Thank you for the question on the truthfulness of the Scriptures, “If people believe the Bible is the truth and “the word of God”, but one statement of the Bible is proven wrong, does the Bible then become suspicious of all accounts?
The comparison of what is “truth” is dependent on what standard a person uses to evaluate what is true or false.
Here are some thoughts for one’s consideration:
A. The contradictions between Biblical statements.
This is a valid criticism of pointing out seemingly contradictions between Biblical passages. Readers or believers are to have a valid discussion and resolution.
Atheists have pointed there is a contradiction between Genesis 1 and 2 of who is the Creator: God or the LORD God. Is that a contradiction? If one only looks only at that text, it appears to be so.
The answer comes when one understand that the word for God in Hebrew is Elohim, which is plural in form, not singular. If one looks at John 1 or Colossians 1, is that contradiction resolve? What do those text say who is the LORD God and about the Godhead? I’ll let the reader come to his/her own conclusion.
B. The contradictions between manuscripts.
With the discoveries and categorization of biblical parchments to manuscripts, scholars have noted the differences in the manuscripts. Would one consider copying errors as contradictions or what is considered significant enough to give pause to consider it.
How do scholars resolve the passage of the woman caught in adultery in the Gospel of John? Is it a contradiction with other manuscripts who list it while others do not? How is that resolve? One may want to read more about the various views on why it should be or should not be in the Scriptures.
C. The contradictions of Bible declaration and science.
Science has made tremendous discoveries in the last 300 years regarding our world. They are continuing to make more discoveries and asking cosmological question as to what was there before the Big Bang.
It is once thought that the amount of rain on the earth couldn’t cover the mountain tops. Geologists has discovered or believe there may be bodies of water in the earth’s crust which the Bible states that the water receded into the earth as landmass arose. When the Flood came, the springs of the earth was released causing sudden increase of rising waters on the landmass. The assumption that the mountains today are the same in the days of Noah may not necessary be true. For the Bible depicts the earth as being “tropical” even as paleontologists have discovered tropical roots/plants on Antarctica. There was no snow prior to Noah’s days. Thus the mountain tops must be lower but how much lower is unknown.
SUMMARY: Due diligence is required in assessing the seemingly contradictions of the Bible. Science may provide additional insight to the biblical statements.