Difficulties in the Bible: Alleged Errors and Contradictions
Overview
This book is R. A. Torrey’s classic look at some of the best known Bible difficulties. Torrey does not attempt to take up in detail every conceivable difficulty that could be found in the Bible. It would take many volumes to do that. Rather, he simply takes up those objections, two dozen in all, of which the modern unbeliever makes the most, and which are most puzzling to many Christians. These explanations have been of help to many over a period of several decades.
Top Highlights
“The fourth thing to be said about the difficulties in the Bible is: the fact that you cannot solve a difficulty does not prove it cannot be solved, and the fact that you cannot answer an objection does not prove at all that it cannot be answered.” (source)
“The third thing to be said about the difficulties in the Bible is that there are many more, and much greater, difficulties in the way of the doctrine that holds the Bible to be of human origin, and hence fallible, than there are in the way of the doctrine that holds the Bible to be of divine origin, and hence infallible.” (source)
“The seventh thing to be said about the difficulties in the Bible is that they rapidly disappear upon careful and prayerful study.” (source)
“The sixth thing to be said about the difficulties in the Bible is that they have far more weight with superficial readers than with profound students.” (source)
“The fifth thing to be said about the difficulties in the Bible is that the seeming defects of the Book are exceedingly insignificant when put in comparison with its many and marvelous excellencies.” (source)
- Title: Difficulties in the Bible
- Author: R. A. Torrey
- Publisher: Woodlawn
- Print Publication Date: 1998
- Logos Release Date: 2001
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible › Criticism, interpretation, etc.--Hermeneutics
- Resource ID: LLS:40.40.43
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T18:59:03Z
Reuben Archer Torrey (1856–1928) was an American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Torrey studied at Yale University, Yale Divinity School, Leipzig University, Erlangen University and received a doctorate degree from Wheaton College.
Soon after becoming a congregational minister, Torrey joined Dwight L. Moody in his evangelistic work in Chicago. Torrey became the superintendent of the Bible Institute of the Chicago Evangelization Society (now Moody Bible Institute).
He later became pastor of the Chicago Avenue Church (now the Moody Church). Torrey later served as a chaplain with the YMCA and dean of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (now Biola University).
Torrey authored over 40 books in his lifetime. The classic four-volume set The Fundamentals includes over 90 articles by leading Christian scholars. The R. A. Torrey Collection features 15 titles of biblical doctrine and teaching from Torrey.
Reviews
1 rating
Glenn Crouch
1/1/2014
I realise this book was written over a Century ago so perhaps I underestimated how much I would enjoy it :) Whilst Torrey's style probably wouldn't be that appropriate in the 21st Century, I found him very easy to read. I was quite surprised on how many "solutions" I agreed with him about - though I find his "TeeTotaller" views strongly influence his views on Alcohol use in Scripture. Also I didn't find his argument for Jesus being crucified on Wednesday as convincing as he seems to. I would not encourage this as the place to start for Apologetics but a good source to compare your current Apologetics with. Plus a good insight to the thoughts of American Evangelicalism at the start of the 20th Century :)