Video Series: A Consistent Bible
I was sent a blog by a critic of Christianity listing what he believed were “errors” in the Bible. I used it as a framework for this series of video studies clarifying the errors of the Bible’s critics.
1. “Seeing the Invisible God” (25:47)
If God is invisible, why does the Bible say such things as “I have seen God face to face” (Genesis 32:30)? Most assumed contradictions in the Bible are due to the failure of a critic to follow the normal rules for interpreting literature. This study closely examines and applies three basic principles overlooked by those who presume to see an error here.
2. “Jonah’s Whale” (6:45)
There is no contradiction in the Bible when Matthew 12:40 says Jonah was swallowed by a “whale”, while in Jonah 1:17 it says he was swallowed by a “great fish”. When the facts are examined it becomes clear that the error is in the failure of the critics to look more carefully at the evidence.
3. “Years of the Kings” (14:57)
The use of various calendars, co-regencies, and ancient idiomatic expressions often make the dates given in the Bible appear to be inconsistent. Closer examination clears up the problems, some of which are simple confirmable errors made in later copies of the original text.
4. “The Value of Pi” (7:09)
In 1 Kings 7:23 the reported diameter and circumference of a container seems to ignore the value of Pi. However, when the rest of the description is considered, it fully conforms with the value of Pi. We just have to do the math.
5. “Seventh or Tenth Day?” (5:16)
Did Nebuzaradan attack Jerusalem on the 7th day of the month? or on the 10th? Critics of the Bible think they have found a contradiction here, but a more careful look shows that they have not understood the situation well. This brief video compares 2 Kings 25:8-10 with Jeremiah 52:12-14.
6. “Chronology of the Cross” (8:50)
Some have looked for a contradiction between Mark’s timing of the crucifixion of Jesus when it is compared with the accounts in the other Gospels. When properly understood there is no contradiction at all.
7. “Copying Errors in the Bible” (21:11)
Some discrepancies that appear in our English Bibles are clearly copyist errors. By comparing the thousands of existing copies we can pretty much reconstruct the original text with very little uncertainty. Copying errors have nothing to do with the accuracy of the original inspired text.
8. “Not Everything” (9:45)
Critics who want to discredit the existence of an omnipotent God, try to imagine things God isn’t able to do. The Bible never says that he could do everything we can ever imagine. It points out specific things he cannot do. But he can do, and does do, all his holy will.