Women, the Bible, and Necessary Inference

by Perry Hall

When it comes to religion, people throw out common sense. That is one of my observations regarding hermeneutics, the way we interpret Scripture.

For example, women use necessary inference as one of their main methods of communication. And yet, when interpreting the Bible - and someone mentions necessary inference - a common retort is "Necessary to who?" The affront implies (hmmm), that if they don't see the necessary inference then it must not exist. Isn't the real answer to "Necessary to who?" that the one who made the inference (technically, implication) expected it to be understood? Therefore, it is necessary to the original speaker or writer.

How do women, especially wives, do this regularly, and how does everyone accept it? My wife emptied the dishwasher and put dirty dishes in it. Then she said, "The dishwasher has dirty dishes in it."

Now, what am I supposed to infer from that statement?

1. Don't put clean dishes in the dishwasher? While true and a given, that is not the point.
2. Don't leave my dirty dishes downstairs? Again, this is true, but such would be true even if the dishwasher were filled with cleaned dishes.
3. That I should have emptied the dishwasher? While again true, that isn't the point here. For that to be the necessary inference, my wife should have said, "Someone finally emptied the dishwasher!" Can you hear the tone in that?

Everyone already knows what my wife meant and what she inferred. That is, "Don't put your dirty dishes in the sink. Put them in the dishwasher."

Now, that was easy, wasn't it? That's just plain common sense.

And yet, we know a common counterargument to the above: "Why don't women just say what they mean?"

Here's the problem with that approach:

1. She did say what she meant, as the above experiment showed. Everyone understood what she meant.
2. What right do I have to impose on her how to communicate? Just because someone doesn't say something how I would, does that make it less true?
3. Women often communicate in this submissive way because they want to be responded to by our desire to please and willingness to think instead of appearing pushed and obligated.

Shouldn't we husbands appreciate this approach?

Can you see how this again applies to interpreting the Bible? Consider Jesus:

1. Jesus often taught in parables, which the apostles wished He didn't.
2. Jesus had the right to communicate however He chose.
3. Jesus even said the parables were for those with ears to hear.

As you can hopefully see, when it comes to religion, the Holy Spirit communicates God's word in a way filled with common sense communication. So common, in fact, we see necessary inference used in everyday life. So, put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher and put some effort into interpreting the Bible by asking, "I know this inference is necessary to God, so what is God communicating to me?"