A paradox is "a statement that seems to go against common sense but may still be true" or "a false statement that at first seems true" or "a person or thing having qualities that seem to be opposites." Thus, it involves contradictions, seeming contradictions. We call it a paradox when we believe two propositions are true but we cannot see how they both can be true.
Here are some thought-provoking paradox examples:
Save money by spending it.
If I know one thing, it's that I know nothing.
This is the beginning of the end.
Deep down, you're really shallow.
I'm a compulsive liar.
"What are some examples of paradox in the Bible?" at Got Questions (here) has some paradoxes. They say (emphasis mine):
"A paradox is a seeming contradiction that, when properly understood, may prove true. The Bible uses paradox at times to explore the full scope and nuance of truth. One of the most famous paradoxes in the Bible is the teaching that God is triune: there is one God who eternally exists in three Persons."
Some examples of paradox in the Bible occur within the same verse. These statements seem, at first blush, to be self-contradictory:
2 Corinthians 6:8–10 – “We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything” (ESV).
Yes, that text is full of paradoxes. Others point to these examples:
• Matthew 10:39 – “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (see also Matthew 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 17:33; John 12:25).
• Philippians 3:7 – “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ” (ESV).
• Matthew 23:11 – “The greatest among you will be your servant.”
• 2 Corinthians 12:10 – “When I am weak, then I am strong.”
Commenting upon these, the article says:
"Each of these paradoxes is meant to contrast an earthly view with a heavenly view. There is a difference between our material situation and our spiritual reality, although we experience both at the same time. The book of Proverbs contains paradox among its wise sayings. One example is Proverbs 11:24, which says, “There is one who scatters, yet increases more” (NKJV)."
"Paul uses a quote from the poet Epimenides, “One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: ‘Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons’” (Titus 1:12), which presents a paradox. Epimenides was himself a Cretan, and so his statement that Cretans are “always liars” seems self-contradictory. Is Epimenides telling the truth about his own lying? How can there be a truth-telling liar? Or is it possible that his paradoxical description of his countrymen is both true and false, in certain respects?"
Other examples of paradox in the Bible are found in separate passages that seem to teach opposing ideas:
• “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28, ESV) vs. “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24, ESV).
• “I did not come to judge the world” (John 12:47) vs. “For judgment I have come into this world” (John 9:39).
• “The way is hard that leads to life” (Matthew 7:14, ESV) vs. “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).
• “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1, ESV) vs. “Judge with right judgment” (John 7:24, ESV).
Again, these are seeming contradictions, are what appears to be on first look.
Wrote the same authors of the article:
"In the Bible we are confronted with paradoxes such as a virgin birth, justified sinners, rich poor men, and happy mourners. The use of paradox in the Bible is startling at times, but it reveals a deep spiritual richness and beauty. Paradox causes us to take time to reflect on the meaning of certain passages and investigate the truth, which is sometimes complex."
Yes indeed, "in the bible we are confronted with paradoxes." We must not be surprised at this, for life itself is full of them. “Life is full of paradoxes, as roses are of thorns” said Fernando Pessoa in "The Book of Disquiet."
If one person says that the earth rotates clockwise and another says the earth rotates counter clockwise, can they both be true? Seemingly or at first glance, no. But consider how one person is in outer space above the north pole and the other person is in outer space below the south pole.
The article goes on to say:
"One of the most perplexing paradoxes in the Bible concerns the interplay of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. We see this in the matter of salvation: John 1:12 says, “To those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”; but then John 1:13 describes those children as “born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” So, which is it? One verse says that we must believe to be saved, and the next verse says it’s not our decision, but God’s. It’s a paradox, but both verses are true."
The bible teaches that all things are determined by God, that nothing comes to pass apart from his willing or suffering it and yet it also teaches that angels and humans are responsible for the things they do. In other words, that both divine predestination and creature free choice are true, though it cannot be fully shown how they can both be true and thus we have what is called "Compatibilism," or a paradox, or a conundrum. We may well also call them "mysteries," or enigmas, or oxymorons.
One author who writes upon this subject quotes both D.A. Carson and Charles Spurgeon (See here).
"Compatibilism teaches that the following two propositions are both true and mutually compatible, even if we can’t fully reconcile them:
1. God is utterly sovereign, but his sovereignty never functions to mitigate human responsibility.
2. Human beings are morally responsible creatures, but their moral responsibility never functions to make God absolutely contingent."
Without ever using the term compatibilism, Spurgeon often made precisely the same point Carson does.
The author of this article cites these three comments from Spurgeon:
"That God predestines, and that man is responsible, are two things that few can see. They are believed to be inconsistent and contradictory; but they are not. It is just the fault of our weak judgment. Two truths cannot be contradictory to each other.
If, then, I find taught in one place that everything is fore-ordained, that is true; and if I find in another place that man is responsible for all his actions, that is true; and it is my folly that leads me to imagine that two truths can ever contradict each other.
These two truths, I do not believe, can ever be welded into one upon any human anvil, but one they shall be in eternity: they are two lines that are so nearly parallel, that the mind that shall pursue them farthest, will never discover that they converge; but they do converge, and they will meet somewhere in eternity, close to the throne of God, whence all truth doth spring.”
I agree. We don't have explanations for everything that is a seeming paradox. Let us keep this in mind.
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