(AQ) –Are you taking your Scriptures out of context?
What most people claim as errors are not errors but difficulties. Inconsistences occur when people do not take the time to find out all the facts. Three things must be understood:
* Lack of understanding is not an error.
* An unresolved difficulty is not an error.
* Silence from scripture is not an error.
There are six major kinds of difficulties found among those who attack the inerrancy of the Bible
* Faith Difficulties;
* Language Difficulties;
* Scientific Difficulties;
* Factual Difficulties;
* Doctrinal Difficulties;
* Ethical Difficulties;
Let’s look these difficulties.
Faith Difficulties
They question the accounts in Scripture. Here are some examples: Adam & Eve, Abel, Noah, the Flood, Red Sea, Jonah, walking on water, and the Resurrection. All of these are questions of faith. Jesus confirmed the accounts of Adam and Eve, Noah, and Jonah in Matthew 12:40, and 19:4. To reject this is to reject the authority and truthfulness of Jesus.
People sometimes try to discredit what they cannot understand. Just because we do not know “how” all the miracles in the Bible occurred does not mean they did not happen.
Consider this example: Top scientists have trouble understanding the writings of Albert Einstein - How much more for finite humans to understand the infinite God? Here is what must be understood: The denial of miracles is not a question of accuracy, it is faith.
Language Difficulties – “Figures of speech”
The Bible describes events as they appear to be. (Example – “Sun rising and setting”). Many would charge the Bible with errors in this matter – Why? - Because the scientific knowledge states that the earth rotates. Figures of Speech are not errors.
AQ – Are you applying different “measures” in your judgment of figures of speech between your everyday life and scripture?
(AQ) –Are you taking your Scriptures out of context?
Scientific Difficulties
Some say the Bible is filled with primitive, pre-scientific views of the Universe. The Bible never claimed to be a science book, but there has been no error found on what it does say about science.
There are no scientific errors in the Bible. The Bible does not teach chemistry or Biology, BUT it never stands in conflict with VERFIED Science in any way. In all places that the Bible deals with scientific matters, it is completely accurate, even at times when science disagreed. Here are a few examples:
- Roundness of the Earth (Isaiah 40:22)
- Law of Conservation of Mass and Energy (II Peter 3:7)
- Hydrologic Cycle (Ecclesiastes 1:7)
- Vast number of stars (Jeremiah 33:22)
- Law of increasing entropy (Psalm 102:25-27)
- The importance of blood in the life process (Leviticus 17:11)
- Atmospheric Circulation (Ecclesiastes 1:6)
- Gravitational field (Job 26:7)
Remember this: Silence in the Bible about a fact is not an error.
AQ – If it is not in the Bible, how can you say the Bible is in error?
AQ – Do you know of a scientific fact existing today that the Bible says is wrong?
Factual Difficulties
Many difficulties in this area deal with statistics. (Example: one angel in Matthew 28:2 or two angels in John 20:12). Matthew said one angel spoke. That act does not eliminate two angels. One person may round off a number while the other may use an exact number. A closer study of the problem in this category will always reveal a logical explanation. To say that the Bible is full of error on this point has no factual basis.
(AQ) –Are you taking your Scriptures out of context?
Doctrinal Difficulties
This difficulty can be solved through the context of the verse. These are minor problems (Example: faith (Paul) vs. works (James)). Both Paul and James quoted Genesis 15:6 to back up their points. It reads
“And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
Paul used the verse for the teaching of salvation (Faith). James used the verse for the teaching on your conduct after salvation (Works). These difficulties can be easily solved by examining the passage in its context and the Author’s intention.
(AQ) –Are you taking your Scriptures out of context?
Ethical Difficulties
This is placing two Scriptures together, canceling out each other (Example: “murder”- (Innocent) vs. capital punishment – (Guilty)). These difficulties can be solved through careful study of the issues in their full context and meaning. Regardless of the kind of difficulty found, not one “irreconcilable error” is to be found in the pages of Scripture.
(AQ) –Are you taking your Scriptures out of context?
(AQ) – If you encountered any of these difficulties, and knowing the facts, does your decision still stand?