What Does the Bible Teach About Silence?
Christians have long disagreed about what God's silence means. Some believe that if God has not specifically forbidden something, it is permitted. Others believe that when God specifies what He wants, that very specification excludes other choices.
Rather than beginning with either conclusion, let's begin with Scripture.
When God told Noah to build the ark from gopher wood (Genesis 6:14), He did not list every other kind of wood that was unacceptable. He simply told Noah what He wanted. Noah understood that God's instruction was sufficient.
The same principle appears throughout Scripture. God told Moses to use the sons of Aaron as priests. He did not name every other tribe that could not serve. Yet when members of other tribes attempted priestly duties, they were not accepted. God had already spoken.
The writer of Hebrews uses this very argument. Speaking of Jesus, he writes:
"It is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood." (Hebrews 7:14)
Notice the argument. Moses did not say,
"Men from Judah may never serve as priests."
He simply specified Levi. The silence concerning Judah became significant because God had already identified the tribe He had chosen.
This helps us understand an important principle.
When God gives a specific instruction, we should respect that instruction rather than assuming we are free to substitute something else. The authority lies in what God has said.
At the same time, not every silence has the same meaning. When Jesus commanded His disciples to "go into all the world," He did not specify whether they should walk, ride a horse, sail a ship, or travel by airplane. Those are methods of carrying out the command, not changes to the command itself.
This is why context is so important. Before asking what God's silence means, we must first ask,
"Has God specified what He wants?"
If He has, we should respect His choice.
If He has not, we should be careful not to bind where God has not bound.
The question is never simply,
"What didn't God say?"
The better question is,
"What did God say, and what did He intend by saying it?"
That keeps our attention where it belongs—on the text itself.
Continue Your Study
When does something help us obey God's command, and when does it change the command? The distinction is important, and Scripture gives us principles to help us make it.
Related Bible Studies
What Did the Author Intend?
Building Sound Doctrine
Can One Verse Build an Entire Doctrine?
Companion Video
What Does the Bible Teach About Silence?
Read First. Conclude Later.