The Sufficiency Of Scripture & The Rules Of Sound Reasoning (Part 5)

Does the Bible teach us the principles of sound reasoning?   Yes, it most certainly does. 

Here are some examples…

5 - Category Mistake/Error - A category mistake involves the conflation of the properties of two separate domains.  When defenders of the tradition-bound view depart from Romans 1:18 - 32 in order to import Genesis into the text, they inevitably conflate God’s decretal will (a descriptive domain) & God’s moral will (a prescriptive domain). 

By way of reply to that maneuver…

 

First, Paul is writing an inerrant & infallible commentary on Leviticus 18.  Leviticus 18 & Romans 1:18 - 32.   They even follow the same outline both generally & particularly.  Why would you run to Genesis to interpret Romans if Romans is commenting on Leviticus? 

It isn’t enough to read “sakab” in Leviticus as “to lie down & have sex,” at issue is the thought & purpose of the behavior in 18:22.  Words can be overspecified, & since Romans 1:26 - 27 explain Leviticus 18:22, and since the traditional view commits the fallacy of overspecification & results in a number of other logical, epistemic, & therefore exegetical/expositional fallacies the text of Leviticus 18:22 cannot refer to all homosexual thoughts, words, & deeds indiscriminately.  It can (and does) refer to culturally derived & purposed thoughts, words, & deeds.

Hemmed in by the text, what is the disputant to do?  How about running to Genesis 1 & 2 & Matthew 19?

That won’t do, insofar as in Matthew 19, Yeshua is answering a question about divorce, not heteronormativity.   In addition, according to the text, Yeshua doesn’t stop with the citation of Genesis.  Rather, having appealed to God’s decretal order, He then appeals to God’s moral order by way of alluding to texts like Deuteronomy 28, Jeremiah 3,  & Malachi 2.  In so doing, the text demonstrates sound reasoning processes for us.   Yeshua refrains from drawing an abstract moral principle solely from the state of God’s created order (God’s decretal will that determines what “Is”) by coupling it with God’s moral will (which prescribes what we should do, ie that which “Ought (to be)).  

Matthew 19 therefore teaches us not to conflate the properties of two separate (yet intersecting) domains.    The definition of a Category Mistake (Error when we factor in Hebrews 5 & moral problems that lead us to commit the mistake) is thusly vindicated. 

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3).