This article aims to stimulate critical thought around the following question: "Is God the author of confusion?" According to various verses in the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible, there appear to be two conflicting responses.
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1. Biblical Assertions
According to certain Bible verses, God seems to both create and reject confusion:
1.1. God as the author of confusion
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Genesis 11:7-9:
"Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
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1 Corinthians 1:27:
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
1.2. God as the rejecter of confusion
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1 Corinthians 14:33:
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
This apparent contradiction invites critical examination and inquiry. Various interpretative strategies have been employed to reconcile this conflict, which we will explore next.
2. Rationalizing the Contradiction
There are many traditional apologetic arguments that aim to resolve this contradiction. Here are some common strategies:
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Contextual Interpretation: This argument proposes that each verse is dependent on its specific context. For example, in the Genesis passage, God confounds language to inhibit the hubris of humans at Babel (Walton et al., 2000). The confusion here isn’t disorder but rather a strategic intervention. However, it is questionable the ease with which this interpretation could be used to harmonize any contradiction, making it potentially a non-falsifiable claim.
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Divine Mystery Argument: This argument emphasizes God’s inscrutability and that apparent contradictions are human misunderstandings of divine wisdom (Plantinga, 1974). However, this could be a convenient way to dismiss difficult questions without substantial inquiry.
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Translational Issues: This argument posits that the contradiction arises from issues with translating ancient Hebrew and Greek texts into modern languages (Barr, 1961). While this highlights the complexities of interpreting ancient texts, it doesn’t entirely resolve the contradiction.
3. Critical Thought & Unquestioning Belief
Engaging with contradictions like this one encourages skepticism and critical thinking, challenging us to question and scrutinize texts, even sacred or ancient ones. While apologetic arguments can provide insight, it’s essential to consider their limitations and biases. It is through such thoughtful investigation that we can stimulate intellectual growth and nuanced understanding.
In the spirit of critical thinking, it is crucial to continue asking questions and probing the texts we encounter, considering various interpretations and the potential biases that may influence them. As we foster an environment of inquiry and skepticism, we open the door to a deeper, more nuanced understanding of our world and the texts that shape it.
References
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