Biblical Errors?

READ: 2 PETER 1:16-21

“The Bible’s full of errors!” Heard that one before? Biblical teachings can be tough, so a lot of people believe the Bible isn’t true. While some biblical claims are genuinely difficult to understand, other alleged errors are nothing more than excuses for disbelief.

Many of these kinds of objections fall into the pattern I call “The Corroboration Problem.” The argument often runs something like this: “The Bible refers to people/ places/events that didn’t exist! If they existed, we’d have some record of it.”

First off, this isn’t evidence of an error: outside of the Bible, we may not know that something did exist, but we also can’t say it didn’t. It’s just that biblical texts are the only historical record we have of some things.

Two things are worth noting. First, the Bible itself is a record. There are plenty of other things we only know about the ancient world because of mentions in a single text. So, if we willingly believe other ancient histories and stories, why not the Bible?

Second, other records may exist, but we just haven’t found them yet. People used to say the Hittites never existed... but then we found their royal archive. Luke was criticized for using the title tetrarch, but then other writings were found confirming Luke’s accuracy.

Another variation of “The Corroboration Problem” goes, “The Bible refers to a person/place/event by a name that wasn’t used until many years later.” But again, where’s the problem? If I said, “The Chippewa people historically lived around Lake Superior,” we wouldn’t say I made an error just because the lake wasn’t called Lake Superior yet. The authors of the Bible simply used the common names that their readers understood.

The takeaway? Don’t be too quick to believe accusations of biblical error. It’s a stunningly accurate book. • Christiana Cudworth

• What questions do you have about the Bible?

• Are you afraid to be asked about biblical “errors”? Name some trusted Christians in your life—such as pastors, parents, or counselors—you can go to when you have questions about the Bible.

Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21 (CSB)