Are Necessary Inferences Necessary?
Joe R. Price
 

Yes, necessary inferences are necessary to understand and apply the word of God. Those who continue to believe we must have Bible authority for whatever we do “in word or deed” respect necessary inferences as essential to understanding God’s will (Col. 3:17).

     Conversely, those who reject God-revealed patterns oppose using necessary inferences to know and apply God’s binding approval of what we teach and do. They say necessary inferences are the assumptions of fallible men, legalists who bind opinions where God has not bound.

     An inference is a conclusion drawn by applying reason and logic to known data (what is said or done). We infer it is cold outside if we see someone wearing a winter coat, hat, and gloves. But, is it a necessary inference? Not if other possibilities exist given the facts that are known.

     A necessary inference is not a conclusion that is probably true, mostly true, possibly true, or maybe true. It is the only possible conclusion from the given facts. “An inference is said to be necessary if another and a different inference cannot be reasonably drawn from the facts stated” (uslegal.com). A necessary inference is a conclusion that is irresistible from the stated facts. It is necessary. For example, if it is raining we necessarily conclude there must be clouds in the sky. That is a necessary inference drawn from the fact that rain is falling from the sky. Rain falls from clouds. Our inference is inescapable (necessary), and the truth we deduce about clouds being present when rain is falling cannot be successfully contradicted.

     Understanding and applying the Scriptures also involves drawing conclusions from what is written. When a conclusion is irresistible based on what is revealed, it is a necessary conclusion.

     We necessarily infer that God existed before creation from the stated fact that “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). Is God’s existence before creation binding truth? Yes.

     We necessarily infer that to be baptized, one must go down into the water from the stated fact that “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water” (Matt. 3:16). Is going into the water to be baptized binding truth? Yes.

     We necessarily infer that preaching Jesus includes preaching baptism from the stated fact that when Philip “preached Jesus,” the Ethiopian asked what prevented him from being baptized (Acts 8:35-36). Is preaching water baptism as a part of preaching Jesus binding truth? Yes.

     Jesus used necessary inferences to teach the truth about resurrection. He told the Sadducees that from the facts given in the burning bush passage, they should have drawn the necessary conclusion that the dead rise (Mk. 12:26-27). God is (not “was”) the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, therefore, death did not end their existence. The Sadducees were “greatly mistaken.” Jesus said they did not know the Scriptures because they did not draw this necessary inference (Matt. 22:29). The inference is necessary and the resurrection is binding truth.

     The apostles used necessary inferences to teach Gentiles are saved without binding the law of Moses and circumcision. God worked many miracles through Paul and Barnabas among the Gentiles as they preached salvation by faith without circumcision (Acts 15:11-12). These miracles confirmed their message (Acts 14:3; Mk. 16:20). Therefore, we necessarily infer God does not bind circumcision on Gentiles. Clearly, they used a necessary inference to bind truth and expose error.

     Jesus expected His disciples to use necessary inferences to understand truth. In Matthew 16:5-12, He told them to remember the facts of His bread miracles, and then they “understood” His warning against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees was about their doctrine and not the leaven of bread (v. 11-12). They understood this binding warning by making a necessary inference. So can we.

     A necessary inference does not bind an opinion. It is an inescapable conclusion drawn from what God’s word says. (The Bible is full of them.) Necessary inferences are about judging what is right from the facts given in God’s word. If we can understand weather signs and draw valid conclusions, we can and must “judge what is right” when God’s word speaks (Lk. 12:54-57; 1 Pet. 4:11).  

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