And, to these people, I cry:  Wake up to the TRUTH that is in the Bible!  These myths are believed (resulting in much conflict) because certain scriptural verses were taken out of context, compounded by the problem of people either not reading their Bible at all or not studying it.

People easily remember what Ephesians 5:22 says: Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. (NKJV)  Some have used that verse to justify many evils, and Satan is enjoying every minute of it.  I read of one church where a physically abused wife sought refuge from her pastor who quoted that verse to her and told her to go home, be a "good wife," and subject herself to her husband.  The next week, she returned to the church for further help, this time with a different pastor, who quoted that same verse and gave her the same "guidance".  The week after that, she couldn't seek anymore help, because she was dead!

Also, Genesis 3:16 says: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." The last sentence means that after the fall of mankind, God gave Eve and all other wives a desire to control their husbands, but they would be frustrated because their husbands would be the heads of the households. The word "desire" here cannot mean a wife will "want" her husband, because that is the original reason why Eve was created in the first place, so God would not use this as a punishment/prophecy, nor would He even mention it at this point, because it would change nothing. No, the "desire" used here refers to the "desire to control", and consequently, women will be frustrated because their husbands will "rule over you" (be the heads of the households).

God gave Eve to Adam as an equal. Different, yes, and Adam was created first, but they were equal in value, partners. After the fall, things changed. Through Christ's return, the beginning of our true restoration began and will be completed at His second coming.   So, Ephesians 5:22 was reminding wives of their God-directed, earthly role prior to our final restoration in heaven.
 

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul also wrote:

• 1 Corinthians 11:5, which says: "But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved."  In this verse, Paul is instructing women how to dress when they are participating in public worship by praying and prophesying, which aren't silent actions, to be sure.  If he really wanted them to be silent, he wouldn't bother telling them how to dress when they weren't being silent.
   
• If we look at the word "silence" in the original Greek, it is sigao, which means “keep silence”.  That particular word is used less than 20 times in each the Old Testament and the New Testament.  In context, it is meant to "hold your peace", or have "restfulness".

  - For example, when the Israelites arrived at the Red Sea, they were terrified and complained to Moses, who told them that Jehovah would fight for them and they must “hold [their] peace,” i.e., be silent (Ex. 14:14). That obviously did not mean that they were forbidden to speak at all, but they were to stop their faithless whining.  

  - When David described certain hardships – as he “kept silence” (Psa. 32:3), he was not referring to general silence, but silence regarding his sin.

  - In 1 Corinthians 14, sigao is used three times:  1) One who has the gift of tongues is to keep silent if he has no interpreter to use with his alien audience (28). 2) If a brother is speaking, and another receives a more current revelation, the former is to keep silent (30). 3) Women are to keep silent (34).
   

• If we look at the words "learn" and "teach" (1 Timothy 2:11, 12) in the original Greek, we see that they are manthaneto and didasko, which actually mean "study" and "disciple", not just regular teaching.  (Most people agree it is best when people of the opposite sex do not disciple each other.)  So, there could have been a better word  chosen by the translators ("disciple" instead of "teach").  This can be also be considered taking words out of context, because the translators substituted different words than what the original thought intended.
   
•  Romans 5:12-19, which says: "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous."  This proves Paul did not think Adam was innocent, so it is another example of taking things out of context.  We need to study the fullness of an author's works before assuming we understand them.

So, why do some Bible verses appear to contradict each other?

• Because some people believe everything they hear or everything a particular person says.  When a sermon is given, the congregation is not meant to believe 100% and go on their merry way.  No, they are supposed to discuss it, ponder it, and study it.  (Likewise, I do not expect you to believe everything I say.  Find out for yourself.)  Our minds were not meant to be like feeding tubes, just taking everything in without first digesting it.  The miraculous human mind was intended to be exercised!
   
• Because the reader has taken words out of context. All contradictions that have been raised have been shown not to be contradictions at all, but the reader's misunderstanding. There are also two occasions where inaccurate copying has been found.
   
• Because the reader does not have the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  It was not until I was born again that I could understand what is so clear to me now.  To understand this, consider someone's first impression of a geometric mathematical proof versus after they were enlightened by their teacher and studied the subject for a year. Also, anyone who has ever truly loved someone else knows that we cannot function only on our knowledge.  Sometimes, it is difficult for me to explain things to nonbelievers.  It is sad, because I am not trying to win an argument, but I am trying to open their minds and hearts so they might consider other possibilities and be willing to ask Jesus into their heart.
   
• For reasons we will not know until we discover them or are given full knowledge (when we get to heaven).  New archaeological findings are happening even in our lifetime!  A person who had a near-death experience (NDE) claimed he was given full insight, but forgot most of it when he returned.  (I don't know if this is true or not, of course.)
   
• What was happening at the time of the original writing is unknown to us now, lost without detailed history books.
   
• Translation problems.  (My daughter and I visited a church one time where the pastor held up a King James Bible and declared, "This is the only version of the Bible you can trust!"  I looked at her and whispered, "What about the original Hebrew and Greek?")

We need to look at each verse, then at each book, then at all of an author's books, then all of the books in the entire Bible.  We need to compare translations and research the original language.  Only then can we begin to grasp the truth, anticipating the day when we will know all.