Hello Graham, if you are looking for incoherence or inconsistencies in biblical accounts I can give you a lot more examples, and a lot stronger examples than this one. For example, there are two accounts in the Old Testament of the killing of the giant Goliath. The famous one involving the young David, of course, but a later one involving one of David's chief soldiers or "heroes."

I'm sorry that I do not find your interpretation of Paul's visit to Arabia as convincing. I remember earlier you said there was evidence he went there to engage in psychedelics. While you dismiss the eminent biblical historian and theologian NT Wright as "blinkered," his credentials suggest he deserves a bit more of a respectful treatment. He does not push this reference to Paul's journey under the carpet, but instead sees it as Paul understanding himself and perhaps positioning himself as a prophet in the line of Elijah.

By the way, I have no real interest in changing your mind or convincing you of my own understanding of these issues. Why would I, when I enjoy as I do the interchange with you and the way in which you challenge ideas and beliefs that should be challenged.

Another by the way, I would also agree with David Knott that the bible is remarkably coherent, but that deserves a book length explanation. How can it be incoherent and coherent at the same time? As I hope to write about at some time, my own view of biblical authority is not tied as much to the specific words or meanings of the bible, but the way in which truth is conveyed through them by the Holy Spirit. As it is written, those who have ears to hear, let them hear.