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Bible Difficulties: Should We Discuss Them?

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The following has been adapted from Don Stewart’s FAQs, available at the BLB.

 

That there are difficulties in the Bible—parts that seem hard to believe or seemingly contradict other parts—is a fact. How then, should the reader, in general, deal with the subject of Bible difficulties?

1. Not Afraid Of The Truth

We should not be afraid to discuss so-called contradictory passages. There is nothing gained in overlooking the difficulties that are in Scripture. We should not have the attitude to just take everything by blind faith. Scripture encourages us to respond to questions:

Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person (Colossians 4:5,6).

Jesus said:

and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32).

Paul encouraged the king to check out the facts when it came to the story of Jesus (Acts 24:8).

2.We Do Not Know Everything

In addition, we should not be afraid to ask tough questions about the Christian faith. Seemingly, the older we get the more difficult it is for us to admit we do not know certain things – it is tough to have to ask questions. Some wrongly assume that asking questions shows signs of weakness. However, it is a mark of maturity to admit there are still many things in this world that we do not know. Because we do not now have an answer, does not mean that we never will get the answer. If we do not continue to ask, we will not continue to learn.

3.Not Lack Of Faith To Ask

For believers, we are not offending God by asking legitimate questions about the Christian faith. Asking questions is not the same as unbelief. Asking honest questions will get us honest answers. Discussing the questions with others is also a good idea. The Bible says:

Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17).

4.We Need To Think

Unfortunately some people do not like to think. It is more comfortable for them to merely hold on to preconceived notions and prejudices. When we come across difficult passages in Scripture, or sayings that we cannot quite understand, it is easier to fall back on what we have always believed rather than re-evaluate what the text might be saying. This, however, is not the way we can grow in our Christian experience. We need to be able to assess what we believe in light of all the facts. If new information comes to us that causes us to change something we have previously believed, then we must be intellectually honest enough to admit we have been wrong in the past.

5.We Should Be Unlike The Cults

Furthermore, we do not want to be like cultic groups which do not tolerate questions from their people. Honest answers from cult leaders would cause the leaders to lose control. Christians should not blindly follow what some leader says – no matter who it is. Faith will only increase when our questions are answered. Blindly obeying favorite Bible teachers is not a Scriptural attitude.

6.Not Alone In The Question

Chances are the questions we have are not unique to us. Others have had the same problem as they have read Scripture and thought about the truth of the Christian faith. It is highly doubtful that someone will come up with a new question about Christianity, or the Bible, that no one else has thought of in the history of the church. Each question we have about the Bible has been asked and answered hundreds, if not thousands of times, since the time of Christ.

7.The Difficulties Have Been Answered

The crucial questions regarding what God has done in history and difficult biblical passages are not unique to our generation but have been answered time and time again. Peter Berger comments

The fundamental questions of theology have been passionately considered for at least three thousand years. It is not only insufferable arrogance to think that one can begin theology in sovereign disregard of that history, it is also extremely uneconomical. It seems rather a waste of time to spend, say, five years working out a position, only to find that it has already been done by a Syrian monk in the fifth century (Peter Berger, A Rumor of Angels, p. 98).

8.Accept The Answer And Then Go On

Once we receive an answer to our question, then we should go on. It is wrong to keep asking a question once the answer has been given. It is also wrong to doubt the Bible when there are a number of possible answers to a particular question, yet we are not certain which is the right answer. An example of this would be the problem of the two accounts of the genealogy of Jesus found in Matthew and Luke. There are, at least, four different ways of reconciling the two genealogies, yet we are not absolutely certain which is the correct resolution. This does not mean they are in error – it means we are not certain which of the possible answers is correct.

9.Bible Difficulties Gets Rid Of Unbelievers

People use difficulties in Scripture as an excuse for not believing in Jesus or following Him. The difficulties in Scripture can help to remove those who are not genuinely interested in the truth of God’s Word. God is on record as saying that He will condemn those who reject His clearly revealed word:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of humanity, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:18-20).

We find an example of this in the life and ministry of Jesus:

Many therefore of His disciples, when they heard this said, This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it? But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, Does this cause you to stumble? . . . As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore (John 6:60,61,67).

The difficult sayings of Jesus caused certain would be disciples to withdraw from Him.

10.An Excuse For Not Believing

Often we find people not willing to look beyond the surface meaning of what Jesus said. They believe this will remove them of any responsibility. Consequently they use Bible difficulties as an excuse for not following Jesus. They are blind to the evidence because they are willingly blind. Ultimately, they do not want to find a way to reconcile difficulties in Scripture.

No Explanation Satisfies

Since they do not want to know the truth, any explanation that attempts to clear up a difficulty will fall upon deaf ears. However this does not remove the responsibility from them as they would like to believe. Scripture teaches that God will ultimately hold all of us responsible on how we deal with the evidence that He has presented to us.

11.Serious Study Of The Word Needed

If we remain ignorant of the things of God, it is only because we have self-imposed this darkness upon ourselves. The answers are there, but we must spend the time to find them. This can only come about from a serious study of the Word of God. This is what is needed when difficult passages of Scripture come our way. When we patiently and intently examine problem passages in Scripture, the result pays big dividends. Serious students of God’s Word want to understand what it is saying.

Summary

The subject of Bible difficulties should definitely be a topic of discussion. The biblical attitude toward difficult questions is to face them head-on. They should not be ignored or glossed over. It is not lack of faith to bring up the difficult areas in Scripture or to try to find an answer. Once an answer to a particular difficulty is found, we should then move on. When these difficulties are cleared up after serious study, the reader is greatly benefited by the exercise.

Comments

  1. Yes! Love it when something has been bothering me and suddenly. Maybe Bible or Someone explains and a little light goes on in my head and I can say oh I understand now

  2. Excellent post with strong scriptural support. I really appreciated the thought provoking psychological musings. It helped me see again how we must understand our responsibility to take ‘Ĕlôhı̂ym seriously. The covenantal faith the Bible calls for clearly involves that obligation. The Bible isn’t presenting ideas to be accepted on a merely intellectual level; it is presenting testimony about the Living God who graciously offers His hand to us.

  3. II Timothy 2:15 “STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Studying those “difficult” Bible passages increases our faith.

  5. Perhaps the topic involves the reason for human being. Are bible difficulties relative? Is the bible a presentation of human being, a guidebook to living, a combination of several languages that must be tested for true interpretation? The bible declares the purpose of God for His children, the people He has created. God is difficult for humans.

    Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
    Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

    Do you believe God, what about creation, creation or evolution?

    Gen 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
    Gen 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
    Gen 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

    Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

    Apparently the gravity of the reason for our being and investigative opportunity are blunted and displaced by concerns for acquisition, family, business, government, residence or even preoccupation with products of recreation. When do people become aware that an era of transformation has overtaken them?

    Who are we? What are we? Why are we here? Questions such as these crave motive or vindication for our very existence. Upon this wonderment we are wholly malleable.

    Jhn 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
    Jhn 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
    Jhn 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
    Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
    Rom 8:10 And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.
    Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
    Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
    Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
    Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

  6. Are we a study of the course of thought? The human experience is a limiting condition suitable for a test of character or apprenticeship.

    Since our experience is primarily physical how is it that we acknowledge a spiritual existence? Do we actually perceive more than our five senses deliver? Our sensory lives do not accept the biblical insistence of spiritual preeminence. From the comfort of advanced cultures to the bare subsistence of the primitive our interaction, our communion transpires in the physical world.

    Revelation involves spiritual concepts that are inexplicable before belief is exercised in behavior. Humanity cannot prove that there is life beyond our common experience. The absence or existence of life after death is unattainable to human proof. How would matters of spirit be conveyed to physical beings?

  7. To be honest, the more i’ve studied the Bible, the more my faith has been tested. Eschatology is the biggest thing that really hurts my faith. I don’t see the Bible predicting a return of Christ thousands of years later, at all. How do we reconcile a 70 A.D. fulfillment of scripture and still believe Christ will return in the future? How do people believe the temple will be rebuilt when Christ spoke of those things that they were looking at, not stones that didn’t exist at the time?

    • I still have that faith inside me, but it’s not what it once was. I don’t think i’ll ever get out of this bad mindset. I sometimes wish i hadn’t studied the Bible. Maybe someone could pray a prayer for me? Thanks!

      • Know that discomfort is a preparation for understanding. This is acknowledged in some of the blog posts where saints admit that they were goaded into searching the bible to find out more about what was troubling them. Feel good that your questions are in fact a yearning in your spirit to come into a closer relationship with our God. Prayer is essential; it is as close as you can come to God in this life and is enhanced as multiplied by the number of people sharing prayer.

        The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesy. Rev 19:10, Rev 1:2, Rev 1:7-9, Rev 1:13-19, Rev 12:17

        The mystery of God, the outcome of creation is the testimony of Jesus. The bible, the book of human creation states that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Prophecy, “which was, and is, and is to come” is the testimony of Jesus who is the first and the last and who holds the keys of hell and death. Jesus is the first who was ordained before the foundation of the world and the last. The last excludes any other; there is none else, there is no other way. No wonder the dragon sought to devour the child and makes war with those that keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. The heathen rage, the kings of the earth and the rulers gather against the Lord and His Christ. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Jesus is the Lamb of God.

        Anyone that leaves this planet leaves days behind. Time is of consequence for beings that die. We learn that spirit does not die from the bible. Beings that do not die are outside of time.

        The challenge of spiritual existence is unattainable for inherent ignorance of this presence. True human being must be revealed to those who seek reunion with their creator. Made in the image of God is how this occurs. Flesh cannot acquire that which cannot be touched or perceived.

        To what purpose are all the millions of lives that have occupied this planet? These lives are for the glory of God. Satan suggested that God is a liar Gen 3:1-24 in the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve disbelieved God thereby severing the Holy Spirit from humans.

        Jam 1:17-18, Isa 55:11, Isa 45:23, Phl 2:10-11

        Salvation is pending. Humans can be reunited with God, His Spirit, His promise to the completion, the recreation of human being. Creation is intended it does not simply occur. The choice to create must be acknowledged and confirmed by the choice to accept. The created accepts completing the circle to become and fulfill the Word of God.

        Rev 12:1-17

        The act of God, the redemption through His blood, the sacrifice of the Lamb overcomes the testimony of the accuser as those who believe more assuredly than death verify their salvation and thereby disprove Satan’s assertions. Humans in the image of God are now the witness. This is finally the victory of humans over the tempter, the archfiend, liar and wicked, evil murderer who committed to destroy us, our elemental enemy. The redemption, the work of God is finally fulfilled in the testimony of Jesus before the court of God to prove Satan is false. This proof expels Satan; seals his doom.

        Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
        Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.
        Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
        Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

  8. HI Sean, I will pray for you. Im praying now that Jesus will direct you and enlighten you. I pray that you will have the mind of Christ. Believe and it will be done to you. Mark 9 is a lovely story that will encourage you.

    Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.

    Mar 9:18 “And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”

    Mar 9:19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”

    Mar 9:20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

    Mar 9:21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.

    Mar 9:22 “And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

    Mar 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, [fn] all things [are] possible to him who believes.”

    Mar 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

    Remember that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek His face, so stay diligent and faithful and in time you will be greatly blessed.

    Take care and I will keep you in my prayers

    Laura

  9. And Sean i believe that Jesus is coming back but its because he loves us so much and does not want anyone to perish that He is taking His time. Its His love and mercy and compassion on us. Thank Him that He didn’t come back 100 yrs ago or else you wouldn’t have been born or called to his amazing inheritance in heaven. Trust Him with His timing. Persevere as this is the testing of how genuine our faith is. Rejoice in Him always that you are saved from the wrath that will soon come.

    • Thanks so much, Laura…i appreciate the kind comments. At least someone out there cares. May God bless you! Will try to pray a few prayers for you in return, even though i don’t pray. I study the Bible, but prayer has always been difficult for me. Thanks again, and best wishes to you!