Contradiction with Matthew 5:45
This verse suggests that God gives blessings regardless of one's actions, which contrasts the idea of receiving good in return for doing good.
Matthew 5:45: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Contradiction with Ecclesiastes 9:11
It states that time and chance happen to everyone, implying outcomes do not always correlate with one's deeds, which contradicts the notion of receiving good according to what one does.
Ecclesiastes 9:11: I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Contradiction with Job 21:7-9
This passage observes wicked people living prosperously, challenging the principle that doing good yields good outcomes.
Job 21:7-9: Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Contradiction with Psalm 73:3-5
Describes how the wicked prosper, which goes against the concept that good deeds directly result in receiving good.
Psalm 73:3-5: For I was envious at the foolish, [when] I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Paradox #1
Ephesians 6:8 might seem to suggest that people are rewarded based on their good deeds, which could appear inconsistent with the idea of salvation by faith, not by works, as emphasized in other parts of the Bible, like in Ephesians 2:8-9. This could lead to confusion about the basis of salvation.
Paradox #2
Ephesians 6:8 is about being rewarded for doing good. A possible contradiction could be that it emphasizes rewards for good actions, which might lead people to do good not out of genuine kindness or selflessness, but in expectation of a reward. This could be seen as conflicting with the idea of unconditional altruism or doing good for its own sake.