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Dive deep into the Bible’s challenging passages with “Biblical Answers to Difficult Subjects”. Harnessing the Historical-Grammatical method, this guide illuminates contradictions, moral dilemmas, and profound truths, leading readers closer to Jehovah’s intended message.

As with any literary work that has shaped civilizations and cultures for millennia, the Bible is not without its complexities and enigmatic passages. However, when approached with the correct hermeneutic method and an understanding of the historical, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, these difficulties can be addressed coherently and faithfully.

Understanding the Nature of Difficulties

The term “difficulty” can denote various things when referring to the Bible. It might mean a perceived contradiction, a moral quandary, or a passage that seems historically implausible. But most often, it refers to passages that are challenging to understand or interpret within their context.

Historical Context: Much of the Bible was written in a time and culture vastly different from our own. Without understanding the historical setting in which a text was written, certain details or idioms might seem out of place or contradictory.

Linguistic Nuances: The Bible was written primarily in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. When translating any text, especially ancient ones, some nuances and subtleties of the original languages might be lost or misinterpreted.

The Historical-Grammatical Method

An essential tool for the conservative Bible scholar is the Historical-Grammatical method. This method seeks to understand a text within its original historical context and its plain, ordinary grammatical sense. This method avoids speculative or allegorical interpretations and focuses on the author’s original intent.

The Importance of Authorial Intent: Every author writes with a purpose. By understanding the context in which the author wrote, we can grasp the intended meaning more clearly.

Resisting the Urge for Allegory: Allegorical interpretations can sometimes diverge from the actual message of the text. Instead, by focusing on the plain meaning of the text, we remain anchored in the truth the Scripture intends to convey.

Addressing Alleged Contradictions

One of the primary difficulties that readers encounter is alleged contradictions within Scripture. Upon closer inspection, many of these “contradictions” can be reconciled by understanding the context or recognizing the different literary styles employed by the authors.

Parallel Accounts: The Bible often gives parallel accounts of the same event, especially in the Gospels. Differences in these accounts aren’t contradictions but reflect the unique perspectives or emphasis of the individual authors.

Genre Considerations: Different books of the Bible fall into various genres – historical, poetic, prophetic, epistolary, and apocalyptic. Recognizing the genre can clarify passages that might otherwise seem contradictory or perplexing.

The Moral Quandaries

The Bible sometimes portrays actions or commands that might seem morally problematic from a modern perspective. However, it’s crucial to differentiate between descriptive passages, which simply describe events, and prescriptive passages, which give commandments or moral teachings.

Historical Narratives: Just because an action is described in the Bible doesn’t mean it is endorsed. Many accounts serve to show humanity’s flawed nature and the consequences of sin.

Divine Commands: At times, Jehovah issued commands that might seem harsh. However, understanding the broader context, especially the covenantal relationship between Jehovah and His people, often sheds light on the reasons behind such commands.

Hell and the Nature of Punishment

There are multiple terms translated as “hell” in the Scriptures, such as Hades, Sheol, Gehenna, and Tartarus. However, rather than portraying hell as a place of eternal torment, these terms reflect the idea of eternal destruction or the grave.

Understanding “Eternal”: The term “eternal” in the context of punishment often signifies a final and irreversible state rather than unending torment. The wicked are permanently removed from Jehovah’s purpose for a righteous, inhabited earth.

The Nature of Humans: Souls, not Having Souls

Genesis 2:7 states that man became a “living soul” (nephesh). This crucial understanding underscores that humans don’t possess souls; they are souls. This perspective aligns with the broader biblical teaching that life is a gift from Jehovah and that death is a cessation of existence, not an entrance into another form of conscious existence.

The Spirit and Guidance

While the Holy Spirit played active roles in the lives of certain individuals in the Scriptures, the notion of an “indwelling” of the Spirit in every believer is not a biblical teaching. Christians are guided by the Spirit-inspired Word of God, which serves as our compass and lamp in a darkened world.

Jehovah’s Purpose for the Earth

Jehovah’s purpose for the earth was for it to be inhabited, as stated in Isaiah 45:18. This underscores the hope that many Christians have for a restored paradise on earth, in line with the Lord’s Prayer’s plea for God’s will to be done “on earth as it is in heaven.”

Conclusion

While the Bible certainly has passages that challenge our understanding, approaching it with the right tools and a commitment to understanding its context can illuminate even the most perplexing verses. With reverence for the inspired Word of God and confidence in its coherence and truth, we can navigate its pages with both intellectual rigor and spiritual devotion. As with any profound and transformative text, the depth and richness of Scripture beckon us to study it earnestly, ever seeking the face of Jehovah and His purpose for humanity.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).