Truth is Plainer than Fiction

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 357
March 21, 2016

Sometimes there are truths hidden in the minor details of a story...

"And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home."

Acts 21:1-6 ESV

RANDY: One if the distinct differences between Biblical accounts, and storytelling in the ancient world is the way that in tge Bible, there is no attempt to glamorize or embellish on the details of the story.  Things are told in exactly the same way you would write a letter to a friend to merely inform them about what you did on a trip.

Instead of fantastic stories and dramatic accounts, instead what we see are simple statements like, "we went here, we went there, we met these people, we did this while we were in this city." This is actually among the internal textual proofs that this account is history, and not fiction, like many other ancient stories such as The Odyssey or The Iliad, the stories about ancient Troy, etc.

The Bible presents real people, in real places, doing everyday things, without adding dramatic elements for effect.

This is the nature of historical accounts.