Well, guys, Pi day — 14 March — is approaching! Now, maybe you are wondering what Pi day is. Or maybe you are wondering what Pi is. Let me explain.
Pi is a number. It is represented by the Greek lower-case letter ‘pi’, which looks like this: π. Unlike the numbers we are used to, Pi is irrational, meaning that it cannot be expressed in a finite way. It has a decimal part that goes on and on for ever and ever with no repeatable or predictable pattern. It is approximately 3.14159265358979323846… The numbers just keep going, appearing randomly like that.
What is Pi used for? Well, Pi corresponds to the ratio between the perimeter and the diameter of any given circumference. So, if you draw a perfect circle, measure its length all around it (perimeter), then measure the distance from one point to the opposite point in a straight line going through the centre (diameter), and divide the two of them, you will obtain the number Pi (approximately, because you can never measure it exactly). Therefore, a circumference with 1 metre in diameter has approximately 3.14 metres in perimeter; one with 2 metres has 6.28 metres; one with 3 metres has 9.42 metres…
Since 3.14 is used as a common approximation to Pi (it is a good approximation for simple calculations where no great precision is necessary), 14 March (03/14, in the American date format) was chosen as the day to celebrate Pi.
Anyway, it seems like a good opportunity to debunk one of the stupidest and most ridiculous claims made by Bible sceptics in order to attempt to destroy the authenticity of the Bible and bring down the belief that it is infallible and divinely inspired: that the Bible claims that Pi equals exactly 3. (Before we move on, you can see for yourself that Pi does not equal 3 exactly by just drawing a circle and measuring it as previously indicated — or just using a round coin, for instance.)
The claim
1 Kings 7:23 reads, ‘He made the Sea of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits high. It took a line of thirty cubits to measure round it.’ Now, as we know, if you divide the perimeter of any circumference by its diameter, you get Pi. However, in this case, if you do it for this circular Sea, 30 divided by 10 equals 3. Thus, the Bible claims that Pi equals 3 — or, at least, it mentions a circumference which is impossible to exist. Therefore, it is wrong and cannot be divinely inspired.
I will debunk this claim in two parts.
Part 1: No, the Bible does not say Pi equals 3
Although this is a pretty simple and obvious point, some people stupidly keep insisting on this. No, this verse does not say that Pi equals three very simply because it does not mention the concept of Pi!
The Bible never calls the ratio between perimeter and diameter ‘Pi’; the concept of a constant value for all circumferences (which is what Pi is) is not mentioned in these verses. The Bible talks about one circumference; since Pi is, by definition, a constant applicable to all circumferences, it cannot be inferred from the text that it is making any judgement regarding the value of Pi. Therefore, any claim that the Bible says anything about Pi is simply just wrong.
Now, you may say, ‘OK, granted! The Bible does not say that Pi equals 3. But it does show something mathematically ludicrous: a circumference with a perimeter-to-diameter ratio equalling three, when we know it should equal Pi. That still proves that the Bible cannot be divinely inspired.’ Now, that is a valid concern and a more reasonable way to present your argument! But I can answer that too.
Part 2: Explaining the apparent discrepancy
If you now understand that the Bible makes no judgement on Pi, but rather think that it mentions an impossible circumference (as I have written in the previous paragraph), there is an explanation for that. In fact, there are two possible explanations: one of them is pretty obvious, and the other one comes up if you take a look at the context.
Explanation #1: Approximate values
This is the obvious one. Evidently, never does the verse read that the diameter was exactly ten cubits or that the perimeter was exactly thirty cubits. Logically, if the original values are not exact, the result cannot be expected to be exact either. The values are approximated. Divide approximately thirty by approximately ten, and you get approximately three, which fits with Pi. Indeed, Pi is approximately equal to three. Everything adds up.
For example, is it possible that it would measure 9.65 cubits in diameter and 30.32 cubits in perimeter. Divide them, and you get approximately 3.14, which is approximately Pi. And yet, in the register, 9.65 would be rounded up to 10 and 30.32 would be rounded down to 30. Everything adds up.
One more thing is useful in understanding exactly why the values must be approximate: what a cubit really is. A cubit was a unit of measurement which corresponded to the length from your elbow to the tip of your middle finger. As you can imagine, the exact length of a cubit varies from person to person; everyone has a different length for his cubit. Therefore, it would not make any sense to be completely precise in any such measurement. One can imagine how ridiculous it would be if someone measured it round and registered exactly 31.4159 cubits (which is 10 times Pi), and then someone would come and say, ‘That is wrong! I measured it very precisely and I got 31.4158 cubits!’ It is nonsensical to demand precision where it cannot exist.
One cubit could be anything between 40 centimetres and 50 centimetres. A commonly used value for conversion is 45 centimetres, but that is not precisely necessarily the most accurate one. Therefore, we are talking of a Sea which had approximately 4.5 metres in diameter and 13.5 metres in perimeter. Just imagine how ridiculous it is to fight for the precision of one or two extra cubit lengths when you are measuring something of 13 or 14 metres! Suppose two men would each have a cubit of 44 and 46 centimetres. Suppose the 44-centimetre guy would measure the diameter and get just about 10 cubits (4.4 metres); then, the 46-centimetre guy would measure the perimeter and get about 30 cubits (13.8 metres). Divide 13.8 by 4.4 and you get approximately 3.14 (which is approximately Pi). Everything adds up.
Explanation #2: The edge of the Sea was 1/6-cubit thick
Keep reading beyond the pointed verse. 1 Kings 7:26 yields more information: ‘It was a handbreadth in thickness […]’ One handbreadth was equal to one sixth of a cubit; six handbreadths made one cubit.
Now, this completely changes the picture. Now, we really have two circumferences (an inner one and an outer one). It is very much possible that the diameter mentioned was that of the outer circle and the perimeter was that of the inner circle.
Shall we do the maths and see if it adds up? All right! What we need to do is just subtract 2 handbreadths (one on each end) from the 10 cubits mentioned, and then divide 30 by the new value, as before. Since 1 handbreadth equalled 1/6 of a cubit, 2 handbreadths equalled 2/6 — that is, 1/3 — of a cubit. Now 10 minus 1/3 equals 9 and 2/3, that is, 9.66666… Now, divide 30 by 9.66666… and you get approximately 3.103, which is a much closer number to Pi than the initial 3. So, everything adds up.
Conclusion
Firstly, the Bible evidently does not say that Pi equals 3, because it does not even mention Pi.
Secondly, the apparently impossible circumference can be explained if we consider that the values given are approximate, or that the Sea was one-handbreadth thick, or both facts.
Once more, the Bible is proven flawless!
Undoubtedly, I believe, it was divinely inspired and remains infallible and inerrant today! Hallelujah! 
Pi is a number. It is represented by the Greek lower-case letter ‘pi’, which looks like this: π. Unlike the numbers we are used to, Pi is irrational, meaning that it cannot be expressed in a finite way. It has a decimal part that goes on and on for ever and ever with no repeatable or predictable pattern. It is approximately 3.14159265358979323846… The numbers just keep going, appearing randomly like that.
What is Pi used for? Well, Pi corresponds to the ratio between the perimeter and the diameter of any given circumference. So, if you draw a perfect circle, measure its length all around it (perimeter), then measure the distance from one point to the opposite point in a straight line going through the centre (diameter), and divide the two of them, you will obtain the number Pi (approximately, because you can never measure it exactly). Therefore, a circumference with 1 metre in diameter has approximately 3.14 metres in perimeter; one with 2 metres has 6.28 metres; one with 3 metres has 9.42 metres…
Since 3.14 is used as a common approximation to Pi (it is a good approximation for simple calculations where no great precision is necessary), 14 March (03/14, in the American date format) was chosen as the day to celebrate Pi.
Anyway, it seems like a good opportunity to debunk one of the stupidest and most ridiculous claims made by Bible sceptics in order to attempt to destroy the authenticity of the Bible and bring down the belief that it is infallible and divinely inspired: that the Bible claims that Pi equals exactly 3. (Before we move on, you can see for yourself that Pi does not equal 3 exactly by just drawing a circle and measuring it as previously indicated — or just using a round coin, for instance.)
The claim
1 Kings 7:23 reads, ‘He made the Sea of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits high. It took a line of thirty cubits to measure round it.’ Now, as we know, if you divide the perimeter of any circumference by its diameter, you get Pi. However, in this case, if you do it for this circular Sea, 30 divided by 10 equals 3. Thus, the Bible claims that Pi equals 3 — or, at least, it mentions a circumference which is impossible to exist. Therefore, it is wrong and cannot be divinely inspired.
I will debunk this claim in two parts.
Part 1: No, the Bible does not say Pi equals 3
Although this is a pretty simple and obvious point, some people stupidly keep insisting on this. No, this verse does not say that Pi equals three very simply because it does not mention the concept of Pi!
The Bible never calls the ratio between perimeter and diameter ‘Pi’; the concept of a constant value for all circumferences (which is what Pi is) is not mentioned in these verses. The Bible talks about one circumference; since Pi is, by definition, a constant applicable to all circumferences, it cannot be inferred from the text that it is making any judgement regarding the value of Pi. Therefore, any claim that the Bible says anything about Pi is simply just wrong.
Now, you may say, ‘OK, granted! The Bible does not say that Pi equals 3. But it does show something mathematically ludicrous: a circumference with a perimeter-to-diameter ratio equalling three, when we know it should equal Pi. That still proves that the Bible cannot be divinely inspired.’ Now, that is a valid concern and a more reasonable way to present your argument! But I can answer that too.
Part 2: Explaining the apparent discrepancy
If you now understand that the Bible makes no judgement on Pi, but rather think that it mentions an impossible circumference (as I have written in the previous paragraph), there is an explanation for that. In fact, there are two possible explanations: one of them is pretty obvious, and the other one comes up if you take a look at the context.
Explanation #1: Approximate values
This is the obvious one. Evidently, never does the verse read that the diameter was exactly ten cubits or that the perimeter was exactly thirty cubits. Logically, if the original values are not exact, the result cannot be expected to be exact either. The values are approximated. Divide approximately thirty by approximately ten, and you get approximately three, which fits with Pi. Indeed, Pi is approximately equal to three. Everything adds up.
For example, is it possible that it would measure 9.65 cubits in diameter and 30.32 cubits in perimeter. Divide them, and you get approximately 3.14, which is approximately Pi. And yet, in the register, 9.65 would be rounded up to 10 and 30.32 would be rounded down to 30. Everything adds up.
One more thing is useful in understanding exactly why the values must be approximate: what a cubit really is. A cubit was a unit of measurement which corresponded to the length from your elbow to the tip of your middle finger. As you can imagine, the exact length of a cubit varies from person to person; everyone has a different length for his cubit. Therefore, it would not make any sense to be completely precise in any such measurement. One can imagine how ridiculous it would be if someone measured it round and registered exactly 31.4159 cubits (which is 10 times Pi), and then someone would come and say, ‘That is wrong! I measured it very precisely and I got 31.4158 cubits!’ It is nonsensical to demand precision where it cannot exist.
One cubit could be anything between 40 centimetres and 50 centimetres. A commonly used value for conversion is 45 centimetres, but that is not precisely necessarily the most accurate one. Therefore, we are talking of a Sea which had approximately 4.5 metres in diameter and 13.5 metres in perimeter. Just imagine how ridiculous it is to fight for the precision of one or two extra cubit lengths when you are measuring something of 13 or 14 metres! Suppose two men would each have a cubit of 44 and 46 centimetres. Suppose the 44-centimetre guy would measure the diameter and get just about 10 cubits (4.4 metres); then, the 46-centimetre guy would measure the perimeter and get about 30 cubits (13.8 metres). Divide 13.8 by 4.4 and you get approximately 3.14 (which is approximately Pi). Everything adds up.
Explanation #2: The edge of the Sea was 1/6-cubit thick
Keep reading beyond the pointed verse. 1 Kings 7:26 yields more information: ‘It was a handbreadth in thickness […]’ One handbreadth was equal to one sixth of a cubit; six handbreadths made one cubit.
Now, this completely changes the picture. Now, we really have two circumferences (an inner one and an outer one). It is very much possible that the diameter mentioned was that of the outer circle and the perimeter was that of the inner circle.
Shall we do the maths and see if it adds up? All right! What we need to do is just subtract 2 handbreadths (one on each end) from the 10 cubits mentioned, and then divide 30 by the new value, as before. Since 1 handbreadth equalled 1/6 of a cubit, 2 handbreadths equalled 2/6 — that is, 1/3 — of a cubit. Now 10 minus 1/3 equals 9 and 2/3, that is, 9.66666… Now, divide 30 by 9.66666… and you get approximately 3.103, which is a much closer number to Pi than the initial 3. So, everything adds up.
Conclusion
Firstly, the Bible evidently does not say that Pi equals 3, because it does not even mention Pi.
Secondly, the apparently impossible circumference can be explained if we consider that the values given are approximate, or that the Sea was one-handbreadth thick, or both facts.
Once more, the Bible is proven flawless!
Undoubtedly, I believe, it was divinely inspired and remains infallible and inerrant today! Hallelujah! 
