Reasoning in the Bible
This is another in a series of posts seeking to get at the Biblical definition of words we commonly use in western Christianity. These words will generally fit into the categories of sharing the Gospel, making disciples, teaching, training, preaching, etc. I think we'll find that in some cases our modern usage is mostly correct, but in other ways, our western vernacular has actually altered the Biblical meaning of the word.
Check out the previous posts on preaching and teaching.
Today's word is “reasoning”.
This is what that looks like in Greek: διαλεγομαι (Pronunciation: dee-al-eg'-om-ahee)
There are only 13 instances of this word in the New Testament, so I’ll post them all here. The first list is the NET translation, which I normally use for study. I wanted you to see them but I will make a case later that ‘addressing’ is perhaps not the best translation of this word. The word in bold is what has been translated from διαλεγομαι.
Mark 9:34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.
Acts 17:2 Paul went to the Jews in the synagogue, as he customarily did, and on three Sabbath days he addressed them from the scriptures,
Acts 17:17 So he was addressing the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles in the synagogue, and in the marketplace every day those who happened to be there.
Acts 18:4 He addressed both Jews and Greeks in the synagogue every Sabbath, attempting to persuade them.
Acts 18:19 When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila behind there, but he himself went into the synagogue and addressed the Jews.
Acts 19:8 So Paul entered the synagogue and spoke out fearlessly for three months, addressing and convincing them about the kingdom of God.
Acts 19:9 But when some were stubborn and refused to believe, reviling the Way before the congregation, he left them and took the disciples with him, addressing them every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul began to speak to the people, and because he intended to leave the next day, he extended his message until midnight.
Acts 20:9 A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep while Paul continued to speak for a long time. Fast asleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead.
Acts 24:12 They did not find me arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city,
Acts 24:25 While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.”
Hebrews 12:5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you.
Jude 1:9 But even when Michael the archangel was arguing with the devil and debating with him concerning Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a slanderous judgment, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”
It feels like the translators took the instances of this word in Acts and applied what we would expect to see happen in the synagogue given a western point of a view: some sort of lecture or formal address. They used that expectation to translate διαλεγομαι.
Almost every other time the word is used outside of the Acts synagogue (other than Hebrews 12:5) the more natural translation is actually ‘argue’ or ‘discuss’ (Mark 9:34, Jude 1:9, Acts 24:25.)
I could see that in Acts 20 Paul is probably speaking in some sort of a monologue as that makes more sense for why poor old Eutychus fell asleep… although we’ve all been in a room full of noise and gotten drowsy if we’re not directly involved in the conversation so that would also have been more of a discussion than a lecture. (Side note: Did he ever live that one down? “Hey Eutychus, remember when you DIED during our last meeting with Paul? Oh that’s right, you don’t remember because you fell asleep!”) 🙂
Here are the same verses in NASB, another very literal translation. Again, the word in bold is the translation of διαλεγομαι.
Mark 9:34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.
Acts 17:2 And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Acts 17:17 So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present.
Acts 18:4 And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Acts 18:19 They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
Acts 19:8-9 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
Acts 20:7, 9 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead.
Acts 24:12 Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot
Acts 24:25 But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you."
Hebrews 12:5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
Jude 1:9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
As you can see, the NASB translation team preferred more of a discussion-oriented view of this word than a lecture view.
Another reason I think reasoning/discussing is a better translation of διαλεγομαι is what we know about how Jewish people and rabbis approach Scripture and teaching throughout history. You can read more about this in Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, but this quote from page 66 sums it up:
But through the ages Jewish thinkers have considered it vital to study the Scriptures in the presence of other people. A famous line of rabbinic advice from before Jesus’ time was this: “Aquire for yourself a rabbi, and get yourself a haver.” In ordinary usage, the word haver can simply mean a companion or a close friend. But here it actually means someone who is willing to partner with you in grappling Scripture…
Interestingly, this word doesn’t appear in the Acts narrative until Paul’s second missionary journey. He seems to be more ‘addressing’ in his synagogue appearances on his first journey. Was this a slight shift in Paul’s strategy? Did he attempt to reason/dialogue with the Jews to have more time to share with them? (How quickly did he get kicked out of synagogues on his first journey versus his second?) I’m not sure if there is an application here but I find it intriguing.
But here is my application:
I think there are times for the proclamation of the Gospel in a monologue format, but there are also times to reason and discuss with those who are listening as this word shows. Let's rightly discern which one we should use with the people we are reaching.
