Down through the centuries critics have been quick to attack the Bible as a book containing errors and discrepancies and as a result say that the Bible is not inspired by God. But are there really mistakes in the Bible? While I will admit that some biblical accounts are hard to harmonize, I believe, that one of the reasons God allows difficulties in the Scriptures is that it forces us to study.
John MacArthur shares the following insight: “I think there are difficulties in the Bible to force us to close the gaps. For example, some things are difficult for us because we don’t understand the culture during the writing of Scripture. Or we may not understand the history of the times, or we have a language problem. Having to face all these gaps forces us to study.”1
As we have shared in past blog posts the scientific field of archaeology has proven numerous biblical accounts to correspond with their secular findings. Archaeology has over the past 150 years been a great friend of the Scriptures, helping to validate the Bible as a first-rate history book.
Again, John MacArthur, shares a fascinating illustration of how archaeology has come to the aid of defending the Bible in what at first clearly appeared to be a discrepancy in the book of 2 Kings. In (2 Kings 18) we read the account of where Hezekiah, king of Judah was commanded by Sennacherib, king of Assyria to pay 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold. (2 Kings 18:14) describes the situation during their battle: “Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, ‘I have done wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose on me I will pay.’ And the king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.”
MacArthur shares the apparent discrepancy when he states: “Now Hezekiah was commanded by Sennacherib to pay three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. Archaeologists have found some very interesting information regarding this battle. In fact, they found the records of the transaction between Sennacherib and Hezekiah. But it was Sennacherib’s account that they found. His account said eight hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold was the correct record. This is a discrepancy, so the critics said, ‘See, the Bible is in error again.’ But the archaeologists continued to dig and found out more about Assyrian life. Recently, they discovered that the standard of calculation for gold in Judea and Assyria was the same. So, thirty talents of gold in Judea would be thirty talents of gold in Assyria. But the standard for calculating silver was different. They discovered that it took exactly eight hundred Assyrian talents to make three hundred Jewish talents. The Scripture was right to the very number.”2
The above account demonstrates that while there are difficulties in the Bible – they are not errors. Sometimes all we need is further information to clarify apparent discrepancies.
1 John MacArthur, Jr., Is the Bible Reliable? (Panorama City, CA: Word of Grace Communications, 1982), p. 70.
2 John MacArthur, Jr., Is the Bible Reliable? (Panorama City, CA: Word of Grace Communications, 1982), pp. 71 – 72.
We’ve said it before in a dozen different ways but it’s worth saying again. In response to the statement, “Sometimes all we need is further information to clarify apparent discrepancies,” the Scripture makes it clear that if every discrepancy was resolved, the worldview of the unbeliever would suppress this knowledge.
The endless search for the definitive “proof” or “evidence” is never going to convince the person who wants to be like God; is at war with God; has the wrath of God on his head; who can not truly know anything prior to repentance; whose thinking is foolishness; who is of their father, the devil.
“Such were some of you,” you say. That is true and a testament to God’s grace. But what we are describing here is whether or not the presentation of evidences makes for an effective apologetic. Unless the unbeliever’s presuppositions that make up his worldview are challenged then we are constantly putting him on the judge’s bench with a gavel to strike down what evidences he is unwilling to accept. His rejection of truth doesn’t have to be logical because he believes the lie as a routine way of interpreting his world. His failure to understand is not a lack of knowledge it’s a moral sin. He does not keep the law of God neither indeed can he.
So, if you have been a witness for Christ and have relied on the “one more proof” approach, you’ve probably had more frustrating conversations than fruitful ones. And if your mountain of evidences bore fruit and if it was based on evidences there remains the possibility that the new “believer” can be swayed back to doubt and rejection upon being presented new evidence from the opposition. You’ve seen this happen and it’s always a heartbreak.
Repentance is a complete change of mind, a 180 degree turn to having the mind of Christ. It’s not a response to who has the most evidence Prov. 18:17
The first to speak in court sounds right— until the cross-examination begins.
This is a very interesting post, Curt.
Thank youl
Elaine