Contradiction with Matthew 5:17
This verse suggests that Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, which could be seen as contradictory to the idea that the law and prophets were only until John.
Matthew 5:17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Contradiction with Romans 3:31
This verse implies that faith does not void the law, but establishes it, contrasting with the notion that the law ended with John.
Romans 3:31: Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Contradiction with Galatians 3:19
This verse suggests the law was added until the coming of the promised seed, implying the law still has purpose beyond John.
Galatians 3:19: Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Contradiction with Hebrews 8:13
This verse states the old covenant is obsolete and vanishing, suggesting change but not a specific end with John.
Hebrews 8:13: In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.
Paradox #1
The potential contradiction in Luke 16:16 arises from the interpretation that it suggests a distinction or change in the role of the Law and the Prophets with the coming of John the Baptist and the message of the Kingdom of God. Some may see this as inconsistent with the belief that the Law remains unchanged or eternally relevant. However, others interpret this as indicating a transition in how God's message is delivered, not a contradiction.
Paradox #2
Luke 16:16 might seem to contradict other parts of the Bible because it suggests that the laws or messages given through earlier prophets changed when John the Baptist arrived. In other areas of the Bible, it is emphasized that God's law is eternal and unchanging. This could lead to confusion or debate about how the teachings before John relate to those after him.
Paradox #3
The potential contradiction in Luke 16:16 could be the shift from the law and prophets to the kingdom of God, suggesting a change in how people relate to divine teachings. This might seem inconsistent if one sees God's message as unchanging, leading to confusion about the continuity of moral guidance. However, this can be understood as a new phase in spiritual understanding.