“The Bible Is Full of Contradictions”

“How can you believe the Bible? It’s full of contradictions!” say many unbelievers.

“Show me one contradiction,” we respond.

That usually ends the conversation, as most opponents of Christianity simply repeat what they’ve heard others say, rather than do any research themselves.

Sometimes, though, our opponents have actually read some of the Bible, and they may point to Proverbs 26:4–5 as evidence for their claim. As we’ll see below, on the face of it, it’s strong evidence. Can we resolve biblical “contradictions”? If we can reconcile these two verses, we’ve probably solved the hardest case.

Don’t Answer Fools’ Follies (26:4)

“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself” (26:4). If we spend any time on social media, we will regularly encounter fools and their foolishness. Foolish people say foolish things on foolish media. It’s tempting to jump into the fray, to argue, oppose, condemn, mock, or critique. However, it’s too easy to end up quickly embroiled in the foolishness and end up saying foolish things too. Many fools love to drag others down with them and cover them in their own mud and dirt.

We think we can wrestle with a pig and come away smelling like roses, but we end up smeared and mired in filth and folly, disgusting ourselves and others.

Fools are wise enough to make fools of the wise.

So do we just let fools say whatever they want and never correct them?

Answer Fools’ Follies (26:5)

“Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes” (26:5). A fool can say things so confidently and loudly that he persuades both himself and others. His following grows rapidly, further expanding his head and sense of importance. No one dares to respond because they know he will retaliate without mercy. But unless someone punctures his bubble, the fool will think himself infallible and untouchable, and so will others.

The remedy is to respond in such a way that humbles the fool and helps him to see how wrong he really was. He may not change what he says, but his opinion of himself might take a knock, and so, therefore, his influence.

Fools are wise in their own eyes but the wise are wise in God’s eyes.

So am I to answer the fool or not answer the fool?

Ask for God’s Wisdom (26:4–5)

These verses are not a contradiction, but two different scenarios that can play out when a foolish person has said something foolish. Sometimes the right response is to walk away from the argument and protect oneself. Other times, the right response is to walk into the argument to protect the fool and others. How do we know which response is right for each circumstance?

That’s where wisdom comes in. The book of Proverbs doesn’t just train us in specific situations; it also develops a practical wisdom that is able, with God’s help, to know how to respond in each circumstance. Your response will depend on the person, on you, on the issue, and on the predicted outcome. That’s why James says to us: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).

All askers of wisdom will be getters of wisdom.

Changing Our Story with God’s Story

When we are confronted with situations like these, we cannot but marvel at the perfect life of Christ. Sometimes he answered fools according to their folly and sometimes he stayed silent. He knew exactly what to say to whom so that he kept himself from their harm and kept some of them from harming themselves and others.

Summary: Can we resolve biblical “contradictions”? Resolve seeming contradictions by humbly bringing them to God for his wise guidance in every circumstance.

Question: When have you gotten these verses right and wrong?

Prayer: Perfectly Wise God, I worship you as the God who knows exactly what to say, how to say it, and whom to say it to, for maximum protection of your people and maximum salvation of the lost.