The Struggle to Answer and Understand Hard Biblical Passages
If you have a question concerning the Bible that you ask a person, but they do not know the answer, then there might be a good reason why they do not know it. They do not always know the answer because the Bible does not always have an answer to the question you asked them. The Bible does not specifically address certain questions like whether it is okay to baptize infants or why does God allow “bad’ things to happen to “good” people. Some wonder if the Bible can be trusted because it is an old book. Many people do not believe it because they claim it contains contradictions.
Despite human’s doubt about the adequacy of the Bible or the questions we have about it, it can be trusted and is true (John 17:17). In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 it states that “all Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.”
If we doubt its adequacy, it is due to our own sinful hearts and minds and not because God is trying to trick or confuse us. For example, look at Adam and Eve in the beginning – they doubted and did not trust God’s words but believed and listened to the serpent instead (Genesis 3:1-3). Eve knew what God had said but chose to believe the voice of a creature that was not known for speaking while contradicting her maker (Genesis 3:2-6).
God is full of mercy and grace and provides people with help when they have questions or doubt His words and commands. He provides people with helpful resources like commentaries, pastors, and other Christians. Many believe God provides people with help from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is there to help guide people in understanding the Bible or if they have questions. It is also important to pray for God to reveal the right resources since there are many false teachers and false prophecies that are taught in different seminaries. These false teachings will mislead someone down the wrong path like the serpent did to Adam and Eve.
There is hope for a person if they do what Adam and Eve did. Jesus is hope for a believer who sins when they listen to a false teacher or false doctrine. God is willing to forget and forgive if we repent and ask for His forgiveness.
No one is alone in their struggle to understand the Bible. It can be hard to understand. It is a struggle since God’s chosen people really want to understand, listen and obey His teachings (Ezekiel 11:19-20). With the Spirit’s help, we will have the desire and ability to do what the Bible teaches and apply it to our lives.
John 14:26 is a great reminder of it:
“ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (ESV)
