Overview
The Bible addresses reasoning across 59 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in 1 Corinthians, Job and Isaiah. Closely related themes include Preaching, Zeal, Religious, Boasting and Philosophy. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Paul and Felix.
Key Bible verses about reasoning
Old Testament
Exodus
And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Job
Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. lookest: Heb. observest heels: Heb. roots
And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
Proverbs
Isaiah
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
New Testament
Luke
And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
Acts
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
1 Corinthians
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: enticing: or, persuasible
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. stand: Gr. be
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
People in the Bible and reasoning
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying reasoning for yourself
- Begin with Exodus 4:11, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how 1 Corinthians, Job and Isaiah each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Jesus, Paul and Felix and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Preaching, Zeal, Religious, Boasting and Philosophy.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about reasoning?
The Bible addresses reasoning across 59 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in 1 Corinthians, Job and Isaiah. Closely related themes include Preaching, Zeal, Religious, Boasting and Philosophy. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Paul and Felix.
How many Bible verses are about reasoning?
The Bible references reasoning in 59 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention reasoning?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Exodus 4:11: “And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?”
Which people in the Bible are associated with reasoning?
Jesus, Paul and Felix.
Preach & teach
Outline a sermon or build a study series on reasoning.
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