15 What about Bible contradictions?
Description
This article is from the Bible FAQ, by Michael Paul Johnson mpj@ebible.org with numerous contributions by others.
15 What about Bible contradictions?
Those who claim the Bible is full of contradictions generally
only find them because they don't really read what the Bible
actually says in its own context.
To really read the Bible to find out what it means, you need
to read with the following questions in mind:
1. What does the text say? (observation)
2. What does it mean? (interpretation)
3. How does it apply to me? (application)
The following guidelines are helpful in proper Bible reading:
1. Scripture interprets Scripture. If an idea you get from one
verse is out of line with the rest of what the Bible says,
you need to reevaluate what you thought that verse said.
"Let everything be established by 2 or 3 witnesses" before
you make a doctrine of something.
2. Literal where possible -- what it says, it means.
3. Consider the form of the writing in each section (i. e.
historical, narrative, parable, poetry, teaching,
prediction of the future, etc.).
4. Consider grammar and history. This means understanding how
natural languages work in general, and at least something
of how the original languages of the Bible work. It also
means that it is helpful to understand the history,
culture, geography, etc., of the original audience.
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