Why do many christians quote scripture as evidence?

Question

This is NOT a question about the actual content or truth of Christian beliefs. It is a question about Christian methods of argument and reasoning.

I specify Christians because about 95% of this type of reasoning comes from Christians. Also, I know the quotes I use in the example below are made up -- the question is about method, not content, so the precise quotes are irrelevant.

A fairly typical argument from a Christian on this site would go something like this:

"The bible is all true. The proof is that Corinthians X:Y says: 'everything that is written in this book is true.'"

OR

"Jews should acknowledge the Old Testament has been superseded. After all, don't they know that Matthew X:Y says 'the Old Testament has been superseded'".

This is entirely circular reasoning, and should never convince someone who is not already convinced. Why is it that Christians (and, pretty much, only Christians) feel this is a logically legitimate argument?

Neil G -- That's fine, if we already agree it comes from God. But if the question is whether or not it comes from God in the first place, how does your response work?

Uncle thesis -- That's why I said 95%. On this site, I have not seen a lot of Muslims using this mode of argumentation. They are the 5% I carved out.

Would I be against a mechanic quoting the manual? YES, if the argument was over whether it was the real manual.

President quoting the constitution? YES, if the argument was over whether or not that was in fact the text that was ratified at the relevant times, or whether ratification was legitimately achieved, or whether the constitution is a good way to run a country.

Chef quoting recipe? That one just makes no sense.

got_air and Q&A Queen: That would be a good answer if we were talking about asking a Christian about what his beliefs are. But when the question is about whether those beliefs are true, that answer makes no sense.

got air: Thanks -- I see that I did not state up front in my question that I was referring exclusively to Christian arguments with non-believers. Christian-Christian arguments certainly need to use the Christian bible as a source.

Answer 1

A lot of the Christian responses seem to boil down to this, from Q&A Queen: "It is natural in all debates to quote your source material."

That works EXCEPT when the debate is about whether the source material is reliable.

Using scripture quotes for doctrinal arguments among Christians makes perfect sense -- everyone has agreed on the validity of the Christian bible as source material. A believer using it for his own comfort or deeper understanding of his faith or religion also makes sense, since he has already accepted the premise that it is accurate, and he is just learning or thinking more about it.

But using scripture quotes in arguments against non-believers just makes no sense.

The only exception would be if a passage made a very specific prediction about a verifiable factual event that would happen after that passage is known to have been written, and then that event happened. That would be a legitimate argument for reliability.

Sinners Like Me writes: "Because the Bible is INSPIRED by God (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and God can't lie. (Titus 1:2)"

Is that satire? You are trying to convince someone the Bible is inspired by God, and the proof is that the Bible says so? It's hard to believe this is serious.

Answer 2

Well, the questions raised have their answer in scripture. It's that simple. Besides, if I response to a question about whether this is scriptural or if the bible says that, I want to make sure my answer points to the Bible not to myself as the source.

It is natural in all debates to quote your source material.

Response: Actually it does make sense. Let's say I ask you why you believe in your watch. You might tell me you believe in your watch because of it's name ... because of who made it. You say those watchmakers are trustworthy and their watches always accurate. The accuracy of their watches has been tested and proven time and time again. I think , ok then.

Well, you ask me why I am certain my beliefs are true. It would stand to reason that I would trust MY source, that source being the bible, and that source having been proven true and accurate repeatedly.

Answer 3

The foundation of belief for a Christian is the bible. If you ask a question which pertains to Christian beliefs then any answer given by a Christian is going to use the bible as the foundation for that answer. The fact that the questioner may not share the same belief in the bible has no bearing on the beliefs of the one who gives the answer.

edit: I agree that defending the authenticity of the bible by using the bible is completely circular logic. Perhaps I misunderstood your original question.

Answer 4

This was also used by the New Testament writers. There are several OT passages that the NT writers claim are fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, even though a close examination of that scripture shows that isn't the case. Example - Hos. 11.1

"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son." According to Matthew 2.15, this was fulfilled by Jesus' being taken into Egypt as a child, but if you look at the context of the passage, you will see that this claim is false. Hos. 11.1 is actually refering to the Israelites coming out of Egypt.
.

Answer 5

I quote the bible, when someone asks a question about Jesus or God or salvation, for these reasons:

(1) the word of God is living and active;
(2) it never returns void;
(3) it is absolute truth.

Doesn't matter, by the way, if a person doesn't believe any of that. And I don't mean that in a rude way or anything. Truth just is.

Answer 6

Muslims don't quote the Koran?
The reason is:
The Bible is a guidebook.
Would you be against a car mechanic quoting the manual?
Would you be against the President quoting the constitution?
Would you be against a chef quoting the recipe?
It is a guidebook ....to be turned to for answers.

Answer 7

I personally have never used a scripture to back up my beliefs. I don't think its necessary. My belief that God exists really is a personal decision and I don't feel the need to prove God exists to anyone.

Answer 8

Because the Bible is INSPIRED by God (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and God can't lie. (Titus 1:2)

Answer 9

The Bible is evidence for the Truth of God because it COMES from God.

Answer 10

Like most of us, they cannot see their own circular reasoning. If we began with the premise that scripture was true, then of course, we'd end with the conclusion that scripture is true.