the same event, but each will describe it in his/her own fashion, adding or omitting details mentioned by other witnesses. Still other details, of interest to a later generation, will not have been recorded. At times, particularly as regards details mentioned in the Bible, the precise truth will be elusive. This is why we need the Church to help us understand the Word of God in the light of Tradition, as it was understood by those, whom Jesus and his disciples taught, namely the early Fathers and Writers accepted by the Church.