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Title: Lecture 15: How to Handle Bible Difficulties


1
Lecture 15How to Handle Bible Difficulties
  • A. Summary of Approaches for Handling Bible
    Difficulties.
  • B. Summary of Principles for Understanding Bible
    Difficulties.

2
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)

3
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.

4
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.

5
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.

6
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.

7
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.

8
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.

9
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).

10
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.

11
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).

12
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.

13
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.

14
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.

15
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.

16
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.

17
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.

18
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.

19
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).

20
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.

21
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.

22
12. Note when the Bible used different literary
devices
  • The context typically dictates whether a term
    should be taken literally or figuratively.

23
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.

24
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).

25
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.
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