Bible Facts
Bible questions and misconceptions
Translation-dependent observationJonah's fish is not called a whale in JonahThe book of Jonah says the LORD prepared a "huge fish" (or "great fish") to swallow Jonah; it does not say what kind of animal it…Direct biblical statementNot every animal went into the ark two by twoGod told Noah to take seven pairs of every clean animal and one pair of the others.Direct biblical statementThe crowd was bigger than "five thousand"Matthew says about five thousand men ate, "in addition to women and children". The total number is not given.Direct biblical statementJesus fed a crowd twiceBesides the five thousand, Mark and Matthew record Jesus feeding about four thousand people with seven loaves.Direct biblical statementElijah went up by a whirlwindSecond Kings says a chariot of fire separated Elijah and Elisha, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.Translation-dependent observationGod is not named in EstherThe book of Esther, as it appears in Protestant Bibles, never uses the word God or the LORD's name.Text-derived calculationThe word "Trinity" is not in the BibleThe English word "Trinity" does not appear in the Bible, though passages such as Matthew 28:19 name the Father, Son and Holy Spirit together.Direct biblical statementThe forbidden fruit is not called an appleGenesis speaks of "fruit" from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; it does not name the kind of fruit.Direct biblical statementThe Bible does not say there were three wise menMatthew records three kinds of gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh) but does not say how many Magi there were.Direct biblical statementThe Magi found Jesus in a houseMatthew says the Magi came "into the house" and saw "the young child", not a newborn in a manger.Direct biblical statementLuke does not mention a donkey or an innkeeperLuke says Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem and laid the baby in a manger; he does not mention a donkey or an innkeeper.Direct biblical statementThe angels "said", not "sang"Luke says the heavenly army was "praising God and saying" Glory to God in the highest; it does not say they sang.Direct biblical statementSaul was not renamed Paul on the Damascus roadActs keeps calling him Saul for years after his conversion; Acts 13:9 then says "Saul, who is also called Paul".Direct biblical statement"The love of money", not money, is a root of evilThe verse often quoted as "money is the root of all evil" says "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil".Direct biblical statementDelilah called a man to shave Samson's hairJudges says Delilah called a man to shave off the seven locks of Samson's head while he slept.Literary or interpretive observationGenesis 3 calls the tempter a serpentGenesis 3 speaks of a serpent; Revelation later calls the devil "the old serpent".Direct biblical statementThomas was invited to touch the woundsThomas said he would not believe unless he touched Jesus' wounds; a week later Jesus invited him to, and Thomas said "My Lord and my God!"