Contradiction with Matthew 10:32-33
These verses state that whoever confesses Jesus before others will be acknowledged by Jesus before God, contrasting with John 12:42 where leaders believed in Jesus but did not confess Him openly for fear of the Pharisees.
Matthew 10:32-33: Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Contradiction with Romans 10:9-10
These verses emphasize the necessity of confessing with the mouth for salvation, while John 12:42 highlights individuals who believed internally but feared public confession.
Romans 10:9-10: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Contradiction with 2 Timothy 1:7-8
These verses encourage believers not to be ashamed of the testimony of Jesus, contradicting the fear of the Jewish leaders in John 12:42 who did not confess their belief due to fear.
2 Timothy 1:7-8: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Contradiction with Matthew 5:14-16
These verses encourage believers to let their light shine before others, which contrasts with the secret belief and lack of confession seen in John 12:42.
Matthew 5:14-16: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Paradox #1
The potential contradiction in this verse is that it highlights a situation where some leaders believed in Jesus but did not openly admit it due to fear of losing social status or facing repercussions. This can seem inconsistent with the expectation that true faith should be openly professed regardless of consequences, as seen in other Bible teachings that emphasize the importance of openly declaring one's faith.
Paradox #2
Some people believed in Jesus but didn't admit it because they were afraid of being rejected by others. The conflict or inconsistency here is the struggle between personal beliefs and the fear of social consequences, like losing status or acceptance within their community. They valued human approval more than openly acknowledging their faith.