The Critical Thinker – The Beginning: The Bible and Critical Thinking

A mere definition 

Critical thinking is the ability to analyse information, evaluate evidence, and make reasoned judgments or decisions. It involves clear, rational thinking, an understanding of logical connections between ideas, and the identification, assessment, and resolution of problems.

Critical thinkers question assumptions, seek alternative perspectives, and evaluate arguments based on evidence rather than accepting claims at face value. Critical thinking also includes reflection on one’s own thought processes in order to improve judgment and problem-solving.

The beginning

I was curious to search the internet to find a definition of critical thinking. There were plenty of results, and I even found articles that mentioned the beginnings of critical thinking. I do not doubt that there are many good articles on this topic from which one can learn. Interestingly, I also asked an AI system to search for what it considered the best definition of critical thinking. While the answer satisfied me to a degree, it did not fully fulfil my need.

Curiously enough, critical thinking as a formal term was established around the early 1900s; however, its roots are said to go much further back in history. According to various sources, critical thinking began with the ancient philosophers, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. It is said to have continued through the Middle Ages with scholasticism, then through the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, culminating in its development during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and into the modern era.

However, after analysing this information, I must say that it is insufficient. The evidence presented does not satisfy my curiosity. Moreover, I noticed there was no mention of the Bible—despite the fact that the Bible is a book of philosophy. Scripture teaches logic, reason, and understanding, and it provides insight and instruction on how to analyse arguments in order to reach true conclusions.

History appears dishonest in omitting the Bible from this discussion. Yet it is also important to acknowledge that relying solely on internet searches and AI-generated summaries, and then presuming that the Bible has been excluded, can itself be dishonest. Still, if we trust that such systems highlight what is most influential and most cited in human history, then their silence on Scripture is revealing. Sadly, history often teaches that Christianity did not promote critical thinking. Therefore, the sources themselves are not necessarily to be blamed; rather, they must be examined. We must understand where we stand today as Christians, and ask what we can bring to the world to show that truth must be sought—not purchased cheaply in the form it is presented.

Let us therefore turn to the Scriptures and the writings of the apostles, which I firmly believe are the true origin of critical thinking—primarily the Scriptures, known as the Old Testament. The writings of Jesus’ disciples are founded upon the Old Testament and continue the same pathways of thought. They do not contradict the Scriptures, but rather reveal their fulfilment in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. The Bible not only mentions critical thinking; it defines it with eloquence and clarity. I would argue that the book of Proverbs, which describes wisdom and how one may attain it, reflects what we today call critical thinking.

Sadly, modern society proudly claims to be smarter than past generations. In one sense, this is true—nearly every machine is now “smart” technology. Yet the human being appears to be less of a thinker. I believe we do not use our mental capacity fully, if at all. Observing what is taking place in some Western countries, I find myself wondering whether there are still active neurons in some people’s minds. Their thinking seems dulled, even silenced, by the proud assumption of being “smarter.” It is a sad reality, and it does not appear to be improving.

For this reason, I feel a certain anxiety when writing about critical thinking. Thinking itself seems to be diminishing. What, then, of critical thinking—of careful comprehension? I am not certain how we may regain it. To be a critical thinker, one must first exercise cognition. Yet today, people often accept information as it is presented. Much of it is already digested for them, leaving little perceived need to analyse or understand. When this ability is diminished, people become easily led astray.

Here, again, lies one argument for the truth of the Bible. Scripture instructs its readers to prove all things. It creates a framework that encourages thinking and reasoning rooted in reality. The Bible goes even further, commanding its readers to search, to examine, and to retain what is good: “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV). From this verse, I conclude that we are both permitted and encouraged to sort through ideas, keeping what is good. The Bible is not afraid to be placed alongside other sources of knowledge. Might this not be an honest argument for truth? 

Let’s put it into practice

When I studied the first seven chapters of Book of Proverbs, I realized that they refined my ability to analyze, question, research, compare, and formulate conclusions leading to sound judgment more than any other book has influenced my beliefs, thinking, and reasoning. What is more, the book of Proverbs is authored by a wise man—King Solomon.

I approached his work with passion, attempting to decipher his craftsmanship, yet it took me years merely to untie the cover. Even now, I must labor harder still—to open the book more fully and to feed myself on the riches of wisdom it contains. The book begins in an intriguing way, and I will attempt a humble demonstration to show what a piece of sage art the book of Proverbs truly is.

One might say, How bold was I to claim that history is wrong in asserting that critical thinking began around the fifth century BC? Yet, basing my argument on the Bible—and specifically on the book of Proverbs—we can travel much further back, to the tenth century BC, when Solomon reigned as king over Israel and wrote this book. Thus, I would defend myself by saying that I was not bold at all, but rather critically thinking over the evidence presented to me.

Now, I would like to encourage you to calm your heart and mind and take the time to read Proverbs 1:1–7.

PROVERBS CHAPTER 1:1-7 (KJV)

1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
1:3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
1:4 To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Since your heart is now resonating with God’s Word and wisdom, I would like to invite you to draw out a few observations from these seven verses—observations which, I hope, will help you untie the book’s cover, at least in part.

I asked myself, What is Solomon saying in these verses? I took each verse individually, made observations, asked questions, and ultimately formed conclusions about what God was communicating to me through Solomon’s writing. The method I used to unlock the meaning of these verses was comparison.

In verse one, we find Solomon’s signature—his authorship and a description of the book’s contents. Verses two through four explain the purpose of the book. Verse five identifies its audience. Verse six reiterates and emphasizes the depth of its meaning. Finally, verse seven—perhaps the most intriguing—reveals the very first step on the path to wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

Yet this structure raised many questions in my mind. How can I know wisdom and instruction? How can I perceive the words of understanding? How can I receive instruction in wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity? How can I attain subtilty, knowledge, and discretion? How can I understand a proverb and its interpretation—the words of the wise and their dark, deep sayings? I feared God, yet I asked myself, Why do I not possess this wisdom?

These questions seemed to have no answer. Yet God is gracious. He opened not only my eyes and my mind, but my heart also, to understand what He was saying through Solomon.

When I compared verse one with all the others, I noticed something significant. Verse one does not emphasize Solomon’s authorship as its central point. Rather, its opening words hold the key to unlocking the passage. I also observed that each subsequent verse emphasizes a particular keyword. When viewed together, verse one—when compared with the other six—quietly unlocks the meaning of the text and answers the questions that troubled me.

Below, I will show how verse one—when discreetly compared with the other six verses—by emphasizing that keyword, unlocks the meaning of the passage and answers the questions I raised.

The emphasis 

Verse 1 – The proverbs
Verse 2 – To know; to perceive
Verse 3 – To receive
Verse 4 – To give
Verse 5 – Will increase
Verse 6 – To understand
Verse 7 – The beginning

Now, by comparing these verses, notice the following pattern:

• The proverbs — to know; to perceive
• The proverbs — to receive
• The proverbs — to give
• The proverbs — will increase
• The proverbs — to understand
• The proverbs — the beginning

From this comparison, I arrived at the following conclusion:

The proverbs, to know and to perceive.
The proverbs, to receive.
The proverbs, to give.
The proverbs, will increase.
The proverbs, to understand.
The proverbs, the beginning.

At this point, I must observe something important. When I first read this introduction, I imposed my own assumption upon the book—that it was I who could attain wisdom by my own effort. Yet the answer God gave me was that it is the proverbs—and by extension, God’s Word—that accomplishes this work.

As I realized this, I also became aware that the fear of God had increased within me. It is no wonder, then, that verse seven concludes these opening verses. They lead the reader to fear God and to depend on Him to guide the way toward wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. This was the first step in my reasoning with the Bible: I recognized that I was wrong to begin as I did.

Moreover, verse seven stands apart by declaring that the fear of the LORD is the beginning. Since everything that has a beginning suggests an ending, I naturally asked myself: Does it ever end? And if God is eternal in knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, can it ever end?

Then I understood—the beginning was mine, not God’s. The hidden message God was communicating to me was this: You begin the journey, and I, the eternal God, will walk with you. The only thing I can now truly claim to know about God is that I know nothing. This, too, is part of the fear of the LORD.

We do know things about God—but only what He has revealed to us, and only what can fit within the limits of time. When what we know is compared to God’s eternal existence, we come to this sober realization: in ourselves, we know nothing at all.

Conclude to presume

I would like to conclude this first part by reflecting once more on what we presume we know about God. If our presumptions about God are right, we will be able to identify where we truly stand in relation to Him and to the world around us. In order to position ourselves correctly, God’s Word must reign in our lives.

Some time ago, I was listening to John Lennox sharing insights on how to study Scripture and prepare Bible talks. He mentioned a piece of advice he once received from his mentor: When you prepare a Bible talk, ask yourself—How can this be misunderstood? Most of the time, we prepare sermons, Bible talks, or studies with the intention of explaining the subject as plainly as possible, yet we rarely ask how it might be misunderstood.

These seven verses from Proverbs chapter one have caused me to question my own ability to comprehend God—not because He has failed to speak plainly, but because my understanding may be clouded by competing thoughts and feelings, by my desires, wishes, and worries. These things can darken understanding and hinder the proper outworking of God’s precepts in my life.

Lastly, I would like to leave you with a few questions for reflection—questions meant to help you draw your own conclusions, and to encourage you to dig deeply into your mind, soul, and heart.

Questions for Reflection

1. How can I misinterpret God’s Word?
2. How can I misunderstand God?
3. How can I act in contradiction to God’s precepts and commands?

…to be continued!