The Purpose and Place of Common Sense in Bible Study

Many people view the Bible as some mystical book whose message, in reality, cannot be completely understood. Therefore, they approach the study of the Bible in a special way. They fail to use the same reasoning they apply in the study of other books and disciplines. The Bible, though, is to be treated with the same logic and common sense as any ordinary, intelligent writing for, though it is from God, its message is conveyed to mankind in the same way that men communicate with each other.

The Place of Reason

1. To determine from evidence that the Bible is the word of Two general areas of evidence exist: external and internal. External evidence is that evidence from sources outside the Bible that offer proof that the Bible is the word of God. Internal evidence is supporting proof from within the text of the Bible itself. If one is going to profit from either of these areas of evidence, he must employ reason, logic, and common sense in a consideration of them.
2. To employ its powers in order to understand the As stated above, since the message of the Bible is communicated in the same way men communicate with one another, the same reason, logic and common sense used to understand the communications of other men must be used to understand God’s communication to man, the Bible.

Violations of Common Sense That Contribute to a Misunderstanding of the Bible

1. The common spirit of bias and partiality found in so many men and women. One who allows prejudice to color his view of the Bible will never arrive at its true message.
2. Preconceived The practice of supposing something exists or assuming something is true without sufficient study or proof. One must go to the Bible to obtain doctrine not to sustain it.
3. Wishful To wish so strongly for something to be true that one comes to firmly believe that it is true.
4. The fallacy of drawing sweeping conclusions from particular instances.
5. Appeals to humans The practice of “throwing around the weight” of big names and/or authorities, regardless of truthfulness and condition, in order to defend a point that is usually biased.
6. Appeals to the Citing what the majority think as being conclusive evidence of right.