The
epistle to the Hebrews says that Jesus was without sin
(Hebrews 4:15), but when Jesus was once addressed as
"Good master", he replied,
Why
callest though me good? none is good, save one that is,
God. Luke 18:19
(also Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18).
Several
texts argue that salvation comes by faith, not works (Romans
3:20, Galatians 2:16, 3:11-12, Ephesians 2:8-9), but James
argues that justification is not by faith alone, but by faith
and works. (James 2:24). Protestant Christianity agrees with
the former texts; Catholic Christianity with the latter.
Some
texts say that God wants everyone to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4,
2 Peter 3:9), while others say that God foredooms people to
damnation. (John 12:39-40, Romans 11:7-10, 2 Thessalonians
2:11-12, Revelation 17:8, 20:15).
Some
texts say that children are punished for the sins of their
parents (Exodus 34:7, Isaiah 14:21); other texts say that
children are not to be punished for their parents' sins.
(Deuteronomy 24:16, Ezekiel 18:20).
Matthew
25:46 and other verses claim that people are everlastingly
rewarded or punished, but Ecclesiastes 9:5 says that the
dead have no reward.
There
are contradictory verses about whether one should swear an
oath (Numbers 30:2 versus Matthew 5:33-37, James 5:12), or
whether lending money for interest is permissible. (Psalm 15
versus Matthew 25:27, Luke 19:23).
Job
26:7 says the earth hangs on nothing. 1 Samuel 2:8 says that
God set the world on pillars. Psalm 104:5 says that God gave
the world immovable foundations. Copernicus feared for his
life in suggesting that the earth might go round the sun, for
the scriptures say,
The
world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Psalm
93:1.
And
this is followed by,
Thy
testimonies are very sure... Psalm 93:5.
Texts
like these made astronomy a dangerous profession.
