📖 Passage
“The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” — Psalm 119:160
🧠 Context & Background
Skeptics often accuse the Bible of contradicting itself. However, these supposed contradictions typically stem from:
- Misunderstanding context
- Ignoring genre and audience
- Expecting robotic uniformity from human authors inspired over time
The Bible is one unified story, authored by many yet inspired by one Holy Spirit.
“The diversity of Scripture does not undermine its unity; rather, it enriches it. God, in His providence, chose to communicate through a variety of voices and genres to deliver a coherent, trustworthy message of redemption.” — Andreas J. Köstenberger, Biblical Scholar
This understanding helps us approach apparent contradictions not as threats, but as invitations to deeper study, trusting that truth harmonizes with itself.
🌿 Key Themes
- Apparent contradictions often vanish when context and grammar are considered.
- The Bible is both divinely inspired and written by humans, producing complementary perspectives.
- Presuppositions matter: those who assume the Bible must contradict itself will read it that way.
- Scripture interprets Scripture — difficult passages become clearer in light of the whole Bible.
- Genre and audience awareness guard us from flattening poetic, historical, or prophetic texts.
- We must recognize the type of literature (genre) and original audience in each passage to interpret it correctly. Otherwise, we risk treating all parts of the Bible the same way — which leads to misunderstanding.
- The Bible’s historical reliability and textual consistency surpass any other ancient document.
- Jesus and the apostles affirmed the total trustworthiness of all Scripture.
- Unity-in-diversity is a mark of divine authorship — many voices, one message.
📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Psalm 119:160 – The Word in Total Is Truth
“The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”
- The phrase “the sum of your word” emphasizes that Scripture’s truth is holistic, not piecemeal. God's Word is consistent when interpreted in full.
- The Hebrew term implies completeness—Scripture must be understood in its entire scope, not isolated soundbites.
- This verse provides the theological foundation for resolving apparent contradictions: the Bible is unified because it reflects the nature of its Author.
2 Timothy 3:16 – Scripture Is God-Breathed
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
- The Greek word theopneustos (God-breathed) affirms that Scripture originates from God Himself, not from human imagination or invention.
- Because God is perfect and truthful, His Word carries the same attributes (cf. Titus 1:2; Psalm 12:6).
- Apparent contradictions reflect our limited understanding, not defects in divine revelation.
John 10:35 – Scripture Cannot Be Broken
“Scripture cannot be broken.”
- Jesus here references a single word from Psalm 82, grounding His argument in precise language, affirming even the smallest part of the Word is binding.
- The phrase “cannot be broken” means it is authoritative, unified, and indestructible.
- Jesus affirms the total reliability of Scripture—no part can be dismissed or contradicted by another.
Proverbs 26:4–5 – Apparent Contradiction, Actual Wisdom
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.”
- This well-known pair demonstrates contextual discernment, not contradiction.
- Verse 4 warns against descending to the fool’s level—engaging may degrade you.
- Verse 5 instructs that silence may embolden folly, so rebuke is sometimes necessary.
- These verses model situational wisdom—a hallmark of Proverbs—not conflicting commands.
🧩 Review Questions
- What are some common causes of perceived contradictions in the Bible?
- How does Jesus’ view of Scripture shape how we should view it today?
- Why is it important to compare Scripture with Scripture when studying difficult passages?
- How do Psalm 119:160, 2 Timothy 3:16, and John 10:35 affirm the unity and authority of the Bible?
- What does the example in Proverbs 26:4–5 teach us about contextual wisdom rather than contradiction?
🔍 Definitions
- Contradiction: Two statements that cannot both be true in the same sense at the same time.
- Harmonization: The process of comparing Scripture passages to clarify meaning without denying truth.
- Holistic: Looking at the whole picture, not just isolated parts. In Bible study, a holistic view of truth means understanding Scripture as a unified message, where each verse fits into the bigger story of God’s revelation — not just interpreting verses in isolation.
- Folly: Foolishness or lack of wisdom, especially in rejecting God’s truth. In Scripture, folly is not just intellectual error but moral and spiritual blindness — choosing sin, pride, or self-reliance over the fear of the Lord (cf. Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 14:1).
🙋 Application Questions
- Have you ever encountered a passage that seemed contradictory?
- How should you respond when someone confronts you with a supposed Bible contradiction?
- How can deeper study increase your confidence in God’s Word?
🔤 Greek Keywords (with Simple Explanations)
- Theopneustos (θεόπνευστος) – “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16), showing divine origin of Scripture.
- Aletheia (ἀλήθεια) – “Truth”; not just factual, but trustworthy and dependable (cf. John 17:17).
📚 Cross References
Psalm 19:7–9 – “The law of the Lord is perfect… the testimony of the Lord is sure… the commandment of the Lord is pure…” - God’s Word is described as flawless, trustworthy, and illuminating, reflecting its divine origin and authority.
Luke 24:27 – “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” - Jesus presents the Bible as a unified story centered on Himself, not a disconnected set of moral sayings.
2 Peter 1:20–21 – “No prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” - Scripture did not originate in human ideas but is Spirit-directed truth through human authors.
Matthew 5:18 – “Not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” - Jesus affirms the enduring authority of every detail of God’s Word until its complete fulfillment.