Proverbs 24:4-5—Do We Answer a Fool?
God appeared to Solomon in a dream at night and granted him a wish. Solomon then prayed for the wisdom to discern between good and evil so that he could rule as the king over God’s people. Solomon’s prayer pleased God, and the Lord responded in granting the monarch wisdom along with riches and honor (1 Kings 3:5-15). Today King Solomon is known for his great wisdom.
Understanding Solomon’s wisdom, on the other hand, can at times be mind boggling. For instance, one proverb of Solomon goes, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will also be like him,” but in the very next line reads, “Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes (Prov. 26:4-5, NASB). Does one answer a fool? Is this a contradiction in the Bible?
There is no contradiction. The answer to the question of whether or not to answer a fool is both “yes” and “no” depending upon the circumstances. Solomon is not offering two universal rules that apply to every situation; rather he pairs two complementary ideas together that represent the different ways one handles a fool. Proverbs 26:4-5 recognizes that life is complex, that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to dealing with fools, and that true wisdom knows the right course of action to take when fools begin to speak.
Sometimes it is permissible to humor the fool, particularly when the fool’s bantering is over things that really do not matter, whereas at other times exposure the fool’s folly is necessary, so that the fool may see the error of his way. Solomon understood the complexities of life and that there were no one-size-fits-all answers to life’s questions, especially those raised by fools.
Understanding Solomon’s wisdom, on the other hand, can at times be mind boggling. For instance, one proverb of Solomon goes, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will also be like him,” but in the very next line reads, “Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes (Prov. 26:4-5, NASB). Does one answer a fool? Is this a contradiction in the Bible?
There is no contradiction. The answer to the question of whether or not to answer a fool is both “yes” and “no” depending upon the circumstances. Solomon is not offering two universal rules that apply to every situation; rather he pairs two complementary ideas together that represent the different ways one handles a fool. Proverbs 26:4-5 recognizes that life is complex, that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to dealing with fools, and that true wisdom knows the right course of action to take when fools begin to speak.
Sometimes it is permissible to humor the fool, particularly when the fool’s bantering is over things that really do not matter, whereas at other times exposure the fool’s folly is necessary, so that the fool may see the error of his way. Solomon understood the complexities of life and that there were no one-size-fits-all answers to life’s questions, especially those raised by fools.
Comments
Post a Comment