Should I answer the fool or not?
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Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
-Proverbs 26:4-5
This is a common verse that is used by scoffers of the Bible to say that God's Word contradicts itself. I can confidently say this accusation comes only from those who choose not to think about what our Lord has written in His Word, otherwise, they would see that many Christians make this mistake.
To help understand this verse, we first need to look at how the meaning of a sentence changes based on how we emphasize specific words. Let's experiment by using the question "I should go walk the dog?"
- "I should go walk the dog?"
This implies responsibility, "Isn't there someone else that can do it?"
- "I should go walk the dog?"
This implies ethics, "Is this something I have to do?"
- "I should go walk the dog?"
This implies means, "Is there another means of transportation I can use?"
- "I should go walk the dog?"
This implies the object, "Is there another pet I can walk?"
The understanding and meaning of the sentence can be drastically changed depending on which words are emphasized, and this can be done with almost all sentences in the English language.
The problem here is that the scoffer puts the emphasis on "Answer not a fool" and "Answer a fool," rather than putting the emphasis on "according to his folly." Mankind doesn't typically like hearing about their follies, so many will pay no attention to that part. In addition, those that use "Answer" emphasis don't pay any attention to the second half of the verse. Let's look at how the scoffer interprets this verse:
- "Answer not a fool according to his folly..."
This implies to give no answer at all.
- "Answer a fool according to his folly..."
This implies to give an answer.
The scoffer typically stops here without investigating the rest of the verse. This is a common tactic used by scoffers, and by Satan, where they only quote, or put emphasis on,
PART of a verse, instead of the whole thing. The Christian who reads their Bible knows that this is the wrong way to interpret this because of how each verse ends.
- "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him."
This implies the means by which you answer.
- "Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit."
This also implies by what means you answer.
In the English language, we tend to give details before the main subject of thought, but in other languages, they tend to give details after the main subject of thought. (e.g. "We tend to give details before the main subject of thought, in the English language.") Though the Lord's Words are perfect as they are, if you have some difficulty understanding what these verses are saying, try swapping the first and second halves.
- "Lest thou also be like unto him, answer not a fool according to his folly."
If you don't want to be like the fool, don't answer him based on his flawed logic.
- "Lest he be wise in his own conceit, answer a fool according to his folly."
To demonstrate the fool's conceitedness, answer to his flawed logic.
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These verses are speaking to the foundations we stand on when coming to debate. For example, if someone is debating with you on the topic of morals, but he/she does not believe in God, don't allow them to use the Bible's standards morality against you. That's like allowing someone to take the gun out of your holster and hold you hostage with it. If you don't stand on the Word of God when entering debate, you are allowing the fools to pull you off your foundation and enter their humanistic folly.
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There is no contradiction here. The Bible instructs us on how to answer the scoffers and not waste our time. So when you answer, make sure you answer on the foundation of the Words of Him who all men will one day have to confess lordship.
For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
-Romans 14:11
