John 8:38 Contradictions and Paradoxes

According to John, Jesus is telling the people that He is sharing what He has learned from God, His Father, while they are doing what they have learned from their own fathers. Jesus is showing that He and His teachings come from God while others may follow different ways.

Contradiction with Genesis 6:5

This verse suggests that man follows his own evil imagination, contradicting John 8:38 that focuses on following what is seen with the Father.

Genesis 6:5: And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. [every...: or, the whole imagination: the Hebrew word signifieth not only the imagination, but also the purposes and desires] [continually: Heb. every day]

Contradiction with Proverbs 21:2

While John 8:38 emphasizes seeing and doing as the Father does, this verse implies that every man's way seems right to himself, hinting at subjective morality.

Proverbs 21:2: Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

Contradiction with Jeremiah 17:9

This verse speaks of the deceitfulness of the heart, contradicting the notion in John 8:38 of following what is divinely seen and heard without deception.

Jeremiah 17:9: The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Contradiction with Isaiah 53:6

Indicates that all have gone astray following their own way, contrasting with John 8:38's theme of adherence to the Father's will.

Isaiah 53:6: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. [laid...: Heb. made the iniquity of us all to meet on him]

Contradiction with Romans 3:23

Suggests all have sinned, contradicting the notion in John 8:38 of perfectly following divine instruction.

Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Contradiction with Galatians 5:17

Describes the flesh lusting against the Spirit, in contrast to the alignment with the Father portrayed in John 8:38.

Galatians 5:17: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Contradiction with James 1:14

Indicates that every man is tempted when drawn away by his own lust, which contradicts the directive in John 8:38 about doing what is seen with the Father.

James 1:14: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.