Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 96:384 (Oct 1939)
Article: Certain Bible Difficulties
Author: Clive A. Thomson

BSac 96:384 (Oct 39) p. 459

Certain Bible Difficulties

Clive A. Thomson

Barrister

The above title is very broad. Therefore I propose to deal with only one special class of difficulties. But this class is very important because, when the solution is understood, large portions of the Bible hitherto hazy and incomprehensible are made clear to us, and a remarkable light is thrown on Scriptural teaching and doctrine. Let me say that only a small part of what I am laying before you is my own original work. The material which I am discussing is taken mostly from a book by that remarkable student and writer, the Rev. John Urquhart, entitled How Old Is Man? and published in London in 1904.

Any study of the Bible must be done reverently and with awe. The proper approach to Bible study is set out in Isa 66:2, ”...to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” The spirit of reverence is lacking everywhere today. The Bible is God’s own message to us, so we should receive it with the utmost reverence. It is not only God’s word, but His last and final word. This is clearly implied in Luke 16:31, 20:13, John 19:30, Heb 1:2, Rev 22:18 and other passages. By means of the written record of the New Testament concerning the appearance of the Eternal Son and His atoning death upon the cross, God’s message to man is completed and ended. He now maintains silence (apart from the work of the Holy Spirit) until that Day when He will appear again in the person of the Son at the

BSac 96:384 (Oct 39) p. 460

end of this age of grace, when every eye shall see Him and every knee bow.

Is it reverent however to draw attention to apparent mistakes and difficulties? Yes, it is, for we are commanded to study the Bible, and in it we find a frank warning about these difficulties. See 2 Pet 3:16. It is also interesting to notice in this verse that Peter declares the inspiration of Paul’s epistles, thus affording refutation for the doctrine of the “Modernists” which holds that Paul distorted our Lord’s teachings, or that Church councils settled the question of the canon of Scripture.

Coming now to our difficulties, let me make a few introductory statements. First, I will not waste time discussing objections to what are called miracles. I am addressing born-again believers. To those who have faith in the Lord Jesus (who created th...