FtG (03/11/83)
You want to talk Biblical contradictions? Well, how about an error at the very beginning of the very first book of the New Testament. Matthew says there are fourteen generations from Abraham to David and from David to the Exile and from the Exile to Jesus. Try counting! The last group is only thirteen long! Also, it includes Joesph as Jesus's father and omits four Kings in the Davidic line. (So there are 18 from David to the Exile.) Not to mention its inconsistencies with the other Gospel genealogy. There are two interpretations: 1. Matthew was just playing a number game that is of no significance. The whole genealogy bit is just to justify to Jews that Jesus was of the Davidic line (and fulfill some prophecies). It is utterly unimportant as far as Christianity goes. 2. 13=14! or some such nonsense. (E.g., "mortals cannot divine the wisdom of God".) People who refuse to recognize this as an error/inconsistency are DANGEROUS and should be put away for their own good. No amount of "interpreting" will change the fact that fourteen are claimed but only thirteen given. An error occured somewhere, either originally or in translation, thereby proving that the Bible is not infallible. (While on the subject of "God inspires the translators, too." Then why is Joseph's coat of many FOLDS call a coat of many COLORS in the KJV?) FtG at Rochester