“To infer” means to “derive as a conclusion from facts or premises.”
We absolutely have to infer what the Bible implies. Nowhere does the Bible teach that Paul Holland must do anything. I infer that I am obligated to do something because the Scriptures imply it. Let’s look at some examples.
In Matthew 22:29-31, when Jesus is asked about the nature of humanity after death, Jesus infers from Exodus 3:6 that God implied Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were still alive. He does so based on the present tense verb in the text (the Greek translation, the Septuagint).
In Romans 10:13-14, Paul refers to Joel’s statement from Joel 2:32: “Whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Paul infers that Joel’s statement implies that if you call on the name of the Lord, you must believe. But the implication of that command is that someone must hear first. But the implication of that command is that you must have a preacher. But the implication of that inference is that the preacher must be sent. The whole series of inferences are drawn from one implication to the next. Indeed, the Bible teaches through inference.
In 1 Corinthians 15:27, Paul quotes from Psalm 8:6. Listen to David: “You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.” Now listen to Paul’s inference from God’s implication: “But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.” The word “evident” is used also in Matthew 26:73 and Galatians 3:11. It is another way of saying, “It is common sense.” Paul says it is “common sense,” that is, one naturally understands (infers) that if someone makes all things subject to someone else, the one who subjects all things is excluded from the submission himself. So, God the Father is not submissive to God the Son, even though every things else is.
In Ephesians 4:8-10, Paul quotes from Psalm 68:18: “You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives; You have received gifts among men.” Paul inferences that if one has ascended, then the implication is that he must, at first, been lower. So, Jesus had first to descend before He could then ascend. Isn’t that common sense? Yes, and it is an inference from what the text implies.
Finally, in Hebrews 4:1-11, the writer quotes from Psalm 95:11 as he contrasts Joshua with Jesus. “Therefore I swore in My anger, truly they shall not enter into My rest.” There are a number of implications of this concept of “promising rest” illustrated ion Psalm 95:11 that the reader must infer…
1) Since God has a rest to give and the wilderness generation of Israel did not inherit that rest, then the implication is that others will receive the rest.
2) David (who wrote Psalm 95) lived generations after Joshua; therefore the rest was still future from his standpoint.
3) Since Israel lost out on their rest due to their unbelief and disobedience, Christians might too lose the promised of rest for the same reason.
4) Christians ought to be careful to give attention to obeying every word from the mouth of Christ.
We will have more to say in the near future. But, not all inferences are implications of the text. When the “households” of Lydia and Cornelius were baptized, some religious groups infer that babies out to be baptized. But that inference is not necessary. In fact, not only does it violate the context (they could not hear and believe the message preached), but it also violates broader biblical theology (babies are not susceptible to the gospel message). So, before we infer, we need to make sure that we are not putting words or concepts into the mouth of the Holy Spirit but only infer what He has implied.
Paul Holland
