Bible Question: Scripturally how can we argue? |
Bible Answer: Dear M. Sinapen :: Welcome to Study Bible Forum. I don't know how it is with the Tamil language in which you minister, but in contemporary English the line of distinction between argue and quarrel is not nearly so sharp at it should be. We tend to use argue when we mean quarrel, but the two words have separate and distinct meanings. Traditionally to argue meant to present one's case logically and reasonably, as in a court of law. To quarrel, on the other hand, denoted a sense of the bellicose, of agitated disputation, of divisiveness. The NASB translation presents a number of usages of both argue and quarrel, and in order to get a sense of how it uses these words in context, I'd suggest you use the NASB concordance provided on the right side of this page, typing in the words argue (or argument) and quarrel, respectively. Scripture does not condemn using sound argument, insofar as I've been able to determine, although it does speak against quarreling. There is a branch of Christian theology called polemics that is devoted to the refutation of errors, and how else does one do that but by presenting an argument for his case from Scripture itself? One should never let false teaching slip by without reproof and rebuke, out of fear that somehow to do so is unchristian, because it is not. But it ought to be done with great patience, as the Scripture says. See 2 Timothy 4:2. A good way, it seems to me, to tell whether we're presenting a solid argument for our case based on reason, or merely giving vent to heated emotion, as one often does in quarreling, is to gauge the reaction to our speech by Proverbs 15:1: "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." ..... It's delightful to have you on Study Bible Forum. I enjoyed reading in your personal profile about the work you are engaged in. --Hank |