Did God really regret He created mankind, as Gen. 6:6 suggests? Why did He order King Saul to wipe out an entire race of people (I Sam. 15:18)? Who should be turned over to Satan (1 Cor. 5:5)? And what is the sin that brings death (1 John 5:16)? These are so-called “hard sayings” of the Bible.

What is a “hard saying?” Simply put, a “hard saying” is a passage of Scripture that is difficult to understand. We shouldn’t feel badly that we struggle with some Bible verses; even the apostle Peter had a hard time with some of Paul’s writings (2 Peter 3:16).

Why are some Bible passages difficult to understand?

• They seem to contradict other Scriptures (“No one has ever seen God”).
• They are isolated passages that cannot be cross-referenced with other Scriptures (“Being baptized for the dead”).
• They call God’s character into question (“The Lord regretted that He had made man”).
• Or they seem to make unreasonable – even unholy – demands of God’s people (“Go and complete destroy the sinful Amalekites”).

What are some keys to understanding these “hard sayings?”

• Context (who, what, when, where, why and how?)
• Key words (“The Lord regretted …”)
• Comparison (“I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau”)
• Genre

In this 12-part study, we will explore some of the most prominent “hard sayings” in Scripture.

Download the complete study in pdf format.