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Problem: James writes, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (Jas. 1:5). Mormon missionaries argue that this passage supports the notion that prospective converts should pray for direct, spiritual confirmation of the Book of Mormon. In fact, the Book of Mormon itself states, “And when you shall receive these things, I would exhort you that you would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if you shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it to you, by the power of the Holy Ghost 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost you may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:4-5). Should we interpret James 1:5 in this way?

Problem: Hebrews states, “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; 16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears” (Heb. 12:15-17). Can we lose our salvation permanently?
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Problem: The author of Hebrews writes, “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). Many “holiness preachers” claim that we cannot go to heaven without God’s sanctification. Is this the case?
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Problem: Why should Barak, Samson, and Jephthah be listed among the great men of faith such as Abraham, Moses, and Joseph? After all, they failed in many ways.
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Problem:

Did Jacob worship at the head of the bed or leaning on a staff? Genesis says that Israel bowed to worship God “at the head of the bed.” The Book of Hebrews, however, while citing the same story, says that he did so “leaning on the top of his staff.” Is this a contradiction?
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Problem: Hebrews mentions that Jacob died worshiping, “leaning on the top of his staff” (11:21). Yet Genesis 47:31 mentions Jacob “bowed himself on the head of the bed.” How do we reconcile this apparent contradiction?
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Problem:

How many children did Abraham have, one or two?Genesis 22:2, Hebrews 11:17, and Galatians 4:22 tell us different things.  What about Ishmael and Isaac?  Aren’t they both the children of Abraham?

Solution:

Abraham had one son Genesis 22:2, “And He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.’”
Hebrews 11:17, “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son.”
Abraham had two sons Galatians 4:22, “For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.”
The answer to this apparent contradiction is found in understanding the typological representation of Isaac, Abraham’s second-born son, as a type of Christ. Abraham had Ishmael by the handmaiden Hagar. But Isaac was the child of promise, not Ishmael: “But God said to Abraham, ‘Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named,’” (Gen. 21:12).

If you look at the chart below, you will see the similarities between Isaac and Jesus. In other words, Isaac was a prophetic representation of Jesus. This is why Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad,” (John 8:56). Abraham had, in a very real sense, seeing the gospel presentation in the offering of his son, his “only begotten.” So, we see here that the term “only begotten” is in reference to the unique son of God and Isaac was acting out the sacrifice of Christ, prophetically.

Also, Abraham had six other sons besides Ishmael and Isaac through his wife Keturah whom he married after Sarah died. “Now Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 And she bore to him Zimran and Jokshan and Medan and Midian and Ishbak and Shuah,” (Gen. 25:1-2). Obviously, this was known by the writers of Genesis as well as Hebrews and Galatians.

“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (Heb 11:17)”

Problem: The writer of Hebrews informs us here that Abraham “went out, not knowing where he was going.” Yet Genesis 12:5 asserts that Abraham “departed to go to the land of Canaan.”
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Problem: Did anyone ascend into heaven before Jesus or not? Several biblical passages mention people who were caught up into heaven. Yet, Jesus argues in John three that no one had ascended into heaven. So which is it? Did anyone ascend into heaven before Jesus?

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Problem: Leviticus 17:11 affirmed that God gave blood sacrifices “to make atonement” for our souls. But Hebrews seems to contradict that, insisting that the Aaronic priest “stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins” (10:11).
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Problem: Psalm 40:6 cites the Messiah as saying “My ears You have opened,” but the writer of Hebrews quotes it as “a body You have prepared for Me” (10:5). There is no similarity whatsoever in these quotations. The NT seems to totally distort this OT passage.
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Problem: Hebrews reads, “Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, ‘Sacrifice and offering you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me’” (Heb. 10:5). However, when we flip back to the original reference, we read, “Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; My ears You have opened” (Ps. 40:6). Critics claim that the author is blatantly twisting this verse.
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