Blessed Contradictions: How the Bible Contradicts and Completes Itself

by Michael Anderson

Blessed Contradictions invites the reader to think in new ways about how to understand Scripture. The Bible is written by many authors who often have differing points of view. Instead of seeing these differences as inconsistencies or weaknesses, Blessed Contradictions considers them strengths--ways to see God, theology, ethics, and theodicy from alternative angles. Each of the eight chapters will compare one biblical author to another, show their contradictions, and celebrate the blessings of such diversity.

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2020

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[John Helmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastor Anderson leads the church my wife and I used to attend before Anja became a pastor. In fact, while Anja was away in Seminary for a year, I attended the bible study P. Anderson outlines in the book. Anja and I also joined a 2010 church trip to Israel. The trip was a blessing, bringing the bible to life in many ways, but also opened our eyes to the plight of the Palestinians via visits to a refugee camp as well as interactions with Palestinians in Nazareth and Bethlehem, which is part of the West Bank. We only experienced that side of the Middle East because P Anderson insisted on it. In the book P. Anderson describes the walls Israel has built, and we all understood their symbolism was a meaningful as the structures. It remains imprinted in my mind.

I appreciate P Anderson's theological views intermixed with his historical views. His approach is not to dive into a single verse or chapter. He steps back to assess the writing within and across books and via this approach he identifies seemingly irreconcilable contradictions within the bible (think the two very different creation stories in Genesis, for example) and calls the differences blessed. And then P Anderson convinces me he's right! The bible, combined with P Anderson's perceptive and prayerful consideration, provides a wonderful framework for understanding and appreciating these contradictions.

Congratulations to Mike for getting his book out first! Reading this work was time well spent.

[Veronica Knudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Pastor Mike has a way of explaining the Bible and relating it to current times that takes the mystery out of it. For example, he compares Mark and John and in another chapter compares Matthew and Luke. If you've ever read this 4 books, then you may have been confused. Mike calls out the confusion and explains it. It's a short read, and I have a copy if interested.

It was particularly meaningful after taking his 2 year class on the Bible, called Crossways.

[Derek Kreider · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate some parts of this book very much and it could certainly be helpful, but overall it felt like it was very weak. I think part of why this was so low for me is because I expected more and it was really pretty basic. If you’re new to the topic it may be an ok starting point.

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book, especially if you wonder how people can read the Bible and interpret it differently. It's helpful if you're looking to gain a deeper understanding of the Bible.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

After our return to church in late 2023 it was time to confront some of the challenges I’d had with religion in my last stretch of church attendance, and those were the times when things didn’t make sense but one was just supposed to take it as it was. Along with a book I just finished by Marcus Borg, Anderson’s book doesn’t sweet the contradictions of the Bible under the rug, but explores the polarities of the Bible and how accepting multiple truths can strengthen our faith.