Contradiction with Ephesians 5:18
Romans 13:13 advises against drunkenness, while Ephesians 5:18 specifically contrasts drunkenness with being filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Contradiction with Galatians 5:19-21
Romans 13:13 warns against reveling and drunkenness, whereas Galatians 5:19-21 speaks about the works of the flesh, which also include reveling but not explicitly denouncing it in the same immediate context.
Galatians 5:19-21: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Contradiction with 1 Thessalonians 5:7
Romans 13:13 emphasizes living properly as in the day, yet 1 Thessalonians 5:7 notes that those who are drunken are drunken in the night without an explicit moral directive against it.
1 Thessalonians 5:7: For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
Contradiction with Matthew 11:19
Romans 13:13 promotes sober behavior while Matthew 11:19 describes Jesus being called a winebibber, seemingly contradicting the call for sobriety.
Matthew 11:19: The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Contradiction with Isaiah 22:13
Romans 13:13 suggests proper, sober behavior, but Isaiah 22:13 depicts a call to revel, eat, drink, and be merry, showing a contradiction in advice.
Isaiah 22:13: And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.
Paradox #1
The theological conflict with Romans 13:13 could arise when considering its call for moral behavior in light of other biblical passages that show the complexity of human flaws and forgiveness. Some might see a tension between the ideal standard set in this verse and the broader biblical themes of grace and redemption for those who fall short. This might seem inconsistent if taken as a strict expectation without the context of grace and forgiveness emphasized in other parts of the Bible.
Paradox #2
Romans 13:13 might conflict with other parts of the Bible that emphasize forgiveness and understanding over judgment and condemnation. While the verse encourages moral behavior, other sections of the Bible focus on grace and accepting human imperfection. This could appear as a contradiction between strict moral guidance and the call for compassion and forgiveness.