Bible Trouble

The essays in Bible Trouble all engage queer theories for purposes of biblical interpretation, a rare effort to date within biblical scholarship. The title phrase “Bible Trouble” plays on Judith Butler's Gender Trouble, gesturing toward a primary text for contemporary queer theory. The essays consider, among others, the Lazarus story, the Ethiopian eunuch, “gender trouble” in Judges 4 and 5, the Song of Songs, and an unorthodox coupling of the books of Samuel and the film Paris Is Burning. This volume “troubles” not only the boundaries between biblical scholarship and queer theory but also the boundaries between different frameworks currently used in the analysis of biblical literature, including sexuality, gender, race, class, history, and literature. The contributors are Ellen T. Armour, Michael Joseph Brown, Sean D. Burke, Heidi Epstein, Deryn Guest, Jione Havea, Teresa J. Hornsby, Lynn R. Huber, S. Tamar Kamionkowski, Joseph A. Marchal, Jeremy Punt, Erin Runions, Ken Stone, Gillian Townsley, Jay Twomey, and Manuel Villalobos.

For the Person Whose Study of Scripture is a Lifelong CommitmentFor the one without formal training in biblical studies, resolving questions and difficulties that arise while reading Scripture can be a discouraging task. Without a background in the culture, language, and history of the Bible, the lay Bible student is often left to grasp for answers or trust what someone else has said or written as the correct interpretation of a particular problem.Today's Handbook for Solving Bible Difficulties offers a refreshing solution. While offering suggested answers to specific difficulties, it goes a step beyond the usual approach and teaches readers reliable interpretive tools to use in their own reading of the Bible. Author David O'Brien encourages readers to more in-depth personal Bible study and shows them how to do it. In a very readable style, the book divides Bible difficulties into categories to help Bible students understand problems with:Apparent biblical contradictions in certain passagesLanguage, translation, and figures of speechHistory, criticism, and transmission of the biblical textCultural differencesCreation, Genesis -, and prophecyEthics and lifestyle issuesControversial doctrinal issues

THE BIBLE: ERRORS! MISTAKES! INCONSISTENCIES! CONTRADICTIONS! Critics claim that the Bible is filled with so-called errors, mistakes, inconsistencies, and contradictions. Some even speak of thousands of errors. The truth is there is not even one demonstrated error in the original text of the Bible. Of course, we would never say that there are no difficulties in our Bibles. The Bible is loaded with thousands of difficult, challenging passages, many of which become obstacles in the development of our faith. These difficulties arise from differences in culture, language, religious and political organizations, not to mention between 2,000 to 3,500 years of separation between the Bible author and the modern-day reader. Calling attention to these difficulties and sifting out the misconceptions, Andrews defends the full or absolute inerrancy of Scripture. He clarifies the so-called errors or mistakes and what might seem like apparent contradictions. He arms the Christian with what they need to defend their faith in the Bible. Honestly, whenever Christians find difficulty in the Bible, acknowledge it. Do not try to obscure it. Do not try to dodge it. The best way to deal with Bible critics and the Bible Difficulties is to understand all the ways that Bible Difficulties can come about. And then have dozens of Bible difficulties answered as examples. Herein is the defense of God's Word that Christians have been waiting for.

Torrey examines some of the difficulties surrounding the Bible, and he explains how we should deal with them when they arise. Each chapter focuses on a different passage of Scripture and provides an illuminating perspective on the biblical text. Torrey will draw you into his exploration of the truth and the real facts of the Scriptures.

One Bible, Many Answers In God's Problem, the New York Times bestselling author of Misquoting Jesus challenges the contradictory biblical explanations for why an all-powerful God allows us to suffer.