The Big Book of Bible Difficulties

Description

*The Big Book of Bible Difficulties* is a work by **Geisler, Norman L.**, and **William E. Nix**. Published in 1999, this book aims to address and provide explanations for some of the most challenging and commonly raised questions or apparent contradictions in the Bible.

The authors are prominent evangelical Christian scholars. Geisler is known for his works in philosophy, apologetics, and theology, while Nix is a biblical scholar with a particular interest in hermeneutics and textual criticism.

### Key Features of *The Big Book of Bible Difficulties*:

1. **Comprehensive Scope**: The book covers over 800 difficulties, contradictions, or perplexing questions that people often raise about the Bible. The issues addressed range from minor textual variants to more significant theological and historical concerns.

2. **Evangelical Perspective**: The authors approach the problems from an evangelical Christian viewpoint, aiming to defend the inerrancy of Scripture. They argue that apparent contradictions or difficulties can be harmonized through careful interpretation, historical context, and understanding the genre of specific passages.

3. **Systematic and Organized**: The book is organized thematically, addressing various types of issues such as apparent contradictions, archaeological concerns, historical questions, and theological dilemmas.

4. **Detailed Explanations**: Each difficulty is addressed with a clear explanation and often includes references to external sources, scholarly opinions, and practical examples. The goal is to help the reader see that the Bible, while complex, does not contain errors or contradictions when properly understood.

### Common Topics Addressed in the Book:
– **Contradictions in the Gospels**: For instance, why the genealogies of Jesus differ in Matthew and Luke.
– **Historical and Scientific Issues**: Addressing concerns about the historical accuracy of events in the Bible (such as the creation account in Genesis or the Exodus).
– **Textual Variants**: Explaining the differences found in various ancient manuscripts of the Bible.
– **Doctrinal Difficulties**: Exploring theological issues such as the nature of God, the Trinity, and the problem of evil.
– **Miracles and Prophecies**: Defending the credibility of miraculous events and prophetic claims.

### Purpose and Reception:
The purpose of *The Big Book of Bible Difficulties* is to provide Christians with a resource that will help them understand and defend their faith against challenges or doubts related to the Bible. It’s often used by pastors, students of theology, and laypeople seeking a reliable resource for navigating difficult passages in Scripture.

The book has been generally well-received among evangelical Christians, but critics (especially from more liberal or secular perspectives) may see it as an exercise in apologetics that tries to harmonize or explain away contradictions rather than addressing the real complexities of biblical texts.

### Conclusion:
For those interested in defending the inerrancy of Scripture or seeking answers to difficult questions about the Bible, *The Big Book of Bible Difficulties* provides an organized and comprehensive reference. However, it should be noted that the book’s explanations are based on traditional evangelical interpretations and may not satisfy everyone, especially those who approach biblical texts from a more critical or non-literal perspective.