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Can you trust the Bible? Is it harmonious or contradictory? The early Christians warned us that a great apostasy would arise after Christ's death, and that such ones would attempt to mislead us away from the pure worship outlined in the Holy Scriptures. (2 Peter 2:1) But does such apostasy always have to be of a religious nature? Or could it also take on other forms, such as the attacks of skeptics? Many skeptics tells us the Bible is an erroneous book, filled with contradictions. Is that really the case? Or are such ones simply "puffed up [with pride], not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words?" (1 Timothy 6:4) Paul continues to explain the attitude of such ones in the rest of verse 4 and 5: "From these things spring envy, strife, abusive speeches, wicked suspicions, violent disputes about trifles on the part of men corrupted in mind and despoiled of the truth" One has only to take note of the speech and conduct these skeptics often devolve into, which is hurtful, malicious, and at times abusive toward those who speak in defense of the Scriptures. And those who are foolish enough to debate such ones often find themselves embroiled in heated "violent disputes about trifles," often leading to the very same malicious speech on their part. This is not conduct befitting true Christians. 2 Peter 2:2 tell us the ultimate goal of these accusers: "and on account of these the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively." Acts 17:10,11 tell us the best answer to the claims of the skeptics: "Immediately by night the brothers sent both Paul and Silas out to Be·roe´a, and these, upon arriving, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·ni´ca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so." The Beroean's were not going to take someone else's word for it, neither believer nor skeptic. They carefully examined what they were being taught; however, they did so with great eagerness of mind. They were not seeking their own gratification of preconceived notions. They sought truth, even if it meant they had been wrong. The original Greek root word used in this Scripture is anakrino, which is rendered 'closely scrutinizing' in the Emphatic Diaglott translation.

Anakrino -

1. examine or judge
   b. to investigate, examine, enquire into, scrutinise, sift, question

1. specifically in a forensic sense of a judge to hold an investigation
2. to interrogate, examine the accused or witnesses
   b. to judge of, estimate, determine (the excellence or defects of any person or thing

May we be just as the Beroean's, investigating and scrutinizing the Scriptures as a judge would in search of evidence and facts, even the supposed contradictions of skeptics. And, may we also heed Paul's council to avoid debating with those who are mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words...and never become involved in violent disputes about trifles!

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