Asking the Hard Questions About the Bible

All of us have questions about the Bible. At the end of the day, what we have to figure out is what we will do with those questions.

Will we keep them hidden and allow unanswered questions to slowly erode our confidence that God has spoken? Or will we courageously question the Bible in a way that actually builds our faith?

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Did the Gospel Writers Intend to Write Accurate History?

In a post-Christian culture that no longer “speaks Bible,” one of the first objectives in any conversation is to stake out some common ground wherever possible. To do this I recommend starting with history.

Most people–unless they have been educated out of it–still believe that you can know some things about the past. In other words, we can discover important historical truths about people like Plato, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar (and I would argue Jesus of Nazareth…but that’s another post).

So when it comes to the New Testament documents, it is important to investigate whether (more…)

There Are Two Kinds Of People Who Question The Bible

At the end of the day there are two kinds of people who question the Bible…which one are you?

As I have already noted previously, everyone questions the Bible at some point. Doubt is a natural part of the journey of faith. But we shouldn’t doubt just to doubt. Young people especially need safe space to express their honest questions and sincere doubts. But the goal is not (or at least shouldn’t be) a radical skepticism that questions everything and never lands anywhere.

What Do You Ultimately Want?

Path #1: When I interact with students who are asking the tough questions because they want the truth I am deeply encouraged because I know their faith muscles are being strengthened. They want to know what is real. They don’t want to live a lie and they don’t want to follow a path that is a spiritual or moral dead end. The first pathway is seeking the truth.

A text book (and biblical!) example of this mindset would be one of the earliest biographers of Jesus:

“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.” –Luke 1:1-4

Path #2: I also have the experience of interacting with students, adults, or people on social media who are not after the truth with their questions. Not really. The best illustration of this kind of mindset and posture I have come across is prominent NYU professor, Thomas Nagel:

I want atheism to be true and am made uneasy by the fact that some of the most intelligent and well-informed people I know are religious believers. It just isn’t that I don’t believe in God and, naturally, hope that I am right in my belief. It’s that I hope there is no God! I don’t want the universe to be like that.”–Thomas Nagel (The Last Word)

This is refreshing and instructive honesty because it shows the power of the human will to bend our reason and make it submit when truth is not our goal. The second pathway is space.

The Bottom Line

If you want truth, you will find it in the end because Christians have nothing to fear from the truth. However if you are using your questions to create space between you and the God of the Bible so that you can do whatever you want because you don’t want submit to an authority…that is a different path altogether. People are certainly free to take this path, but if space is what you ultimately want, then you will get it because you can always create space by asking another question.

However, please keep this in mind. Just because you can ask another question doesn’t mean that there isn’t a reasonable answer to your question. Why? Because if in your heart of hearts you just want space, then your will can accomplish this with enough effort.

As counterintuitive as it may sound, I actually want people to question the Bible. I want this because I want them to find the truth and the confident faith that flows from the knowledge of the truth. But we also need to be honest and recognize that if truth is not your goal, then you will not find it.

If you are honest with yourself in this moment, what are you ultimately after? Truth or Space?

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How to Have a Conversation About Bible Contradictions

Tis the season for skepticism about the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and the Bible. Are you ready?

Imagine that you’re meeting with a couple who is exploring Christianity at your local coffee shop and they raise the objection, “How can you trust the Gospels when they are full of contradictions?” What would you say? Here’s a simple game plan for navigating this opportunity.

First, ask them to give you a specific example of a contradiction. And if they list one, ask them why they think it is a real contradiction. Most people have just heard this slogan and repeat it . . . make them do some work here.

Gospel Contradictions?Next, respond to their objection. As you do, share that we must be careful not to impose twenty-first-century historical standards on a first-century text. Explain the important distinction between accuracy and precision. We live in the age of scientific precision and digital everything. The practice of first century biographers was to record an accurate summary based on eyewitness testimony.

In fact, there were no quotation marks in the Greek language. Capturing “the gist” of something was completely acceptable. The bottom line is that the earliest biographers of Jesus could be historically accurate without being as precise as we might like them to be. It’s also important to point out that differences don’t necessarily equal errors because of various perspectives at work.

Finally, ask them if (1) they have understood your answer and (2) if they are satisfied with your explanation. Again, wait for a response here. If so, great. If not, why not?

It might seem at some point that they’re not really interested in an answer—it may be worth asking them what would satisfy them in this case. It could be that they have an unrealistic standard they are applying to the biographical writings contained in the Bible—especially the Gospels.

If you have offered a reasonable or plausible solution to the apparent contradiction, then it’s up to them at that point. Remember, just because they may not be convinced on the spot, doesn’t mean your conclusions are not reasonable.

Sometimes we get nervous when people raise objections to our faith. But having a game plan gives us confidence to engage. After all, we don’t need to worry because we have the truth on our side. We just need to be ready.

READ: Newsweek Attacks the Bible…

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Questioning the Bible by Jonathan Morrow [Podcast]

The Bible is the most influential book in human history. But what are we supposed to do with it in the 21st century? And even more importantly, can it still be trusted as the Word of God? There are an unprecedented number of sophisticated attacks on the origin, credibility, and reliability of the Bible today. It can be difficult to know what to say when skepticism and secularism take over so many conversations. The questions are coming from all sides:

Has the biblical text been corrupted over the centuries? Who really chose the books of the Bible and why? Is the Bible unscientific? Which interpretation of the Bile is correct? Are there contradictions in the BIble?

These are just a few of the questions that Jonathan Morrow deals with in his new book Questioning the Bible and that we will discuss in this episode of the Think Christianly podcast.

***Exclusive code for 35 % off of Questioning the Bible from Moody Publishers for the Think Christianly audience by following this link ( QTB35 ).***

What People Are Saying About Questioning the Bible:

“Questioning the Bible is simply a fabulous book. It asks the skeptical questions people are asking about the Bible and then gives solid answers that are aware of where the real discussion is and what the good options are. In a world that is becoming more skeptical and in a church where many have no idea how to answer such questions, here is a resource that can give real aid and comfort.” – Darrell Bock, Senior Research Professor of New Testament and Executive Director of Cultural Engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary

“Jonathan Morrow deftly addresses eleven major challenges to the Bible’s authority… It needs to be read and studied in groups or individually. And it must be given to friends and relatives, especially college students, who need to consider the wisdom in its pages.” – J.P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the Talbot School of Theology (from the Forward)

Questioningthebible-JonathanMorrow“The Bible is under more scrutiny than ever before. Yet Jonathan Morrow is up to the task! Questioning the Bible offers insightful and well-researched responses to the top objections. It is ideal for the person who genuinely wants to know whether the Bible can be trusted. I highly recommend it for individuals and group study.” – Sean McDowell, PhD is an assistant professor at Biola university, popular speaker, and the author of Apologetics for a New Generation

“Anyone who thinks apologetics is no longer important doesn’t know the world students live in and the questions they ask (and are being asked). But Jonathan Morrow knows students. He knows what they need to know, and that’s why this book is so helpful. In it, you will find clear, concise answers that Christians, especially students, need when (not if) the truthfulness of their faith is challenged.” – John Stonestreet, Senior Fellow of Worldview and Culture for the Colson Center for Christian Worldview and co-host of BreakPoint radio

“For the skeptic, the Bible is a big target. He raises serious questions about alleged errors, apparent contradictions, canonicity, authorship, textual corruption, morality and much more. At the end of this intellectual onslaught, the Bible’s authority is seemingly wiped out and the skeptic feels justified in dismissing it altogether. Tragically, most believers have no adequate response and when the challenges come, most retreat into an anti-intellectual privatized “faith” or worse, lose all confidence in the Bible’s authority as well. Church leaders have largely failed to equip their people. That’s why Jonathan’s book is so important. He answers the most pressing objections to the Bible in a way that is intelligent, relevant and accessible. You don’t have to be a scholar to defend the Bible, you just need this book.” – Brett Kunkle, Student Impact Director at Stand to Reason – str.org

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