Lecture 15: How to Handle Bible Difficulties

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Lecture 15How to Handle Bible Difficulties

• A. Summary of Approaches for Handling Bible
  Difficulties.
• B. Summary of Principles for Understanding Bible
  Difficulties.

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A. Summary of Approaches for Handling Bible
Difficulties

• Abstract Approach (B.B. Warfield)
• Harmonistic Approach (E.J. Young)
• Moderate Harmonistic Approach (Everett Harrison)
• Errant Source Approach (Edward J. Carnell)
• Biblical Errancy Approach (Dewey Beegle)

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Abstract ApproachB. B. Warfield

• Those who follow this approach are aware that
  there are difficulties in Scripture, but they
  tend to believe that these difficulties do not at
  all have to be explained because the weight of
  evidence for the inspiration and consequent
  inerrancy of the Bible is so great that no amount
  of difficulty could overthrow it. They tend to
  rest their case primarily on the doctrinal
  evidence for inspiration.

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The Harmonistic ApproachDr. Edward J. Young
Dr. Norman Geisler

• Adherents of this approach hold that belief in
  inerrancy is based on the doctrinal teachings of
  inspiration. They assert that the difficulties
  presented can be resolved, and they attempt to do
  so though it may mean using conjecture.

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The Moderate Harmonistic ApproachDr. Everett
Harrison

• This approach follows the style of the
  harmonistic approach to a certain extent. The
  problems are taken seriously, and an effort is
  made to solve them or relieve the difficulties as
  far as this is reasonably possible with the data
  currently available. Attempts are not made
  prematurely.

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The Errant Source ApproachDr. Edward. J. Carnell

• Inspiration guarantees only an accurate
  reproducing of the sources that the Scripture
  writer employed but not a correcting of them.
  Thus if the source contained an erroneous
  reference, the Scripture writer recorded that
  error just as it was in the source. For example,
  the Chronicler could have been relying on a
  fallible and erroneous source in drawing up his
  list of numbers of chariots and horsemen.

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The Biblical Errancy ApproachDewey Beegle

• The Bible contains errors-real and insoluble
  problems. They should be accepted rather than
  explained away. The nature of inspiration should
  be inferred from what the Bible has produced.
  Whatever inspiration is, it is not verbal.
  Inspiration cannot be regarded as extending to
  the very choice of words in the text. Therefore,
  it is not possible or necessary to reconcile all
  discrepancies.

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B. Summary of Principles for Understanding
Apparent Bible Difficulties

• Aristotles Literary Dictum the benefit of the
  doubt is to be given to the document itself, not
  arrogated by the critic to himself.

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1. The unexplained is not necessarily
unexplainable.

• When one encounters something for which has no
  explanation, simply continue to do research,
  believing in the possibility that an answer will
  eventually be found. Just because something has
  not yet been explained does not mean that it will
  never will be explained (e.g., science
  archeology).

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2. Fallible interpretations do not mean fallible
revelation

• One should not assume that a current dominant
  view in a field such as science gives the final
  word on biblical revelation. Contradictions
  between popular opinions in science and widely
  accepted interpretations of the Bible can be
  expected. But these conflicts fall short of
  proving there are real contradictions between
  Gods world and Gods Word.

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Understand the context of a passageA text out
of context is a pretext.

• Failure to note the meaning in light of context
  is perhaps the chief error of those who find
  fault with the Bible, e.g.
• Psalm 141 there is no God Resist not evil
  (Matt. 59, KJV).

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4. Interpret difficult passages in the light of
clear ones

• Since some passages of Scripture are hard to
  understand due to their obscurity or difficulty,
  rather than declaring that it is a contradiction,
  interpret the clear passages in light of the
  clear ones.

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4. Interpret difficult passages in the light of
clear ones, e.g.

• James 214-26 vs. Eph. 28-9 whereby Paul states
  that justification before God whereas James is
  referring to justification before men
• Phil. 212 vs. Eph. 28-9 where Paul writes that
  we are to work out our salvation with fear and
  trembling yet Eph. 28-9 affirms that we are
  saves through faith, and that not of ourselves
  it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone
  should boast.

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Dont base teaching on obscure passages The
main things are the plain things, and the plain
things are the main things.

• 1. When we are not sure, do not build a doctrine
  on an obscure passage. If something is
  important, it will be clearly taught in
  Scripture, and probably in more than one place.

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Dont base teaching on obscure passages The
main things are the plain things, and the plain
things are the main things.

• 2. When a given passage is not clear, never
  conclude that it means something that opposes
  another plain teaching of Scripture.

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6. The Bible is a human book with human
characteristics

• The Bible claims that God used human
  personalities to receive and communicate eternal
  truths. Therefore, expressions of speech (such
  as when Jesus used exaggeration) should not
  always be taken literally, then pitted against
  another portion of Scripture.

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7. Just because a report is incomplete does not
mean it is false

• For example, Mk. 51-20 Lk. 826-39 speak
  of only demoniac, while Matthew 828-34 speak of
  2. Mark Luke, likely using the firsthand
  report of the incident, are giving a partial
  report that focuses on the more prominent of the
  2 demoniacs in the event. They are actually
  complementary supplying more information when
  both are taken together.

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8. New Testament citations of the Old Testament
need not always be exact

• Just as in our day there is more than one
  translation of the Bible, early Christians often
  cited the Septuagint (the Greek translation of
  the O.T.), which gives slightly different wording
  to the same text.

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The Bible does not necessarily approve of all it
recordsThe truth of Scripture is found in
what the Bible reveals, not in everything that it
records.

• It is a mistake to assume that everything
  contained in the Bible is commended by the Bible.
  The Bible records some lies (e.g., Satans in
  Gen. 34 cf. John 844).

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10. The Bible uses non-technical everyday
language

• Just because a term in the Bible is
  non-scientific does not necessarily mean that the
  term is inaccurate.

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11. The Bible may use both round numbers as well
as exact numbers

• Round numbers are often used in ancient as well
  as modern literature. The Bible often contains
  this same linguistic convention.

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12. Note when the Bible used different literary
devices

• The context typically dictates whether a term
  should be taken literally or figuratively.

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13. An error in a copy does not equate to an
error in the original

• When theologians talk about the inerrancy
  (without error) of the Scriptures, they are
  referring to the original autographs-as opposed
  to a copy or a copy of a copy.

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14. General statements dont necessarily mean
universal promises

• Always distinguish between general statements
  and universal promises (e.g., Prov. 167 cf. the
  crucifixion of Christ, the stoning of Paul).

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15. Later revelation supercedes previous
revelation

• The Bible is progressively revealed God did
  not reveal everything at once. Therefore, some
  of His later revelation supercedes His former
  statements. Dont misinterpret a change of
  revelation to mean a mistake.