When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Thomas Howe (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Learn how to defend the authority and inspiration of Scripture. Writing in a problem/solution format, the authors cover every major Bible difficulty from Genesis to Revelation. Three extensive indexes-topical, Scripture, and unorthodox doctrines-offer quick and easy access to specific areas of interest.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 624 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (September 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801011426
• ISBN-13: 978-0801011429
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #503,587 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource for Understanding of Bible Difficulties, January 19, 2001

By	T. B. Vick "Learn 2 Discern" (The Lone Star State) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

It would be naive to think that the Bible is not difficult to read in various places, and in need of further thought and research. That is the very thing this book attempts to do, and I believe it rises to the occasion. Moreover, it would be even more naive to think that the Bible has never been under any criticism, attack, or been distorted in one way or another from skeptics, cults, and the like. Thus, Geisler and Howe cover all the apparent 'contradictions' or paradoxes that surface with just a prima facie reading of the Scriptures. They also handle criticisms that have been herald, and claims that have been made by skeptics, cults, or other aberrant groups toward or against the text of the Bible.

While this text is not completely exhaustive, it is, for all intents and purposes almost completely exhaustive. The book itself is 640 pages of Biblical texts, commentary about the various paradoxes, claims, criticisms, etc. and corrections about these false claims. Thus, the book works well as an apologetics text, a biblical study aid, a theology manual, and a reference work to give an answer to various cult groups who call themselves 'Christian' but distort the Word of God in one way or another.

Each of these authors is very qualified to put together a text of this nature. First, Dr. Norman Geisler is considered one of the best apologists and able defenders of the faith in this century. Second, Dr. Thomas Howe has his Ph.D. in biblical and philosophical hermeneutics, and is a professor of Greek and Hebrew at Southern Evangelical Seminary. Thus, the scholarship behind this text is excellent.

The text itself begins in Genesis, ends in Revelation, and takes all the verse that have been in question in one way or another (via skeptics, cults, etc), quotes the verse, comments on the criticisms, and then gives an answer. The book is very systematically organized, easy to use, and covers the entire biblical texts. Furthermore, it contains 2 appendices, a very detailed index of unorthodox religious doctrines, a detailed topical index, and a very detailed Scripture index, all of which is quite helpful to the researcher as he is using the book.

Of all the biblical difficulties texts that are out there in print, this is one of the best (including Gleason Archer's text). There are simply not enough words to describe how helpful and useful this text has been for me in my studies. I highly recommend it.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good resource, May 5, 2000

By	J. F Foster - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Geisler/Howe provide a good resource to respond to the kind of objections that regularly surface when it comes to alleged Bible contradictions or errors. I thought the book was well laid out and logical to follow in terms of presentation. I thought that many of the explanations were adequate, some were exquisite, a few others seemed to fall a bit short. Overall, I think it's a book that can be repeatedly referred to for guidance, since objections to the inerrancy of Scripture are always swirling around even in the midst of sound and compelling rebuttals.

I did not give the book 5 stars for 2 reasons. First, I thought that some (not many) of the explanations offered were a little hollow. But as I'm typing this, I can only think of 2 instances where I thought this. Secondly, there were a few verses in Scripture that were not dealt with in the book that probably deserved to be addressed due to their controversial or non crystal clear meaning. But again, on the whole, I thought this book was pretty thorough both in the verses it analyzed, and in the analysis itself. Not perfect, but a good solid resource.

36 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it, put it on the bookshelf, and then use it, July 28, 2000

By	E. Johnson (El Cajon, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is one of my favorite books of Bible difficulties (the other by Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties). Although they cannot possibly cover every single difficult passage with very detailed explanations, I have found the authors' exegesis to be very sound. They consider the important elements to interpreting a passage, especially the text's context and historical situation. Also, the biblical languages are utilized in a very simple layman's style. I have been very satisfied by their answers, and I rarely look up a difficult passage that was not included in this book. (Hint: Be ready to look at the other synoptic gospel accounts if the first passage is not listed.)

If you are looking for a good reference book to answer biblical "contradictions" or out-of-context prooftexts that supposedly support a very unbiblical position, then this is your book. If nothing more, Geisler and Howe give you some ideas of the proper interpretation, and then you can go look for more information if it's not satisfactory. Nobody ever said that being a Christian would ever be easy!