Bible & Logic

Introduction

[Establishing a Christian Worldview]

Last week, we saw why the Bible is the book for life. And from 2 Timothy 3:16, we got used to the fact that the Bible is for all of life, equipping you for every good work.

God wrote a Book

We must read it (knowledge)

We must understand it (ascent)

We must put our trust in it (trust)

Historically, reformed theologians considered faith to have these three essential parts: notitia, or “knowledge”; assensus, or “assent”; and fiducia, or “trust”.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV)

13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

We are to receive the word of God (notitia), accept it (assensus), and then have it work in us (fiducia).

Each of these parts together make up what we call 'meditation of Scripture’. And we cannot do away with any one of these steps, and we must traverse them in that order.

How do we “understand” it?

The exercise of the mind

What about the exercise of the spirit?

Spiritual v/s Doctrinal - False dilemma or false dichotomy

What does this understanding form? A worldview

What is logic?

[Wikipedia] reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity.

[Got Questions] Logic is the science of deriving truth through the analysis of facts either directly (deductively) or indirectly (inductively). Logic takes given presuppositions, analyzes relationships, compares them with other known factors, and arrives at a conclusion that identifies a previously unknown fact. Logic is math with ideas instead of numbers. It is a way of identifying the relationships between ideas.

[Doug Wilson] Logic is the art of reasoning well—of learning to think God's thoughts after Him

[Merriam-Webster] Logic (from the Greek word logos, "reason") is the "science that deals with the principles and criteria of validity of inference and demonstration, the science of the formal principles of reasoning"

Why logic?

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Titus 2:7–8 ESV

7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

It is the God ordained means by which we comprehend God’s truth

Logical Fallacies

The lack of Christian education

The poor state of biblical education

Some Examples

False disjunctions are made when an argument is presented in an either or fashion: either A or B is true, but not both. However, there are times when the answer is "both/and" rather than "either/or." Take the relationship between

Galatians 3:28 ESV

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:12 ESV

12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

Appeals to selective evidence are numerous.

Unwarranted associative jumps - Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Non sequiturs (Latin for "does not [logically] follow")

Egalitarianism