Contradiction with Matthew 5:10
This verse states, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." It contradicts Proverbs 16:7 by suggesting that being righteous does not always result in peace with others; it can lead to persecution.
Matthew 5:10: Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Contradiction with 2 Timothy 3:12
This verse states, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." It contradicts Proverbs 16:7 by indicating that living a godly life will bring persecution, not peace, with others.
2 Timothy 3:12: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Contradiction with Matthew 10:34
This verse states, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." It contradicts Proverbs 16:7 by acknowledging that following God's ways might lead to division rather than peace.
Matthew 10:34: Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Contradiction with John 15:18-19
These verses state, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." They contradict Proverbs 16:7 by emphasizing that being aligned with God could lead to animosity from others.
John 15:18-19: If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you.
Paradox #1
One potential theological conflict with the idea in this verse is that it suggests a person's good behavior will lead to peace with others, including their enemies. However, other parts of the Bible suggest that righteous living can lead to persecution or conflict (e.g., Jesus's teachings about being persecuted for righteousness). This creates a tension about whether doing good will always lead to harmony with others.
Paradox #2
Proverbs 16:7 implies that when someone lives in a way that pleases God, their enemies will be at peace with them. The contradiction could be that people might observe situations where those who live morally and righteously still have adversaries or face conflict. This could suggest an inconsistency between the promise of peace and the reality of ongoing conflict or hostility, raising questions about the relationship between virtue and external harmony.