Another Discussion of Pi in 1 Kings

Yesterday's post was about the use of the mathematical constant, pi, in 1 Kings 7:23.  Today is another answer to the question of whether or not the verse represents an error in the Bible.  The writer of the web article, "Answer to: Does the Math in 1 Kings 7:23 prove that the Bible has errors?" , says the solution to the question is in 1 Kings 7:26.  You have to read both verses to see that two different measurements are being discussed, one is the diameter of the outside rim of the cup and the other is the circumference of the inside rim of the cup.  This may sound like "splitting hairs"but, actually, it is not.  This is not the "Aha! Gotcha!" that the Bible-haters would like it to be.

Pi: Not the Movie But the Number

Pi (1998) is a movie I will talk about later.  It was the first feature directed by Darren Aronovsky, who is best known for the intense psychological thriller, Black Swan (2010).  This post is not about the film, but the number.


Pi is a mathematical constant; the ratio of a circle's circumference to its 
diameter.  It is often approximated as 3.14, but it is actually an irrational 
number whose decimal representation never ends and never repeats.
It has been calculated to 5 trilllion decimal places without breaking 
this pattern.  The number is useful in mathematics, science, and engineering.  


Jerry Tuttle, (who gives a calculus based derivation of Pi, π ) in his web article, "Does the Bible say Pi equals three?" discusses this very question.  Some say that there is a mathematical error in the Bible at 1 Kings 7:23.  Remember that one of the recurrent attacks on the Bible is that it is full of "errors."  It is ironic though that the supposed errors can almost always be explained away just as the cities and places which "never existed" keep on being found.