Contradiction with Exodus 20:3
Deuteronomy 12:4 instructs not to worship God in the ways of other nations, while Exodus 20:3 demands exclusive worship of God, potentially allowing different worship practices exclusive to God.
Exodus 20:3: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Contradiction with 1 Kings 8:29
Deuteronomy 12:4 emphasizes uniform worship practices, but 1 Kings 8:29 places importance on the location (the temple) rather than uniform worship practices.
1 Kings 8:29: That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, [even] toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place. [toward this place: or, in this place]
Contradiction with Acts 17:24
Deuteronomy 12:4 focuses on how to worship God, whereas Acts 17:24 suggests that God does not dwell in temples made with hands, implying freedom in worship practices.
Acts 17:24: God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Contradiction with John 4:24
This verse emphasizes worshiping in spirit and truth, potentially allowing for diverse methods of worship, in contrast to the specific instructions in Deuteronomy 12:4.
John 4:24: God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
Contradiction with Matthew 6:6
Encourages private prayer in contrast to the collective and prescribed form of worship reflected in Deuteronomy 12:4.
Matthew 6:6: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Paradox #1
Deuteronomy 12:4 instructs people not to worship God in the same way other nations worship their gods. A historical conflict might arise because archaeological evidence suggests that ancient Israelites sometimes adopted religious practices from neighboring cultures, despite these biblical instructions. This contradiction highlights a difference between religious teachings and actual historical practices.