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When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties: Preface


Authors' Bias | Interpretation: conservative

When Bible critics ask, "How can you believe the Bible when it is riddled with errors?" what do you say? Many Christians punt to faith. They simply cling tenaciously to their belief no matter what the evidence may be against it. This, however, is contrary to both Scripture and sound reason. The Bible declares, "Walk in wisdom…that you may know how you ought to answer each one" (Col.4:5-6). Peter urged believers, "Sanctify the Lord god in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you of the reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). Indeed, Jesus commanded us to "love the Lord your God with all your heart…soul…and…mind" (Matt 22:37). Part of this loving duty to Christ is to find answers for those who criticize God's Word. For, as Solomon said, "Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes" (Prov. 26:5).

Truth is able to stand on its own two feet. Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). We have nothing to fear from the truth. Jesus said to the Father, "Your Word is truth" (John 17:17). The Bible has withstood the criticisms of the greatest skeptics, agnostics, and atheists down through the centuries, and it is able to withstand the feeble efforts of unbelieving critics today. Unlike many other religions today that appeal to mystical feeling or blind faith, Christianity says, "Look before you leap."

This is a book for those who believe we should think about what we believe. God places no premium on ignorance, nor does He reward those who refuse to look at the evidence. On the contrary, He will condemn those who refuse the plain evidence He has revealed (Rom. 1:18-20).

This book grows out of over forty years of attempts to understand the Bible and answer those who would undermine faith in God's eternal Word. It is written as a companion to the Bible, so that one may find the answer to a difficulty in the text at the very place the problem occurs. For example, as for the age-old question "Where did Cain get his wife?" the answer will be found right in the text which says "Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch" (Gen. 4:17). As you read through the Bible and encounter a difficulty, just look up the verse and study the comment on it. For those who have difficulty remembering where a particular verse is that raised a question, just look in the topical and person indices in the back and find where the difficulty is treated.

In many ways, this book is five books in one. First, it is a book on Bible difficulties that gives answers to all the major questions ever raised about the Bible-over 800 in all. Second, this is a work in apologetics, since it helps defend the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Third, it functions like a critical commentary, since it treats most of the difficult passages in the Bible. Fourth, it is a book that will help strengthen your spiritual life as you receive answers to questions and your faith in God's Word increase. Finally, this is a book on evangelism. For as you witness for Christ, people will ask you questions for which you may not have an answer. Rather than stop sharing Christ be cause you fear questions you can't answer, you can continue in confidence because you have a ready guide to help answer the questions of those who sincerely seek to know the truth.

It is our prayer that God will use this book to strengthen your faith and to help bring many others to the faith. Our own confidence in the Sacred Scriptures has increased over the years as we have delved deeper into the marvels of His truth. We are confident that yours will too.

Taken from "When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties" by Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe. Used by permission of DIVISION, a division of Baker Book House Company, copyright ©1999. All rights to this material are reserved. Materials are not to be distributed to other web locations for retrieval, published in other media, or mirrored at other sites without written permission from Baker Book House Company. (www.bakerbooks.com)


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