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Anyone
who regularly spends time reading or studying the Bible has come across a
verse or passage that was confusing. Sometimes it may even seem that a
certain portion of scripture contradicts another portion of scripture. Of
course, that is not the case, but it still leaves novice and seasoned
readers alike wondering.
Often, the well-equipped reader will simply turn to one
or all of their many commentaries to see what some noted scholar(s) had to
say about the apparently problematic verse. This writer has been down that
path many, many times in my 35 years of regimental Bible study. I have
found that more often than not, the commentator found the difficulty more
than they could handle and simply skipped over the verse or passage in
question without addressing it at all.
If my guess is right, you have had the same frustrating
experience. It doesn't do much for one's faith to find that those who are
the supposed "experts" on Bible interpretation have the same
problems you have. And it does little to motivate the beginner Bible
student to press on with their studies.
That there are difficult to understand passages and
verses in the Bible is no secret. Also no secret is the fact that there
are some apparent errors in scripture; but to be clear, they are man-made
errors or false assertions, and nothing more. Christians should never
allow these minor disparities to do damage to either their faith or
motivation to learn more. This E-book is offered to provide answers and
explanations for many of those disparities.
This first in a planned series of E-books will look at
approximately two dozen of the most commonly asked questions regarding
difficult passages in both the Old and New Testaments. Fact will be
intertwined with speculation, but when speculating I will be clear to
identify my comments as such to avoid any confusion.
Here is a sampling of the topics covered:
- The Gap Theory (Was there a pre-Adamic race of
beings?)
- Did Judas die twice? (Was he hung or disemboweled?)
- Was Jesus Crucified on Friday? (Does the math add up?)
- The Maniac of Gadera (Was there one or two maniacs?)
- Jonah and the Whale (Can we really believe this story?)
- The Great Misquote (How could an Apostle quote the wrong
Prophet?)
- Who was Cain's Wife? (The age old question answered correctly)
- Who Will the Anti-Christ be? (This one will surprise you)
- The Unpardonable Sin (What in the world is it?)
- Plus, a Bible view of dinosaurs, UFOs and other topics
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