Confirmation Bias and Bible Study

[Dave G]

Confirmation bias (also confirmatory bias, SNIP) is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's prior beliefs or values.

To revisit your opening statement:

To me, what you've said in the above assumes that everyone who reads the Bible brings in ( and never discards ) their own prior opinions and teachings, doesn't it?
But God's people don't do that, Van...
They let what He says ( and Him alone ) become the foundation for what they, in turn, end up believing.

Regardless of prior teachings and religious influences, they approach the Bible with a mind-set that says, " You teach me, Lord"...
And He does.
They are "taught of God" ( John 6:45 ) in the sense that He teaches them the truths of His word, not men.

Going back to what I stated in my prior post about there being such a thing as absolute truth:
Paul told Titus to speak those things that "become", or end up being, sound doctrine ( Titus 2 ).
He also told the Ephesians that teaching, preaching, and other responsibilities are given to God's people until those that are saved come into the unity of the faith ( Ephesians 4).

There is unity in the truth, there is Biblically sound doctrine, and it can and does exist today....
Even amidst the ever-growing confusion of the denominations.
It may be increasingly hard to find, but there are people out there who know it and declare it.


May God bless you sir.

 

[JesusFan]

I agree in part.

If someone has novice level understanding of biblical languages, they should not be rejecting the opinions of scholars to give a contrary understanding of BIBLICAL LANGUAGES, context, traditional understandings of scripture unless they have a better reason than they read it n a lexicon as a possible meaning.

So, I agree no understanding of biblical languages is necessary to understand scripture, but some folks rewrite scripture based on a flawed understanding of biblical languages to make it fit their beliefs.

Do you see what I am saying?

Peace to you

Think that if one can learn to use the original languages texts and tools, will enable them to be more profitable as preacher teacher pastor, but must also be doers of what they have learned and be walking in the Spirit

 

[JesusFan]

If this is how you read into our text, the natural man receives not "any of" the things of the Spirit of God, have at it. It is nonsense.

Fallen humans devoid of the Holy Spirit and having not renewed minds, can read Bible all of the time, and while can memorize it, will never really understand it as intended and meant by God

 

[JesusFan]

D. A. Carson warned: “It is all too easy to read the traditional interpretations we have received from others into the text of Scripture. Then we may unwittingly transfer the authority of Scripture to our traditional interpretations and invest them with a false, even an idolatrous, degree of certainty” (Exegetical Fallacies, p. 14).
Ronald Enroth observed: “People, thinking that they were placing their allegiance in the word of God, were actually placing their allegiance in a man and his interpretation of the word of God” (Churches that Abuse, p. 48). Garry Friesen noted: “Claims to speak ex cathedra on matters of biblical interpretation are rejected as being nonauthoritative at best, and contrary to Scripture at worst” (Decision Making, p. 132).

Kevin Vanhoozer warned: “To believe in the absoluteness of our interpretations is like worshiping our own creations; it is like thinking one reads with the eyes of God” (Is There a Meaning, p. 184).

Perfect examples would be Kjvo, and those into the foot notes in the Scofield, MacArthur, Ryrie, reformed bible etc being part of the scriptures

 

[Van]

That is what the text states, Van.
The "natural" man does not receive, or welcome, the things of the Spirit of God...while the "spiritual" man, who also has the mind of Christ, does.

However, Kevin Vanhoozer ( it would seem ), does not see, understand or even remotely believe this;
Or he would not warn Christians who do trust, understand and believe the word of God, not to trust in their "absolute interpretations".

In other words, it appears to me that what he's saying ( without saying it ), is that since there are so many professing Christians who disagree on what the Bible says, then the solution is to simply accept the theory that competing teachings have at least some sort of "weight", and that there is no absolute truth to be found.

But there is:

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. "

Not sure of the point of your post. The things contextually refers to the solid food things of the Spirit of God, not the spiritual milk things of the Spirit of God.

 

[Van]

Fallen humans devoid of the Holy Spirit and having not renewed minds, can read Bible all of the time, and while can memorize it, will never really understand it as intended and meant by God

This view is false. John 3:16 says everyone believing into Him shall not perish. If God credits our faith in Him as righteousness, then God transfers us into Him, therefore we were among those who believed into Him!

 

[Van]

To revisit your opening statement:

To me, what you've said in the above assumes that everyone who reads the Bible brings in ( and never discards ) their own prior opinions and teachings, doesn't it?
But God's people don't do that, Van...
They let what He says ( and Him alone ) become the foundation for what they, in turn, end up believing.

Regardless of prior teachings and religious influences, they approach the Bible with a mind-set that says, " You teach me, Lord"...
And He does.
They are "taught of God" ( John 6:45 ) in the sense that He teaches them the truths of His word, not men.

Going back to what I stated in my prior post about there being such a thing as absolute truth:
Paul told Titus to speak those things that "become", or end up being, sound doctrine ( Titus 2 ).
He also told the Ephesians that teaching, preaching, and other responsibilities are given to God's people until those that are saved come into the unity of the faith ( Ephesians 4).

There is unity in the truth, there is Biblically sound doctrine, and it can and does exist today....
Even amidst the ever-growing confusion of the denominations.
It may be increasingly hard to find, but there are people out there who know it and declare it.


May God bless you sir.

1) Did anyone say say "everyone who reads the Bible bring in and never discards their prior opinions? Nope

2) Did anyone define "God's people?" Nope

3) Everyone who gleams truth from God's word, directly or indirectly has been taught of God.

4) Truth is absolute, but our understanding of truth can miss reality.

5) The issue is to improve our search for truth in God's word.

 

[Van]

Fallen humans devoid of the Holy Spirit and having not renewed minds, can read Bible all of the time, and while can memorize it, will never really understand it as intended and meant by God

False doctrine!!!

Fallen humans devoid of the Holy Spirit and having not renewed minds, can read the Bible and be led to Christ.

 

[Van]

If we base our understanding of a verse out of its context, and then need to nullify other verses, we should realize we may have engaged in Confirmation bias. Ask yourselves, how many verses or passages teach that unsaved people can be led to spiritual truth through direct or indirect exposure to God's word.

 

[canadyjd]

So here, @Van, you must add to the truth that the natural cannot understand the things of the Spirit…. to mean Spiritual meat things as opposed to Spiritual milk things… to force God’s word to conform this your bias.

And you remain blind to your own bias, and thus, do corrupt God’s Word with man made philosophies.

Additionally, being so blinded with hatred for the truth of God’s Word, you shamelessly rewrite scripture to fit your bias, without shame or contrition: seeking to teach what you are unable and unwilling to understand.

And so it continues until our Lord returns

Peace to you

 

[Van]

So here, @Van, you must add to the truth that the natural cannot understand the things of the Spirit…. to mean Spiritual meat things as opposed to Spiritual milk things… to force God’s word to conform this your bias.

And you remain blind to your own bias, and thus, do corrupt God’s Word with man made philosophies.

Additionally, being so blinded with hatred for the truth of God’s Word, you shamelessly rewrite scripture to fit your bias, without shame or contrition: seeking to teach what you are unable and unwilling to understand.

And so it continues until our Lord returns

Peace to you

On and on this poster implies his interpretation reflects what God's word says, and my alternate interpretation changes the words. This poppycock has been posted as his "taint so" response over and over. Then where I am blind, he sees clearly. This is followed by claiming I hate God's word when I am intolerant of false doctrine. Those that suffer from confirmation bias, find fault in others rather than consider their own.

If we base our understanding of a verse out of its context, and then need to nullify other verses, we should realize we may have engaged in Confirmation bias. Ask yourselves, how many verses or passages teach that unsaved people can be led to spiritual truth through direct or indirect exposure to God's word.

Gal 3:24
Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

Or "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to Christ, so we may be justified based on faith."

In this verse "the Law" refers to the entire Old Testament.

 

[Van]

2Ti 3:15
and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus

 

[JesusFan]

False doctrine!!!

Fallen humans devoid of the Holy Spirit and having not renewed minds, can read the Bible and be led to Christ.

ONLY if the Holy Spirit renews their minds and grants unto them godly repentance for unsaved sinner will reject Jesus to save them if left to own desires

 

[JesusFan]

This view is false. John 3:16 says everyone believing into Him shall not perish. If God credits our faith in Him as righteousness, then God transfers us into Him, therefore we were among those who believed into Him!

God the father credits not our faith, as he gifted that to us, but based upon the object of our faith, Christ Jesus

 

[Van]

ONLY if the Holy Spirit renews their minds and grants unto them godly repentance for unsaved sinner will reject Jesus to save them if left to own desires

Complete fiction, as minds are renewed after the washing of regeneration.

 

[Van]

God the father credits not our faith, as he gifted that to us, but based upon the object of our faith, Christ Jesus

Folks, not this poster denies the entirety of Romans chapter 4. I kid you not!!!

 

[JesusFan]

Complete fiction, as minds are renewed after the washing of regeneration.

The Holy Spirit Himself renews us unto regeneration, and then we are able to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior

 

[JesusFan]

Folks, not this poster denies the entirety of Romans chapter 4. I kid you not!!!

No, I reject your understanding on it

 

[Van]

No, I reject your understanding on it

All this poster posts is denial of Romans Chapter 4. He denies God credited Abraham's faith as righteousness., Romans 4:5. He denies God's promise to credit believers faith as righteousness per Romans 4:23-25.

Verse after verse, these who nullify must deny the obvious to push falsehood. Folks, Confirmation bias on display.

Did Paul speak to men of flesh using spiritual milk? Yes. Why? Because they were not able to understand spiritual meat, solid food.

Are the lost able to be lead to Christ by the word of God? Yes. Why? Because they are able to understand spiritual milk, the fundamentals of the gospel.

Those that push the false doctrine of "Total Spiritual Inability" as a consequence of the Fall, must not just deny one or two verses, but dozens of them.

 

[JesusFan]

All this poster posts is denial of Romans Chapter 4. He denies God credited Abraham's faith as righteousness., Romans 4:5. He denies God's promise to credit believers faith as righteousness per Romans 4:23-25.

Verse after verse, these who nullify must deny the obvious to push falsehood. Folks, Confirmation bias on display.

Did Paul speak to men of flesh using spiritual milk? Yes. Why? Because they were not able to understand spiritual meat, solid food.

Are the lost able to be lead to Christ by the word of God? Yes. Why? Because they are able to understand spiritual milk, the fundamentals of the gospel.

Those that push the false doctrine of "Total Spiritual Inability" as a consequence of the Fall, must not just deny one or two verses, but dozens of them.

Pauk talked of 3 classes of persons, as those who were lost and natural men, unsaved who could not receive the scriptures unaided by the Holy Spirit, saved who were still acting as if in the s, baby Christians, and the matured spiritual Christians