Problem: For years, critical scholars claimed that there is a division in authorship for the book of Isaiah. As we have already argued, no such division is warranted. However, the Isaiah scroll of Qumran has a considerable space between Isaiah chapters 33 and 34. Does this support the concept of dual authorship? What is the significance of this gap in the manuscript evidence?
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Problem: Isaiah writes, “And you will be brought low; from the earth you shall speak, and from the dust your speech will be bowed down; your voice shall come from the ground like the voice of a ghost, and from the dust your speech shall whisper” (Isa. 29:4 ESV). Mormon apologists argue that this passage predicts the Book of Mormon being discovered in the ground. Is this the case?
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Problem: Why does Paul quote Isaiah 28:11 in this passage? Did he rip this passage from its original context?
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Problem: “Most of the scholarly world agrees that there is no concept of immortality of life after death in the Old Testament.”[1] With these words, George Mendenhall summarizes the consensus of critical academics regarding the afterlife in the Hebrew Bible. Even many Jewish thinkers deny an afterlife. For instance in a 1991 interview, Jewish professor Yeshayahu Leibowitz said,
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Problem: The Scriptures teach that all people will be raised bodily from the tomb (cf. Dan. 12:2; 1 Cor. 15:22; Rev. 20:4–6). Indeed, Jesus said that one day “all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth” (John 5:28–29). However, Job seems to say just the opposite, when he wrote: “he who goes down to the grave does not come up” (cf. also Job 14:12; Isa. 26:14; Amos 8:14).
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Problem: The Bible makes a number of predictions about the devastation of specific ancient cities, mentioning details about their destruction. This type of predictive prophecy demonstrates that the God of the Bible is in charge of secular nations and cities—not just spiritual matters. In my opinion, while these predictions are not the most persuasive evidence for the inspiration of the Bible, they still help to support the cumulative case that the Bible is a uniquely inspired book.
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Problem: Some interpreters claim that this passage refers to Satan. They point out that this passage refers to “Lucifer” who has “fallen from heaven” (Isa. 14:12 NKJV). He said, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God… I will make myself like the Most High” (vv.13-14). Does this passage describe Satan?
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Problem: The Bible makes a number of predictions about the devastation of specific ancient cities, mentioning details about their destruction. This type of predictive prophecy demonstrates that the God of the Bible is in charge of secular nations and cities—not just spiritual matters. In my opinion, while these predictions are not the most persuasive evidence for the inspiration of the Bible, they still help to support the cumulative case that the Bible is a uniquely inspired book.
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Problem: Why does the Bible say houses will be plundered and wives ravished? Why does God prophesy such a bad thing?
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Problem: Critics of the Bible note that John writes of “the four corners of the earth” (Rev. 7:1). They argue that this demonstrates that the authors of Scripture believed in a flat earth. Is this the case?
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