In the Bible, paradoxes are often used to convey profound spiritual truths that challenge human understanding and invite deeper reflection. These apparent contradictions serve to illuminate the mysteries of God's kingdom and the nature of faith. Below are several key scriptures that illustrate the use of paradox in the Bible:

1. Strength in Weakness: The Apostle Paul speaks of the paradox of strength being made perfect in weakness. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 , Paul writes, "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." This paradox highlights the divine principle that human frailty can be the vessel for God's power.

2. Life through Death: Jesus presents the paradox of gaining life through losing it. In Matthew 16:25 , He states, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." This teaching emphasizes the call to self-denial and the promise of eternal life through surrender to Christ.

3. The First Shall Be Last: Jesus frequently taught that the values of His kingdom are countercultural. In Matthew 20:16 , He declares, "So the last will be first, and the first will be last." This paradox challenges worldly notions of status and success, emphasizing humility and servanthood as the path to true greatness.

4. Wisdom in Foolishness: The Apostle Paul addresses the paradox of divine wisdom appearing as foolishness to the world. In 1 Corinthians 1:25 , he writes, "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." This statement underscores the superiority of God's wisdom over human understanding.

5. Seeing the Unseen: Faith itself is described in paradoxical terms, as it involves believing in what is not visible. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." This paradox invites believers to trust in God's promises despite the lack of physical evidence.

6. Freedom in Servitude: The New Testament presents the paradox of finding true freedom through becoming a servant of Christ. In Romans 6:22 , Paul explains, "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life." This teaching reveals that true liberty is found in submission to God's will.

7. Joy in Suffering: The early Christians understood the paradox of experiencing joy amidst trials. James 1:2-3 exhorts believers, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." This paradoxical joy is rooted in the transformative power of suffering.

These paradoxes, woven throughout Scripture, invite believers to embrace the mysteries of faith and the counterintuitive wisdom of God's kingdom. They challenge conventional thinking and call for a deeper reliance on divine revelation and the Holy Spirit's guidance.Proverbs 13:7
There is that makes himself rich, yet has nothing: there is that makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
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Matthew 10:39
He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.
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Matthew 16:25
For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
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Mark 8:35
For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
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Luke 17:33
Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
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John 12:25
He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.
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1 Corinthians 3:18
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
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2 Corinthians 6:4,8-10
But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
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2 Corinthians 12:4,10,11
How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
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Ephesians 3:17-19
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
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Philippians 3:7
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
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Revelation 21:18,21
And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like to clear glass.
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Concerning "Peace" and what is Meant by "Very Being" Itself, "Very ...
... of Very Peace and of all Peace, both in general and in ... of Divinity with confirmation
drawn from the holy testimony of the Scriptures. ... [474] Ds paradox is the ...
/.../rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter xi concerning peace and.htm

Concerning "Good," "Light," "Beautiful," "Desire," "Ecstasy ...
... For (as the infallible Scriptures say), a good tree cannot ... unto their state, providing,
both in general and in ... This also looks like a barren paradox and yet it ...
/.../rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter iv concerning good light.htm

Rome and Ephesus
... beforehand by His prophets in Holy Scriptures concerning His Son ... to expound at length
this general theory; it ... point was met by the splendid paradox of Irenaeus ...
/.../lake/landmarks in the history of early christianity/v rome and ephesus.htm

The Book of the Cross
... of an ideal for men, this paradox is insoluble ... have taken at least one step away
from the Scriptures. ... Certain general requirements would always have to be met. ...
/.../mcconnell/understanding the scriptures/chapter vi the book of.htm

Why is it that the New Testament Also Contains Other Books Beside ...
... The twofold paradox of the New Testament of ... had been fewer passages whose general
ecclesiastical importance ... a place beside the Canonical Scriptures, and only ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/harnack/the origin of the new testament/ 2 why is it.htm

Thoughts Upon the Knowledge of G0D.
... which though it may seem a Paradox to many ... of and resolved, because of the general
Mistakes that ... as in saying their Prayers, reading the Scriptures, going to ...
/.../private thoughts upon a christian life/thoughts upon the knowledge of.htm

Letter iv. You Reply to the Conclusion of My Letter: "What have we ...
... documents, would, taken as a general rule, render ... doctrine respecting the inspired
Scriptures, without reducing ... It will perhaps appear a paradox if, after all ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/letter iv you reply to.htm

Matt. Iv. 1
... Even though what I say be a paradox, nevertheless it ... it receive the light of the
divine Scriptures, will prove a ... king the soldier, and each in general him that ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xiii matt iv 1.htm

The Permanent Significance of the Old Testament
... This paradox is true, at least, of the Old Testament ... him in the use of the Old Testament
Scriptures? ... Aside from these general considerations, it is easily shown ...
/.../chapter vi the permanent significance.htm

The End of Christ's Coming
... as it quite excludes the force of very many scriptures which have been ... which is the
very thing that men in general so earnestly ... But what a paradox is this! ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 62 the end of.htm

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