Contradiction with Jeremiah 13:23
This verse implies that people cannot change their inherent nature, contradicting Ezekiel 18:31 which calls for a change of heart and spirit.
Jeremiah 13:23: Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? [then] may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. [accustomed: Heb. taught]
Contradiction with John 6:44
Suggests that nobody can come to God unless drawn by Him, challenging Ezekiel 18:31 which implies individuals have the ability to turn to God on their own.
John 6:44: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Contradiction with Romans 9:18
States that God has mercy on whom He wills and hardens others, contrasting Ezekiel 18:31, which emphasizes individual responsibility to change.
Romans 9:18: Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth.
Contradiction with Jeremiah 17:9
Describes the heart as deceitful and desperately wicked, which contradicts the view in Ezekiel 18:31 that a new heart and spirit can be created by an individual's own actions.
Jeremiah 17:9: The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Contradiction with Proverbs 20:9
Claims no one can say they have made their heart pure, which conflicts with Ezekiel 18:31’s directive to make a new heart.
Proverbs 20:9: Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Paradox #1
Ezekiel 18:31 suggests that individuals have the ability to change their hearts and spirits. This might seem to contradict other parts of the Bible that emphasize God's role in spiritual transformation, where God grants the ability to change or renew one's heart. The tension arises between human responsibility and divine intervention in matters of faith and morality.
Paradox #2
Ezekiel 18:31 talks about the idea of taking personal responsibility for one's actions and encourages a change of heart to avoid ruin. Some may see a contradiction when comparing this with other parts of the Bible that emphasize God's sovereignty and predestination. The tension arises between human free will—the ability to choose and change—and the belief that God has a set plan for everyone. This can seem inconsistent when wondering how much control people really have over their spiritual destiny if God already knows and has determined the outcome.
Paradox #3
Ezekiel 18:31 emphasizes personal responsibility and the ability to change. Some see a contradiction with other biblical passages that suggest inherited guilt or consequences, like the idea of generational punishment found in Exodus 20:5. The conflict arises between individual accountability and the notion of collective or inherited consequences.
Paradox #4
The potential contradiction in this verse is that it emphasizes personal responsibility and the ability to change, which might conflict with other biblical teachings where people's fates are seen as predetermined or influenced by external forces, such as God's will or original sin. This could create inconsistency with the idea of free will versus predestination.