Saturday, January 26, 2013

The Bible and Logic

"Therefore when I was planning to do this, I did not do so without thinking about what I was doing, did I? Or do I make my plans  according to mere human standards  so that I would be saying  both “Yes, yesand “No, noat the same time? But as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yesand “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us – by me and Silvanus  and Timothy – was not “Yesand “No,” but it has always been “Yesin him." 2 Cor. 1:17-18, NET

In this passage, Paul shows respect for the logical laws of non-contradiction ("Yes" is not "non-Yes") and excluded middle (either "Yes" or "No"). Contrary to the claims of some Christians, logic is not merely a human invention. Rather, as Paul affirms, fallen humans tend to distort logic, sometimes by making decisions with insufficient thought or by simultaneously saying "yes" and "no" to the same question. Indeed, the laws of logic are not of human origin, but are woven into the fabric of the universe, stemming from the character of the Creator himself. 

2 comments:

  1. Come, let us reason together.

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  2. EQUIVOCATION, n. Ambiguity of speech; the use of words or expressions that are susceptible of a double signification. Hypocrites are often guilty of equivocation, and by this means lose the confidence of their fellow men. Equivocation is incompatible with the christian character and profession.
    (from )

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