1. Robert Dick Wilson “I may add that the result of my forty- five years of study of the Bible has led me all the time to a firmer faith that in the OT we have a true historical account of the history of the Israelite people”

2. Contradict To assert the opposite of what some- one else says; to declare a statement to be false or incorrect; deny Many alleged contradictions are mere difficulties E.g.: John is rich; John is poor 1. different Johns 2. same John, in different ways 3. same John, at different times

3. I What Do We Know? 1.God breathed the very words of Scripture, 1 Co.2:9-13. (Cf. 14:37) 2.God, being omniscient, cannot contradict Himself. Hb.6:18 3.God, being omnipotent, can preserve His word as He promised, 1 Pt.1:25 4.God’s word can be understood. Ep.3:4 – “The main things are the plain things, and the plain things are the main things”

4. Two extreme facts 1.Since God’s word makes claims that surpass other writings, we should not ignore problems 2.God’s word has proven itself so many times that no one should doubt its veracity – “Like phantoms, they vanish when anyone attempts to touch them” (Warfield)

5. II What About Alleged Contradictions? 1. Don’t assume that if “science” dis- agrees w. the Bible, science is auto- matically right and the Bible is wrong “There is scarcely a single biblical historian who has not been impressed by the rapid accumulation of data supporting the substantial historicity of patriarchal tradition” (Wm. F. Albright)

6. 2. Don’t confuse false interpretations w. false revelations *Galileo 3. Realize that a satisfactory answer exists *Belshazzar, Dn.5:1 *Hittites, 47 references (Heth 14x) 1906 *Nineveh, Jon.3:3 1842, megalopolis; palace…

7. 4. Make certain the translation is accurate Jonah’s whale (KJV) “Everybody knows a whale’s throat is so narrow that no man could go down it” Word means sea-monster (BDAG); any sea monster or huge fish (LSJ)

8. 5. Study near and remote contexts A faulty explanation of the text is the interpreter’s fault, not the Bible’s Cain’s wife Gn.5:4

9. 6. Interpret difficult passages in light of clear ones 1 Co.15:29 Never make an unclear passage mean something that opposes another plain teaching

10. 7. Consult parallel passages Two methods of study: Infidel – Harmony E.g.: Saul: 1 Sm.28:6, inquired of Lord 1 Chr.10:13-14, did not inquire (KJV) Two different words: 1 Sm.28:6, ask, consult 1 Chr.10:14, seek, keep (NKJV)

11. 8. Later revelation replaces earlier revelation Bible offers progressive revelation: Patriarchs; Moses; Gospel Mt.19:8 Ga.4:1-7

12. 9. Determine the way the writer originally used the word(s) Mk.8:30, command, order; scold, rebuke (also Lk.9:21) Mt.16:20, command, order, give strict orders 10. The Bible does not necessarily approve everything it reveals *Abraham’s lies / *Rahab’s lies *David’s sins (2 Sm.11)

13. 11. General statements allow exceptions Pro.16:7 *Jesus... Paul? *The proverb is true Pro.18:22 *What about Ahab? *Ruth – Boaz

14. 12. God often expresses Himself in figurative language Revelation China? Armageddon? Rv.1:1-3

15. Augustine / Lactantius: “Is there any man so silly as to believe that men exist having their feet above their heads; trees w. their fruit hanging up; rain, snow, and hail falling topsy-turvy?” They would answer you, he adds, “by maintaining that the earth is a globe!” Ambrose: the sun draws water up to itself to cool and refresh itself from its heat Clement of Rome: phoenix

16. But... Moses who learned the wisdom of Egypt did not accept their spontaneous generation Daniel, skilled in Chaldean science, did not repeat their creation fables Paul, acquainted w. the best science of his time, did not repeat it (1 Tim.6:20) How to account for their rejection of contemporary “science” apart from inspiration of God?