what about alleged errors in the bible? copyright by norman l. geisler 2013

What About Alleged Errors in the Bible?

Copyright by Norman L. Geisler 2013

Bart Ehrman: Thousands of Errors in Bible “And these [NT Ms.] copies all differ from one another, in

many thousands of places…. These copies differ from each other in so many places that we don’t even know how many differences there are.”

(Misquoting Jesus, 10, 12).

Outline

I. Why the Bible Cannot ErrII. How to Approach Alleged ErrorsIII. The Real AlternativesIV. Response to Alleged Errors

I. Why the Bible Cannot Error

A. God cannot err. B. The Bible is the Word of God.

C. Therefore, the Bible cannot err.

Outline

I. Why the Bible Cannot ErrII. How to Approach Alleged Errors

The same way scientists study nature:

The same way scientists study nature:

Study of Science Study of BibleMany Difficulties Many DifficultiesAssumed Explainability Assumed ExplainabilityMany have been Explained Many have been ExplainedThe Rest can be Explained The Rest can be ExplainedAssuming an error gives up on science—and Bible study.Assuming no error prompts further study.

III. How to Approach Alleged Errors

Outline

I. Why the Bible Cannot ErrII. How to Approach Alleged ErrorsIII. The Real AlternativesIV. Responding to Alleged Errors

St. Augustine's Dictum: St. Augustine's Dictum:

“If we are perplexed by any apparent contradiction in Scripture, it is not allowable to say, The author of this book is mistaken; but either [1] the manuscript is faulty, or [2] the translation is wrong, or [3] you have not understood” (Augustine, Reply to Faustus 11.5).

OutlineI. Why the Bible Cannot ErrII. How to Approach Alleged ErrorsIII. The Real AlternativesIV. Responding to Alleged Errors

Problem: Genesis 1 and 2 give two contradictory creation accounts.

Response: First, they are not contradictory but complementary. Genesis one gives the outline and chronological order, showing the creation of animals. Genesis 2 gives a more topical and detailed account leading up to the naming of the animals.

Second, in Genesis 1 the animals are created before man. But in Genesis 2 they are named after man is created. It does not say they were created after man was. It simply says Adam named the animals which God had already created (Gen 2:19).

Problem: Genesis 4:16-17 says Cain had a wife and children. But there was no one else to marry, since there was only Adam, Eve, and Cain left (after he killed Abel).

Response: First, Adam and Eve had “other sons and daughters” (Gen. 5:4). Second, Adam lived for 800 years after he started to have children. You can have a lot of children in 800 years! So, there were many other women to marry. Third, it was not yet forbidden to marry one’s sister or cousin—a law that came much later (which protects against genetic deformities).

Problem: Leviticus 11:5-6 says the rabbit chews the cud, when science has proven it does not.

Response: First, rabbits do not chew the cud in the modern technical sense (of ruminants which usually have four stomachs), but they do have a chewing action that looks similar. They practice refection (chewing their droppings). Even the famous scientist Linnaeus originally classed rabbits as ruminants because of their similar chewing motion.

Second, the Bible does not use modern technical categories but those useful for an average observer who could see by this chewing motion whether it was an unclean animal or not. The Bible employs the same observational language when it speaks of “sun rise” and “sun set.”

Problem: The Bible presents Pi as 3 (not 3.14159265....). (2 Chrn. 4:2).

Response: It was common to use

round numbers. (Jesus was “about thirty years of

age”--Lk. 3:23) Even scientists round off Pi to a

limited number which is not precisely correct.

3.14159265...

Problem: Genesis says the sun was not made until the fourth day (Gen. 1:14-19). Yet there was “evening and morning [light]” from the first day on (1:2-5).

Answer: First, there was light from the first day when God said, “Let there be light” (1:3) and there was “morning.” Second, there was light from the first day, but the light holders (sun, moon, and stars) did not become visible until the fourth day (just as we can see that it is day time on a foggy day, even though we can not see the sun).

Problem: Biblical authors held the false view of ancient times that the atmosphere was not basically empty but was a solid dome. Job says God “spread out the skies” like “a cast metal mirror” (37:18). Indeed, the Hebrew word for “firmament” (raqia) (Gen. 1:16) is defined in Hebrew dictionary as a solid object.

Answer: First, the root meaning (etymology) of raqia was solid object, but meaning is not determined by origin but by usage. For example, “board” was originally a solid plank. but now it can refer to a non-physical group of persons—a board of Trustees.

Second, raqia means to beat out or spread out, as metal is thinned out when beaten. It is correctly rendered “expanse” (cf. Ex. 39:3; Is. 40:19 NIV, NASB). Second, Isaiah 42:22 says God “stretched out the heavens like a curtain” which fits with the idea of an expanding universe. Third, the Bible speaks of rain as falling through the sky (Job. 36:27-28) which is not possible through a solid object. Fourth, birds are said to fly “above” the earth and across the face of firmament (Gen. 1:20) which is not possible if the sky is solid. Finally, Job does not say the skies are a metal mirror, but only like one in their strength (endurance). This should not be taken any more literally than saying God is like a strong tower (Prov. 18:12).

Problem: It is unscientific to speak of the sun "standing still" (Josh. 10:12).

Response: First, this is no different than speaking of the sun "rising" (Josh. 1:16). Hundreds of scientists (meteorologists) say this every day. Second, this is not unscientific; it is merely pre-scientific. Third, how the sun appeared to stop is a miracle which is possible, if God exists. To disprove it, one would have to disprove God. Finally, the Bible was written for the common man in a common language. It uses everyday, observational language.

Even contemporary meteorologists speak of “sunrise" and “sunset"

No scientist says: "Honey, look at the

beautiful earth rotation!"

Problem: The Bible says God is Spirit (Jn. 4:24) yet he has arms, legs, and eyes .


Response: All the Bible is literally true, but--

not all the Bible is true literally . It uses figures of speech.



not all the Bible is true literally . It uses figures of speech. Poetry-- "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:7).



not all the Bible is true literally . It uses figures of speech. Poetry-- "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:7)..Parables-- "There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man. And he said ‘because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me’" (Lk. 18:1-5).



not all the Bible is true literally . It uses figures of speech. Poetry-- "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:7)..Parables-- "There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man. And he said ‘because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me’" (Lk. 18:1-5).Allegory--"Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.... Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants" (Gal. 4:24).

Metaphors-- "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity...and sets on fire the course of nature." (Js. 3:6)

Metaphors-- "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity...and sets on fire the course of nature." (Js. 3:6)Similes--"The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field." (Mt. 13:31)


Hyperboles--"And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." (Jn. 21:25)

Satire --"Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel." (Mt. 19:24)




Figures of speech--"O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.” (Psa. 36:7)




Figures of speech--"O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.” (Psa. 36:7)

Anthropomorphism--"God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not." (Jonah 3:10) But God does not repent: “The strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” (1 Sam. 15:29)



Problem: The Bible contain many false and evil statements:

Satan's lie (Gen. 3:4; cf. John 8:44); David's Adultery (2 Sam 11); Solomon's Polygamy (1 Kings 11:1); That "There is no God" (Psa. 14:1).

Problem: The Bible contain many false and evil statements:

Satan's lie (Gen. 3:4; cf. John 8:44); David's Adultery (2 Sam 11); Solomon's Polygamy (1 Kings 11:1); That "There is no God" (Psa. 14:1).

Response: The Bible records these things, but it does not approve of them.

It is true that Satan lied, but his lie is not true. It is true that the fool said “There is no God.”

Problem: Bible says there is no God

The Context: The "fool" said this (Psa. 14:1).

Problem: Kings and Chronicles conflict.

Solomon had 40,000 stalls.

(1 Kings 4:26)


(2 Chrn. 9:25)

Ahaziah was 42.

(2 Chrn. 22:2)

Ahaziah was 22.

(2 Kings 8:26 KJV]

Problem: Kings and Chronicles conflict.


(1 Kings 4:26)


(2 Chrn. 9:25)

Ahaziah was 42.

(2 Chrn. 22:2)

Ahaziah was 22.

(2 Kings 8:26 KJV]

Response: These are errors in a copy, not in the original text.

Note Several Important Things:Note Several Important Things:

1. These errors are found only in copies, not in originals manuscripts.

2. They are rare.3. They affect no doctrine of

Scripture.4. We usually know which one is

correct by the context.

What if you got this text message?

"Y#U HAVE WON TEN MILLION DOLLARS"

What if you got this text message?


Would you collect the money?

What if you received this message?


"YO# HAVE WON TEN MILLION DOLLARS"

And if you received this message, you would have no doubt!

"Y#U HAVE WON TEN MILLION DOLLARS""YO# HAVE WON TEN MILLION DOLLARS""YOU #AVE WON TEN MILLION DOLLARS"

Note:1. Even with mistakes, 100% of the

message comes through.2. The more errors, the more sure you

are of the message.3. The Bible has many less errors in the

copies than this message has.

Problem: Matt. 8:5 says the “centurion came to Him entreating Him….” But Luke 7:6 says “the centurion sent friends” to speak to Jesus.

Answer: Both are true; the centurion spoke through his representatives just as the President speaks through the Secretary of State as his official representative.

Problem: In Matt. 10:9-10 says “Do not take…a staff [for your journey]” but Mark 6:8 says to “take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff….”

Answer: Mark declares that they should take nothing except a staff which a traveler would normally have. Whereas, Matthew says they are not to acquire an extra staff. In short, travel light. And don’t take “two tunics” (Mt. 10:10) either.

Problem: Four Different Inscriptions on Cross

• Matthew- THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.


• Mark - THE KING OF THE JEWS.



• Luke - THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.



• Luke - THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

• John - JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

• Whole: THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Response: These are complementary, not contradictory

Problem: Bible says: "The mustard seed...is the smallest of all seeds." (Mt. 13:31- 32), but science says it is the orchid

seed.

Problem: Bible says: "The mustard seed...is the smallest of all seeds." (Mt. 13:31- 32), but science says it is the orchid

seed. Response: However, the mustard seed was the smallest one "which a man [i.e., a first century farmer] took and sowed in his field" (Mt. 13:31), not the smallest seed in all the world.

Problem: Two Different Accounts of Judas’s death.

Matthew (27:5): Judas "hanged himself.“

Acts (1:18): "...falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out."

Problem: Matthew (27:5): Judas "hanged

himself.“Acts (1:18): "...falling headlong, he

burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out."

Response: Sometime after hanging himself, his

body was discovered, the rope cut, and the body fell on sharp rocks and burst open.

Problem: Two different crucifixion day are given. Mark 14:12: “On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they [the Jews] sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” So, this was Thursday and the Passover meal was Friday (Nisan 14) when Jesus was crucified.

Problem: Two different crucifixion day are given. Mark 14:12: “On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they [the Jews] sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” So, this was Thursday and the Passover meal was Friday (Nisan 14) when Jesus was crucified. John 19:14: “Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover: it was about the sixth hour. He [Pilate] said to the Jews. ’Behold your King!’” This would seem to indicate that Jesus was crucified on Thursday (when they were preparing for the Passover).

Response: “Preparation” is a word

used for “Friday,” the day of preparation for a Sabbath or feast “Since it was the day of preparation, and so the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate…”(Jn. 19:31 cf. Mk. 15:42 ).

Response: “Preparation” is a word

used for “Friday,” the day of preparation for a Sabbath or feast “Since it was the day of preparation, and so the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate…”(Jn. 19:31 cf. Mk. 15:42 ). A.T. Robertson said, “That is, Friday of Passover week, the preparation day before Sabbath of Passover week (or feast)” (Word Pictures, vol. 5, p. 299.) D.A. Carson wrote: “(‘Preparation’) regularly refers to Friday—i.e. the Preparation of the Sabbath is Friday” (The Gospel According to John, 603).

Problem: Matthew (28:5) said there was one

angel at the tomb. John (20:12) said there were two

angels there.Response:

Matthew did not say there was only one. Wherever there are two, there is always one!

Problem: Different points at which she died. McGowen calls this a “a very good example” of an error in the Bible. It alleges that in Matthew 9:18 Jairus told Jesus that his daughter was dead. But in Mark and Luke Jairus told Jesus she was only “at the point of death” (Mk 5:23) but not dead. Luke said she was only “dying” but not yet dead (Lk. 8:42).

Problem: Different points at which she died. McGowen calls this a “a very good example” of an error in the Bible. It alleges that in Matthew 9:18 Jairus told Jesus that his daughter was dead. But in Mark and Luke Jairus told Jesus she was only “at the point of death” (Mk 5:23) but not dead. Luke said she was only “dying” but not yet dead (Lk. 8:42).

Response: This is not an error because: First, “while he [Jairus] was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, ‘Your daughter is dead’” (Lk. 8:49). So, initially she was not said to be dead but later (after hearing that she had died), then Jesus said she was dead. Both statement are true because they are about different times.

Problem: Jesus said of the temple that “not one stone will be left upon another” when it is destroyed. But the foundation stones of the temple are still there.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.greatcommission.com/israel/JerusalemTempleWesternWailingWall.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.greatcommission.com/israel/Israel.html&usg=__G62Ey35ItGa0YeycgHB1xSUCvJ4=&h=580&w=886&sz=263&hl=en&start=15&um=1&tbnid=0b5npZeQINsAUM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=146&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwailing%2Bwall%2Bin%2BJerusalem%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1

Problem: Jesus said of the temple that “not one stone will be left upon another” when it is destroyed. But the foundation stones of the temple are still there.

Response: These are not the temple stones but the foundation of the outer court. Every stone of the temple was literally thrown down by the Romans.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.greatcommission.com/israel/JerusalemTempleWesternWailingWall.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.greatcommission.com/israel/Israel.html&usg=__G62Ey35ItGa0YeycgHB1xSUCvJ4=&h=580&w=886&sz=263&hl=en&start=15&um=1&tbnid=0b5npZeQINsAUM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=146&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwailing%2Bwall%2Bin%2BJerusalem%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1

For 800 More Errors of the Critics, See The Big Book of Bible

Difficulties.

For 800 More Errors of the Critics, See The Big Book of Bible

Difficulties.

Why the Bible Cannot Error

A. God cannot err. B. The Bible is the Word of God.

C. Therefore, the Bible cannot err.

St. Augustine's Dictum: St. Augustine's Dictum:

“If we are perplexed by any apparent contradiction in Scripture, it is not allowable to say, The author of this book is mistaken; but either [1] the manuscript is faulty, or [2] the translation is wrong, or [3] you have not understood” (Augustine, Reply to Faustus 11.5).

Conclusions1. The Bible cannot err because it is God’s Word.2. The Bible has difficulties, but so does science.

We should not give up on either when we run into problems.

3. Many difficulties have been resolved with more research (Illustration: Dr. Kantzer’s friend).

4. Those who think there are errs in the Bible do not know too much but too little.

what about alleged errors in the bible? copyright by norman l. geisler 2013

Documents