No, the Bible does not contradict itself; apparent contradictions stem from the change in God's program between Law and Grace.
Les Feldick is emphatic: 'There are none. There are no contradictions.' Seeming conflicts are actually a difference in program — what God told Israel under Law differs from what He says to believers under Grace. The Holy Spirit authored Scripture, so when compared correctly, the whole Bible fits together without contradiction.
2 Peter 1:20-21 — Peter's words explain that Scripture did not come by human will but by the Holy Spirit, which is the foundation for why the Bible is not self-contradictory.
Scripture declares its own divine origin: 'For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost' (2 Peter 1:21). The same passage instructs readers that 'no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation' (2 Peter 1:20). Scripture is therefore not a collection of private opinions to be pitted against one another. In 1 Corinthians 10:8, the New Testament writer Paul reaches back to the Old Testament golden calf judgment and says, 'Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.' Far from being a self-contradiction, this cross-reference shows Scripture interpreting Scripture, and it sets the pattern for comparing the whole Bible from Genesis through Revelation.
Les consistently answers the claim of Bible contradictions by saying there are none. He explains that apparent conflicts come from a change in operation or program, especially between the Law given to Israel and the Grace now revealed to us. He points out that scoffers who say the Bible is full of contradictions usually do not know their Bibles. Les's solution is to compare Scripture with Scripture, to study the whole Bible from Genesis through Revelation, and always to remember to whom a passage is speaking. He also appeals to the Holy Spirit as the author of Scripture, which means there is no confusion. Seeming contradictions fade away as the student lets all Scripture fit together, and even the classic 3,000 versus 23,000 objection has an answer in the text itself.
Les Feldick explains that what looks like a contradiction is actually a change in operation. The Bible speaks to the nation of Israel under the Law in ways that differ from what it says to believers under Grace, but this is a difference in program, not a contradiction. When a seeming contradiction appears, it is simply a different program.
Les takes up one classic charge — that one place says 3,000 died and another says 23,000. He points out that Paul writes 'as some of them committed' in 1 Corinthians 10:8, not 'all' or 'the whole nation.' The scoffer who cries 'contradiction' usually does not know their Bible well enough to see that the contexts are being read carelessly. This is a perceived conflict, not an actual one.
Les's constant counsel is to compare Scripture with Scripture. Since no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20), a doctrine cannot be built on one verse here and one verse there. He also uses the rule of first mention, tracing a word or concept from its Old Testament occurrence into the New. Most of all, remember to whom a passage is addressed — Israel under Law is not the same setting as believers under Grace, though God has not changed.
Why Preaching Another Gospel Brings a Curse — Galatians 1 Explained
Hello, and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick, an Oklahoma rancher and farmer. Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for over 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say, time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Direct Statement: No Contradictions
Les directly answers the question by saying there are no contradictions in the Bible; apparent conflicts are a change in operation between Law and Grace.
The Holy Spirit as Author
Les appeals to the Holy Spirit as the author of Scripture to show that there is no confusion; the solution is to compare Scripture with Scripture.
The 3,000 and 23,000 Example
Les uses the classic '3,000 vs. 23,000' objection to show that apparent contradictions come from not knowing the Bible and from ignoring Paul's phrase 'as some of them.'
Seeming Contradictions Fade Away
Les says seeming contradictions fade away as a reader studies all of Scripture and refuses to build doctrine on isolated verses.
Difference in Program, Not Error
Les repeats that seeming contradictions are simply differences in program between Israel under Law and believers under Grace.
Remember Your Audience
Les says the key is remembering to whom a passage is addressed; God has not changed, but He deals with us on different circumstances.
Place of First Mention
Les models comparing Old and New Testament by going to the place of first mention, which prevents confusion and ties the text together.
2 Peter 1:20: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Peter forbids private interpretation, which is why Les says to compare Scripture with Scripture.
2 Peter 1:21: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Scripture's divine origin guarantees its consistency and freedom from contradiction.
1 Corinthians 10:8: Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
Paul's Old Testament reference is the kind of cross-reference that resolves apparent contradictions.
Exodus 32:28: And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
This is the Old Testament number that scoffers set against Paul's 'three and twenty thousand.'
No. Les Feldick teaches that there are none. Seeming contradictions come from changes in God's program between Law and Grace, not from mistakes in Scripture.
Les shows from 1 Corinthians 10:8 that Paul says 'as some of them committed' — not all. The apparent discrepancy does not stand up when the text is read carefully; it is not a true contradiction.
Les says to compare Scripture with Scripture, not to isolate verses. No Scripture is of private interpretation, so use the whole counsel of God from Genesis to Revelation and remember to whom each passage is written.
Watch the Teaching: Why Preaching Another Gospel Brings a Curse — Galatians 1 Explained