Contradiction with Ezekiel 18:20
This verse contradicts Numbers 15:25 by stating that a son will not bear the iniquity of the father, emphasizing personal responsibility, whereas Numbers 15:25 suggests a collective forgiveness for the congregation.
Ezekiel 18:20: The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Contradiction with Galatians 6:5
This verse states that every man shall bear his own burden, contradicting the idea in Numbers 15:25 of a communal atonement for individual transgressions.
Galatians 6:5: For every man shall bear his own burden.
Contradiction with Jeremiah 31:30
This verse indicates every person shall die for their own sin, which contrasts with Numbers 15:25, where the whole congregation receives atonement for sins.
Jeremiah 31:30: But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
Paradox #1
The verse describes a way for the community to be forgiven for unintentional sins. A possible contradiction could arise with the concept of personal responsibility and repentance for sins, as other parts of the Bible emphasize individual accountability and conscious confession for forgiveness. This could seem inconsistent with the idea of a community's collective atonement for unintentional wrongs.
Paradox #2
The potential contradiction in that verse could be related to the concept of sin being "unintentional" and the use of a ritual for atonement. Science generally deals with observable and testable phenomena, making the spiritual concepts of sin and ritual atonement not directly analyzable or verifiable through scientific methods. Therefore, this creates a conflict between the spiritual belief system and the empirical nature of science.
Paradox #3
The contradiction could be that the verse suggests forgiveness for unintended sins through specific rituals, which might seem inconsistent with the belief that all sins require personal accountability and repentance. This could be seen as conflicting with the idea that true repentance is a personal and internal process, rather than one that can be resolved through external actions alone.