The author of the SAB answered

An exhaustive examination of the claims made by the author of the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB). Do the alleged absurdities and contradictions stack up? The response is written by someone who wholeheartedly subscribes to the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646).


The preface I wrote before starting to look in detail at the claims made by the author of the SAB.

Old Testament

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

New Testament

Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation

After nearly seven years, I finished this labour. Every issue raised by the author of the SAB has been answered, except occassions where the author of the SAB only made a dismissive comment. It appears that the issues he has raised have all been very old, they usually are at least two thousand years old, and he could have easily checked an available commentary. The commentary I have used most is John Gill's Exposition, available in print since 1746, and available online at many places for free.

It would be helpful for the scoffers to at least check a commentary before raising a question. Because one of the problems is that the questions raised are often not very interesting, and easily answered. As said in my preface, I own a book from Johannes Polyander, written in 1621, discussing many alleged contradictions which contains far deeper questions.

I've been encouraged by emails from readers. May God bless his word:

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

Berend de Boer
August 17, 2011