Although we cannot expect all authorities to agree in their interpretation of the incomplete facts of ancient times, we can confidently expect future research to strengthen the Bible record. Many supposed difficulties have been cleared up by increasing knowledge of ancient chronology. This article, and the similar ones in succeeding volumes, will endeavor to provide a general outline and to explain certain basic principles. To dogmatize on chronology or to attempt to fix every date once for all would be not only presumptuous but impossible. This is not to say that historical dates do not help us sometimes in our search for deeper spiritual truth, or that those few connected with exact prophetic periods are unimportant but prophetic landmarks are well established, and other historical dates are rarely questions of theological importance. There are some points left open for personal opinion as to the exact dating, and different writers among us have at various times used differing dates. That is evidently why God did not see fit to fill in all the details of chronology. The harmony of the time statements in the Scripture strengthens our confidence in the accuracy of the inspired Word, but chronology is not essential to salvation.
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