As we approach the topic of bible difficulties, it is important to keep in mind that frequently we see a difficulty because of our own presuppositions. In other words, there is something in our thinking, that creates the difficulty. This does not mean that there are not passages hard to be understood, clearly there are (2 Peter 3:14-16). However, we frequently need to ask ourselves, why do I think this passage is difficult? Is it due to my own preconceptions?
In exploring the scriptures, there are three kinds of difficult passages. There are those that are difficult to understand the meaning of the text. Then there are sections that create difficulty when comparing with other passages. Finally, there are areas in which the underlying text is hard to determine.
Examples of the first kind of bible difficulties include 2 Corinthians 5:15, 2 Corinthians 12:1-5, Revelation 14:11 and Luke 23:43. At least, Seventh-day Adventists might find them hard to interpret. When we encounter these texts, a question we could ask ourselves, is why do we consider them ‘difficult’? The answer often is because it doesn’t fit in with our larger understanding of scriptures. In these verses specifically, there is a tension between the biblical view of death and what these scriptures appear to be saying. Identifying the difficulty is a first step in resolving it. Perhaps there are times when our presuppositions need correcting. These can often be understood by continued prayer and study.
The second category of hard passages are those in which there is an apparent conflict between similar texts. Examples here would be Genesis 1 & 2, where it looks like two different creation accounts, or Mark 5:22 and Luke 8:28, in which there is a different number of demoniacs involved in the story. Another would be Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13, in which the order of the temptations is different in the two accounts. Once again, the problem here could be with our presuppositions. Here it would be helpful to have a broad understanding of inspiration. Seventh-day Adventists believe that this process is a union of the divine and human. God works with the human writer, allowing the writer to emphasize points that are important to him. “The truths revealed are all given by inspiration of God…yet are expressed in the words of men” GC 6.
The last category are problems of the text. This issue arises because of the differences in the ancient manuscripts that support our translations. All the variations in the text are either accidental or intentional. However, none of these disparities impact any doctrine. They are mostly all inconsequential and minor. Despite the existence of certain hard passages, let us remember that this is still God’s word to us.
“The Bible is God's voice speaking to us, just as surely as though we could hear it with our ears. If we realized this, with what awe would we open God's word, and with what earnestness would we search its precepts!” 6T 393.
