Contradiction with Ezekiel 18:20
This verse states that the soul that sins shall die, implying individual responsibility for sin, whereas Psalms 51:4 emphasizes David's acknowledgment of sin against God alone.
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 Deuteronomy 24:16
This verse specifies that fathers and children are not to be put to death for each other's sins, indicating communal or inherited sin is not recognized, contrary to David's depiction of sin primarily as an offense against God.
Deuteronomy 24:16: The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
Contradiction with Romans 3:23
This verse states that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, suggesting a universal condition of sin as opposed to the individual, against-thee-alone sentiment of Psalms 51:4.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Contradiction with 1 John 1:8
This verse acknowledges that if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us, highlighting inherent human sinfulness, which contrasts with the personalized confession in Psalms 51:4.
1 John 1:8: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Contradiction with James 5:16
This verse encourages confessing sins to one another for healing, contrasting the private, against-God-alone nature of sin confession highlighted in Psalms 51:4.
James 5:16: Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Paradox #1
Psalms 51:4 could raise questions about the concept of sin and offense. The verse emphasizes that sin is primarily against God, which might seem inconsistent with the idea that sins can also harm other people. Some might wonder how actions that hurt others are viewed as offenses solely against God, potentially downplaying the impact on individuals or communities.
Paradox #2
One possible inconsistency in Psalms 51:4 could be the idea of sinning only against God, which might contradict with the notion of wronging other people as well. People might see actions as harmful to fellow humans, not just offenses against God, which could create a debate on the focus of moral responsibility.
Paradox #3
Psalms 51:4 may present a contradiction because it emphasizes that wrongdoing is primarily against God, even if others were clearly harmed. This could seem inconsistent as it might downplay the impact of the wrongdoing on other people, focusing more on divine offense than human injustice.