Why does the bible passages conflict sometimes? (punishment, Torah, gospel)

[GodLovesUs]

Can anyone tell me why there are passages that conflict in the Bible?
Example:

One verse says "An eye for an eye"

One verse would say Love one another as you love yourself


Any other conflicting verses are welcome. Thanks for your opinions

God Bless

[jewscout]

Originally Posted by GodLovesUs

Can anyone tell me why there are passages that conflict in the Bible?
Example:

One verse says "An eye for an eye"

One verse would say Love one another as you love yourself


Any other conflicting verses are welcome. Thanks for your opinions

God Bless

well the verse talking about an eye for an eye really means that the punishment should fit the crime and shouldn't be over the top.

[GodLovesUs]

Originally Posted by jewscout

well the verse talking about an eye for an eye really means that the punishment should fit the crime and shouldn't be over the top.

If we should love one another shouldn't we just forgive the offender and not retaliate or punish the offender?

[jewscout]

Originally Posted by GodLovesUs

If we should love one another shouldn't we just forgive the offender and not retaliate or punish the offender?

again i think that some of the contradictions are going to come between the Tanach (the Christian OT) and the Gospels and writings of the Apostles (the Christian NT)
The Torah is alot of legal information and the verse dealing w/ "An eye for an eye" is discussing judicial issues of trials and court punishments.
To show respect to your fellow and to care about people is a message found in both scriptures, but the Torah does talk about dealing with those guilty of crimes.

loving and caring for everyone is one thing, but we should establish rule of law which all people should live under, and those who break the law must be tried and, if found guilty, given an appropriate punishment for their crime.

[sushannah]

Originally Posted by GodLovesUs

Can anyone tell me why there are passages that conflict in the Bible?
Example:

One verse says "An eye for an eye"

One verse would say Love one another as you love yourself


Any other conflicting verses are welcome. Thanks for your opinions

God Bless

The Bible does say an eye for an eye, an also to love one another. These statements do not contradict one another. Ideally, we should all love one another, this is the best way. When people do wrong to others instead, there must be laws that punish the offender. this may not literally mean an eye for an eye, but it may mean that the victims of crime should be recompensated for thier loses, if this is possible.

[GodLovesUs]

Thanks, this will give me a new way of thinking while reading the bible. Greatly appreciate your explanation.

[michel]

Originally Posted by sushannah

The Bible does say an eye for an eye, an also to love one another. These statements do not contradict one another. Ideally, we should all love one another, this is the best way. When people do wrong to others instead, there must be laws that punish the offender. this may not literally mean an eye for an eye, but it may mean that the victims of crime should be recompensated for thier loses, if this is possible.

That is an interpretation I had never thought of. Thanks.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by GodLovesUs

Can anyone tell me why there are passages that conflict in the Bible?

God Bless

E. Earle Ellis told me that the good teacher sensatively balances the conflicting passages to construct a biblical theology (not a systematic theology that forcefully recoinciles the contradictions).

[Linus]

Most of your "contradictions" are merely misunderstandings and misreading of passages that need to be read in their proper context. For example, the "eye for an eye" passages are laws given in the Old Testament by God to the Hebrew people for criminal punishment. Read the sections where it is found (Exodus 21; Leviticus 24; and Deuteronomy 19). You'll see that those statements are made amongst a miriad of other laws and ordinances for those people at that time. They aren't intended for us today.

Jesus Himself even addresses this issue in Matthew 5 in the sermon on the mount.

Context is everything.

[nutshell]

This is always a matter of the lower law (Law of Moses) vs. the higher law (Law of Christ).