Contradiction with Proverbs 3:5-6
Ecclesiastes 9:11 suggests success depends on time and chance, while Proverbs 3:5-6 emphasizes trusting in the Lord for direction.
Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Contradiction with Matthew 7:7
Ecclesiastes 9:11 implies outcomes are uncertain, but Matthew 7:7 encourages seeking and receiving.
Matthew 7:7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Contradiction with Jeremiah 29:11
Ecclesiastes 9:11 notes randomness in success, whereas Jeremiah 29:11 assures God's plans for prosperity.
Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. [expected...: Heb. end and expectation]
Contradiction with Galatians 6:7
Ecclesiastes 9:11 mentions chance, yet Galatians 6:7 states that reaping is a result of what one sows.
Galatians 6:7: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 28:1-2
Ecclesiastes 9:11 speaks on unpredictability, but Deuteronomy 28:1-2 promises blessings for obedience.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2: And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe [and] to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
Contradiction with Romans 8:28
Ecclesiastes 9:11 highlights chance, while Romans 8:28 claims all things work together for good for those who love God.
Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
Contradiction with Psalm 37:4
Ecclesiastes 9:11 indicates randomness in life, yet Psalm 37:4 promises desires of the heart to those who delight in the Lord.
Psalm 37:4: Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Paradox #1
Ecclesiastes 9:11 suggests that life can be unpredictable and outcomes are not always determined by abilities or efforts. A potential theological conflict could be the idea of divine justice or control. If outcomes appear random, some might question God's role in ensuring fairness or purpose in life.
Paradox #2
Ecclesiastes 9:11 suggests that life can be unpredictable and that success does not always come to those who are deserving through hard work or skill. This could seem to conflict with other parts of the Bible that imply hard work and righteousness lead to success and blessings, such as Proverbs 10:4 or Galatians 6:7 which stress the importance of effort and righteousness.
Paradox #3
Ecclesiastes 9:11 suggests that life events don't always follow the expected outcomes, like the fastest winning the race. This might contradict the idea that success is consistently a result of personal effort and merit, a concept found elsewhere in the Bible. It highlights unpredictability, which can conflict with verses that suggest a more direct cause-and-effect relationship between behavior and outcomes.
Paradox #4
The potential contradiction with this verse is that it implies outcomes such as wealth, success, or survival are determined by chance rather than by skills, effort, or reliable patterns. Science often emphasizes cause-and-effect relationships, where outcomes are influenced by specific factors and can be predicted to some extent based on evidence and data. This contrast between randomness and predictability could be seen as a conflict.
Paradox #5
Ecclesiastes 9:11 highlights that life events don't always go according to expectations of skill or ability; instead, they seem subject to chance or happenstance. The contradiction or conflict here could be viewed in relation to other teachings in the Bible that emphasize the value of wisdom, hard work, and righteousness leading to success and blessings. This creates a tension between the idea of life's unpredictability and the belief in a more ordered, moral cause-and-effect universe.