The following articles are related to the topic of SILENCE

The Silence of Scripture: An Argument for Inspiration

J.W. McGarvey (1829-1911) was professor of sacred history in the College of the Bible at Lexington, Kentucky-where he taught for forty-six years. He was one of the most skillful defenders of the Scriptures of his day. His books on Christian evidences, and other topics, are still classics and should be circulated widely. In the summer of 1893, McGarvey delivered a ... read more »

The Silence of the Scriptures: Permissive or Prohibitive?

One of the controversies that has raged in the world of "Christendom" for centuries is the matter of whether or not the "silence" of the Scriptures must be respected or ignored. Some allege that whatever is not expressly forbidden is allowed in religious practice; others contend that anything not authorized is not permitted. The dispute surfaced early in the post-apostolic ... read more »

The Silence Argument

One of the strongest arguments against the use of instrumental music in Christian worship is the "silence" principle. This is the concept that when God is silent about a matter, man is not at liberty to "presume" &>, and so to act without divine authority. There is no New Testament authority for the use of instrumental music in Christian worship. ... read more »

When Silence Is Eloquent

On that fateful night before his death, Jesus and his disciples had adjourned to the garden called Gethsemane, a place where the Lord had frequently communed with his little band of men (cf. Jn. 18:2). Judas, the traitor, surmising the Lord's whereabouts, led a group of soldiers and temple police to the secluded spot. With torches and lanterns (and in ... read more »

Tradition Versus Scripture

When the report of the Savior's miracles spread abroad, Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem made their way north to Gennesaret to confront Jesus. They charged that the Lord's disciples neglected to keep the "traditions" of the elders, because they did not ceremonially wash their hands (to purify themselves from Gentile contamination) before they ate. But Christ focused on them, asking ... read more »

Hebrews 7:14 – The Law of Silence

Is the silence of the Scriptures prohibitive? By that we mean, may one improvise in acts of religious devotion in the absence of a specific "you must not ..."? If the New Testament is silent about a specific matter (e.g., the baptizing of infants, the burning of incense, the use of mechanical instruments in worship), may a person pursue that ... read more »

1 Corinthians 14:34 – “Silence” in the Church

A number of years ago, a faction arose within the church which argued that it is sinful for women to teach the Bible to children in the class arrangement when the church comes together. This practice, they alleged, violates Paul's instruction for women to "keep silence" in the churches (1 Cor. 14:34). Some of our old debaters responded to this ... read more »

Is the Bible Class Arrangement Scriptural?

Is it in harmony with New Testament teaching for churches to separate into Bible classes that accommodate various groups according to each aggregation's special needs? Some years ago some folks developed the idea that when the church comes together to worship God, there must be no dividing of that body into individual Bible classes. These misguided folks refused fellowship with ... read more »

May a Woman Ask a Question?

"May a woman ask questions in a Bible class consisting of both men and women? If she may, how is this to be harmonized with Paul's command that the Christian woman 'keep silence' in the church (1 Cor. 14:34)?" First, one needs to define the meaning of "silence," as that term is used in the Bible generally, and then as ... read more »

1 Kings 12 — The Sin of Jeroboam

Jeroboam, a ruler of the northern kingdom of Israel, is given special attention in the Old Testament. No less than twenty-one times he is charged with having caused Israel to sin (cf. 1 Kings 14:16). What was his transgression that merited such attention? He was an innovator. He practiced what the apostle Paul would call "will-worship" (Colossians 2:23). His presumptuous ... read more »