Bible Difficulties

Bible DifficultiesBible Difficulties

Kerby AndersonKerby Anderson

Probe MinistriesProbe Ministries

Sample of Bible DifficultiesSample of Bible Difficulties

Genesis contains two contradictory Genesis contains two contradictory creation accounts.creation accounts.

The gospels record two different The gospels record two different genealogies for Jesus.genealogies for Jesus.

The gospels record various events in The gospels record various events in contradictory ways.contradictory ways.

Bible makes unscientific statements.Bible makes unscientific statements.

How to Handle QuestionsHow to Handle Questions

“The benefit of the doubt is to be given to the document itself, not arrogated by the critic to himself.”

Aristotle’s dictum

Survey of Bible DifficultiesSurvey of Bible Difficulties

Historical Problems Historical Problems – – archeologyarcheology

Textual Problems Textual Problems – – contradictionscontradictions

Scientific Problems Scientific Problems – – inaccuraciesinaccuracies

Doctrinal ProblemsDoctrinal Problems

Moral ProblemsMoral Problems

Historical ProblemsHistorical Problems

Charge: Charge: Moses could not have Moses could not have written the Pentateuch (first 5 books written the Pentateuch (first 5 books of the Bible) since most people were of the Bible) since most people were illiterate at the time.illiterate at the time.

Response: Response: The Code of Hammurabi The Code of Hammurabi was discovered (written 1728 BC).was discovered (written 1728 BC).


Charge:Charge: The stories of the patriarchs The stories of the patriarchs (Genesis 11-50) were artificial (Genesis 11-50) were artificial creations by Israelite scribes written creations by Israelite scribes written much later.much later.

Response: Response: Archeological discoveries Archeological discoveries since 1925 continue to confirm the since 1925 continue to confirm the historical details of these accounts.historical details of these accounts.


Charge:Charge: The biblical writers artificially The biblical writers artificially created the Hittites. This was either created the Hittites. This was either an error or an embellishment.an error or an embellishment.

Response: Response: Excavations in 1906 at a Excavations in 1906 at a location 90 miles east of Ankara, location 90 miles east of Ankara, Turkey uncovered the capital of the Turkey uncovered the capital of the Hittite Empire.Hittite Empire.


Charge:Charge: The size of Ninevah – “an The size of Ninevah – “an exceedingly great city, a three days’ exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk” (Jonah 3:3) was ridiculed by walk” (Jonah 3:3) was ridiculed by Voltaire as a blatant error.Voltaire as a blatant error.

Response: Response: Archeology later Archeology later confirmed this biblical description.confirmed this biblical description.


““As a matter of fact . . . it may be stated As a matter of fact . . . it may be stated categorically that no archaeological categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of archaeological reference. Scores of archaeological findings . . . confirm in clear outline or in findings . . . confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the exact detail historical statements in the Bible.”Bible.”

Jewish scholar Nelson GleuckJewish scholar Nelson Gleuck

Textual ProblemsTextual Problems

Alleged ContradictionsAlleged Contradictionsin the Biblein the Bible

Two Creation AccountsTwo Creation Accounts

Charge: Charge: Genesis contains two Genesis contains two different accounts of creation. different accounts of creation. These two accounts use These two accounts use different names for God different names for God and reflect different and reflect different authors. Also, the authors. Also, the narratives contradict narratives contradict each other.each other.

Two Creation AccountsTwo Creation Accounts

Genesis 1Genesis 1 Genesis 2 Genesis 2

ChronologicalChronological TopicalTopical

Broad outlineBroad outline Adam and EveAdam and Eve

Sequence importantSequence important Sequence Sequence irrelevantirrelevant

Elohim - Elohim - culturalcultural Yahweh - Yahweh - personalpersonal

Genealogies of JesusGenealogies of Jesus

Charge:Charge: Matthew and Luke give Matthew and Luke give different genealogies for Jesus.different genealogies for Jesus.

Response: Response: Matthew (written for the Matthew (written for the Jews) gives the genealogy of Joseph. Jews) gives the genealogy of Joseph. The genealogy in Luke is the The genealogy in Luke is the genealogy of Mary (and focuses on genealogy of Mary (and focuses on His conception and birth).His conception and birth).

Peter’s DenialPeter’s Denial

Charge: Charge: Mark 14 says that before a Mark 14 says that before a cock crows cock crows twicetwice, Peter would deny , Peter would deny the Lord. Matthew 26 and Luke 22 the Lord. Matthew 26 and Luke 22 simply say that before the cock would simply say that before the cock would crow, Peter would deny the Lord crow, Peter would deny the Lord three times.three times.

Peter’s DenialPeter’s Denial

Response: Response: Matthew and Luke did Matthew and Luke did not not say the cock crowed only once as say the cock crowed only once as opposed to Mark’s twice. They opposed to Mark’s twice. They simply referred to the cock crowing. simply referred to the cock crowing. “Cockcrowing” was a proverbial “Cockcrowing” was a proverbial expression for early morning. Mark expression for early morning. Mark merely provided more detail.merely provided more detail.

Angels at the TombAngels at the Tomb

Charge: Charge: Matthew and Mark mention Matthew and Mark mention only one angel at the tomb of Jesus. only one angel at the tomb of Jesus. Luke and John refer to two angels at Luke and John refer to two angels at the tomb.the tomb.

Response:Response: The discrepancy clears The discrepancy clears up when we realize that there were up when we realize that there were two groups of women.two groups of women.

Death of JudasDeath of Judas

Charge: Charge: Matthew says Judas hung Matthew says Judas hung himself while Acts says he fell and himself while Acts says he fell and was burst asunder.was burst asunder.Response: Response: Judas hung himself on a Judas hung himself on a precipice over the valley of Hinnom. precipice over the valley of Hinnom. The rope gave way, his body fell, and The rope gave way, his body fell, and burst open in the middle and was burst open in the middle and was mangled as described in Acts.mangled as described in Acts.

Scientific ProblemsScientific Problems

Charge:Charge: Jesus is wrong when he says Jesus is wrong when he says that the mustard seed “is smaller than that the mustard seed “is smaller than all other seeds” (Matt. 13:32).all other seeds” (Matt. 13:32).

Response: Response: “No one yet has proved “No one yet has proved that ancient Palestinians planted that ancient Palestinians planted anything that bore a smaller seed than anything that bore a smaller seed than that of a black mustard.” that of a black mustard.”

Gleason ArcherGleason Archer

Scientific ProblemsScientific Problems

Charge:Charge: Leviticus 11:6 says that the Leviticus 11:6 says that the rabbit “chews the cud.”rabbit “chews the cud.”

Response: Response: The movement of their The movement of their jaws is similar to that of animals that jaws is similar to that of animals that do chew the cud. It is possible that do chew the cud. It is possible that the Hebrew term translated here the Hebrew term translated here doesn’t mean the same as our phrase.doesn’t mean the same as our phrase.

Doctrinal ProblemsDoctrinal Problems

Charge:Charge: 2 Samuel 24 implies that God 2 Samuel 24 implies that God incited David to number the tribes. incited David to number the tribes. However, 1 Chronicles 21 says that However, 1 Chronicles 21 says that Satan “moved David to number Israel.”Satan “moved David to number Israel.”

Response:Response: God often allows Satan to God often allows Satan to perform his evil deeds for some perform his evil deeds for some greater purpose.greater purpose.


Charge:Charge: The Bible seems to approve of The Bible seems to approve of Rahab’s lying (Joshua 2:4-5).Rahab’s lying (Joshua 2:4-5).

Response:Response: The Bible does not The Bible does not condone what God condemns (Prov. 12:22). The Bible approves of her faith as demonstrated by her good works (Heb. 11:31), but not her falsehood.


Charge:Charge: The Old Testament approves The Old Testament approves of the practice of polygamy.of the practice of polygamy.

Response:Response: While the Bible does say While the Bible does say that some of Israel’s leaders had that some of Israel’s leaders had more than one wife, it more than one wife, it never never teaches teaches that this is God’s intent for marriage. that this is God’s intent for marriage. Deuteronomy 17 actually forbids it.Deuteronomy 17 actually forbids it.

We Should Expect DifficultiesWe Should Expect Difficulties

If someone were to hand me a book that If someone were to hand me a book that was as simple to me as the multiplication was as simple to me as the multiplication table and say “This is the Word of table and say “This is the Word of God” . . . . I would shake my head and God” . . . . I would shake my head and say “I cannot believe it; that is too easy to say “I cannot believe it; that is too easy to be a perfect revelation of infinite wisdom.”be a perfect revelation of infinite wisdom.”

R.A. TorreyR.A. Torrey

www.probe.org

Bible Difficulties

Spiritual

Transcript of Bible Difficulties