Dueling Verses
Dueling Verses
Colossians 3:16 or 1 Timothy 2:11-15
A new Christian can be confused when someone points out what appears to be contradictions in the Bible. They have been led to believe that the Scriptures are inspired, an accurate record of God providing salvation in Jesus to all who believe in Him (2 Tim 3:16-17). So, when apparent mistakes are pointed out by critics, new believers can be distraught and their faith takes a punch in the gut.
Dueling Accounts: Matthew and Luke Regarding Judas’ Death
Recently I had a discussion with an immigrant to the USA. He asserted that Christianity was false for many reasons. He claimed to be an expert in the New Testament, though, ironically, he had never actually read it. His teacher from his homeland had told him that the New Testament could not be trusted because there were conflicting accounts of Judas’ death. I was well-aware of the apparent contradiction between Matthew’s account of Judas’ demise and Luke’s account of Judas’s death in Acts 1.
Luke tells us that Judas died because he fell headlong and all his innards spilled out (Acts 1:18). But when Matthew records Judas’ death, we read that he went out and hanged himself (Matthew 27:5). Is Luke correct about Judas’ death? Did Judas fall headlong to his death? Or, is Matthew’s version correct? Did Judas commit suicide by hanging himself?
So, I showed him how the two accounts, though somewhat contradictory at first glance, were, in fact, both correct and non-contradictory. He was not really interested in my explanation. His mind was already made up, regardless of what the evidence showed.
I had an answer to his criticism. But most folks, I’m sure, are unprepared to provide a quick or reasonable answer. This is just one example of how Luke’s portrayal of an event does not jive with Matthew’s record of the same event.
Dueling Accounts in Galatians: To Carry or Not to Carry the Burden
One of the more well-known apparent contradictions can be seen when we compare Galatians 6:2 and 6:5. The first verse urges us to carry other people’s burdens because when we do, we fulfill the law of Christ. But a few verses later in the same chapter, 6:5, urges us to carry our own burdens. Which verse is correct?
Dueling Accounts: To Circumcise or Not to Circumcise?
Here’s another apparent contradiction. Paul circumcised Timothy in Acts 16:3, but in his letter to the Galatians, he wrote that if any of the believers allowed themselves to be circumcised, Christ would be of no value to them and they would be obligated to obey the whole law (5:3). Paul’s practice in Acts and Paul’s words in Galatians appear to contradict each other. Which verse is correct?
Dueling Accounts: Women, to Remain Silent or to Speak?
In 1 Timothy 2:11, Paul wrote that women should be “silent” when teaching was going on. But a few verses earlier in the same chapter (2:2), Paul used the same exact word for “silent” and wrote that all Christians are supposed to lead “silent” lives. Does that mean that all believers should stop talking and simply lip-sync? How are men supposed to pray, then, since he teaches them to pray in public worship with their hands up and without anger and arguing (2:8)? What is the correct practice? What did Paul mean by “silent”?
Dueling Accounts: To Love or Not to Love?
The apostle John asserts that God loved the world so much that He gave His unique Son to that world (John 3:16). But the same John commanded believers not to love the world: “Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15
It sure sounds like a contradiction: we are being taught by John not do what the Father actually did: to love the world.
Dueling Accounts: Women, Teach or Not to Teach?
Another example of a contradiction between two passages that appear to say opposite things is Colossians 3:16, written by Paul to a congregation in the 50’s (1st century) and 1 Timothy 2:11-12, written by Paul to his emissary in the Ephesian church in the early 60’s. That period is a minimum of a 3-4-year gap, perhaps even more. As you read the two passages, look for the apparent contradiction:
Colossians 3:16-17
Let the word/message about Christ {in the Scriptures} take up permanent residence in you all (the “you” is plural in Greek, referring to all the believers) richly. Use the word about Christ as you all {men and women} teach and admonish each other, using wisdom to guide your efforts. Use the word/message about Christ in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs as you all sing with grace in your (plural) hearts to God!
Let every detail and action and decision in your (plural) lives—your talking, your words, your actions, everything—be done in the name (under the authority) of the Lord Jesus, through him, giving thanks to God the Father.
Paul teaches us in Colossians 3:16 that men and women have the responsibility to take a Christo-centric approach to Scripture (“the word about Christ, the word spoken by Christ”), beginning with Genesis 1—Rev. 22, and use those words to teach and admonish each other. The translation, “Let the word about Christ dwell in you all” seems to provide Paul’s permission to do so. But, Paul’s phrase is an imperative in the Greek New Testament, that is to say, a command, not an option. Paul commands all the believers to have “the word about Christ” take up permanent resident in them, qualifying and preparing them to go about teaching and admonishing each other.
Rather than using the non-authoritative verb such as “to speak,” or “to talk,” Paul intentionally employed two authoritative verbs—"teaching and admonishing.” His choice of authoritative verbs was not accidental, but overt and deliberate. These same two verbs “teach and admonish” are the exact terms Paul used to describe his own authoritative, apostolic activity earlier in Colossians 1:28. “Teach and admonish every person” refers to his Christ-given apostolic authority to communicate biblical truth.
Now in 3:16, Paul gives his own authority to Christian men and women to teach and admonish one another with the words about Christ, the words spoken by Christ, and the words which point us to Christ. Paul’s instructions are written to the entire congregation.
Paul says something similar to Corinthian believers (14:26): “When you all assemble together, each of you has a psalm, a teaching…” (Hebrews 5:12; “by this time, you all ought to be teachers”). “And what you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, the same commit to faithful people {generic word for people, not males} who will be able to teach others as well.” 2 Tim 2:2.
But now observe how Paul seems to contradict himself when writing about women and teaching.
1 Timothy 2:11-12
A woman must learn in silence and full submission. I am not permitting a woman to teach or have authority over a man; instead, she is to be silent.
The contradictions between Paul in Colossians 3:16-17 and Paul in 1 Timothy 2:11-12 are self-evident in the English translations of the Bible (in post-WW2 English translations). In the first passage, Paul commands all men and women to use the Scriptures, “the word about Christ,” to teach and admonish each other, not simply to speak or talk to one another. But in the second passage, it appears that Paul forbids a woman from doing exactly what he ordered (yes, it is a command) women to do in Colossians 3:16.
So, what are we to do when we encounter these dueling verses? Which passage, Colossians 3:16 or 1 Timothy 2:11-12, should be our trump card?
Look Behind the English Translations
There are many more apparent contradictions in the Bible. But not to fear, there is always a way through the icebergs on both sides of the ship. Often, we must look behind the English translations to observe the author’s precise meaning. For example, Bible translations of 1 Timothy 2:11-12 prior to WW2 (1940’s) read differently than the translations we have today in the 21st century. Translators today have radically changed the way they interpret Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 2:11-12. When these types of changes occur, we need to go back to the original Greek text and uncover what the apostle Paul actually wrote.
Which Passage is Clearest?
We also examine passages carefully to ascertain which of the two is clearest, the most unambiguous, and which one is supported by other Scriptures.
Which Passage Contains the Fewest Number of Uncertainties?
Finally, we must determine which passage contains the fewest number of uncertainties or problems pertaining to the precise meaning of the words or phrases. For example, the Greek phrase in 1 Timothy 2:12, translated in today’s English Bibles as “to have authority over” or “to exercise authority” is never used in the entire Bible (either in the Greek Old Testament or Greek New Testament) other than here in 1 Timothy 2:12. The standard Greek word for “exercise authority” that Paul uses many times in his other epistles (such as in Romans 13:1-2) was intentionally not used because it did not communicate his intended meaning. But on the surface in the English translations, the phrase “exercise authority” appears to be straight-forward, normal, and problem-free. But the appearance is deceiving. Why did Paul intentionally use a term NOT found elsewhere in Scripture? What did this rare word mean to listeners in a first century context?
This Sunday morning (11/27/22) at Redeemer Bible Church, we’ll tackle the apparent contradictions between Paul’s commands in Colossians 3:16 and in 1 Timothy 2:11-12. We’ll sail between the two icebergs on either side and hopefully stay afloat.
Thank you for reading.