Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. (Acts 17:16-21, ESV)
We are told repeatedly to study, reason, and understand the scriptures. Paul is seen reasoning with people in the synagogues and marketplaces. Peter said to always be prepared to give an answer, or defense, of the hope we have in Messiah. The Bereans are famous for deeply studying the word of God and testing all things against it to prove them true or false. We have an obligation to study scripture then apply reasoning to truly understand what we believe and why we believe it.
What is the value of reasoning? We can know with certainty what the scriptures mean, why they are true, and why we trust in them. Inwardly, we can have confidence that our faith is based on knowledge and understanding rather than ignorance and blind tradition. When speaking with others, we can share our faith and intelligently explain it in a logically valid manner.
Following are lessons intended to help students develop reasoning skills for studying, interpreting, understanding, and explaining the Bible.
1. Forming Logical Arguments
2. Recognizing Logical Fallacies