Seeking Clarification on Asking Questions Effectively
Effective Questioning in Biblical and Theological Contexts
The biblical basis for asking questions effectively is rooted in the pursuit of wisdom and understanding. The book of Ecclesiastes highlights the importance of seeking wisdom through inquiry, as seen in Ecclesiastes 7:25-27, where the author describes turning their heart to know, search, and seek out wisdom and reason [1, 2].
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul emphasizes the need for clarity in communication, stating that he prays to make his message clear in the way he ought to speak (Colossians 4:4) [3]. This clarity is not only essential for effective communication but also for asking questions effectively.
The early Christian tradition, as reflected in the writings of the Church Fathers, underscores the importance of asking questions with the right attitude. According to Augustine, one should ask questions not to contradict or doubt but to learn and be able to instruct others [6]. Clement of Alexandria also emphasizes the need for clear definition to prevent ambiguity in questions and discussions [7].
In the Reformed tradition, John Calvin stresses that prayer, which can be seen as a form of asking, should be accompanied by a sincere and ardent desire for obtaining what is asked [4]. This principle can be applied to asking questions effectively, highlighting the importance of genuine inquiry.
The Jewish tradition, both Rabbinic and Rationalist, offers insights into effective questioning. The Babylonian Talmud advises students to consider whether their teacher can provide a reasoned answer before asking questions, to avoid embarrassing them [10]. Maimonides' Mishneh Torah provides guidelines for students, such as waiting until the teacher is settled and not asking multiple questions at once [11]. Abraham Ibn Ezra comments on the importance of diligent inquiry, referencing the rabbinic writings on the subject [12].
The Patristic and Reformed traditions also caution against asking questions with the wrong motivations or attitudes. Augustine warns against asking questions out of curiosity or to provoke controversy [5, 8]. Calvin advises against raising questions that impugn God's justice or will [9].
Effective questioning involves not only the right attitude but also clarity and a genuine desire for understanding. As seen in the biblical and theological sources, asking questions effectively is a nuanced skill that requires consideration of one's motivations, the context, and the person being asked.
The historical development of thought on effective questioning reflects a deep concern for genuine understanding and respectful dialogue. By examining the biblical basis, the early Christian tradition, and the insights from Reformed and Jewish traditions, one can gain a richer understanding of how to ask questions effectively.
Sources
- Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 7:25 (YLT) — I have turned round, also my heart, to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and reason, and to know the wrong of folly, and of foolishness the madness.”
- Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 7:27 (Geneva1599) — I haue compassed about, both I and mine heart to knowe and to enquire and to search wisedome, and reason, and to knowe the wickednesse of follie, and the foolishnesse of madnesse,”
- Colossians “Colossians 4:4 (NASB) — that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: God is pleased to try how efficiently faith influences our hearts. 6. Another rule of prayer is, that in asking we must always truly feel our wants, and seriously considering that we need all the things which we ask, accompany the prayer with a sincere, nay, ardent desire of obtaining them. Many repeat prayers in a perfunctory manner from a set form, as if they were performing a task to God, and though they confess that this is a necessary remedy for the evils of their condition, because it were fatal to be left without the divine ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 1: Augustine — Confessions, Letters — Chap. II--8. Wherefore, seeing that you do not consider a man illiterate and stupid merely on the ground of ignorance of these things, but only if he be ignorant of the truth itself, and that, consequ (part 1): 441 written or may have written on these subjects are either true, and therefore are already held by you, or false, and therefore you may be content not to know them, and need not be consumed with vain solicitude about knowing the variety of the opinions of other men under the fear of otherwise remaining illiterate and stupid, --seeing, I ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 8: Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts, Epistles, Apocrypha, Decretals — CHAP. XLI.--ASKING FOR INFORMATION, NOT: CONTRADICTION. Then I Clement, hearing this, said: "Truly I rejoice, and I give thanks to God, who in all things doeth well. However, he knows that I shall be able to think nothing other than that all 237 things are for God. Wherefore do not suppose that I ask questions, as doubting the words concerning God,[1] or those that are to be spoken, but rather that I may learn, and so be able myself to instruct another who is ingenuously willing to learn. Wherefore tell me what are the fa”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 2: Hermas, Tatian, Theophilus, Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria — CHAP. IV.--TO PREVENT AMBIGUITY, WE MUST BEGIN WITH CLEAR DEFINITION. (part 1): For every question is solved from pre-existing knowledge. And the knowledge pre-existing of each object of investigation is sometimes merely of the essence, while its functions are unknown (as of stones, and plants, and animals, of whose operations we are ignorant), or [the knowledge] of the properties, or powers, or (so to speak) of the qualities inherent in the objects. And sometimes we may know some one or more of those powers or propert”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 1: Augustine — Confessions, Letters — LETTER CLVIII. (A.D. 414.) (part 10): truth, whereas he and those who were in the same state as he were always resting in the pure joy of contemplation. 12. I also beg you to explain to me in how many ways the word wisdom is used; as God is wisdom, and a wise mind is wisdom (in which way it is said to be as light); as we read also of the wisdom of Bezaleel, who made the tabernacle or the ointment, and the wisdom of Solomon, or any other wisdom, if there be such, and wherein they differ from each other; and whether the one eternal Wisdom which is ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 78: is not ours to ask, as we cannot comprehend, nor can it become us even to raise a controversy as to the justice of the divine will. Whenever we speak of it, we are speaking of the supreme standard of justice. (See August. Ep. 106). But when justice clearly appears, why 2230 should we raise any question of injustice? Let us not, therefore, be ashamed to stop their mouths after the example of Paul. Whenever they presume to carp, let us begin to repeat: Who are ye, miserable men, that bring an accusation against God, and bring it beca”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Chullin 6a.5: The tanna explains the verse: If a student knows about his teacher that he knows to respond to him with a reasoned answer, seek wisdom [ bin ] from him. And if the student believes that the teacher is not capable of doing so, understand [ tavin ] who is sitting before you, and put a knife to your throat and refrain from embarrassing him with questions that he cannot answer. And if you are a man given to appetite and you seek an answer to your question, distance yourself from him.”
- Mishneh Torah (Maimonides) (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishneh Torah (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah%2C Torah Study 4:6: When the teacher enters the house of study, questions should not be posed to him until he gathers his powers of concentration. 1 lest he be prodded into responding hastily, without thinking out the matter in its entirety [Thus,] a student should not ask until he sits 2 as mentioned in Halachah 2 and rests. 3 and rests. Two should not ask at once. 4 First, this is proper manners. Second, it is impossible to hear two people simultaneously. A teacher should not be asked about an outside matter, but rather, [only] regarding the subject ”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 13:15: THEN SHALT THOU INQUIRE, AND MAKE SEARCH, AND ASK DILIGENTLY. These words are well explained in the writings of our rabbis of blessed memory. 39 See Sanhedrin 40.”