Contradiction with Matthew 6:24
This verse states that no man can serve two masters, contradicting 2 Kings 17:33 where people feared the Lord yet served other gods.
Matthew 6:24: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Contradiction with Exodus 20:3
It commands to have no other gods before God, contrasting with 2 Kings 17:33 where people feared the Lord but still worshipped other gods.
Exodus 20:3: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 6:13-14
It instructs to fear the Lord only and not follow other gods, opposing 2 Kings 17:33 where worship of other gods is shown alongside fearing the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:13-14: Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
Contradiction with Joshua 24:14-15
This verse urges serving the Lord in sincerity and truth without regard to other gods, differing from the example in 2 Kings 17:33.
Joshua 24:14-15: Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
Contradiction with Isaiah 42:8
Declares God will not share His glory with another, conflicting with 2 Kings 17:33 where other gods are served along with the Lord.
Isaiah 42:8: I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Paradox #1
2 Kings 17:33 might seem contradictory because it describes people who both worship God and other gods at the same time. This goes against the Bible's teachings that require exclusive worship of one God, as emphasized in the First Commandment, which instructs believers to worship only the God of Israel and not serve other gods.
Paradox #2
2 Kings 17:33 describes people both fearing the Lord and serving their own gods. This can seem inconsistent with biblical teachings that emphasize exclusive devotion to God, such as the commandment to worship only Him and serve no other gods. This could be seen as a conflict between serving God and engaging in idol worship.
Paradox #3
2 Kings 17:33 describes a situation where people worshiped the Lord but also continued to serve their own gods. The contradiction here is that it suggests a mixing of religious practices, which conflicts with other parts of the Bible that emphasize exclusive worship of the Lord and condemns the worship of other gods. This inconsistency highlights the tension between following religious commandments and people’s actual practices at that time.
Paradox #4
The potential conflict in this verse might be with the idea of religious exclusivity versus syncretism. Science often emphasizes consistent and systematic approaches, whereas the verse might suggest practicing multiple religious traditions simultaneously, which could be seen as inconsistent from a purist religious or scientific standpoint. However, this is more of a religious or philosophical inconsistency rather than a direct contradiction.
Paradox #5
The contradiction or conflict could be that people were both worshiping God and other gods at the same time, which goes against the Bible's teaching of worshiping only one God. This shows inconsistency in their faith and actions.