In short
We naturally assume that a book of the Bible tells the events in order. I would say most do just that. But not always. Like the ending of 2 Samuel, for example.
Why it is important
If we don’t appreciate this:
- In the most innocent cases, it leaves us confused when reading
- But in the most dangerous cases, people will assert very different conclusions from passages in the Bible based on their interpretation of this
Examples
Jeremiah. This is irrefutable because there are dates in the book that show the events jump back and forth in time.
John, maybe. Matthew and Mark tell the story of Jesus turning over tables near the end of Jesus’ ministry while John tells the story at the beginning. There are multiple possible explanations for this – like, they are actually different but similar events (think of feeding the 4,000 and 5,000 in Matt 14 and 15). I have no idea, but I leave the door open for both and study.
2 Samuel. This is neat. Chapters 21-24 are in six symmetrical sections. In the middle (ch 22 and 23:1-7) are two poems. At the beginning and end (21:1-14 and ch 24) are a famine and a plague. And between those (21:15-22 and 23:8-39) are tales of valor. Uriah is mentioned here but he died in chapter 11: a clue that this is not chronological.
Theology and doctrine
There are probably more examples. I am personally reluctant to dismiss something as nonchronological. Commentaries seem to jump at the chance, which I think is probably what makes me so skeptical.
But it’s undeniably part of the Bible. From the first few chapters even. Genesis 1 describes the creation of man and woman, and then Genesis 2 describes it again, but in more detail.
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