Explore puzzling statements and events from Scripture. Each short investigation presents the biblical account, explains the difficulty, and considers its meaning.
Why Did God Say, Let Us Make Man in Our Image?
Genesis 1:26
Genesis • Beginnings, Patriarchs & Genesis
Who was God addressing when He spoke of creating humanity in our image?
Why Did Adam and Eve Not Die Immediately?
Genesis 2:17
Genesis • Beginnings, Patriarchs & Genesis
God warned of death on the day they ate the forbidden fruit. What did He mean?
How Had Humanity Become Like God?
Genesis 3:22
Genesis • Beginnings, Patriarchs & Genesis
What did God mean when He said humanity had become like one of us?
What Was the Mark of Cain?
Genesis 4:15
Genesis • Beginnings, Patriarchs & Genesis
God placed a mysterious mark upon Cain. What was its purpose?
Where Did Cain Find a Wife?
Genesis 4:17
Genesis • Beginnings, Patriarchs & Genesis
If Adam and Eve were the first humans, where did Cain find his wife?
Who Were the Sons of God and the Nephilim?
Genesis 6:1-4
Genesis • Beginnings, Patriarchs & Genesis
An ancient and mysterious account describes the sons of God and mighty men of old.
Understanding Puzzling Passages
The Bible contains passages that have puzzled readers for centuries. Some describe extraordinary events, others record troubling actions, and still others contain statements that seem difficult to reconcile with what we know about God.
Why are these passages difficult?
Sometimes the difficulty comes from differences in language, culture, or ancient customs. In other cases, understanding a passage requires knowing its historical setting, literary style, or relationship to the larger biblical story.
Looking Beneath the Surface
Rather than avoiding these questions, we can explore them with curiosity and care. Drawing upon Scripture, historical evidence, and the insights of Christian and Jewish scholars, these investigations consider what the biblical writers intended to communicate.
Questions Worth Exploring
Not every puzzling passage has a single, universally accepted explanation. Where interpretations differ, we examine the principal viewpoints while remaining attentive to the Bible's historical setting and the Christian understanding of Scripture.
Our goal is not merely to resolve difficulties, but to discover how thoughtful study can deepen our understanding of God's Word.