For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Should we think for ourselves?
Here are the answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:
Yes
“Make your ear attentive to wisdom; Incline your heart to understanding.” ( Proverbs 2:2)
“I directed my mind to know and to investigate, and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of foolishness and the foolishness of insanity.” (Ecclesiastes 7:25)
“but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good,” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
No
Don’t try to understand things: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.”” (Proverbs 3:5)
It’ll only get you killed: “There is a way which seems right to a person, But its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
Make your mind a slave of Christ: “We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)
Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:
- When dealing with skeptics’ claim of Bible contradictions it seems one can never be reminded enough of what exactly is a contradiction. A contradiction occurs when two or more claims conflict with one another so that they cannot simultaneously be true in the same sense and at the same time. To put it another way, a Bible contradiction exists when there are claims within the Bible that are mutually exclusive in the same sense and at the same time.
- One should be skeptical of whether this is a Bible contradiction given the Skeptic Annotated Bible’s track record of inaccurately handling the Bible. See the many examples of their error which we have responded to in this post: Collection of Posts Responding to Bible Contradictions. Of course that does not take away the need to respond to this claim of a contradiction, which is what the remainder of this post will do. But this observation should caution us to slow down and look more closely at the passages cited by the Skeptic Annotated Bible to see if they interpreted the passages properly to support their conclusion that it is a Bible contradiction.
- The skeptic tries to pit three passages (Proverbs 2:2, Ecclesiastes 7:25, 1 Thessalonians 5:21) as affirming the claim “we should think for ourselves” against three other passages (Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 14:12, 2 Corinthians 10:5) as affirming “we should not think for ourselves.”
- The three passages (Proverbs 2:2, Ecclesiastes 7:25, 1 Thessalonians 5:21) the skeptic cited as affirming the claim “we should think for ourselves” does show believers are to think. But then there’s an issue with the way the skeptic phrases the question here: The question asked by the skeptic is rather ambiguous. What does he mean by “thinking for oneself?”
- Thinking by the way always involves a subject doing the action of thinking so there is a sense where we are always thinking for oneself.
- All thoughts and activity of thinking does have implication for one’s interests.
- If the skeptic means thinking oneself is autonomous reasoning (thinking with one’s self-law, or apart from the Special Revelation of God found in the Bible) then the verses cited doesn’t establish this. Remember in a Christian worldview good thinking that result in understanding is based upon the foundation of the fear of the Lord as Proverbs 1:7 states “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.” See also Proverbs 9:10, 15;33. Again this goes back to the skeptics ambiguity with the question. And a fallacy of ambiguity isn’t a rational basis to make the case here that there’s a logical contradiction.
- The three passages (Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 14:12, 2 Corinthians 10:5) interpreted by the skeptics as teaching “we should not think for ourselves” technically doesn’t contradict the importance of virtuous and rational thinking. Rather these passages cited notes concern for problematic thinking. Pointing out error in someone’s thinking is not a denial of thinking per se nor is it a denial of good thinking!
- Proverbs 3:5 warn about trusting merely on one’s own understanding. There’s a place for others input. Proverbs 3:6 makes that clear beginning with the example of ultimately first beginning with trusting in God and Proverbs 3:7a states “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” If I could give an analogy, no one would say it is a contradiction that it is good to have a leader who can think for himself and yet a good leader also seek the advice of others. A wise leader will not be the only person who think of himself as wise; that’s a red flag.
- Proverb 14:12 likewise warn about the danger of thinking one is right but in reality it is foolish and dangerous. Again this is not canceling the importance of thinking per se nor is it denying the importance of sound thinking.
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 also fit with the overall teaching of the Bible that wisdom is from God and Christ (see Colossians 2:2-3). So to take bad idea and have it captive to Christ isn’t a contradiction.
- Since these passages involve the topic of reason since it touches on thinking and of course overall its from God’s perspective and therefore its also an issue of faith I also recommend knowing a biblical view of faith and reason. See my outline Relationship of Faith and Reason.
- There is no contradiction here. Seems the skeptic needs to learn of How to Handle Bible Contradictions.
- We shouldn’t miss that worldviews are at play even with the skeptic’s objection to Christianity. The worldview of the author of the Skeptic Annotated Bible actually doesn’t even allow for such a thing as the law of non-contradiction to be meaningful and intelligible. In other words for him to try to disprove the Bible by pointing out that there’s a Bible contradiction doesn’t even make sense within his own worldview. Check out our post “Skeptic Annotated Bible Author’s Self-Defeating Worldview.”
This has me thinking that the worldview is problematic. It stands to reason that if the Creator created us creatures that he would want us to think like him. This is apart from rational thinking from tying one’s shoe to cleaning one’s body. We on the other hand in all spiritual and moral matters must lean on our Creator for guidance in problem areas. We are made a living soul with rationale. Daily we must judge whether to stop at stop lights, walk off steps in utter darkness. We have this innate ability to function as we should. Rationale defies irrational words and actions. Again, this is why our carnal, fleshly minds need to rely on God. So, in thinking, I will rely on God and his ways for matters beyond my control. There is absolutely no contradiction there but rather wisdom from God! Let the LORD be praised who does all things well. I think He does!
Amen BG! I love how you drew out application for our lives from the importance of God’s truth. This is not just an academic trivial exercise. We need to rely on God and I say amen! Have a good morning sir!!!!
Thanks for the great refutation. Jesus commanded us “To love the Lord your God . . . with all your mind ”
Shalom!
Once again the Skeptics miss the boat and you’ve exposed them! The sad truth is, by rejecting God they disavow their heavenly Father who knows everything.
Yes, we have a mind but what a great privilege and honor to bring our mind and thinking to the One who loves us and knows everything. Believe me, I need to do this everyday!
I hope all is well with you brother.
Amen Lisa! I thought your sentence here stood out in a good way: “ Yes, we have a mind but what a great privilege and honor to bring our mind and thinking to the One who loves us and knows everything.” When we synthesize all the verses from the skeptics and also the rest of Scripture on the topic of thinking and knowing, that’s what it boils down to, with your sentence! Well stated! I am doing well. How are you Lisa, as I haven’t asked in a while.
All’s well Pastor. The Lord is guiding us in serving at the church and soon we’ll be off to MA again.
Will pray for you and your flock. 🌿
Good point: “a fallacy of ambiguity isn’t a rational basis to make the case here that there’s a logical contradiction.”
Amen! Basing a case for a contradiction on a fallacy of ambiguity is like building a house on quick sand!
Good work refuting this alleged contradiction. Another one of Steve/Stephen Wells’ either/or false dichotomies. Wells knows nothing of literary subtlety and nuance. We can rest assured everything in his world is black and white like that of a five-year-old.
Indeed Wells knows nothing of nuances. Sad really. Your comment made me think of how atheists often make it where Christians have a problem of black and white thinking but the worst to me are those who attack the Bible among nonbelievers, and by contrasts believers don’t just see black and white but also living colors of His glory in God’s world! Reading your comment also makes me think of RC apologists way of either/or fallacies too. I think we see a lot of that with Mr Kreeft. Do you have two or three weeks ahead with your drafts of posts on Kreeft?
RE: Kreeft posts
I only go one week ahead on those, so I have the one for Friday, Apr. 15 , #37 is done. Only three more to write. I’m starting to mull over a candidate for the next apologetics series. I kind of “appreciated” Kreeft’s unusual “shoot from the hip” approach after wading through Armstrong’s and Broussard’s books, which were more traditional apologias.
What’s on your agenda for today?
This is by far the worst one yet on the skeptics part and man does he have some bad ones! I don’t know how you didn’t have righteous anger writing this post. Thank you for refuting this!!!!
Yes this is one of his really bad ones. I was surprised I didn’t refute this already since it was one of his easier ones to respond to in my opinion. I think if this “contradiction” was to be graded it would be an F; and an F not only for failure but F for failed effort. Praying for your Thursday class today sister, hope you are doing well!!! Can you imagine if you were a TA and were grading this contradiction as a paper’s thesis? I somehow think Wells has no idea how rigorous a Bible believing study of the Bible can be whether in academia or in sound churches…if only he can see your many graduate classes!!! On that note I’m glad you have learned things in academia and brought it to share it in the churches. Our youths and adults involved with youth ministry appreciate it!
Thank you for your prayers! I agree with f for failed effort! Never once has the skeptic been intellectually honest in writing why the opposing view does not think it is a contradiction. I would never fail someone for having an opposing view than what I hold. I would fail them for not engaging the other side. Wells is intellectually dishonest. Personally, I wonder, how many genuine Christians has Wells ever actually engaged? He reminds me of someone who would enjoy being with progressive Christians or those who do not hold to the doctrine of inerrancy. It’s sad that folks copy and paste his lies as if they scripture. I am glad this one wasn’t difficult for you to write. I am so thankful for the time and effort you give to refuting Wells!
So thankful for a renewed mind 🙌 🙌🙌
Amen sister! And I’m reminded that a renewed mind is a gift from God. And knowing that leaves us humbled and foster in our hearts more love for God, amen?? 🙂
AMEN!🙌
Quite an appropriate image for the post
The image is fitting for a swell post
It makes an interesting post even more interesting
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I love the reason based response
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This outline brings a lot of clarity to the verses the antitheists pit against each other
This is a really really bad in in the part of the skeptic . Seriously?
Great job refuting it.
Have a blessed weekend pastor Jim
Thanks. The skeptics really are stretching it. Thanks for the blessing for the weekend! I hope your weekend is going well so far?
Thank you 😊
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With these articles I really have to take my time reading it or I will get confused.
Thanks for taking your time to read this. How are you doing neighbor??
I’m trying to help help my younger 23 year old sister get a used car this month. So I don’t have to keep driving her to her University each week. Finding a good deal is hard with used cars being sold for more than worth.
I posted a new article last night.
Appreciated point 5. Good post.
Thanks for noticing point 5. Have a blessed rest of your Saturday sir!
Hebrews 13:15
Through him, then, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name.
Continued communion, or prayer, with God, through Jesus Christ ♥️
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