Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Nature:Reasoning, in a biblical context, refers to the process of thinking, understanding, and forming judgments by a logical process. It involves the use of the mind to discern truth, make decisions, and solve problems. The Bible acknowledges the importance of reasoning, as it is a God-given faculty that distinguishes humans from other creatures.
Biblical Basis:The Bible presents reasoning as an essential aspect of human life, encouraging believers to use their minds in alignment with God's wisdom. In
Isaiah 1:18, God invites His people to reason together with Him: "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." This verse highlights the role of reasoning in understanding and accepting God's offer of forgiveness and redemption.
Role in Faith:While faith is often seen as a matter of the heart, the Bible does not dismiss the role of the mind. In fact, reasoning is integral to a robust faith. The Apostle Paul, in
Romans 12:2, urges believers to be transformed by the renewing of their minds: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God." This transformation involves a process of reasoning that aligns one's thoughts with God's truth.
Reasoning and Wisdom:The Bible distinguishes between human reasoning and divine wisdom.
Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Here, the emphasis is on trusting God's wisdom over human reasoning, which can be flawed or limited. However, this does not negate the use of reasoning; rather, it calls for a submission of human reasoning to divine guidance.
Jesus and Reasoning:Jesus Himself engaged in reasoning during His earthly ministry. He often used parables and logical arguments to teach and challenge His listeners. In
Matthew 22:41-46, Jesus uses reasoning to confound the Pharisees regarding the identity of the Messiah. His approach demonstrates that reasoning is a tool for understanding deeper spiritual truths.
Apostolic Example:The apostles also employed reasoning in their ministry. In
Acts 17:2, it is recorded that Paul "reasoned with them from the Scriptures," demonstrating that reasoning was a key method in explaining and defending the faith. This practice of reasoning from the Scriptures was essential in the early church's evangelistic efforts and remains a model for believers today.
Warnings Against Faulty Reasoning:The Bible warns against reasoning that is contrary to God's truth.
Colossians 2:8 cautions, "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." This warning highlights the danger of relying on human philosophies that are not rooted in biblical truth.
Conclusion:While reasoning is a valuable tool, it must be exercised in submission to God's revealed truth. Believers are called to engage their minds actively, discerning and applying God's wisdom in all areas of life.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Reason.
2. (n.) The act or process of adducing a reason or reasons; manner of presenting one's reasons.
3. (n.) That which is offered in argument; proofs or reasons when arranged and developed; course of argument.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
REASON; REASONABLE; REASONINGre'-z'n, re'-z'n-a-b'l, re'-z'n-ing (yakhach, etc.; logos, dialogizomai, -ismos, etc.): "Reason" with related terms, has a diversity of meanings, representing a large number of Hebrew and Greek words and phrases. In the sense of "cause" or "occasion" it stands in1 Kings 9:15 for dabhar, "a word" (the Revised Version margin "account"), but in most cases renders prepositional forms as "from," "with," "because of," "for the sake," etc. As the ground or argument for anything, it is the translation of ta`am (Proverbs 26:16, the Revised Version margin "answers discreetly"), of yakhach, as inIsaiah 1:18, "Come now, and let us reason together" (compareJob 13:3;Job 15:3); in1 Samuel 12:7, the word is shaphaT, the Revised Version (British and American) "that I may plead," etc. The principal Greek words for "reason," "reasoning," are those given above. The Christian believer is to be ready to give a reason (logos) for the hope that is in him (1 Peter 3:15 the King James Version). "Reason" as a human faculty or in the abstract sense appears in Apocrypha in The Wisdom of Solomon 17:12 (logismos); Ecclesiasticus 37:16, "Let reason (logos) go before every enterprise," the Revised Version (British and American) "be the beginning of every work." InActs 18:14, "reason would" is literally, kata logon, "according to reason"; inRomans 12:1, for "reasonable (logikos) service," the Revised Version (British and American) has "spiritual," and in the margin "Greek `belonging to the reason.' " In the Revised Version (British and American) "reason," etc., occurs much oftener than in the King James Version (compareLeviticus 17:11Deuteronomy 28:47Judges 5:22Job 20:2;Job 23:7, etc.;Luke 3:15;Luke 12:17Acts 17:17, etc.).
W. L. Walker
Greek
1261. dialogismos -- areasoning... a
reasoning. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: dialogismos Phonetic
Spelling: (dee-al-og-is-mos') Short Definition: a calculation,
reasoning...3053. logismos -- areasoning, a thought
... areasoning, a thought. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: logismos
Phonetic Spelling: (log-is-mos') Short Definition:reasoning, thinking...
1271. dianoia -- the mind, disposition, thought
... the mind," from 3563 , "mind") -- properly, movement from one side (of an issue)
to the other to reach -conclusions; full-orbedreasoning (= critical thinking...
1270. dianoema -- a thought
... a thought. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: dianoema Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-an-o'-ay-mah) Short Definition: areasoning, thought, cogitation...
4907. sunesis -- a running together, spec. understanding
... Cognate: 4907 (from 4920 ) -- properly, facts joined together for , iereasoning
that joins (indirect) truths for . See also 4920 ()....
1256. dialegomai -- to discuss, to address, to preach
... 1256 ("getting a conclusion across") occurs 13 times in the NT, usually of believers
exercising "dialecticalreasoning." This is the process of information...
4803. suzetesis -- disputation
... disputation,reasoning. From suzeteo; mutual questioning, ie Discussion --
disputation(-ting),reasoning. see GREEK suzeteo. 4802, 4803. suzetesis. 4804 ....
3563. nous -- mind, understanding, reason
... understanding, reason. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: nous Phonetic
Spelling: (nooce) Short Definition: the mind,reasoning faculty Definition...
4817. sullogizomai -- to reckon, to compute, ie to reason
... 4817 ("discuss one subject in terms of another") here refers to confused syllogistic
reasoning done by the Jews (chief priests, elders, Sadducees)....
249. alogos -- without reason
... 249 () means "acting like a " (see Jude 10), ie utterly unreasonable (absurd).
[249 () describes behavior that lacks sound moral (spiritual)reasoning.]....
Strong's Hebrew
8434. Tolad -- a city in Simeon... Word Origin from yalad Definition a city in Simeon NASB Word Usage Tolad (1). argument,
chastened, correction,
reasoning, rebuke, reproof, be often reproved.
...8433. towkechah -- rebuke, correction
... yakach; chastisement; figuratively (by words) correction, refutation, proof (even
in defence) -- argument, X chastened, correction,reasoning, rebuke, reproof...
Library
By what Course ofReasoning the Error of the Manich??ans...
... Chapter 1. "By What Course ofReasoning the Error of the Manich??ans Concerning
Two Souls, One of Which is Not from God, is Refuted....
ThisReasoning and Intelligent Creature, Man, at once the Work and...
... II."Ascetic and Moral. Chapter XII. Thisreasoning and intelligent creature,
man, at once the work and the likeness of the?...
Wherefore, if Either OurReasoning or Our Discourse Hath in any...
... Section 36. Wherefore, if either ourreasoning or our discourse hath in
any way moved you? 36. Wherefore, if either ourreasoning...
There are Also Valid Processes ofReasoning which Lead to False...
... Book 2 Chapter 49. There are also valid processes ofreasoning which lead
to FALSE conclusions? 49. There are also valid processes...
Perceivest Thou not How Much thisReasoning Aideth the Very...
... Section 2. Perceivest thou not how much thisreasoning aideth the very
persons whom as great? 2. Perceivest thou not how much...
How Vain, Then -- Nay, How Desperate -- is theReasoning of...
... Chapter XX. How vain, then " nay, how desperate " is thereasoning
of persons? How vain, then"nay, how desperate"is the...
"Now Besides These Organs of Sense, He Has a Power or Faculty of...
... Address 59: "Now besides these organs of sense, he has a power or faculty
ofreasoning upon? "Now besides these organs of sense...
Yet one Cannot Discover by any Rational Process ofReasoning...
... Book I. 16 Yet one cannot discover by any rational process ofreasoning?
Yet one cannot discover by any rational process ofreasoning...
For in Fact, as to what Some Opposed to theReasoning of Cyprian.....
... Book IV. Chapter 7. " 11. For in fact, as to what some opposed to the
reasoning of Cyprian? "11. For in fact, as to what some...
He Next Charges the Christians with Being "Guilty of Sophistical...
... Chapter XXXI. He next charges the Christians with being "guilty of
sophisticalreasoning? He next charges the Christians with...
Thesaurus
Reasoning (37 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. REASON; REASONABLE;
REASONING.
... The principal
Greek words for "reason," "
reasoning," are those given above.
...Ill-reasoning (1 Occurrence)
Ill-reasoning. Illnesses, Ill-reasoning. Ills . Multi-Version
Concordance Ill-reasoning (1 Occurrence). James 2:4 ye...
Thinking (58 Occurrences)
... your hearts? (See NAS). Mark 2:6 But there were some of the scribes sitting
there, andreasoning in their hearts, (See NIV). Mark 2...
Reason (438 Occurrences)
... Reason comprises conception, judgment,reasoning, and the intuitional faculty....
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. REASON; REASONABLE;REASONING....
Discourse (25 Occurrences)
... to reason or infer by running, as it were, from one fact or reason to another, and
deriving a conclusion; an exercise or act of this power;reasoning; range of...
Perceiving (25 Occurrences)
... Mark 12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard themreasoning together,
and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first...
Argue (21 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To debate or discuss; to treat byreasoning; as, the counsel argued
the cause before a full court; the cause was well argued....
Questioning (65 Occurrences)
... of the law. (BBE). Mark 2:6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there,
andreasoning in their hearts, (See RSV). Mark 5:9 and...
Imagination (20 Occurrences)
... in the King James Version (Proverbs 6:18 Lamentations 3:60, 61); once of dianoia,
"mind," "understanding" (Luke 1:51); of logismos, "reasoning" (2 Corinthians...
Futile (12 Occurrences)
... Romans 1:21 Because, knowing God, they didn't glorify him as God, neither gave thanks,
but became vain in theirreasoning, and their senseless heart was...
Resources
What are some examples of circular reasoning in issues that Christians debate? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that the Bible is self-authenticating? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is deductive Bible study? | GotQuestions.orgReasoning: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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