The Role of Unresolved Tensions in Scripture

What Are Unresolved Tensions?

Building on the idea of lingering conflicts in Scripture, unresolved tensions refer to apparent contradictions, ambiguities, or unresolved issues within the biblical text that scholars and readers engage with over time.

These tensions often emerge from partial knowledge (1 Corinthians 13:12, 'For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face') and the call to diligent study (2 Timothy 2:15, 'Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth'). Such passages acknowledge the complexity of interpreting Scripture while emphasizing the responsibility of believers to seek understanding.

Recognizing these tensions matters because they invite humility, dialogue, and deeper engagement with God's Word. Rather than viewing them as flaws, they can be seen as invitations to grow in wisdom and dependence on the Holy Spirit, preparing readers for fuller revelation.

Examples of Unresolved Tensions in Scripture

Scripture presents several instances where tensions remain unresolved, inviting readers to grapple with their implications.

One prominent example lies in the differing accounts of Jesus' tomb time: John 2:19-22 states "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days," while Mark 15:42-47 describes events occurring on the day before Sabbath, leaving the precise chronology ambiguous. Paul’s "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7-9) further illustrates unresolved tension, as his repeated pleas for its removal are met with the divine response, "My grace is sufficient for you," without clarification of the thorn’s nature or purpose. These passages neither reconcile the discrepancies nor fully explain the trials, compelling readers to engage with the ambiguity. Such unresolved elements reflect the biblical narrative’s complexity, where theological truths often emerge through tension rather than immediate resolution.

These examples underscore how unresolved tensions serve to deepen faith and reliance on God’s timing and wisdom. By withholding clear answers, Scripture invites believers to wrestle with mystery and trust in divine purposes beyond human understanding. This approach prepares readers for the ultimate resolution promised in God’s full revelation.

Theological Implications of Unresolved Tensions

Unresolved tensions in Scripture compel believers to confront the limits of human reason in grasping divine revelation.

Augustine’s *Enchiridion* warns against overconfidence in human understanding, arguing that Scripture’s mysteries often transcend logic, while modern hermeneutics emphasize historical, cultural, and textual complexities that resist simplistic resolution. Both traditions underscore that unresolved tensions are not flaws but features of a divinely crafted text meant to humble interpreters.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding…”) directly addresses this dynamic, framing unresolved tensions as opportunities to surrender intellectual control and embrace dependence on God’s wisdom. Rather than forcing harmonizations that risk distorting meaning, such passages invite readers to dwell in the tension, cultivating patience and trust in God’s timing.

This approach reshapes how believers engage Scripture: by prioritizing humility over certainty, dialogue over dogmatism, and spiritual discernment over exhaustive explanation. Unresolved tensions, thus, become theological tools that mirror the mystery of God’s nature - both knowable and unfathomable - and prepare hearts for the fullness of revelation yet to come (1 Corinthians 13:12).

How to Read Unresolved Tensions Correctly

Navigating unresolved tensions in Scripture requires a balanced approach that honors both divine mystery and human responsibility. When encountering tensions, prioritize Christological focus by examining how Jesus interprets and fulfills earlier texts (John 5:39: 'You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me'), consider the historical context of each passage (Luke 1:1-4 highlights the eyewitness foundation of Scripture), and accept that some mysteries remain beyond full human comprehension (Isaiah 55:8-9: 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways... as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways'). Avoid reducing tensions to mere contradictions by refusing to force premature harmonizations that ignore textual complexity, and resist the temptation to dismiss unresolved issues as errors rather than features of Scripture's layered wisdom. This interpretive framework preserves both the authority of Scripture and the humility required to engage its depths, preparing readers to approach future discussions of specific tensions with clarity and theological maturity.

Going Deeper

To deepen your understanding of unresolved tensions, scholars like Brevard Childs emphasize the canonical approach, which views Scripture as a unified yet complex witness to God’s revelation.

Childs' method encourages tracing how later biblical texts reinterpret earlier ones, offering insights into tensions that remain unresolved. For instance, Mark 13’s apocalyptic discourse (Mark 13:1-2: 'Do you see all these things? ... every one will be thrown down') presents unresolved questions about timing and divine judgment, inviting further reflection and study.