Quali sono le qualità della mente che Dio ci chiama a sviluppare?
Esiste un fondamento biblico per coltivare una mente investigativa?
A quali modelli di pensiero Gesù testimonia insieme ai giusti della Bibbia?
Quali esempi possiamo trovare nella Bibbia di ragionamenti buoni e corretti?
Tutti i cristiani devono mantenere un alto standard nella loro capacità di ragionare, oppure solo "gli specialisti"?
Esiste un fondamento biblico delle tre regole della logica?
È possibile e desiderabile il ragionamento per pervenire alla certezza (ragionamento deduttivo)?
Esiste una giustificazione biblica per usare i principi del ragionamento deduttivo?
Il ragionamento induttivo può trovare un esempio del suo uso nella Bibbia?
Dovremmo usare questi modelli di ragionamento per difendere la nostra fede?
«A chi vuol dare insegnamenti? A chi vuole far capire la lezione? A dei bambini appena divezzati, staccati dalle mammelle? Poiché è un continuo dar precetto dopo precetto, precetto dopo precetto, regola dopo regola, regola dopo regola, un poco qui, un poco là!» (Isaia 28:9-10). Dio insegna la dottrina a persone mature. Per la loro comprensione è necessario trarre dalla Scrittura affermazioni e principi, l'uno dopo l'alto.
"Esaminate ogni cosa e ritenete il bene" (1 Tessalonicesi 5:21). Mettete alla prova ogni rivelazione od insegnamento per vedere se è vero, ed accogliete solo il bene.
"Noi abbiamo creduto e abbiamo conosciuto che tu sei il Santo di Dio" (Giovanni 6:69); "Questo è il discepolo che rende testimonianza di queste cose, e che ha scritto queste cose; e noi sappiamo che la sua testimonianza è vera" (Giovanni 21:24). È possibile essere sicuri che qualcosa sia vero.
L'utilizzo dell'argomentazione da parte di Paolo. Paolo sapeva che doveva provare che Gesù è il Messia. Se non poteva provare, come qualcuno oggi suppone, quel che diceva, non avrebbe potuto giustamente aspettarsi che Giudei e Gentili vi credessero.
"Saulo si fortificava sempre di più e confondeva i Giudei residenti a Damasco, dimostrando che Gesù è il Cristo" (9:22).
"Paolo, com'era sua consuetudine, entrò da loro, e per tre sabati tenne loro ragionamenti tratti dalle Scritture, spiegando e dimostrando che il Cristo doveva morire e risuscitare dai morti. «E il Cristo», egli diceva, «è quel Gesù che io vi annuncio»" (17:2-3).
"Ma ogni sabato insegnava nella sinagoga e persuadeva Giudei e Greci" (18:4).
"Quando giunsero a Efeso, Paolo li lasciò là; poi, entrato nella sinagoga, si mise a discorrere con i Giudei" (18:19).
"...perché con gran vigore confutava pubblicamente i Giudei, dimostrando con le Scritture che Gesù è il Cristo" (18:28).
Punti di vista opposti e cercare consiglio
"Quando manca una saggia direzione il popolo cade; nel gran numero dei consiglieri sta la salvezza" (Proverbi 11:14).
"La via dello stolto è diritta ai suoi occhi, ma chi ascolta i consigli è saggio" (Proverbi 12:15). Lo stolto inganna sé stesso supponendo di essere saggio. Però, è solo ascoltando come gli altri criticano le nostre azioni che si può giungere ad una valutazione accurata di noi stessi. Dobbiamo ascoltarli con attenzione.
"C'è una via che all'uomo sembra diritta, ma essa conduce alla morte" (Proverbi 14:12). Solo perché siamo persuasi d'aver ragione, questo non vuol dire che non ci inganniamo (16:25).
Proverbs 15:22. “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established.” – Plans often fail if we do not get advice from a knowledgeable person. But if we ask advice from a diverse group of people, our plans will work. We should study opposing viewpoints when making decisions.
Proverbs 18:13. “He that answereth [/rejects GLIT] a matter {Heb. returneth a word} before he heareth it, it is folly and shame [/ confusion JPS] unto him.” – He who turns back from pursuing a word – report, matter, affair, case, cause – before he has yet heard – listened with attention and understanding. . . . This is speaking of not hearing a matter out – not waiting to get the full view of the subject matter, all sides of the separate issues, investigating the determining pints, and coming to a carefully considered conclusion – before actually responding. This person is a fool because he is wise in his own eyes. He is a scoffer because he thinks no one else is as wise as himself. Such as man will be brought to confusion and shame when his wisdom is revealed to be folly.
Proverbs 18:17. “He that is first in his own cause seemeth just [/right]; but [/until] his neighbor [/the other side] cometh and searcheth [/examines] him.” – The first to open and argue his cause will color everything so as to prejudice the hearers. If nothing else is heard, then his cause will seem compelling. But the other side may cast everything in a different light, may point out the omissions, fallacies and weaknesses of the opposition’s case, and expose their presuppositions. A fool will make a hasty judgment without hearing the other side of the issue. Often when only one side purports to present both sides of an issue fairly, it does nothing of the sort. If we see out of one eye we lose perspective.
Proverbs 20:18. “Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.” – To ensure a plan’s success, get advice. We should become involved in a serious endeavor like war only when we have brought together many counselors.
Proverbs 25:8. “Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when they neighbor hath put thee to shame.” – We should be prepared to lose an argument when our opponent is right and we are wrong. We shouldn’t presume that we are correct and that we understand everything perfectly.
Proverbs 25:9-10. “Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself; and discover not a secret to another: Least he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.” – Discuss your differences with someone in private, just in case you turn out to be wrong and you would lose your public reputation if it were widely know.
Christian Open Mindedness
Proverbs 18:13. “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” – It is wrong to prejudge.
Speaking Too Much
Proverbs 10:19. “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.” NASB – When you’re talking a lot you’re going to make a mistake somewhere.
Proverbs 11:9. “With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.” NASB – Because an atheist gives false advice those who listen to him are hurt, but a righteous man will be delivered by his accurate knowledge.
Proverbs 12:23. “A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.” – It is unwise to freely give away what we know. When a fool thinks he knows something, then he will try to get everybody to listen to his ignorance.
Proverbs 15:2. “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” – A wise man knows when and how to speak what he knows. A fool does not even know to shut up.
Proverbs 15:7. “The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.” – A wise person works to publish the knowledge he knows.
Proverbs 17:28. “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” – It is better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Proverbs 23:9. “Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.” – Someone who hates to listen to advice will reject our words of wisdom. Don’t bother talking with him.
First Timothy 1:5-7. “Now the end of the commandment is charity our of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.” – We should keep our mouth shut when we don’t know what we are talking about. (Kind of obvious, don’t you think?)
Listening to Advice and Reproof
Psalm 19:12. “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults.” – No one who is deceived can know that he is deceived, or otherwise he wouldn’t be deceived anymore. Therefore, we must ask someone else to show us how we are unwittingly deceived. This means we must be good listeners.
Proverbs 1:5. “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:” – Smart people learn things by listening to other people.
Proverbs 1:7. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – To know anything we must begin by fearing God. A fool does not value what others tell him.
Proverbs 8:33. “Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” – Listen carefully to what others have to teach us, for we will learn wisdom thereby.
Proverbs 9:8-9. “Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.” NASB – Wise men love those who take the time to give them instruction, and that is how wise men increase their wisdom.
Proverbs 10:17. “He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.” – Being open to advice is a central value of wise living, but to ignore advice is a bad quality.
Proverbs 19:20. “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in they latter end.” – We should listen to what other people say so that at least we will be wise when we get older.
Proverbs 20:5. “Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.” – Plans which men have in their mind go very deep, but men who understand will coax out a complete explanation.
Proverbs 23:12. “Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.” – We should listen with all our energy to what other people have to teach us.
Proverbs 25:12. “As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.” – A situation where a wise person reproves an attentive hearer is a rare and beautiful sight to see. A person is made beautiful by the desire to hear wise reproof.
Hebrews 2:1. “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” – We should pay attention to the things we have heard to keep ourselves from forgetting them.
Self-deception
Proverbs 16:25. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” – We may be thoroughly convinced we are right, but we may still be totally wrong. This is what it means to deceive ourselves. We are not the measure of all things.
Anti-intellectual Lazy Mind
Proverbs 1:20-33. “Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; . . . How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? . . . you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; . . . Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; . . . Because they hated knowledge . . . They would not accept my counsel, and spurned all my reproof. . . . For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil” NASB – A fool is one who likes simplistic ideas, despises anything he does not like, and does not value knowledge. A wise man is otherwise, and therefore he lives a safer life.
Proverbs 22:29. “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” – Diligence in working is quality which will be rewarded with honor. This includes diligence when using our mind.
Matthew 25:26. “. . . Thou wicked and slothful servant, . . .” – Laziness of mind is bad thing too.
Romans 12:11. “Be. . . . Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; . . .” – We shouldn’t be lazy in our thinking.
Hebrews 6:11-12. “. . . shew the same diligence. . . . That ye be not slothful, . . .” – Be diligent and not lazy.
Love Logic – How Important it Is
Psalm 90:12. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” – When a person reaches the age when he becomes aware of how short his life will be, then he also realizes how valuable it would have been for him to have learned wisdom.
Psalm 119:66. “Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.” – The righteous desire to learn how to make wise choices.
Proverbs 2:2-3. “Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment, Lift you voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; . . .” NASB – We should have a longing desire for knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:10-11. “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, and understanding shall keep thee:” – When we begin to use wisdom, and learn to love knowledge, then good choices will begin to protect us.
Proverbs 4:5. “Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my [your father] mouth.” NASB – Learn logic and critical thinking, and don’t forget the lessons those studies teach.
Proverbs 4:7. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” – The most important thing for us to learn in the book of Proverbs is that we should try our best to learn to understand things and apply that understanding in a wise way.
Proverbs 8:8-10. “All the words of my [Wisdom’s] mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing forward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.” – God’s words are truth, and this is plain to men who are searching to find understanding. Those who seek knowledge will value God’s words.
Proverbs 10:23. “Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.” NASB – Fools get their kicks out of doing bad things, but men who love to think have fun just using their mind.
Proverbs 15:14. “The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.” – An intelligent man desires to know many things. A fool is hungry for dumb ideas.
Proverbs 22:3. “A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.” – A wise man understands the signs of impending evil and finds a way to protect himself, but those without understanding are injured.
Well Stocked Mind
Proverbs 10:14. “Wise men store up knowledge . . .” NASB – It is good to stockpile useful information – it may come in handy someday.
Pragmatic Reasoning
Proverbs 3:13-14. “How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold.” NASB – Logic will bring better things than money can buy.
Proverbs 8:10-11. “Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and al the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” – The time we spend getting knowledge and wisdom is ultimately more advantageous to us than if we invested that time in making money.
Proverbs 10:21. “The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools dies for lack of understanding.” NASB – The things which righteous men say bring benefit to many, but the fool won’t benefit and live because he doesn’t understand it.
Proverbs 16:22. “Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.” – An investment in learning the methods of discernment is an investment which will pay life-long dividends.
Humility of Mind
Proverbs 3:7. “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.” NASB – Don’t think that you are smart, think that God is smart.
Proverbs 11:2. “When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.” NASB – A proud person is eventually put to shame, but a person who esteems himself very little has wisdom.
James 1:4. “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” – We should let a spirit of patience bring us to maturity.
James 1:19. “Wherefore , my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God, Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” – Truth must be received with meekness – a gentle spirit and a mild disposition.
Discernment and Critical Thinking
Proverbs 1:1-5. “. . . To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:” – Solomon intended the book of Proverbs to teach: (1) how to recognize wise corrections, (2) how to discern intelligent advice, (3) how to accept the criticism of prudence, (4) how dim-witted people can think critically, (5) how inexperienced people can discern truth.
Proverbs 14:15. “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” – A fool follows anyone’s leadership, but a wise man watches for the signs which mark a reliable road of knowledge.
Proverbs 14:18. “The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.” – Foolish ideas are handed down from generation to generation, but discerning wise ideas is the honor of a wise man.
Acts 17:10-11 “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither when into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” – Paul and Silas, coming to Berea, found the people there more noble than at previous cities, for these people were eager to listen, and carefully studied the Bible to see if what Paul and Silas taught was true.
Romans 16:17-18. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” – Beware of those who try to deceive the unlearned.
Ephesians 4:14. “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” – We shouldn’t be like children, believing everything which comes our way, and falling for the cunning lies of the world.
Colossians 2:6-8. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” – We should be well established in the teaching of the Bible, and be on our guard for those who would hoodwink us with the traditions and philosophies of the world.
First Thessalonians 5:21. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” – Test every revelation or teaching to see if it is true, and only accept the good.
Second Peter 1:16. “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” – Beware of cunningly devised fables, and respect empirical evidence.
First John 4:1. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” – Test the spirit of every teacher to discern if they are teaching God’s doctrine, for many false teachers are circulating in the world.
Having an Inquiring Mind
Proverbs 2:1-5. “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” – If we have an inquiring mind and we will receive the blessing of God.
Proverbs 23:23. “Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.” – Invest your physical resources in searching for knowledge and understanding.
Ephesians 5:8-11. “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. . . Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” – Exercise your mind in inquiring more deeply and become more enlightened about the things of God.
Ephesians 5:17. “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” – Do not fail to use your mind to search out what God’s commands are.
The Value of Good Inductive Reasoning
Luke 12:54-57. “And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway he say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?”
Luke 21:29-31. “And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.”
Conclusions:
1. We are able to know things by perceiving changes in our environment through our senses.
2. This is because we trust God, and therefore have faith that the universe is of a uniform character. The future will be like the past. We can judge what will happen in the future based on our experience of the past.
3. We need to draw conclusions from our sensory perceptions in order to know how to obey God today.
Stewardship of the Mind and Mental Maturity
Matthew 22:37. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” – We should love God through the use of our mental faculties. This would include loving God by being careful to discern truth from error.
Matthew 25:14 “. . . And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one. . . . he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents. . . . His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant . . .” – We should be good stewards of the mind God gave us.
Romans 12:1-2. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” “I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.” Amplified. – Since God has shown us His mercy, we should worship Him by giving Him our bodies. We should adjust our mind from thinking in the world’s thinking patterns, into thinking in a disciplined way about what God would have us do.
First Corinthians 14:19-20. “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” – Be mature in your thinking by exercising your mind in the church. Do not be immature by desiring incomprehensible tongues-speaking.
Philippians 1:9-10. “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;” – It is good for us that we increase our knowledge and grow in our ability to make wise choices.
Second Timothy 1:7. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” – God does not want us to be afraid, but to be calm in our mind about standing up for our faith.
Hebrews 5:14. “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” – The deeper matters of doctrine and Christian thought are for those who have exercised their mind to discern good ideas from evil ideas.
First Peter 1:13. “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” – Prepare your mind for action.
First Peter 2:2. “As newborn babes, crave ye after the genuine mental [/logical] milk, in order that ye may grow by it.” (Harvey’s Very Literal Translation)
God and Logic
Proverbs 2:6. “For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” – God gives the gift of good reasoning.
Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” NASB – God is the source of good understanding, it doesn’t come natively from ourselves.
Proverbs 3:19-20. “The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew.” NASB – God made the universe with logical principles.
Proverbs 8:22-31. “The Lord possessed me [wisdom] at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. For everlasting I was established, From the beginning . . . Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was daily His delight . . .” NASB – Wisdom was before time began.
Isaiah 1:18. “Come now, and let us reason together . . .” – God asks His people to reason logically with Him about their sins and their need for salvation.
Romans 11:33. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” – God’s knowledge and wisdom are far more deep than we can comprehend. We can not systematize and understand many of God’s ways.
Colossians 1:9. “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” – Paul desires that God would give Christians an understanding of what His will is.
James 1:5. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” – If you are humble in admitting your lack of wisdom, God will generously reward you with more than you desire.
Apologetics
Job 34:32. “That which I see not teach thou me . . .” –We must be taught by someone else things which we do not know. This is the beginning point of presuppositional epistemology – since we do not know, we must trust God for knowledge.
Second Corinthians 10:3-6 “For the weapons of our warfare (are) not fleshly, rather (they are) powerful in God for the demolishing of fortresses; demolishing reasonings and every thing lifting itself up against the knowledge of God, and taking captive every thought into the obedience of Christ.” (Harvey’s Very Literal Translation) – God gave us weapons in order to pull down the reasoning and philosophies of the world, and to subjugate all thoughts to the teaching of the Bible.
Colossians 4:5-6. “Walk in wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” – Have a wise attitude towards the world, and know how to respond with a wise answer to non-Christians.
Titus 1:9. “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” – Hold tight to God’s truth in order to be able to refute your opposition with sound biblical reasoning.
First Peter 3:15. “Now sanctify the Lord God in your hearts (minds); and always be prepared for (presenting) a logical defense to everyone who requests a reason from you concerning the hope which is among you, (doing so) with meekness and fear . . .” (Harvey’s Very Literal Translation) – Set God in a special place in your mind, and always be ready to give a logical defense for your faith in Christ.
Jude 3. “. . . ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” – Contend earnestly for the religion which the Bible teaches.
Copyright January 01, 2002, all rights reserved. 2601 views