Can you help me understand the doctrine of Biblical Inerrancy?

Question

I attend a mainline Protestant church, and I know people of a lot of different denominations, but I know any real fundamentalists. Normally I wouldn't ask a religious question on here, but I'm hoping that I might get a decent answer, because this is something we've been talking about in Sunday school.

Now, I don't mean this as a rhetorical question, but how do you reconcile the narrative contradictions in the Bible? Such as the differences between the two creation stories in Genesis 1 and 2, the many contradictory versions of the same story found in different Gospels, the extreme differences between John and the synoptics, and the differences between what Paul writes and what Luke says in Acts.

It might be easy to say that people who believe the Bible literally are idiots, and I'm sure that most of the people who believe that haven't actually read the Bible, but I'm sure there must be people out there who have read the Bible, who know much more about it than I do, and can explain.

Robin, that's pretty much what we're taught, and we're studying the Bible already. I'm just looking for someone who believes what Snuggles believes, except I'm looking for somebody who's actually read it.

Answer 1

It was explained to me that the Bible (especially the old testament) is not meant to be a record of facts or scientific information. There is a spirituality about it- something that requires intense study and occassional interpretation. The Bible is not scientific truth- it is religious truth.

If you are truly interested, I would recommend taking Bible study classes, both in a religious and non-religious setting. To truly understand the message, there's a lot to be filtered through- taking into account each book's author, historical and societal contexts, language usage, and audience.

Answer 2

Despite the lengthy lists you'll likely receive, there are no contradictions in the Bible. There may be things that seemingly contradict, but that is only due to misunderstanding. Things that critics tend to cite as "contradictions" are often very easy to explain...and many are rather ridiculous.

For example, if someone says that person A has three children while someone else says that A has ten. Can both statements correct?....is only one of them telling the truth?

Does (A = 3, A = 10)? That certainly appears to be a contradiction on the surface. However, that is only because we are surmising the facts based on limited data. That is; do we know that both "A" values exists in the same point of time and space? Is "A" an unchangeable absolute? Was the point of reference/context of the statement the same?

That is the case for most of the contrived "Biblical contradictions". Inclusion or omission of detail between sources does not constitute a contradiction. Often, when two different people tell their version of events, there are things that seemingly contradict. However, if there is a way that both accounts can be reconciled they are probably the truth (as seen from two different perspectives). This is the case with the synoptics and other books you mentioned. Genesis 2 is merely a summary of Genesis 1....

Finally, there are some differences between 1st century writing styles that offend our sensabilities today. While Luke was a careful (chronological) Historian, many of the Jewish writers never intended to follow that pattern. Their writings are not so much a chronological "time line", as they are a retelling/capturing of content. In their mind-set, the flow of the message takes precedent over the chronological order of events.

I know that is brief, but thats the best I can summarize it in this short space....

Answer 3

I have found that the bible is written on 3 levels.
most people can barley get the drift of the first level.

On the 3rd level of study thing begin to become clear.

Luke traveled with Paul for most of his teachings, I believe that Paul did not fully recover his sight, from Damascus.

Gen 1 covers the 6 days of God
Gen 2 covers the beginning of the story of the family of THE Adam and Eve, a story that goes all the way to Jesus.

You not only have to know the meaning of the words, and when they were written, but also the time frame they as set in. This requires wisdom from God, and sorry to say not many have it.

With it I have found no contradiction at all, well you could nit pick.
Take the time Christ Died on the cross.
One writer says before he died, the temple Vail was parted, another said after he died the Vail parted.

Considering, that both writers were at the Crucifixion and the temple was a distance away, the writers relied on the testimony of the priests in the temple at the time.
Were looking at about a 90 second difference.
at a period where the 1/4 hour was about the smallest fraction of time.
No I do not know all of it but I have yet to find a true error in it!

I have only been studying 30 years.

Answer 4

The narrative "contradictions" are minor if at all, and occur because of the different points of view. Matthew and John were eyewitnesses to the events, Mark is believed to have gotten his gospel from Peter, and :Luke got his from those who were eyewitnesses. The Bible is inerrant in history, doctrine and ethics. You will not find any contradictions in those areas. The difference between Paul and Luke is that :Luke was writing straight history, Paul wrote letters to the various churches. I am not sure what, if any, contradictions between them you mean.

Answer 5

There is no contradiction
as the Books go on they are expelled on each time to let you in on a little more info each time