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The Necessary Use Of Logic In Bible Study

As every serious Bible student knows, simply “reading” the Bible is not sufficient to guarantee that one will understand what the Bible teaches. It is not even enough for one to have memorized the entire Bible. The Bible student must know:

1) What the Bible says.
2) What the Bible means.

The Use Of Correct Reasoning

Learning what the Bible means can be learned only by correctly reasoning about what the Bible says. The Bible student must be willing to correctly apply the principles of logic to the totality of the statements contained in the entire Bible (Psalm 119:160; Psalm 139:17). Without sound arguments, one cannot know such crucial truths of the Bible as the following:

1) That God exists (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 4:39; Isaiah 45:5-6,18; Isaiah 46:9; Mark 12:32).

2) That God is infinite in all of His attributes (1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 139:7-12; Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17,27; Luke 1:37; 1 John 3:20).

3) That the Bible is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).

4) That Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Luke 1:35; John 1:32-34; John 10:36; Romans 1:4).

5) That Jesus died for the sins of all men (Jeremiah 31:34; Matthew 1:21; Acts 4:12; Acts 10:43; Romans 3:9-10; Romans 3:21-24).

6) That Jesus was raised from the dead (Acts 2:24; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 4:14; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 13:20).

7) That the Great Commission applies to all men everywhere (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Colossians 1:4-6, 23).

8) That men must believe in, love and obey Christ in order to be saved from sin (John 14:15; John 15:10; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Peter 1:13-14; 1 John 2:3-5).

9) That the child of God must live a life dedicated to Christ in order to receive eternal life (Romans 12:1-2; Revelation 2:10).

10) That one must do in religion only that which is authorized by the Scriptures (Numbers 22:18; Numbers 24:13; 1 Corinthians 4:6 – ASV).

11) That each human being, who dies (physically), will spiritually live forever (1 Corinthians 15).

12) That each human being will appear before Christ in judgment, thereafter to face either eternity of bliss in Heaven with God or an eternity of punishment in Hell with the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:31-34; Matthew 25:41,46; John 5:29; Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Paul Used Reason (Logic)

Because the scriptures are authorative (Matthew 4:4; Gal. 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:1-4; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21), Paul effectively “reasoned” with both the Jews and the Greeks concerning the death and resurrection of Christ (Acts 17:1-3; Acts 18:4, 19). He also “reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come” with Felix and his wife, Drusilla (Acts 24:24-25). Paul therefore “reasoned” (used logic) as he taught people the saving gospel of Christ. If we are to follow the example of the apostles, we are to do the same (1 Corinthians 4:15-16; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; John 8:47; 1 John 4:6).

Conclusion

Christians are instructed to “prove all things, hold fast to that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We must possess the same attitude towards Bible study as the noble Berean Jews (Acts 17:11). This requires the correct use of logic (principles of valid reasoning). The only way our reasoning can be valid is to make application of our Lord’s admonition to “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD….” (Isaiah 1:18).