What is Prooftexting?

Q and A from Holiness Today, Fall 2014

Question: What is “prooftexting”?

Answer:

On the surface, the idea of “prooftexting” sounds like a great thing for Bible believing Christians.  Prooftexting is what happens when a person picks a biblical text (usually a short verse or passage) to attempt to prove a theological or ethical point.  An example might be, “I do not cut my hair, because the Bible says here that a woman’s hair is her ‘glory,’ and so that proves that we should not cut our hair.”  

Right away, we can see the potential downside of prooftexting.  In fact, there are at least three difficulties with prooftexting, and all of these speak to our view of plenary inspiration in the Church of the Nazarene.   

The first potential problem with prooftexting is contextual.  While Scripture is to be our final authority in all matters of faith and practice, John Wesley reminded early Methodists that Scripture is only authoritative when properly interpreted and applied in its proper context.  When one separates a passage of Scripture from its larger context and simply lifts the words from the page in order to drive home a point, we can come dangerously close to the error found in a cartoon in which a boy is shown reading his Bible and telling his sister, “Quiet down!  I am trying to find a passage to justify my preconceived notions!” 

A second potential problem with prooftexting concerns the scope of inspiration.  In the Wesleyan tradition – indeed in most Christian traditions – we do not believe that God dictated Scripture word for word to its authors.  That means that while the message of Scripture has a unique inspiration (literally, a “God-breathed,” God-directed purpose), we believe that every passage is important precisely because of the big picture of the message: namely, that God wants a relationship with us grounded in His love and care.  Therefore, God does not “inspire” every word with equal weight to the point where we can simply pull words and passages and mold them to fit our situation or preferences.  For the Christian, the truest test of a passages meaning(s) has to do with whether our interpretation fits within the overall character of Jesus Christ (we are Christians, after all) and the overall emphasis regarding God’s plan of salvation for God’s creation.  If our interpretation does not fit into that rubric, then chances are, we are simply prooftexting and not really doing the hard work of interpretation.

Finally, prooftexting can create a problem regarding the proper use of Scripture.  In 2 Timothy, Paul writes that Scripture is “useful” to believers in regard to correction, teaching, and growth.  Historically, the Christian Church has been entrusted with giving voice to the way Scripture is and is not to be used, and that determination has been connected to correction, teaching, and growth in grace.  Issues and approaches to Scripture that detract from these – things the Bible calls foolish arguments – are not proper uses of Scripture.  A prooftexting approach makes it very tempting to wield the “Sword of the Spirit” in a manner that the Spirit never intended.  Instead of simply finding a text to justify our behavior, why not get to know true Word – Jesus Christ – whose life and Spirit, embodied by His Church, can help us do the hard work of sound interpretation, providing a guide for living instead of simply a tool for winning theological arguments.

Dr. Charles W. Christian is pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Cameron, Missouri, and is an adjunct professor at several universities and seminaries.