Point: Sometimes when one engage in apologetics the issue of alleged Bible contradiction comes up. There are times when those who assert that there are contradictory verses in the Bible fail to acknowledge that words can have different meanings and thus a word used in one context does not mean the same thing in another context. But if one fail to recognize there are differences of meaning of the word being used in two separate contexts, a skeptic can easily assume there’s a Bible contradiction when there are none. Are there any examples of this error to get the point across to a skeptic of their foolish methodology and mistake?
Picture: I learned something new last night. Have you ever notice that college Bachelor degrees can be given as Bachelor of arts or Bachelor of science? The meaning of art and sciences is not what we think of today.
Back in college I remember some college kids think a Bachelor of science was more harder work than a Bachelor of Arts degree. But that didn’t seem right as my particular major was a Bachelor of Arts and I felt talking to someone in the same university in an adjacent field that was pursuing a major that was awarded as a “Bachelor of Science” that it seems my major involved more course work and rigor (that friend’s major was known on campus as the easiest subject to major in for the school).
Some thinks Bachelor of Science involves science while Bachelor of Arts involves arts. But I remember thinking that can’t be right as I know someone in a prestigious college who was getting an engineering degree and it was a Bachelor of Arts instead of Bachelor of Science.
Is it possible that there’s something about the meaning of Art and Science that I didn’t know about from the past?
I think the meaning of art and sciences is not what we think of today. In a book I was reading tonight I discovered that the term science and arts meant something very specific:
“In the vocabulary of scholasticism and the colonial colleges, the arts were the branches of study concerned with action. (The sciences were concerned with abstract knowledge.)” (Andrew Forsyth, Common Law and Natural Law in America, 19).
I was glad I read that and learned something!
The book also mentioned about natural philosophy; again philosophy don’t mean what we think it means, since “natural philosophy” back then also mean science as it is commonly understood today.
The example of the terms “art, science and philosophy” makes me realize terms might mean something else. It can mean something different from it use in the past. It can mean something different as a technical term for a specific field.
I think of how skeptics make this mistake when they read our 21st Century meaning of words rather than try to find out what words in a verse mean according to our English dictionary there’s a place for reading lexical studies and also words in their context.
These possible types of lexical mistake appear also with skeptics’ claims that there’s a Bible contradiction. Word meanings matter! Also critics of Christianity sometimes attack the Trinity. They can say things like how can their be One person and three Persons. But there’s specific distinction in historic Christianity with what we mean by Persons and Being. Modalists can argue that Person means “mask” and therefore their view of God is better than Trinitarians. But the modalists once again makes a mistake of not accounting for how the church use the term “Person” differently than what it meant in other contexts. Many examples can be given of error in understanding terms and how it results in us seeing alleged problems that in actuality aren’t there.
POSSIBLE SCENARIO FOR EMPLOYING THIS ILLUSTRATION DURING APOLOGETIC EVANGELISM
NON-CHRISTIAN: I don’t believe in the Bible because there are Bible contradictions!
CHRISTIAN: Can you give me your best example?
NON-CHRISTIAN: Sure look at this one <Insert claim of Contradiction>
CHRISTIAN: Interesting. There is not a Bible contradiction here. The words have different sense and meaning. You can’t make an equivocation fallacy.
NON-CHRISTIAN: That’s a cop-out. How does one even know what the words mean anyway in these instances? It’s too difficult.
CHRISTIAN: Meaning is always determined by its context. And while sometimes it is hard to find out the meaning, one shouldn’t think it’s altogether futile or impossible. Let me ask you: When some says “Watch your back” what does it mean?
NON-CHRISTIAN: Well it depends.
CHRISTIAN: Exactly! I can think of three sense it is trying to tell us. <Insert explanation of analogy>
NON-CHRISTIAN: Ok,
CHRISTIAN: So context is key!
The Domain for Truth 
Excellent brother. I really appreciate your ongoing work alleged bible contradictions.
Blessings for a stunning day with Jesus.
I have long wondered the difference between BA and BS, so I appreciate that you pointed this out! Now I’ve started the day with having learned something new–which is something I endeavor to do every day.
So many times it’s all about nuance and proper context. Unfortunately, both are quite lacking in many online discussions.
Do you write down in a note book what you learn each day Craig or have it typed up in a computer?
I can’t say I always write such things down. I think it would take many notebooks and more than one computer to put down all I continue to learn! But, sadly, some of it will be forgotten, and sometimes in too short of time.
However, I do sometimes write–well, actually type–newly-learned things and I also retain my own thoughts on my computer at times. I can, then, (somewhat) easily find these with a keyword search.
Good points! People criticize the Bible when they have very little Biblical knowledge – lexical or historical.
Yes people from all the spectrum speak of what they do not know, from atheists to cultists to Roman Catholics. Any plans for the Fourth???
Nope we have no plans for the Fourth. just a restful day. Last night, my wife mentioned that she wants to see one of the local fireworks displays this evening, but they normally start at the time I’m going to bed. I’m hoping she forgets about it.
What are your plans for the Fourth?
Well said.
Thanks Bonnie blessings to you! Grateful for your late husband’s service with the US In some of America’s toughest wars
Thank you. He would have loved that.
Happy 4th, brother! Thankful for this illustration! Have a great day with the family!!!
Happy Independence Day! I imagine living in the East Coast even the area you lived at have history going back to the time of the American war of independence? Was your town around during that time???
My area is preindependence!!! Lancaster county was founded in 1729. We were one of the most important inland cities in the US at that time. Lancaster was a munitions hub for the Revolutionary War. For one day September 27, 1777 Lancaster was the National Capital of the American Colonies.
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Good point: “Meaning is always determined by its context. And while sometimes it is hard to find out the meaning, one shouldn’t think it’s altogether futile or impossible.”
Amen! I’m glad we agree on that! Blessings to you Frank, hope your 4th of July went well
Haha, yes, in the case of idioms, “all bets are off.” (There’s an example right there.) Idioms make learning a foreign language more difficult, even learning the terminology of a new skill..
My cousin was teaching a young boy how to sail, and as they were tacking (going against the wind, in a sort of zig-zag), he told the boy to “point up” (turn the boat in the direction of the wind). The boy simply pointed up with his finger. When they needed to steer away from the wind, my cousin didn’t dare tell his student to “fall off.” 😉
Wow that’s too funny! Nautical terms presents its own challenges and difficulties to the general public and added to it naval terms, its gets quite counter-intuitive. Saying “go to the head” as a Marine to ordinary people makes people scratch their heads and most Marines seem to never remember where is portside and starboard side lol. Great examples you gave; how did your Fourth of July went?
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I know an atheist pride himself with the “Science” with bachelor of Science even though he didn’t major in the hard sciences. I’m going to bring this up next time he pull that card out lol
He probably knows enough to think he knows it all; what an arrogant fool
You got that right about him
There’s so many atheists like your acquaintance; they think they are the smartest ones in the room if there’s Christians around them
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They sure are addicted to saying “I read the Bible before” and “contradictions” as buzzwords…as if that allows them to not prove what they assert about the Bible!
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