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- Part Two:
Alleged Discrepancies Examined And Answered…
“[It should be counted] the duty of the Christian scholar to look difficulties and objections
squarely in the face. Nothing is to be gained by overlooking, evading, or shrinking from
them. Truth has no cause to fear scrutiny, however rigid and searching. Besides, the
enemies of the Bible will not be silent, even if its friends hold their peace.”
John W. Haley, M.A. (1874)
“The truth can never suffer by the most thorough and sifting discussion; it must always gain
by it. Error alone is afraid of objections, or becomes irritated when they are presented.
Truth smiles at the opportunity of more thoroughly vindicating itself, and enters every
conflict with calm and hopeful confidence. Let us, then, have all the objections which any
man can offer against anything we teach, and let us consider them candidly.”
J.W. McGarvey
1) God CAN do all things (Jer 32:27; Matt 19:26)/God CANNOT do some things (Jdg 1:19; Titus 1:2).
- a) The term “all things” or “is there anything too hard for me” must be understood in the sense in
which it is used.
- i) For example, we often say, “You can do anything you set your mind to do.”
- (1) Does this mean a person can fly as a bird?
(2) Does it mean a person can breath under water as a fish?
- ii) In the context of the Jeremiah passages Babylonian captivity is under consideration.
- (1) Hence, for those who would doubt the statement is made in reference to
punishment.
(2) Their minds would reflect on the Exodus.
- iii) In the Matthew passage, the context reveals them speaking of the difficulties of salvation.
- (1) How can man accomplish these things?
(2) On his own he cannot, but with God he can (cf. Gal 2:16).
- iv) So, then, as it relates to that which is under consideration, no, there is not anything too
hard for the Lord.
- b) The term “could not” or “cannot” must be understood in the sense in which it is used.
- i) For example, a man cannot undergo a metamorphosis.
- (1) Why not?
(2) Because it is against certain rules or laws of nature.
- ii) God’s nature is to be all-good.
- (1) A lie is bad.
(2) Hence, God, because of His nature, cannot lie.
(3) To drive out the inhabitants was God’s will so long as the people obeyed His
words (Jdg 2:2-23).
(4) Because they broke the covenant, God refused to drive them away (cf. 1 Jn 1:5-
7).
(5) This does not speak of physical, but moral impossibilities.
- c) The term “because they had chariots of iron,” does not speak of God, but of the children of
Judah becoming faint.
- i) The tribe of Judah doubted the ability.
ii) Because of their doubt, the Lord did not deliver them.
2) God NEVER FORGETS (Isa 49:15)/God FORGOT Noah (Gen 8:1).
- a) Simply stated, Noah had been in the ark for many months as though he was forgotten.
- i) When the time came to further communicate with Noah, the accommodative language
says, “God remembered Noah.”
ii) This simply means that God was now going to continue His works through Noah.
- b) The Hebrew word translated “remembered” is the word zakar, which can, as per Brown, Driver
and Briggs, mean to make a memorial or a token.
- i) Hence, God made a token by causing the winds to blow and the waters to assuage.
ii) The token or memorial was for the sake of Noah and his family to be certain that God will
deliver them as He had promised.
3) Paul was not perfect (Phil 3:12)/ Paul was perfect (Phil 3:15).
- a) Contradiction can be cleared up by:
- i) Noting the NKJV translation.
ii) Defining the words using a Greek lexicon.
- b) First word, as used in verse 12, is τελειόω, which means to make complete, without fault.
- i) This is not a possible accomplishment in this life, hence Paul adds the negative οὐ
ii) Man will never be faultless.
- c) The second word, as used in verse 15, is τέλειος meaning to be mature mentally.
- i) Though man will never be faultless, he can properly develop his mental capacity.
ii) Making mistakes does not mean that one’s proper judgment is not used.
- a) John was not literally Elijah, as the Jews had supposed.
b) He was Elijah antitypically speaking, in that he had the same characteristics.
c) Lk 1:17; Mal 4:5, 6.
5) There are several millions of species/Adam named all animals in less than 86,400 seconds
(Gen 2:18-20).
- a) Adam could not have gathered all animals together, then examine and name each of them.
b) Skeptic is misleading:
- i) Text does not say Adam gathered all animals together (Gen 2:19).
ii) Gen 2:20 does not say Adam named all of the animals on the earth.
iii) Animals brought are limited by the terms “cattle,” “air” and “field.”
iv) Only speaks of animals in the bounds of Eden.
v) Adam did not name species, but named animals after their kind (1:21).