Little Ball of Hate

What's a Bible difficulty? A Bible difficulty is an apparent problem posed by the biblical record. It might be called an error, a mistake, a difficulty, a challenge, a contradiction, or any number of other terms. Critics of the Bible are sometimes hostile in their claims that the Bible is "full of contradictions" or "difficulties," but these apparent problems are also brought up by committed Christians wanting to make sense of God's Word.

Rather than get into a number of specific examples, it will be more beneficial to learn some key tips for handling Bible difficulties. That way, whenever you encounter a seeming problem in the Bible, you will be able to use these tips as a starting point for resolving the difficulty.

Essentially, handling Bible difficulties is a matter of hermeneutics or interpretation (specifically, biblical interpretation). But other factors also come into play when interpreting, such as looking for a reasonable explanation, carefully making comparisons to other passages when necessary, and in general puzzling through possible answers and satisfactory resolutions to apparent problems.

Theologically liberal approaches to the Bible, on the other hand, often simply accept contradictions as part of a flawed record. But if the Bible is God's Word, and if God is all knowing and all powerful, it stands to reason we should be able to trust the Bible.

Tips from a Bible Scholar

What are some helpful general tips for handling Bible difficulties? Fortunately, a number of Bible scholars have offered their insights. Here are some tips gleaned from the late Gleason Archer's fine book Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties
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"Be fully persuaded in your own mind that an adequate explanation exists, even though you have not found it yet." In other words, Archer is accepting the Bible as an accurate, authoritative collection of documents – God's inspired Word. Once a case has been made for this fact, then it stands to reason that the Bible should not contain any serious discrepancies in the manuscript copies. If you come across a Bible difficulty, there should be one or more reasonable explanations for it.
"Carefully study the context and framework of the verse in which the problem arises until you gain some idea of what the verse is intended to mean within its own setting." This is a key point of biblical hermeneutics – the science and art of interpreting the Bible. Context matters significantly. Keep in mind the context of a particular verse in a book, as well as the context given the broader teachings on the subject throughout the entire Bible.
"In the case of parallel passages, the only method that can be justified is harmonization." This helpful tip applies more to the four New Testament Gospels than anywhere else, though there certainly are parallel accounts of historical events in the Old Testament as well. There's no doubt that the Gospels contain various accounts from different perspectives, but these accounts should be able to be reconciled. Critics would not be happy if the four Gospels were identical in their reports of certain events, accusing the authors of collusion. Ironically, however, they aren't happy with the differences either. The best approach is to study the passages and find a way to harmonize them without compromising the essence of the text.
"Consult the best commentaries available, especially those written by Evangelical scholars who believe in the integrity of Scripture." A good commentary is a valuable resource. Many alleged Bible difficulties are addressed in such books. One helpful series is the Expositor's Bible Commentary(Zondervan). With the rise of Bible software, many commentaries are now included in these packages as well.
"Many Bible difficulties result from a minor error on the part of a copyist in the t***smission of the text." This is an important point, especially when it comes to apparent numerical discrepancies. While Christians who adhere to inerrancy believe the original Bible manuscripts contained no errors whatsoever, they do grant that copies may contain a small number of errors. These errors or variants, however, do not change any key Christian doctrines.
"Whenever historical accounts of the Bible are called in question on the basis of alleged disagreement with the findings of archaeology or the testimony of ancient non-Hebrew documents, always remember that the Bible is itself an archaeological document of the highest caliber." Again and again throughout history, the archaeological evidence has supported the biblical record, not contradicted it. The evidence is clearly on the side of the Bible. Be wary of the latest news story claiming to debunk some key aspect of Christianity on the basis of recent findings that have yet to be studied in detail by qualified scholars. For more on the archeological evidence for the Bible see The Archaeological Study Bible (Zondervan).
More Advice (from two Bible scholars)

In addition to Archer's helpful tips for handling Bible difficulties, When Critics Ask also offers its share of useful insights. Here's a se******n of the advice:
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"Mistake 1: Assuming that the Unexplained Is Not Explainable." This ties into Archer's advice "that an adequate explanation exists." Be confident that if you encounter a Bible difficulty, there is a reasonable explanation.
"Mistake 2: Presuming the Bible Guilty Until Proven Innocent." This is not treating the biblical text fairly. As with other historical documents, let's grant it the benefit of the doubt unless clear evidence says otherwise.
"Mistake 3: Confusing Our Fallible Interpretations with God's Infallible Revelation." Usually the problem with alleged Bible contradictions and difficulties is with our interpretation, theology, or approach to the text, not with the actual text itself. We make mistakes, but God doesn't.
"Mistake 4: Failing to Understand the Context of the Passage." Again, context is supremely important when handling Bible difficulties. In most cases, a careful reading of the passage(s) in question, in their proper contexts, will resolve apparent difficulties.
"Mistake 5: Neglecting to Interpret Difficult Passages in the Light of Clear Ones." This is a key concept to keep in mind when approaching Bible difficulties that fall into the category of an obscure or particularly challenging passage. We may not be able to completely understand or explain the isolated passage in question, but given the broader context of the Bible and clear teachings on the subject elsewhere, we should be able to come to a good consensus on the matter at hand. A concept known as the perspicuity of Scripture is relevant in such cases. This means that the Bible is clear in essential matters.<span class="footnote">
Bible Difficulties?

Does the Bible contain some difficult passages? Yes. Are they unresolvable? No. Whenever a critic or sincere believer comes across an alleged Bible difficulty, it has always been answered. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness …" (1 Timothy 3:16, NIV)

Gleason L. Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties (Zondervan, 1982), pp. 15-17.

Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe, When Critics Ask (Victor Books, 1992), pp. 15-26.

Geisler and Howe cover twelve additional "mistakes" in reference to biblical interpretation and handling Bible difficulties. Other helpful resources in addition to Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties and When Critics Ask include Knowing Scripture by R.C. Sproul (IVP, 1977), Exegetical Fallacies by D.A. Carson (Baker, 1984), Scripture Twisting by James Sire (IVP, 1980), and Introduction to Biblical Interpretation by William Klein, Craig Blomberg, et. al. (Thomas Nelson, 2004).

Singularity

No matter how you dress it up, it's still a pig in lipstick! On first reading a person who has never encountered the Bible will invariably recognize that it describes magical beings and childishly unscientific assertions and is thus obviously fiction.

It takes mind and conscience bending efforts to attempt to reconcile its assertions with what we know are facts. This is most usually accomplished by the careful indoctrination of suitably immature minds by building and reinforcing emotional resistances to intellectual evaluation of the doctrine.

Once the irrational fear of loss of Heaven or fear of Hell is firmly entrenched, relief is obtained by consenting to accept the group's delusional reality, supported by the acquisition of an already assembled family and community of like mindedly deluded believers. (A benefit that is similarly threatened by the intrusion of logical reality.)

It can only be accepted on faith. The proponents of the God of the Bible say he values faith more than intellectual honesty or moral certainty.

Once one abdicates intellectual honesty and moral certainty to an outside agency, one ceases to be an individual, becomes one of the collective, ceases to exercise the hallmark distinction of humanity!

The observer is further encouraged to believe that this erasure of one's humanity, personal choice, autonomy is perpetrated by a supremely LOVING entity.

Well, I call jumpsuit! (That's what spell check changed it too, anyway.)

Little Ball of Hate

So, basically, you're claiming that Christians are a bunch of brainwashed i***ts. At least that's what I got from what you said. I could say that anyone who believes in a naturalistic universe are people who cannot accept the fact that they are sinners. They refuse to believe in God because they would have to give up their sinful pleasures. This is reinforced in our public schools, and our universities. Yep. You're all just a bunch of brainwashed i***ts. You poor fools.

Singularity

I would not use such a pejorative term, but yes, in essence.

One can assert wh**ever they wish to be true. We both have just done so. I believe I have supported my assertions logically. You have presented yours. You have not refuted my essential point. You are unhappy with faith and want certainty. Which does not exist in the physical world.

Now you want to insult me by claiming I choose sinful pleasures over t***h when I am the one who has championed t***h over "faith"!?!?!

Why do you persist in this search for facts to support what your God wants you to accept on faith?

Little Ball of Hate

You obviously can't handle the t***h. My faith is based on evidence. It is certain. The evidence for God is all around you, but your p***e will not allow you to see it. I didn't refute your essential point because you haven't made one. You simply made some baseless assertions.

Dummy Boy Loc: Michigan

Singularity

Lol. Wh**ever let's you sleep at night, man.

Little Ball of Hate

Right back at you.

Singularity

My essential point, in case you missed it: You are unhappy with faith and want certainty. Which does not exist in the physical world.

The explanation you pose is irrational, magical and unsupported by empirical facts. That is why your argument is unconvincing.

bylm1-Bernie

It's always been interesting to me that non-believers can tear the Bible apart, ridicule it, make fun of it and in general laugh at it for being juvenile, etc,etc, even though it is the largest selling book ever, that has been printed into more languages than any other publication and accepted by scholars the world over for eons, while they offer nothing more than the opinions of people who are offended by it or afraid to lower themselves to accept it to be what millions say it is. My sister-in-law is a case in point. She will not say there is a God that the Bible proclaims there is but she says she believes in a higher being that could be very similar to what I call God that she chooses to believe in. I have never been able to figure out why she chooses to reject the God the Bible proclaims in favor of some similar spirit that she can't really say who it is or why she believes in it. Maybe one of our resident "psychologists" can explain that.

Rufus Loc: Deep South

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Good post.

Dummy Boy Loc: Michigan

[quote=bylm1]



Do you believe that there is an evil empire led by Darth Vader? There are some books (aka Star Wars) that discuss that, in fact, I’ll bet that there are some college classes that teach creative writing: led by scholars, that use it to teach creative writing. Millions of copies were sold, and it was t***slated into numerous languages. How is that different than the bible?
I am not offended by the bible, I am offended by people who use it as a weapon and then complain about the results. Do you accept everything in Star Wars? Do you get offended by people who dress up as Star Wars characters and go to conventions that discuss the minutiae of Star Wars?



She probably has the same issue with you, accept that you don’t have enough emotional intelligence to realize just how stupid you sound to her…and talking about her…behind her back…isn’t going to help convince her to change her ways. Put yourself in her shoes and look around you, the bible isn’t the only reason to believe in God.

Little Ball of Hate

TY

bylm1-Bernie

I wouldn't say I am talking about her behind her back. I haven't mentioned her name, you don't know her, you don't know me or anything about where either of us live. Moreover, I have discussed this at length with her in a pleasant and positive tone, not to get her to accept my story -she certainly may if she chooses - but to try to ascertain why she would choose to believe what she does. I don't think she thought I sounded stupid. Stupidity didn't enter into it. Only logic and whom we each choose to put our faith in. After all, I believe everyone at some point chooses to put his faith in someone or some thing. I think that's the way we are made. If you or she chooses to put you faith in Darth what's his name, that's fine by me. I'm sorry if I led you down a path that I am not on. I didn't intend to do that - just trying to answer the thread initiator.

iFrank Loc: San Antonio

LBOH.. Those difficulties are put there by people who don't want other people to read the Bible. God in the first spiritual earth age found that His created children that came through His power, were being soiled with sin before unmoral acts were labeled as sin by God. Lucifer was exalting himself as he was sitting in Gods seat, forgiving sin as I read in Eze. 28:2. Since billions of people were created they were bound to be some bad eggs. This is why this second earth flesh age was created. Even though human beings are intelligent, we only have use of only a fraction of our brain. Atheists are predestined to not make it back to heaven when they pass. But when they do pass on to their spiritual bodies they will have total recall and will have remorse on the fact that being a doorman in heaven is better than the other place for a thousand years + then the Judgement. That's why God warned on people removing and changing words in the Word of God, for God has a double reap for his Glory, the ones who changed the words and on keeping the atheists and non-desirables from believing and asking for forgiveness, then God will hear them and heal them, So it a win, win for God, and besides that, I personally don't want them there with the rest of us.