Analyzing Biblical Examples for Personal Bias and Assumptions
Personal bias and assumptions can significantly influence an individual's understanding and interpretation of biblical texts and theological concepts. The Bible itself provides numerous examples and warnings against various forms of self-centered thinking, which can lead to biased perspectives.
One prominent form of bias is self-righteousness, which the Bible describes as a human tendency [5]. This bias is characterized by an inflated sense of one's own moral standing, often leading to a judgmental attitude toward others. Luke 18:11 illustrates this with the Pharisee who boasts of his own piety, while Isaiah 64:6 describes human righteousness as "filthy rags" in God's sight [5]. Self-righteousness is seen as hateful to God (Luke 16:15) and vain because it is often external, partial, and ineffectual for salvation (Matthew 23:25-28; Romans 3:20) [5]. Those prone to self-righteousness may audaciously approach God, seek to justify themselves before God and others, and reject God's righteousness (Luke 10:29; Romans 10:3) [5].
Another related bias is presumption, which involves an immoderate hope or an overestimation of one's own power or God's power in a way that lacks moderation [9]. Torrey's Topical Textbook identifies presumption as a characteristic of the wicked (2 Peter 2:10) and Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:4) [1]. It can manifest in opposing God (Job 15:25-26), willfully committing sin (Romans 1:32), and spiritual pride (Isaiah 65:5; Luke 18:11) [1]. The builders of Babel (Genesis 11) are presented as an example of presumption [1, 4]. The psalmist prays to be kept from sins of presumption (Psalm 19:13), and saints are encouraged to avoid it (Psalm 131:1) [1].
Selfishness is also a significant bias addressed in scripture. It is contrary to God's law, which commands love for one's neighbor (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39) [3]. Christ's example condemns selfishness, as he did not seek his own will but the will of the Father (John 4:34; Romans 15:3) [3]. Selfishness is exhibited in being lovers of oneself, pleasing oneself, seeking one's own interests, and neglecting the poor (2 Timothy 3:2; Romans 15:1; Philippians 2:21; 1 John 3:17) [3]. It is inconsistent with Christian love (1 Corinthians 13:5) [3].
Ambition, particularly when it is self-serving, is another form of bias that the Bible condemns [4]. God condemned the ambition of the builders of Babel (Genesis 11:7) and Christ condemned the desire for worldly greatness among his disciples (Matthew 18:1, 3-4; 20:25-26) [4]. Ambition is often connected with pride, covetousness, and cruelty (Habakkuk 2:5, 8-9, 12) and can lead to strife and contention (James 4:1-2) [4]. Examples of ambition include Adam and Eve's desire to be like God (Genesis 3:5-6), Miriam and Aaron's challenge to Moses' authority (Numbers 12:2), and Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15:4) [4].
In contrast to these biases, the Bible promotes self-denial, which Christ exemplified (Matthew 4:8-10; John 6:38) [2]. Self-denial is presented as a test of devotion to Christ and necessary for following him (Luke 9:23-24; 14:27-33) [2]. It involves denying ungodliness and worldly lusts (Titus 2:12), controlling appetites (Proverbs 23:2), and mortifying sinful desires (Mark 9:43-47) [2].
The challenge of personal bias is acknowledged in theological traditions. Charles Hodge notes that "men constantly deceive themselves by postulating as moral axioms what are nothing more than the forms in which their feelings or peculiar opinions find expression" [8]. This highlights how personal biases can be mistaken for objective truth. The Catechism of the Catholic Church also recognizes that while human reason can know God, "many obstacles... prevent reason from the effective and fruitful use of its natural power and light" [10]. These obstacles can include personal biases.
The biblical narrative itself often presents characters whose actions are driven by personal biases. For instance, God's statement in Genesis 18:21, "I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know," illustrates a divine inquiry that, while not indicative of bias in God, serves as a model for thorough investigation rather than immediate judgment based on initial reports [6]. The prophet Samuel's challenge to the Israelites, "Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed?" (1 Samuel 12:3), demonstrates a call for accountability against potential accusations driven by personal grievances or assumptions [7].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Presumption — A characteristic of the wicked -- 2Pe 2:10. A characteristic of Antichrist -- 2Th 2:4. Exhibited in Opposing God. -- Job 15:25,26. Wilful commission of sin. -- Ro 1:32. Self-righteousness. -- Ho 12:8; Re 3:17. Spiritual pride. -- Isa 65:5; Lu 18:11. Esteeming our own ways right. -- Pr 12:15. Seeking precedence. -- Lu 14:7-11. Planning for the future. -- Lu 12:18; Jas 4:13. Pretending to prophecy. -- De 18:22. Pray to be kept from sins of -- Ps 19:13. Saints avoid -- Ps 131:1. Punishment for -- Nu 15:30; Re 18:7,8. Exemplified Builders of Babel. -- Ge 11”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ambition — God condemns -- Ge 11:7; Isa 5:8. Christ condemns -- Mt 18:1,3,4; 20:25,26; 23:11,12. Saints avoid -- Ps 131:1,2. Vanity of -- Job 20:5-9; 24:24; Ps 49:11-20. Leads to strife and contention -- Jas 4:1,2. Punishment of -- Pr 17:19; Isa 14:12-15; Eze 31:10,11; Ob 1:3,4. Connected with Pride. -- Hab 2:5. Covetousness. -- Hab 2:8,9. Cruelty. -- Hab 2:12. Exemplified Adam and Eve. -- Ge 3:5,6. Builders of Babel. -- Ge 11:4. Miriam and Aaron. -- Nu 12:2. Korah, &c. -- Nu 16:3. Absalom. -- 2Sa 15:4; 18:18. Adonijah. -- 1Ki 1:5. Sennacherib. -- 2Ki 19:23. Shebna. ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Righteousness — Man is prone to -- Pr 20:6; 30:12. Hateful to God -- Lu 16:15. Is vain because our righteousness is But external. -- Mt 23:25-28; Lu 11:39-44. But partial. -- Mt 23:25; Lu 11:44. No better than filthy rags. -- Isa 64:6. Ineffectual for salvation. -- Job 9:30,31; Mt 5:20; Ro 3:20. Unprofitable. -- Isa 57:12. Is boastful -- Mt 23:30. They who are given to Audaciously approach God. -- Lu 18:11. Seek to justify themselves. -- Lu 10:29. Seek to justify themselves before men. -- Lu 16:15. Reject the righteousness of God. -- Ro 10:3. Condemn others. -- ”
- Genesis “I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.” -- Genesis 18:21”
- 1 Samuel “Here I am. Witness against me before Yahweh, and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a ransom to blind my eyes therewith? I will restore it to you.” -- 1 Samuel 12:3”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 104: justice by vicarious punishment, the Bible asserts and assumes no moral principle which does not underlie all the providential dealings of God with individuals or with nations. 4. Men constantly deceive themselves by postulating as moral axioms what are nothing more than the forms in which their feelings or peculiar opinions find expression. To one man it is an axiom that a holy God cannot permit sin, or a benevolent God allow his creatures to be miserable; and he, therefore, infers either that there is no God, or that He cannot control ”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Presumption, Art. 1: Article: Whether presumption trusts in God or in our own power? I answer that, Presumption seems to imply immoderate hope. Now the object of hope is an arduous possible good: and a thing is possible to a man in two ways: first by his own power; secondly, by the power of God alone. With regard to either hope there may be presumption owing to lack of moderation. As to the hope whereby a man relies on his own power, there is presumption if he tends to a good as though it were possible to him, whe”
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, CHAPTER ONE (part 4): the image of God".12 37 In the historical conditions in which he finds himself, however, man experiences many difficulties in coming to know God by the light of reason alone: Though human reason is, strictly speaking, truly capable by its own natural power and light of attaining to a true and certain knowledge of the one personal God, who watches over and controls the world by his providence, and of the natural law written in our hearts by the Creator; yet there are many obstacles which prevent reason from the effective and fruitful use o”