Is it wrong to read the Harry Potter books?

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Is it wrong to read the Harry Potter books?


From what I've heard at camps and in my congregation, the ministers seem to think it's wrong, but none of them have read the books themselves. Please give me an answer from someone who has read them, if possible.



Answer:



Your question about whether it is wrong to read the Harry Potter books is one that many young Christians have faced. In these books the imaginary character Harry Potter attends Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he learns about possession and casting spells on people. Although this series of books is purely imaginary and the witchcraft in them is not technically the same as real-life witchcraft, filling our minds with things that closely resemble insults to God is not a good idea.



In working with ancient Israel, God consistently condemned witches, witchcraft and all things associated with the occult. In Exodus:22:18Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live., God said, "You shall not permit a sorceress [witch, KJV] to live." In Deuteronomy:18:9-12[9]When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.[10]There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.[11]Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.[12]For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee., He adds, "'When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD.'"



God hates these things because they represent people turning to Satan for their needs instead of to Him. It is a violation of the First Commandment in which God says, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Deuteronomy:5:7Thou shalt have none other gods before me.).



In deciding whether to read these books, ask yourself, "Why would a Christian want to learn all about something he or she should never do and something that God hates?" There simply is no good explanation for reading books based upon witchcraft (technically correct or not) if one wants to honor and respect God.



While the answer to this question was prepared by ministers who have studied the Harry Potter books and read portions from them, actually reading bad books or sinning a particular sin is not mandatory before counsel against such practices can be given. When someone learns sufficient information to determine that a particular act is displeasing to God, he or she need not continue doing that thing in order to make sure it really is sin.



If you would like more information about the Harry Potter series, read the article, "The Bible and Harry Potter: Occult Fantasy in Perspective," in the January/February 2002 issue of the Good News magazine.

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More Persecution of Christians than Ever Before

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More Persecution of Christians than Ever Before

A commentary by Don Hooser

Persecution of Christians is rife and horrific in many parts of the world, and it's coming to the place where you live.





Source: Photos.com"Persecution? Really? Since I never hear about it, I thought it stopped a long time ago."



People who are living comfortably in a Western country that has laws to protect freedom of religion are often blissfully unaware of mounting persecution in the rest of the world. Virtually every religion suffers some persecution, but Christians are suffering the most. A recent study reported that 75 out of every 100 people that are killed for religious hatred are Christian. In 2010, Open Doors, a mission supporting persecuted Christians in more than 45 countries, estimated that 100 million Christians were being persecuted.



We need to be informed about this tragedy for several reasons.



In numerous countries, like Iran, Saudi Arabia and North Korea, intolerance and oppression of Christians is state policy. Many other state governments mostly ignore religious discrimination and violence against minorities, offering virtually no protection.



Ironically, the fall of a corrupt secular dictator, like President Mubarak of Egypt, is often bad news for Christians. Where Islam predominates, the overthrow of a secular dictator often allows the government to become controlled by Muslim extremists who are determined to establish Sharia law as the law of the nation. And Sharia forbids everyone from practicing any religion other than Islam!



Radical Islam isn't the only culprit—many Christians in India are suffering persecution from Hindu groups as well. Indian Christians are in a particularly bad spot because they are at risk from both radical Hindus and Muslims.



Persecution began with the founder of Christianity!

We shouldn't be surprised by ongoing persecution of Christians. It began immediately—with relentless slander and threats against the Perfect Man, Jesus Christ. Then His enemies managed to torture and kill Him in the most horrible way, by crucifixion.



Jesus warned His followers: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me before it hated you…If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (John:15:18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you., 20). He added, "Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service" (John:16:2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.).



In fact, there are many Bible prophecies of severe persecution of God's people in the end time.



Many forms of persecution

Persecution ranges from mild to severe. Keep in mind that when people can get away with minor forms of persecution, they often turn to more violent forms.



Even milder forms of persecution are obviously hurtful and scary: ridiculing, teasing, humiliating, ostracizing or speaking derogatorily or nastily of a Christian; schools not permitting students to write or speak about their Christian beliefs; employers discriminating against a Christian; and Christian political candidates putting up with scathing ridicule and slander.



These milder forms are increasingly prevalent in the United States, an indicator of much worse to come. We must make sure that each of us is prepared with strong faith and strong courage!



Should we be concerned for those who are suffering persecution in other nations?

It's easy to be apathetic about people in faraway places when we are extremely busy with our day-to-day activities. But there is no excuse for being selfish, self-centered and self-righteous. Jesus set the bar very high, commanding us to love everyone, even our enemies (Luke:6:27-38[27]But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,[28]Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.[29]And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.[30]Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.[31]And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.[32]For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.[33]And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.[34]And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.[35]But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.[36]Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.[37]Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:[38]Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.).



Many of these men and women are risking their lives to do what they consider to be God's work. Many end up being imprisoned, tortured and martyred for their beliefs. For all this, they deserve our deep respect.



We need to feel deep compassion and sympathy for these dedicated people—and pray for them.



Pastor Martin Neimoller, a survivor of Nazi concentration camps, said this: "First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me."



Let's be reminded of the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke:10:29-37[29]But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?[30]And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.[31]And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.[32]And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.[33]But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,[34]And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.[35]And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.[36]Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?[37]And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.. The Samaritan, who had less scriptural knowledge, was the one who pleased God because he felt and showed compassion. Scriptural knowledge is wonderful, but if we want God to show us compassion when we are persecuted, we must feel and express compassion toward others who are being persecuted.



Let's remember these words of Jesus: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew:5:7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.).

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World News and Trends: France no longer a Catholic country?

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World News and Trends: France no longer a Catholic country?


article by Jerold Aust, John Ross Schroeder





A recent poll printed in Le Monde Des Religions revealed that "the number of self-declared French Catholics had dropped from 80 percent in the early 1990s and 67 percent in 2000 to 51 percent today." In contrast, the number of declared atheists rose from 23 percent in 1994 to 31 percent today.



A recent poll printed in Le Monde Des Religions revealed that "the number of self-declared French Catholics had dropped from 80 percent in the early 1990s and 67 percent in 2000 to 51 percent today." In contrast, the number of declared atheists rose from 23 percent in 1994 to 31 percent today.



Henry Samuel, in Paris reporting for The Daily Telegraph, stated that "of the 51 per cent who still call themselves Catholics, only half said they believed in God. Many said they were Catholics because it was a family tradition" (Jan. 10, 2007, emphasis added throughout).



"In its institutions, but also in its mentalities, France is no longer a Catholic country," said Frederic Lenoir, Le Monde Des Religions editor in chief. According to what's prophesied in God's Word, religion will yet play a major part in European affairs. An alliance of a great religious power and a secular power will emerge in Europe and dominate the world. For further information, request our free booklet The Book of Revelation Unveiled. (Source: The Daily Telegraph [London].)

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The Early Church Was Not Communist - and Neither Was Jesus

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The Early Church Was Not Communist - and Neither Was Jesus

article by Don Hooser, Tom Robinson





A common misunderstanding is that the early Church practiced communal socialism, which some believe based on what they read in the beginning chapters of Acts.







Source: iStockphotoNote Acts:2:44-45[44]And all that believed were together, and had all things common;[45]And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.: "Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need."



But this was a unique situation that didn't last very long. We later see that elderly widows were to be financially provided for by a common church fund only if they had no family members in the Church who could privately support them (1 Timothy:5:3-16[3]Honour widows that are widows indeed.[4]But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.[5]Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.[6]But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.[7]And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.[8]But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.[9]Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.[10]Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.[11]But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;[12]Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.[13]And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.[14]I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.[15]For some are already turned aside after Satan.[16]If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.). Obviously, all members of the Church's congregations at this later time were not being provided for out of a common fund—only a select number in real need.



In considering Acts 2, we should note that Christians were being persecuted. Also, thousands of new believers, some from distant lands, had just been added to the Church at the Feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem.



No doubt many decided to remain in Judea at that time to learn more about their new faith and rely on one another through growing persecution rather than return to their homes far away. These people thus had an immediate need for food and lodging, and a voluntary pooling of resources took care of that.



The believers at the time felt extremely blessed, grateful, hospitable and generous. Many who had extra assets sold some of them to help finance the living expenses of others. The expression "all things in common" means this: "I love you, and therefore your needs are just as important to me as my own needs. I consider all that I have as being yours also."



However, keep in mind that they could not sell what they did not own. They were voluntarily selling some of their privately owned property so they could help others. This was charity, not communism. No one was compelled to sell his property, nor did anyone confiscate one's property or income to give it to others, as many governments do today.



Acts:4:32-35[32]And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.[33]And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.[34]Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,[35]And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need., which follows shortly after in time order, shows that the pooling of resources was still going on. The account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts:5:1-11[1]But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,[2]And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.[3]But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?[4]Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.[5]And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.[6]And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.[7]And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.[8]And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.[9]Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.[10]Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.[11]And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. adds further clarity. God did not execute judgment on these two for their refusing to share, but for their telling a lie to make themselves look good.



The apostle Peter asked Ananias, "While it [their possession] remained [unsold], was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control?" The couple was not obligated either to sell their land or to give away the proceeds. Again, this was not communism or socialism.



The words of Jesus Himself should make it even clearer. In His parables of the workers in the vineyard in Matthew 20, He portrayed God as a vineyard owner paying different employees the same agreed-on amount even if they worked for less time.



The employees who worked longer thought it unfair. But the owner, representing God, replies to one: "Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?" (verses 13-15).



To the final question here, communists and socialists, and those with such leanings, would answer no—since in those systems the community or state decides. Jesus' statement, while figurative of spiritual principles, is nevertheless a ringing endorsement of both private ownership and free market exchange without wage control. He was certainly no communist—and neither were His followers.

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Warnings for America

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Warnings for America


article by Scott Ashley





"America must rediscover the qualities that originally made it great. That will not be easy."







Source: Photos.comTwo newspaper articles in particular caught my eye recently. The first, "U.S. Funding for Future Promises Lags by Trillions," appeared in USA Today (Dennis Cauchan, June 7, 2011). It covered a sobering phenomenon we've discussed previously in several articles—the skyrocketing amount of financial obligations created by the U.S. government with no realistic way to pay for them.



While the federal government took on $1.5 trillion last year to finance the budget deficit, it shockingly added 31⁄2 times that amount, "$5.3 trillion in new financial obligations in 2010, largely for retirement programs such as Medicare and Social Security," according to the article. The net effect? "That brings to a record $61.6 trillion the total of financial promises not paid for" (emphasis added throughout).



Numbers like these are so huge that people find them almost meaningless. To put it in perspective, if you spent $1 per second, 24 hours a day, you would spend $86,400 per day and more than $31.5 million per year. It would take you over 32,000 years to spend a trillion dollars!



Multiply that by 61 times, and you have some idea of that one part of America's debt problem. If you're an American, your share is $534,000 per U.S. household, "more than five times what Americans have borrowed for everything else—mortgages, car loans and other debt."



The other article, titled "Decline and Fall of the American Empire," was written by Larry Elliott, economics editor for the British news-paper The Guardian (June 6, 2011). It's a stern warning for a nation on a perilous path, and shocking coming from such a left-leaning paper:



"America clocked up a record last week. The latest drop in house prices meant that the cost of real estate has fallen by 33% since the peak —even bigger than the 31% slide seen when John Steinbeck was writing The Grapes of Wrath," the famous novel of Depression-era America.



Elliot points to America's 9.1 percent unemployment rate, to one in six Americans relying on government food stamps and to budget deficits that, percentage-wise, rival those of Greece, which is on the verge of financial implosion.



His sobering conclusion? "America in 2011 is Rome in 200AD or Britain on the eve of the first world war: an empire at the zenith of its power but with cracks beginning to show.



"The experience of both Rome and Britain suggests that it is hard to stop the rot once it has set in, so here are a few of the warning signs of trouble ahead: military overstretch, a widening gulf between rich and poor, a hollowed-out economy, citizens using debt to live beyond their means . . . The high levels of violent crime, epidemic of obesity, addiction to pornography and excessive use of energy may be telling us something: the US is in an advanced state of cultural decadence."



For years The Good News has warned about America's cultural, societal and spiritual decline. It's becoming so obvious now that even a secular economics editor writing for a highly liberal newspaper can recognize the connection between the nation's "cultural decadence," as he put it, and its downward economic spiral.



Elliott's article concludes with this: "Above all, America must rediscover the qualities that originally made it great. That will not be easy."



We couldn't agree more! In the following pages we'll examine some of those qualities that "originally made [America] great." We hope and pray that you personally, and all of our readers, will rediscover and apply those qualities!

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God's Judgment: The Ultimate Legal Drama

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God's Judgment: The Ultimate Legal Drama

A commentary by Randy D'Alessandro




Public attention to Casey Anthony's trial has been off the charts, following in the footsteps of other popular, big-name trials, both factual and fictional. The greatest "legal" drama is yet to come for mankind, however.





Source: Photos.comWhat is it about a courtroom setting and drama that captures the attention and imagination of so many? In the United States, for example, there are great literary classics that center on the courtroom.



In Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a Great Depression-era lawyer in the South who agrees to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, who had been accused of raping a white woman.



So powerful were the impressions left by the character of Atticus Finch that in 2003, Atticus Finch was voted by the American Film Institute to be the greatest hero in American film.



A courtroom scene represents both justice and injustice

The courtroom has been used as a setting to facilitate dialog dealing with important social and political ideas of our time. For example, in playwrights Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee's, Inherit the Wind, the setting is the small Southern town of Hillsboro, Tennessee, where Bertram Cates is behind bars awaiting trial for teaching his students about Darwin's theory of evolution. An epic clash ensues when Matthew Harrison Brady, a Bible-believing zealot, faces off with the prominent litigator Henry Drummond, patterned after famed lawyer and ACLU member Clarence Darrow. The events of the play were heavily inspired by the Scopes "Monkey" Trial of 1925.



The intent of the playwrights was to criticize the then-current state of McCarthyism or anti-communist investigations of the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HCUA) and Senator Joseph McCarthy. The authors used the historical Scopes trial as the background for a drama that comments on and explores the threats to intellectual freedom presented by the anti-communist hysteria.



The real life murder trials of O.J. Simpson and Casey Anthony riveted the nation and drew millions to their television sets and various media to get "the latest" news of what had happened in court that day.



All will face God's judgment

But what, if anything, does this have to do with you? Will you become the centerpiece of a courtroom drama? Will you stand before a Judge who wields the power of life and death over you? Does the Bible, of all books, have anything to say about this? The answer is "yes"—on all counts!



Let's examine what God's Word has to say about our "day in court" before the Great God and the ultimate judgment we all will face. "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews:9:27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:). "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" 2 Corinthians:5:10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad..



Unlike the court systems of this world, which can be unjust and, in some cases, manipulated, the justice of God will uncover all of the truth about our lives:



"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God" (1 Corinthians:4:5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.). "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books" (Revelation:20:12).



Note that we will be judged "according to our works" by the things that were written "in the books." The word for "books" here, in the Greek, is biblia, which refers to the Bible! We are all to be judged by how we live our lives according to the eternal truths and guidelines set forth in the Scriptures.



How will you be judged?

The questions that remain for each of us are these: Do we know the Bible and its truths well enough in light of this ultimate judgment? If we don't know these truths, where can we find assistance in coming to understand them? When we stand before the Ultimate Judgment seat of Christ, will there be enough evidence to "convict" you and me as being Christians?



The United Church of God freely offers to you our Bible Study Course that gives us the answers to life's crucial questions: Why are we here? Where is the world headed? What does the future hold? Our eye-opening 12-lesson course will make the Bible come alive as it leads you through the biblical answers to these and other questions!

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Does the Bible Contain Errors?

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Does the Bible Contain Errors?


Often the answer depends on the eye of the beholder. For those determined to undermine Scripture, yes, it does contain errors and no answer will satisfy them. For others, though, careful study and patience usually resolve any problems.



As noted author Josh McDowell explains regarding the Bible: "It is a mistake for the critic to assume...that what has not yet been explained never will be explained. When a scientist comes upon an anomaly in nature, he does not give up further scientific exploration. Rather, he uses the unexplained as a motivation to find an explanation...



"Likewise, the Christian scholar approaches the Bible with the same presumption that what is thus far unexplained is not therefore unexplainable. He or she does not assume that discrepancies are contradictions. And when he encounters something for which he has no explanation, he simply continues to do research, believing that one will eventually be found...



"Like his scientific counterpart, the Bible student has been rewarded for his faith and research. Many difficulties for which scholars once had no answer have yielded to the relentless pursuit of answers through history, archaeology, linguistics, and other disciplines. For example, critics once proposed that Moses could not have written the first five books of the Bible because there was no writing in Moses' day. Now we know that writing existed a couple of thousand years or more before Moses.



"Likewise, critics once believed that the Bible was wrong in speaking of the Hittite people, since they were totally unknown to historians. Now historians know of their existence by way of a Hittite library found in Turkey. This gives us confidence to believe that biblical difficulties not yet explained do have an explanation, and we need not assume that there is a mistake in the Bible" (The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict, 1999, pp. 46-47).



Contradictions in the Gospels?



As an example of resolving supposed contradictions, let's consider how the four Gospels record the words that Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, ordered to be placed above Jesus' head at His crucifixion.



Matthew:27:37And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. reads, "This is Jesus the king of the Jews."



Mark:15:26And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. says, "the king of the Jews."



Luke:23:38And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. reads, "This is the king of the Jews."



John:19:19And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. states, "Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews."



At first glance it might appear none of the authors copied the words on the sign properly. But, when we read each account, we find every one adds a bit more information to the rest. From John we find that Pilate composed the message. From Luke we have additional information as to why these words are different: The inscription was originally written in three languages, Greek, Latin and Hebrew (Luke:23:38And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.).



So the variation of the wordings logically would have to do with the three languages used as well as the different point of view of each biographer, stressing slightly different aspects of Christ's life and ministry. Adding up the wording of the different accounts, we see that the complete message recorded by the signs was "This is Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews."



None of the Gospel accounts contradicts the others; they complement each other to provide increased understanding. A helpful tool for studying Christ's life and ministry is A.T. Robertson's A Harmony of the Gospels, which provides all four Gospel accounts side by side in chronological order.



Other seeming contradictions in the Bible are related to times and dates. One example of this is that Israel used both a civil and a sacred calendar. The civil year began in the autumn with the month of Tishri, while the sacred year began in the spring with the month of Nisan or Abib. When two writers seem to disagree regarding the timing of a particular event, the seeming discrepancy can be clarified by ascertaining which of the two calendars they are using.



In another matter of timing, John:19:14And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! seems to disagree with Matthew:27:45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.. John described events that occurred before the crucifixion and says that they took place at about the "sixth hour." Matthew agrees with Mark:15:33And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. and Luke:23:44And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. when he says darkness covered the land after the crucifixion from the sixth to the ninth hours. Is there a real discrepancy between these accounts?



No! The answer lies in the fact that the Jewish state was then under Roman control and John used the Roman reckoning of time, which began at midnight. The "sixth hour" in John's reckoning was 6:00 in the morning. However, the Jewish method of timekeeping started from that time of the morning, counting it as the first hour of the day. So the sixth hour of the day according to Jewish reckoning was noon.



The crucifixion occurred between the sixth and ninth hours of the day—Jewish time. Thus, the four Gospel accounts do not contradict; instead they complement each other.



Answers may not be readily apparent



What about other scriptural passages that contain apparent discrepancies? Some of these are the result of faulty translations; some Bible translations are simply more accurate than others in rendering particular verses. With other passages the difficulties may be more substantial.



In any case, one should not be alarmed at what appear to be errors in the Bible. There are answers and solutions to these passages that may not be readily apparent. As noted Bible scholar Gleason Archer writes:



"As I have dealt with one apparent discrepancy after another and have studied the alleged contradictions between the biblical record and the evidence of linguistics, archaeology, or science, my confidence in the trustworthiness of Scripture has been repeatedly verified and strengthened by the discovery that almost every problem in Scripture that has ever been discovered by man, from ancient times until now, has been dealt with in a completely satisfactory manner by the biblical text itself—or else by objective archaeological information...



"There is a good and sufficient answer in Scripture itself to refute every charge that has ever been leveled against it. But this is only to be expected from the kind of book the Bible asserts itself to be, the inscripturation of the infallible, inerrant Word of the Living God" (Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, 1982, p. 12).



The Bible is the Word of God, and we can depend upon it as the Book that illuminates the pathway to salvation. It is reliable. The apostle Paul wrote that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy:3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:). Jesus said that "the Scripture cannot be broken" (John:10:35If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;).



This is a promise from Jesus Christ on which we can rely and in which we can place our complete confidence. So, when we read the Bible, let us be assured that we are indeed reading a book that is inspired of God and contains the full backing of the Eternal God who desires to give us the salvation the book promises us.



A little research with commentaries and other Bible helps can usually resolve Bible difficulties.