DIFFICULT
QUESTIONS
When
the Queen of Sheba wanted to prove the wisdom of Solomon, she asked him “hard
questions (I Kings 10:1). One
of the earliest events in Jesus’ life also involves questions. "And it
came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting
in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers"
(Lk. 2:46,47). And
Paul declared himself happy to answer before
Agrippa the charges against him "because I know thee to be expert in
all customs and questions which are among the Jews:"(Acts 26:3).
Questions
are a part of Bible study, but we must learn to follow some guidelines. Paul,
for instance, warned Timothy to "neither give heed to fables and endless
genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in
faith" (I Tim. 1:4). Timothy
lived when great emphasis was placed on historical tales and family lineage,
some of which was tradition. Although such information had a place in the
Jewish religion, that is not to be so with Christians. The church must
emphasize edification, not things that cause divisive questions.
We
learn the Bible by asking questions. But we only learn if we ask reasonable,
logical questions, the answers to which are revealed in the scriptures. We are
warned to avoid "foolish and unlearned questions” that cause strife (II Tim. 2:23) because there is nothing to
gain from asking philosophical questions that have no revealed answers. Many
people today want to make Bible study difficult by asking questions concerning
that men can answer only with their wisdom, and we have been warned of that
danger (I Cor. 1:19-21).
What is it about man
that causes him to make the simple difficult? Paul answered that question when
he told Timothy that such men are "proud, knowing nothing, but
doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy,
strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds,
and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness" (I Tim.
6:4). Pride makes men want to
emphasize their supposedly great knowledge. Like the Athenians they desire to
"either tell, or hear some new thing" (Acts 17:21). That
attitude often causes men to wrest the
scriptures like those condemned by Peter (II Peter 3:15-16).
We all have questions,
and that is good. But let us be satisfied with what the scriptures reveal on
any subject, and if nothing is revealed, let us be satisfied with that, too. We
should be careful to heed the warnings against foolish and unlearned
questions. If we confine our time to
what we can easily know, without speculation, our study will be more
beneficial.
Jack