Getting all we can from Scripture

Session 7Biblical descriptions seem like errors?

Men’s Bible Study at Park View

May 19, 2015

Jesus showed strong trust in Scripture

Jesus showed strong trust in Scripture

Matt. 5:17-19

Jesus showed strong trust in Scripture

Matt. 5:17-19 - ...until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law

Jesus showed strong trust in Scripture

Matt. 5:17-19 - ...until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law

John 10:35

Jesus showed strong trust in Scripture

Matt. 5:17-19 - ...until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law

John 10:35 - and Scripture cannot be broken

Reasons we doubt that all Scripture is God’s Word:

Reasons we doubt that all Scripture is God’s Word:

• Some biblical descriptions seem like errors

Reasons we doubt that all Scripture is God’s Word:

• Some biblical descriptions seem like errors• Some biblical instructions seem sub-par

Reasons we doubt that all Scripture is God’s Word:

• Some biblical descriptions seem like errors• Some biblical instructions seem sub-par

Reasons we doubt that all Scripture is God’s Word:

• Some biblical descriptions seem like errors• Some biblical instructions seem sub-par

Biblical "errors" may not be the Bible’s fault, but ours.

Reasons we doubt that all Scripture is God’s Word:

• Some biblical descriptions seem like errors• Some biblical instructions seem sub-par

Biblical "errors" may not be the Bible’s fault, but ours. They may be resolved when we read the Bible as its authors expected it to be read

Genesis 11:10-15 / Luke 3:35-36

Genesis 11:10-15 / Luke 3:35-36

... Shem → Arphaxad → _____ → Eber ...

Genesis 11:10-15 / Luke 3:35-36

... Shem → Arphaxad → Shelah → Eber ...

Genesis 11:10-15 / Luke 3:35-36

... Shem → Arphaxad → Shelah → Eber ...

... Shem → Arphaxad → Cainan → Shelah → Eber ...

Mark 1:2-3 - as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” — “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

Mark 1:2-3 - as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” — “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

Malachi 3:1

Mark 1:2-3 - as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” — “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

Malachi 3:1 Isaiah 40:3

The Biblical authors’ standards of precision might be similar to our culture’s expectations for oral precision

The Biblical authors’ standards of precision might be similar to our culture’s expectations for oral precision

We must take a Bible author's words to be as precise and as imprecise as they were intended

The Biblical authors’ standards of precision might be similar to our culture’s expectations for oral precision

We must take a Bible author's words to be as precise and as imprecise as they were intended π = 3.14

The Biblical authors’ standards of precision might be similar to our culture’s expectations for oral precision

We must take a Bible author's words to be as precise and as imprecise as they were intended π = 3.14 3.1400

The Biblical authors’ standards of precision might be similar to our culture’s expectations for oral precision

We must take a Bible author's words to be as precise and as imprecise as they were intended π = 3.14 3.1400 3.14159265358979323846264338

_______

327950288419716939937510582…

Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, Luke 18:18-25

Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, Luke 18:18-25

“Why do you call me good?”

Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, Luke 18:18-25

“Why do you call me good?”

Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, Luke 18:18-25

“Why do you call me good?”

“Why do you ask me about what is good?”

Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, Luke 18:18-25

“Why do you call me good?”

“Why do you ask me about what is good?”

- Possibly Jesus' actual words somehow combined elements of both versions

Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, Luke 18:18-25

“Why do you call me good?”

“Why do you ask me about what is good?”

- Possibly Jesus' actual words somehow combined elements of both versions

- Possibly Matthew deliberately adjusted his version

The Biblical authors’ standards of precision might be similar to our culture’s expectations for oral precision

The Biblical authors’ standards of precision might be similar to our culture’s expectations for oral precision

We might also compare biblical standards of precision to our culture’s expectations for a “historically accurate” movie

Joshua 10:40 - So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded

Joshua 10:40 - So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded

Joshua 23:7,12-13

Joshua 10:40 - So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded

Joshua 23:7,12-13Judges 1:21-36

Joshua 10:40 - So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded

Joshua 23:7,12-13Judges 1:21-36Deut. 7:1-

1 Chron. 22:14

1 Chron. 22:14 - a hundred thousand talents of gold

1 Chron. 22:14 - a hundred thousand talents of gold

1 Chron. 22:14 - a hundred thousand talents of gold

2 Chron. 17:12-19

1 Chron. 22:14 - a hundred thousand talents of gold

2 Chron. 17:12-191 Chron. 5:18-21

1 Chron. 22:14 - a hundred thousand talents of gold

2 Chron. 17:12-191 Chron. 5:18-21

A biblical text’s meaning is not how we today hear these words, but how the original audience would have heard them

Could we with ink the ocean fill,And were the skies of parchment made,Were every stalk on earth a quill,And every man a scribe by trade;To write the love of God aboveWould drain the ocean dry;Nor could the scroll contain the whole,Though stretched from sky to sky.

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!How measureless and strong!It shall forevermore endure—The saints’ and angels’ song.