Does Silence Prohibit or Permit?

     A common issue Bible students face, concerning Bible interpretation, is whether the “silence of the Scripture” permits or prohibits. That is, when the Bible does not explicitly say we cannot do something or participate in some practice, are we authorized to practice that act or does God’s silence mean we must refrain from it? Thankfully, Scripture provides the answer to this question. Before answering from a textual vantage point, let us observe the principle, which is involved, from a common sense vantage point.

    

      First, most people understand the principle involved in this matter. For example, suppose you live in an area where a grocery store fills orders and makes home deliveries. You call and order a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk and a bag of chips. When the delivery person arrives, they have the 3 items you ordered, but they also included a 4-pack of filet mignons, a case of Coke and 2 frozen pizzas to your order. Suppose you tell the driver, “I didn’t order these extra items,” and he responds, “but you didn’t say we couldn’t bring them.” Would you be required to accept the items you had not authorized? No. Similarly, God will not accept what He has not authorized. When God specifies what He wants, in the Scriptures, this prohibits all else.

    

     Second, the text of the Bible teaches this explicitly and with numerous examples. Some explicit verses which teach this are (Dt. 4:2; Prov. 30:6; Rev. 22:18-19). Two examples of this principle come from the Old Testament. In Leviticus 10:1-2, two of God’s priests offered a type of fire “He had not commanded.” This passage tragically illustrates silence does prohibit. Another example is seen by combining two passages. In Deuteronomy 10:8, Moses reports that the Levites would “bear the ark.” Notice, Moses does not explicitly say, “and no one else may bear the ark.” He assumes the Israelites understood silence prohibits. King David, however, explicitly says, “No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites” (1 Chronicles 15:2).

    

    In religious matters, God is not pleased with all the creativity and innovations men concoct. He has already given the plan, and wants to see if we will abide in it (2 John 9).

 

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