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Biblical
Hermeneutics:
The
Validity of Deductions in
Understanding Divine Instruction
By Louis Rushmore, Editor
One of the simplest explanations of how implication requires inference of truth is to consider a square, the one side of which is known to be 5 inches long. Just knowing the length of one side of a square, one can accurately and confidently know that the circumference of the square is 20 inches and that the area within the square is 25 square inches. Deducing the circumference and area of a square when the length of one side is known does not diminish the truthfulness of warranted conclusions respecting the circumference and area of a square. In other words, through implication and inference, absolute, objective truth can be known! Another excellent illustration of the validity of induction and deduction or implication and inference appears at the pen of brother Warren.
To
say that an action is authorized (by the Bible) explicitly,
is to say that it is taught
in just so many words… For example, the proposition,
“John is taller than
Charlie” teaches in these exact words that John is taller
than Charlie. One does
not have to use his powers of…logical deduction…
to make clear the difference
between what is taught explicitly and what is taught implicitly, let
the
following propositions be considered: (a) “John is taller
than Bill,” (b) “Bill
is taller than Tom,” and (c) “Tom is taller than
Charlie.” These three
propositions explicitly affirm (teach) three things… None of
the three
propositions explicitly affirms that John is taller than Charlie. It is
also
the case that the conjunction of the three propositions does not
explicitly
affirm that John is taller than Charlie. …if the three
original propositions
are true, then the proposition, “John is taller than
Charlie” of necessity must
also be true! (
Careful
consideration of sufficient evidence can yield
definitive knowledge. “It is clear that the basic rule of a
sound Biblical
hermeneutic involves both adequate induction
(the gathering of the needed relevant data or evidence) and correct deduction (the drawing only of such
conclusions as are warranted by the evidence)” (
Furthermore,
the fact that a person can reason
incorrectly does not mean that reason cannot be trusted, including
implications
from which inferences must be drawn. Just because it is possible for a
person
to misconstrue biblical information (e.g., to suppose that King Herod
went
about on all fours and had a red, bushy tail,
Whether because one does
not like the direction divine
truth goes on a particular subject, or whether one’s skills
for interpreting
God’s Word may be deficient is no excuse for failure to know
what God wants
mankind to know, and for which divine instruction has been preserved
for us. “Due
to human ignorance and imperfections, there may always be problems
where
inferences are concerned. However, it is a tragic mistake and really
impossible
to throw out inference as a necessary part of communication and
execution
within any system of authority” (Kearley 62). You see,
throwing away
implications from which mankind is obligated to correctly infer
dispenses with
biblical authority—as though God failed to provide the divine
revelation in the
first place. We have the only Word of God that heaven will ever provide
us
(Galatians 1:6-9;
Without deductions or
inferences from divine
implication, we have no Bible at all! Since no one living today can
read his or
her name upon the pages of inspiration, one must deduce that even
commands or
direct statements appearing in the Bible apply to him or her today.
Without
divine implications from which we are obligated to deduce correctly
meaning and
application, we have no discernible communication from
God—hence, no hope for
salvation from past sins or the prospect of an eternity in heaven. We
must be
careful not to throw out the baby with the bath water!
Flatt, Bill. “The Function of
Presuppositions and Attitudes in
Biblical Interpretation.” Biblical
Interpretation: Principles and Practice. F. Furman Kearley
and others eds.
Kearley, F. Furman. “Establishing
Biblical Authority: The Function
of Command, Example, and Inference.” Biblical
Interpretation: An Ancient Book Speaks to a Modern World.
Duane Warden, ed.
Warren, Thomas B. Logic
and
the Bible.
- - -. When Is an
“Example”
Binding?