Inferences From God’s Word (Part 1)
Series: Establishing Authority
By Allan E. McNabb

In previous articles of this series, we talked about commands, expediencies, and apostolic examples.  Now, in this article, we continue with inferences from God’s word.

What is an Inference?
An inference is a conclusion made by the deduction of facts.

Of course, we must be careful to rightly divide the word of God, and not make false conclusions by twisting the Scriptures to our own destruction (2 Pet. 3:16).

But the fact remains that we must make proper conclusions, based on God’s word, to understand God’s will for us and serve Him faithfully.

Warning:  False Teachers Make False Conclusions
We must watch out for false teachers, and the false conclusions they assert to draw us away from God.  Many of them twist the Scriptures, making conclusions based on some facts, but not all the facts revealed in God’s word.  As a result, the way of truth is blasphemed and people are exploited with deceptive words (2 Pet. 2:2-3; 3:16).

One example of false doctrine based on a false conclusion is once saved, always saved.
This false doctrine is constructed by taking Scriptures such as Jn. 5:24; 10:28-29; 17:1f; Rom. 5:9-10; 8:30; 9:11-16; Eph. 2:8-10 and twisting them to construct a false doctrine.
This false doctrine ignores Scriptures such as 1 Cor. 15:1-2; Gal. 5:4; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 2:14-26; 4:2-4; Heb. 4:6-9; 10:26-39; 2 Pet. 2:1-3, 18-22; Rev. 2:1-3:22.

Another example of false doctrine based on a false conclusion is salvation without baptism.
This false doctrine is constructed by taking Scriptures such as Lk. 23:42-43; Jn. 3:16; 5:24; Acts 16:31; 1 Cor. 1:14-17 and twisting them to construct a false doctrine.
This false doctrine ignores Scriptures such as Matt. 28:18-19; Mk. 16:16; Jn. 3:5; Acts 2:38; 8:12, 26-40; 9:1-20; 22:16; 10:34-48; 16:13-15, 25-34; 18:8; 19:1-7.

Context and Historical Narrative
Inferences help us understand the context and historical narrative of Scripture.

For example, we infer from the Biblical historical narrative that Matthew wrote the first gospel in the Bible. Likewise, we use inferences to conclude the author of other books of the Bible, such as James and Hebrews.

Inferences are also used to establish an approximate date books of the Bible were written, and therefore an approximate order in they were written.

Inferences can also help us have a fuller understanding of the historical narrative.

For example, from Genesis 12:1-5 we infer that Lot had become a member of Abram's household sometime after Haran's death.  And from Genesis 12:10; 13:1 we infer that Lot went down to Egypt with Abram.

We must be careful, though, and realize that some inferences from the historical narrative have a degree of uncertainty.  These inferences must be viewed within the degree of uncertainty that exists.

To Be Continued
Next week we will continue our investigation of inferences from God’s word by looking at examples from the Bible, talking about inferences from authoritative apostolic examples, and examining five present-day inferences for today.

Examples of Inferences from the Bible

Gen. 6:13-22  Noah was personally responsible for building the ark since God commanded him to build the ark (Gen. 6:13-14).  And he was responsible for exercising due diligence.  For example, he could neither wait three hundred years to begin building the ark nor prolong its completion.
Gen. 22:1-19  Abraham was personally responsible for offering his son since God commanded him to offer Isaac (Gen. 22:1-2).  And he was responsible for exercising due diligence in obeying the command; therefore, he rose early the next morning (Gen. 22:3).
Josh. 6:1-27  Joshua was personally responsible for organizing the march (Josh. 6:2-3).  He rose early in the morning to begin the march (Josh. 6:12).
Acts 10:17-48  Peter was personally commanded to preach to Cornelius (Acts 10:20-22).  He could not abrogate his responsibility to anyone else.  He had to diligently obey (Acts 10:23-24).
Acts 16:31-33  People who hear and believe the gospel must be diligent to obey the gospel (cf. Acts 2:38; 22:16; Heb. 5:9).  God's commands imply due diligence to immediately comply with the command.
God commanded Israel to observe the Passover, numerous Sabbaths, and numerous feasts on specified days (Ex. 12:1-28, 43-51; 20:8-11; 23:10-19).  He did not specify the frequency (i.e., every week, every year, etc.).  Israel properly inferred that the Passover, Sabbaths, and feasts must be observed every time the specified days occurred.
Matt. 4:5-7  Jesus inferred that throwing Himself down from the pinnacle would be tempting God.
Jn. 8:58  Jesus confessed His eternal nature and deity by implication (Ex. 3:14).
Acts 10:9-16, 34  Peter inferred in truth that God does not show partiality toward men (cf. Gal. 2:6).
Acts 16:6-10  Paul inferred that the reason for the Lord calling him to Macedonia was to preach the gospel.
1 Cor. 15:27  Paul points out an obvious inference quoting Ps.8:6.  Christ is subject to God.  God is not subject to Christ.