![]() ![]() Metaphors, analogies, types, allegories, hyperboles, and similes would all be examples of this.īible “Contradictions” & Puzzles (ChristianAnswers.Net) Remember that the Bible employs literary devices. Why shouldn’t a writer be allowed to cite the essence of a text, just as we often do today, without offering an exact word-for-word quote?! Many times a passage from the Old Testament may be referenced in the New Testament without necessarily being quoted. Don’t always assume that a report or quote is wrong just because it happens to be less than 100% complete.Īcknowledge the difference between citations and quotations. As the old adage goes, "Let the main things be the plain things, and the plain things be the main things."Īllow for partial accounts, quotes, and particular points of view. In other words, trust the perspicuity of Scripture. The Bible is clear about many things, so always allow the which is clear to be a guide in unraveling that which is not clear. Subject the obscure to the straightforward. The Bible doesn’t approve of everyone whom it quotes or talks about. But it’s crucial to an accurate understanding of the text. Failing to consider the historical and Biblical context of a particular verse or passage may be the most common mistake of all. Relevant principles for dealing with Bible difficulties It seems that no reasonable person would therefore insist for very long that this text provides a viable basis for questioning either Jesus or the Bible, when it comes to getting the facts straight- scientifically, historically, or technically. The context of Matthew 13 makes it quite clear that Jesus was addressing a local lay audience, not an international conference of botanists. ![]() They don’t often question my credibility. When people come to visit us here in north central Maine, we might take them on a drive, passing a good number of lakes and ponds, to Moosehead Lake, which I will describe to them as being “the largest lake of all.” Of course, our guests will usually realize that I’m speaking locally, not globally. Even today, we might refer to a “ sunset” when, technically, scientifically, we know that the sun never actually “sets,” i.e., it’s the Earth that revolves. It’s important to remember that the Bible often uses everyday terminology in order to communicate simple truth. It’s also true, as many modern-day encyclopedias will tell you, that the black mustard seed in Israel will typically grow to heights of 3.7 meters, or 12 (twelve) feet-plenty large enough to hold a bird nest. And it’s absolutely true that the black mustard seed ( Brassica nigra = Sinapis nigra) was the smallest seed ever sown by a first-century farmer in that part of the world. Please note that Jesus was not comparing the mustard seed to all other seeds in the world, but to seeds that a local, Palestinian farmer might have “sowed in his field,” i.e., a key qualifying phrase in verse 31. ![]()
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