You Tube Theology

This video explains that film is used as an analogy to show how storytelling can be truthful without being strictly literal or precise in every detail. Films aim to present a “portrait” (the essence or meaning of events), rather than a “photograph” (a perfectly exact, moment-by-moment record).

This analogy is then applied to ancient biographies. These works were not intended to function like modern transcripts or documentaries. Instead, they often arranged, summarized, or paraphrased material to communicate meaning effectively. Authors might place events or sayings in different contexts, simplify details, or group teachings in ways that made sense for their narrative purpose, even if that meant not preserving exact chronology or wording.

Importantly, these authors usually did not explicitly tell readers when they were rearranging or paraphrasing. However, this wasn’t considered misleading at the time because audiences understood the conventions of the genre. As a result, differences in order or presentation are not necessarily errors, but reflections of a different standard of truth-telling—one focused on conveying the significance and message of events rather than precise historical sequencing.

Watch the full discussion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xsDp66e7uU

Mike Licona is Professor of New Testament Studies at Houston Christian University. HCU offers an accredited Master of Arts degree in apologetics that may be completed entirely online or on the HCU campus in Houston.

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