The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained

Examples

The alleged contradiction and attack on the Bible:

Matthew 1:1-17 - The gospel of Matthew begins with a boring genealogy like that we are told to avoid in 1 Tim. 1:4 ("Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies") and Tit. 3:9 ("Avoid foolish questions and genealogies").

The answers:

* Genealogies were important up until the time of Jesus Christ. He fulfilled the numerous, lineage prophecies. However, after His birth, life, death and resurrection, it wasn't necessary to trace the Jewish lineages.

* Some people were boasting about their genealogies. Therefore, in the New Testament, they were told not to worry about them.

The alleged contradiction and attack on the Bible:

Genesis 1:1-2:3 - The first of two contradictory creation accounts. Compare with Gen. 2:4-25 in which the order of events is entirely different.

The answer:

* Genesis 1 and 2 are complementary accounts of creation. Genesis 1 is a detailed account of the entire creation week. Genesis 2 is a more detailed account of creation on the 6th day. Further, the Hebrew word for "formed" in Genesis 2:19 could also be translated "had formed". This clarifies the assertion of two, contradictory creation accounts.

The alleged contradiction and attack on the Bible:

Leviticus 11:5-6 - The bible says that hares and coneys are unclean because they "chew the cud" but do not part the hoof. But hares and coneys are not ruminants and they do not "chew the cud."

The answers:

* In the 21st century, we consider "chewing the cud" regurgitating partially digested materials and chewing on it (like cows do). This is called "rumination." However, this isn't necessarily the same meaning and definition of this Hebrew word ("gerah") that the ancient Israelites had.

* Rabbits practice "refection." They chew on their dung which consists of partially digested food and partially undigested food. Therefore, there is a similarity even between our current understanding of "chewing the cud" and an ancient understanding of it. They both chew undigested food. At any rate, the Israelites didn't use different words for rumination and refection, so "gerah" (translated cud) had to suffice.

Click here to hear Mr. Gastrich's 15 minute, MP3 lecture on some of the Bible difficulties that are addressed in this book!

Each week, we include one answer from this CD-ROM in our devotional message. You can click here to find links to the weekly devotionals.

Note: Every assertion from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible" has been answered in this book, "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained." You can see that entire, atheist commentary by clicking here. Remember, since "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible" is a growing resource, so is "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained." Periodically, we release new editions and give a free copy of the update to each person who buys a copy of this CD-ROM from our web site.