Contradiction with Leviticus 19:28
This verse contradicts 1 Kings 18:28 by explicitly prohibiting making cuttings in the flesh, which the prophets of Baal did in their ritual.
Leviticus 19:28: Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD.
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 14:1
This verse contradicts 1 Kings 18:28 by stating that God's people should not cut themselves, unlike the actions of the prophets of Baal.
Deuteronomy 14:1: Ye [are] the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
Contradiction with 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
This verse contradicts 1 Kings 18:28 by emphasizing the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, which should be honored, unlike the self-harm demonstrated.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Contradiction with Romans 12:1
This verse contradicts 1 Kings 18:28 by encouraging believers to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice in a holy and acceptable manner, contrary to the prophets' actions.
Romans 12:1: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.
Paradox #1
The verse describes an act of self-harm as a form of religious devotion, which contradicts other biblical teachings that emphasize the value of human life and prohibit self-harm. It highlights a contrast between the practices of different religious groups in the Bible.
Paradox #2
1 Kings 18:28 describes a practice that involves self-harm as part of a religious ritual. This contradicts other parts of the Bible that discourage harming oneself, such as teachings in the New Testament that your body is a temple and should be treated with respect. Therefore, the inconsistency lies in the differing views on how to treat one's body in a religious context.
Paradox #3
The inconsistency in this verse could relate to the practice of self-harm as a means to invoke divine intervention, which contradicts modern medical and psychological understanding that self-harm is a harmful behavior and not a healthy or effective way to influence outcomes.
Paradox #4
The verse describes people harming themselves as part of their religious practice. The moral conflict here might be that it clashes with the idea that human life should be valued and preserved. Many religious teachings emphasize the importance of caring for oneself and others, so self-harm in a religious context could be seen as contradictory to those values.