Contradiction with Jeremiah 17:9
While Ephesians 5:9 speaks of the fruit of the Spirit as goodness, righteousness, and truth, Jeremiah 17:9 suggests the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, implying difficulty in naturally embodying these virtues.
Jeremiah 17:9: The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Contradiction with Romans 3:10
Ephesians 5:9 emphasizes living in righteousness and truth, but Romans 3:10 states there is none righteous, which could contradict the ability to achieve such ideals.
Romans 3:10: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Contradiction with Ecclesiastes 7:20
Ephesians 5:9 implies the presence and pursuit of righteousness, whereas Ecclesiastes 7:20 notes that no one is always righteous or without sin.
Ecclesiastes 7:20: For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Contradiction with Isaiah 64:6
Ephesians 5:9 highlights righteousness as a God-given fruit, but Isaiah 64:6 describes our righteous acts as filthy rags, suggesting human efforts at righteousness are insufficient.
Isaiah 64:6: But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Contradiction with 1 John 1:8
Ephesians 5:9 supports living in truth, yet 1 John 1:8 states if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, indicating a flaw in achieving complete truthfulness.
1 John 1:8: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.