If someone spends time reading the Bible, without being determined to look for contradictions, that person will likely find the Bible to be consistently understandable and harmonious. There are passages which are difficult to explain, or that could be called troublesome, and yes, there are even some passages of Scripture that on first reading, might seem to contradict other passages of Scripture. What is the reason for that?

The Bible was written by somewhere around forty authors over a period spanning about fifteen-hundred years. It covers a lot of topics, to say the least. The literature in the Bible is written in different forms. There are poetic books, historical books, teaching and prophetical books. The different writers were writing their book or books to different recipients, from differing perspectives and for different purposes. This all means that we should expect some differences.

Differences though, aren't the same as contradictions, and a contradiction is only a contradiction if there no possible explanation for how the apparently contradictory verses or passages can be in actual agreement. If an explanation for a seeming contradiction hasn't been discovered, that doesn't mean that one doesn't exist. There are plenty of Bible critics that have attacked Scripture passages for being "contradictory," in the way they relate to known history or geography, only to proven wrong when some student or professor of archaeology digs something up somewhere.

I've never had a problem with seeming contradictions in the Bible, because I've never read one I couldn't find an explanation for. Another reason is that I that I know that man is not meant to have all of the answers as he sojourns through this life with Jesus. He is suppose to trust in the Spirit of Truth and walk with the Waymaker in faith.

When I'm presented with one I pray. I talk to God about it and ask Him to show me the solution that is clear. I also read and research using whatever resources I have available to me such as commentaries, apologetics reference books and Biblical websites. I also turn to "wise counsel," people that I trust in my walk, friends at church, pastors etc..

If there is still no clear explanation for the seeming contradiction once I had done those things, I would trust in God that His Word is truth and that there is a solution that hasn't been seen yet. What should we do if someone comes up with a contradiction one day that we can't explain after having looked into it? I think Paul provided an answer in 2 Timothy 2:15 and 16:

15 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness."

Paul's telling us not to dig our heels in and make a pointless argument out of it. If you don't know the answer to the question, just say you don't and let it go at that, unless you're led to do otherwise by the Holy Spirit. Bible contradictions are a roadblock for many unbelievers and skeptics. Some of them make lists. I have a friend who was talking with a man who insisted he had three intellectual barriers between himself and salvation that had to do with problems in the Bible. Once my friend had given answers which shattered those barriers it became that the only true barrier was repentance. It always is.

People have problems with supposed contradictions for different reasons though, and sometimes people just want their questions reasonably answered. Nothing wrong with that. That's one of the things we are Biblically directed to ready to do;

"15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;" 1 Peter 3:15

I find it interesting, if tragic, that some folks will focus on a few things they think will tank the whole Bible, yet when you show them the Bible's amazing structure, its duration, its archaeological evidences, its agreement with observable science, its historical veracity, the extra-Biblical corroborations and the hundreds of fulfilled prophecies, they look elsewhere for answers.

But be ready for a different response too, because once in a while, somebody listens and begins to believe. What a wonderful thing that is.