Monday, November 23, 2009

Does the Bible give conflicting advice on answering fools?

Question:

In Proverbs 26:4-5 the Bible gives conflicting advice as to whether you should answer a fool or not. Could you explain?

Answer:

First, let’s clearly set forth the problem by citing the texts in question:

Proverbs 26:4-5:

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you will be like him yourself.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.

Bible critics cite this as a particularly disturbing example of the Bible speaking out of “both sides of its mouth.” Is this a glaring contradiction in the Bible?

It is important that we bear in mind that Proverbs is not exclusively written by Solomon. Solomon writes many of the Proverbs himself, but the Proverbs are largely an edited collection. So, there are numerous uncited authors and Solomon is drawing from their works and arranging them into a single compilation of wisdom literature. That means that it was quite intentional that these two proverbs with conflicting counsel would appear right next to each other. This is not an “accidental error” but an intentional conflict.

Before resolving the conflict, let’s make sure we understand each proverb in its own right. Verse 4 teaches us that in responding to every statement of a fool you lower yourself to his level and give him more credibility than he deserves. I am reminded of the foolish man from the tribe of Benjamin, Shimei, mentioned in 2 Samuel 16. Shimei, a member of King Saul’s family, resented David’s rule and cursed him repeatedly. Shimei cursed David, and threw stones at him and even through dung at him. One of David’s generals wanted to kill Shimei. But David chose to ignore him, and even ponder whether the Lord had some purpose in Shimei’s foolish rants and raves.

Verse 5 tells us to answer a fool…cut him down to size or he will be puffed up and may even gain influence. I am reminded of the boxing legend Cassius Clay. He had amazing speed, accuracy and strength. We know him better by the name he used later in his career, Muhammad Ali. Near the end of his boxing career, Ali began to lose much of his hand speed and some of his strength. So, he developed a strategy to weaken his opponent. Ali would stay against the ropes and cover up and let his opponent punch him until his arms got tired. He called it, “Rope a dope.” For a while it worked, but Ali took great punishment and ultimately suffered severe brain damage. The problem with “Rope a Dope” is sometimes the dope doesn’t get tired of hitting you. When the abuse reaches a certain level, it becomes necessary to answer a fool and stop the abuse. I found a very balanced statement in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary:
"-in negligible issues one should just ignore the stupid person; but in issues that matter, he must be dealt with lest credence be given to what he says (Plaut, p. 266) The text presents two sayings together that each contain an aspect of the whole truth. Whybray says they are put together to show that human problems are often complicated and cannot always be solved by appealing to a single rule (Book of Proverbs, p. 152). The meaning of the two together is that one should not lower himself to the level of a fool but that there are times when the lesser evil is to speak out than be silent."
Although it appears as a contradiction, Solomon is actually presenting two sides of a coin, and both sides are a valuable part of God’s counsel in dealing with fools.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

History and Culture of the Bible

Question:

How can I gain a better understanding of the history and culture of the Bible?


Answer:

Here are a few suggestions on better understanding the history and culture of the biblical texts.

1. The classical book on this topic is Alfred Edersheim's "The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah." (1883) Edersheim was a Jewish convert to Christianity and his insights are amazing. A big book and not an easy read, but a great resource.

2. Here is a fun read, a historical novel entitled "The Flames of Rome" by Paul L. Maier. It is a real page turner, but in the process you learn an incredible amount about the first century church. Maier also has a book about Pontius Pilate that I plan on reading.

3. If you want to delve into a more ancient resource, Flavius Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews will tell you numerous extrabiblical stories about the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes who were the major Jewish groups of Jesus' day. You will also learn about the intertestamental period, those years between Malachi and Matthew during which Alexander the Great conquered the world. The story of Hannukah is told here. Not easy reading, but an amazing resource.

4. Let me put the cookies on a lower shelf. I gain great insight by reading the commentaries of David Guzik of Calvary Chapel. They are available online http://www.enduringword.com/library_commentaries.htm Guzik has written a commentary on most of the biblical books and often shares historical and cultural insights. Best of all, it's free!

5. If you want another easy way to gain a better understanding of the first century Roman world, rent the BBC series "I Claudius" which tells the story of the Roman Emperors. It is based upon the accounts of the ancient Roman historian Suetonius. However, it is a fun series to watch, and a real education.