Why Does the Bible Have to Be So Confusing?
If you’ve ever spent time reading the Bible, chances are you have sometimes been confused. You may sometimes come across words that you’re unable to define. Or you may come across sentences that are ten lines long, and it’s hard to keep track of what’s happening. It may even be that the Bible seems to contradict itself at certain points. Especially if you’re just starting out, reading the Bible can be challenging.
This being said, the overall message of the Bible is pretty clear. The human heart has been twisted by sin, such that people don’t rightly give their love and loyalty to the good God who made them. By turning our backs on God, we deserve cosmic punishment and abandonment. But at a pivotal point in history, God came down and took on human flesh to bear that punishment for us. The divine Son, Jesus Christ, suffered in our place, for our sake, in order to give us a new life with God as a gift, to be received by faith. But even though the Bible’s overall story line can be unpacked in simple terms, this doesn’t always help us to understand specific sections of the Bible that are confusing or challenging.
Navigating the Bible When It Seems to Contradict Itself
So here are a few basic principles that can help you navigate sections of the Bible, when it seems like there are parts that contradict one another.
First, when one part of the Bible seems to be in conflict with another part of the Bible don’t be concerned. God is rational and he doesn’t lie. His Word, contained in the Bible, doesn’t contradict itself. You can be confident that every word here is true, and that God knows how everything fits together, even if you and I have trouble seeing it.
Second, keep in mind that the Bible sometimes uses the same word in slightly different ways. We do the same thing. When we say that something is good, we might just be saying that it’s barely okay, or we might be saying that it’s totally good, or perfect, or we might be saying that it has a nice flavor. When we understand how the same word can be used in different ways in different parts of the Bible, it can sometimes clear up our confusion.
Third, recognize that different parts of the Bible are sometimes guarding against different types of errors. One part of the Bible might be setting up a guardrail on the left side of the road, and a different part of the Bible might be setting up a guard rail on the right side of the road. So although those two parts of the Bible might seem to be pushing us opposite directions, they aren’t contradicting each other. They’re just marking out the two sides of the road, so we can find the safe road in the middle.
Fourth, let parts of the Bible that are clearer guide your interpretation of other parts of the Bible that are more confusing. The primary tool we use to guide our interpretation of the Bible shouldn’t be our cultural norms, or our personal experiences, emotions, and desires. Instead, God’s Word should guide our interpretation of God’s Word.
Fifth and finally, be a part of a faithful church where the Bible is explained when it is preached. (This refers to a specific style of preaching called expositional preaching). Make the most of opportunities to read the Bible with other people, especially with people who are well-acquainted with the Bible. We aren’t intended by Jesus Christ to practice spirituality in isolation. But he wants us to be gathered into the church – not just a building, but into a fellowship of Christians who sharpen each other and serve each other in accordance with God’s Word.
I hope that these introductory remarks are an encouragement to you, as you seek to further explore the best book ever written!
