There are no actual contradictions in the Bible; what appear to be contradictions are differences in God's program — especially between His dealings with Israel under the Law and with believers under Grace.
Les Feldick teaches that whenever there is a seeming contradiction, it is just a difference in program — for example, what God says to Israel under Law differs from what He says to believers under Grace. He also notes that no Scripture is a private interpretation, so when you compare Scripture with Scripture the seeming contradictions fade away. Paul's later words are not a contradiction to Jesus' earlier words but a further revelation.
2 Peter 1:20-21 — This is the passage Les cites to show that no Scripture is a private interpretation; therefore, seeming contradictions disappear when the whole of Scripture is compared.
The Bible itself does not claim to be confusing or contradictory. Peter writes, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation" (2 Peter 1:20). He explains why: "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). Thus, Scripture presents itself as coming from one divine source. Jesus also said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17), and Paul wrote, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief" (1 Timothy 1:15).
Les Feldick teaches that the Bible is not full of contradictions or errors. Whenever there is a seeming contradiction, it is simply a difference in program. What God says to the nation of Israel under the Law is different from what He says to believers under Grace, but that difference is not a contradiction — it is a change of operandi.
Les Feldick teaches that what God told Israel under the Law is going to be different from what He tells believers under Grace, but that is not a contradiction — it is a change of operandi. He says the Bible is sensible when you separate the nation of Israel from the church, which is His body; when you separate those two entities, all contradictions disappear. God has not changed — the God of Israel in Genesis is still the same God we deal with today — but He deals with us on far different circumstances; we are now on resurrection ground.
Not necessarily. Les says that when Jesus spoke during His earthly ministry, it was appropriate in the Jewish economy, but it is not appropriate today because the Jewish program has slipped off the scene and something new has come in. He warns against trying to force verses into today's program. Yet Paul's later words are not a contradiction to what Jesus said — they are a further revelation. Something else has now been added according to what we have had in the Gospels.
Les says he never lifts a verse out of the text and comments on one verse; if he cannot leave everything together, he leaves it alone. There are places where he doesn't have the answer, and he won't twist it. He encourages comparing Scripture with Scripture, because Peter wrote that no Scripture is a private interpretation. When you study, seemingly contradictions fade away — they are not contradictory at all.
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Hello, and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 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.
Compare Scripture with Scripture
Les explains that no Scripture is a private interpretation, so comparing Scripture with Scripture makes seeming contradictions fade away.
Difference in Program
Les states that whenever there is a seeming contradiction it is just a difference in program — Israel under Law versus believers under Grace.
Separate Israel and the Church
Les says separating Israel from the church makes all the contradictions disappear and makes the Bible sensible.
God Has Not Changed
Les says God has not changed, but He deals with us on far different circumstances, such as resurrection ground, so what applied to Israel is not necessarily apropos today.
Don't Force Verses
Les shows that verses appropriate for the Jewish economy in Christ's earthly ministry are not appropriate today; don't try to force them into our present program.
Further Revelation
Les clarifies that Paul's later teaching in 1 Timothy is not a contradiction to Jesus' words in Matthew but a further revelation — something else has been added.
Holy Spirit Is the Author
Les teaches that because the Holy Spirit inspired the Scriptures, there is no confusion and everything fits when compared.
2 Peter 1:20: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Les cites this to show that we cannot build doctrine on isolated verses; all Scripture must be compared.
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.
This verse shows that Scripture comes from one divine source, the Holy Spirit, so there is no confusion.
Matthew 5:17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Jesus' words are quoted by Les to show His teaching in the Jewish economy, which is later supplemented rather than contradicted.
1 Timothy 1:15: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Paul's later inspired words are presented by Les as a further revelation, not a contradiction to Jesus' earlier words.
No. Les Feldick teaches that whenever there is a seeming contradiction it is just a difference in program, not an error. When you separate Israel from the Church and compare Scripture with Scripture, the apparent contradictions fade away.
Because God dealt with Israel under the Law and deals with us under Grace. That is a change of operation, not a contradiction. The God of Israel is the same God, but we are on resurrection ground.
No. Some things were appropriate in the Jewish economy, such as snake handling, but are not appropriate today. Les says don't force these verses. However, many applications in the Gospels and Old Testament are still true for us.
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