In the context of the Bible, "debate" refers to the act of discussing or arguing about a particular topic, often with the aim of reaching a deeper understanding or resolving a disagreement. The concept of debate is woven throughout Scripture, both in terms of formal disputes and informal discussions. The Bible provides guidance on how believers should engage in debate, emphasizing the importance of truth, wisdom, and a spirit of love.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament contains several instances where debate or disputation is evident. In the book of Job, we find a series of debates between Job and his friends as they discuss the nature of suffering and divine justice. Job 13:3 states, "But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case before God." Here, Job expresses his desire to engage in a form of debate with God Himself, seeking understanding and vindication.

Proverbs also offers wisdom on the nature of debate and argumentation. Proverbs 18:17 notes, "The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him." This highlights the importance of hearing multiple perspectives before reaching a conclusion, a principle that underlies effective debate.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, debate is often seen in the context of Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees and other religious leaders. These debates were not merely intellectual exercises but were deeply rooted in theological and moral issues. For example, in Matthew 22:15-22, Jesus engages in a debate about paying taxes to Caesar, skillfully navigating the question to reveal deeper truths about allegiance and duty.

The Apostle Paul also frequently engaged in debate, particularly in his missionary journeys. Acts 17:2 describes Paul's custom of reasoning with the Jews from the Scriptures, "explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead." Paul's approach to debate was characterized by a reliance on Scripture and a focus on the core truths of the Gospel.

Guidance for Believers

The Bible provides clear guidance on how believers should conduct themselves in debates. Ephesians 4:15 instructs believers to "speak the truth in love," emphasizing that truth and love must go hand in hand. This principle is crucial for maintaining unity and edification within the body of Christ.

James 1:19 offers further wisdom: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger." This advice underscores the importance of humility and patience in discussions, ensuring that debates do not devolve into quarrels or strife.

Warnings Against Contentious Debate

While debate can be a tool for growth and understanding, the Bible also warns against contentious and divisive arguments. Titus 3:9 advises, "But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the Law, because these are unprofitable and useless." This warning highlights the need to discern which debates are worth engaging in and which are distractions from the core message of the Gospel.

In summary, the Bible acknowledges the role of debate in the pursuit of truth and understanding but calls believers to engage in it with wisdom, love, and a focus on edification.1. (v. t.) To engage in combat for; to strive for.

2. (v. t.) To contend for in words or arguments; to strive to maintain by reasoning; to dispute; to contest; to discuss; to argue for and against.

3. (v. i.) To engage in strife or combat; to fight.

4. (v. i.) To contend in words; to dispute; hence, to deliberate; to consider; to discuss or examine different arguments in the mind; -- often followed by on or upon.

5. (n.) A fight or fighting; contest; strife.

6. (v. t.) Contention in words or arguments; discussion for the purpose of elucidating truth or influencing action; strife in argument; controversy; as, the debates in Parliament or in Congress.

7. (v. t.) Subject of discussion.

DEBATE

de-bat': This word is used only once in the Revised Version (British and American) (Proverbs 25:9). It evidently refers to the settling of a difficulty with a neighbor, and anticipates Matthew 18:15. It argues for and shows the advantage of private, peaceable settlement of difficulties. Compare Ecclesiasticus 28:9, and see MAKEBATES.

2214. zetesis -- a search, questioning
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: zetesis Phonetic Spelling:
(dzay'-tay-sis) Short Definition: a question, debate, controversy Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2214.htm - 7k

2054. eris -- strife
... contention, debate, strife. Of uncertain affinity; a quarrel, ie (by implication)
wrangling -- contention, debate, strife, variance. (erides) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2054.htm - 6k

1260. dialogizomai -- to consider
... consider. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: dialogizomai Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-al-og-id'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I reason, debate, consider Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1260.htm - 8k

3859. paradiatribe -- wrangling, constant arguing
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: paradiatribe Phonetic Spelling:
(par-ad-ee-at-ree-bay') Short Definition: useless debate Definition: useless ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3859.htm - 6k

2213. zetema -- an inquiry
... question, issue. From zeteo; a search (properly concretely), ie (in words) a debate --
question. see GREEK zeteo. (zetemata) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2213.htm - 7k

2051. erizo -- to wrangle, strive
... wrangle, strive. Cognate: 2051 -- to contend; to confront (engage) in heated
debate that results in discord (needless strife). This ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2051.htm - 6k

1261. dialogismos -- a reasoning
... From dialogizomai; discussion, ie (internal) consideration (by implication, purpose),
or (external) debate -- dispute, doubtful(-ing), imagination, reasoning ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1261.htm - 7k

1246. diakatelegchomai -- to confute completely
... way through" (literally "back-and-forth" until finished); (figuratively) demonstrating
an idea (thesis) is true by what opposes it, ie to in a debate by also ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1246.htm - 7k

7378. rib -- to strive, contend
... adversary, chide, complain, contend, debate, ever, lay wait, plead,. Or ruwb
{roob}; a primitive root; properly, to toss, ie Grapple ...
/hebrew/7378.htm - 6k

4683. matstsah -- strife, contention
... contention, debate, strife. From natsah; a quarrel -- contention, debate, strife.
see HEBREW natsah. 4682, 4683. matstsah. 4684 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4683.htm - 6k

He Moves to Mt. Byrd. Debate with JW Fitch. Preaches at Madison ...
... CHAPTER XIV. He Moves to Mt. Byrd. Debate with JW Fitch. Preaches at Madison, Ind. ...
He Moves to Mt. Byrd. Debate with JW Fitch. Preaches at Madison, Ind. ...
/.../chapter xiv he moves to.htm

The Debate Therefore, Set up by the Deists, About Reason and Faith ...
... [Way-2-122] The debate therefore, set up by the Deists, about reason and
faith? The debate therefore, set up by the Deists, about ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-2-122 the debate therefore set.htm

Debate on the Proposed Invasion of Greece.
... CHAPTER III. DEBATE ON THE PROPOSED INVASION OF GREECE. ... The historian who narrated
these proceedings recorded the debate that ensued in the following manner. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter iii debate on the.htm

Nothing Can be More Right than Your Resolution not to Enter into ...
... [Way-1-110] Nothing can be more right than your resolution not to enter
into debate about the? Nothing can be more right than ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-1-110 nothing can be more.htm

Begins Preaching at Beech Grove. Debates with Elder Hiner. Amusing ...
... Beginning January 20th, at a Methodist church near Beech Grove, I held a debate
with Elder Robert Hiner. The debate continued eight days. ...
/.../chapter xv begins preaching at.htm

Continues to Evangelize. Dr. Cook's Prescription. Incident at ...
... Establishes the Old Path Guide. The Bruner Debate. Continues to Evangelize. ... Closes
his Evangelistic Labors. Establishes the Old Path Guide. The Bruner Debate. ...
/.../chapter xvi continues to evangelize.htm

Now this one Great Point Consists of Two Essential Parts...
... labored volumes of infidelity, with which these last ages have swarmed, are at once
rendered useless, and cannot put so much as a little finger into this debate ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-1-44 now this one great.htm

Letter Li. (AD 399 or 400. )
... I have heard it said that you are still willing to examine, in debate with me,
the question which separates us from communion with each other. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter li a d 399 or.htm

The Arian Heresy, Its Origin, Its Progress, and the Contention ...
... During the debate, Alexander seemed to incline first to one party and then to the
other [1110] ; finally, however, he declared himself in favor of those who ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter xv the arian heresy its.htm

Tennessee Justifying Her Procedure.
... Henkel, therefore, in a treatise appended to the Report of 1827, endeavored to show
the propriety and the Scriptural grounds for the public debate proposed to ...
/.../bente/american lutheranism/tennessee justifying her procedure.htm

Debate (13 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DEBATE. ... Multi-Version Concordance Debate (13
Occurrences). John 6:52 This led to an angry debate among the Jews. ...
/d/debate.htm - 11k

Question (153 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Discussion; debate; hence, objection; dispute; doubt; as, the story
is true beyond question; he obeyed without question. ...
/q/question.htm - 37k

Elihu (11 Occurrences)
... When the debate between Job and his friends is brought to a close, Elihu for the
first time makes his appearance, and delivers his opinion on the points at ...
/e/elihu.htm - 15k

Debated (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Debate. Multi-Version Concordance Debated
(7 Occurrences). Matthew 21:25 John's Baptism, whence was it? ...
/d/debated.htm - 8k

Dispute (37 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To contend in argument; to argue against something maintained, upheld, or
claimed, by another; to discuss; to reason; to debate; to altercate; to ...
/d/dispute.htm - 17k

Argue (21 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To debate or discuss; to treat by reasoning; as, the counsel argued
the cause before a full court; the cause was well argued. ...
/a/argue.htm - 12k

Songs (100 Occurrences)
... The question in debate among recent critics is whether the So was composed in
North Israel in preexilic days, or whether it is post-exilic. ...
/s/songs.htm - 62k

Jonah (30 Occurrences)
... It would be presumptuous to think that one could, in a brief article, speak the
final word on the questions in debate. I. Contents of the Book. ...
/j/jonah.htm - 35k

Song (207 Occurrences)
... The question in debate among recent critics is whether the So was composed in
North Israel in preexilic days, or whether it is post-exilic. ...
/s/song.htm - 78k

Job (60 Occurrences)
... The substance of the book is in a way dramatic; it cannot, however, be called so
truly a drama as a kind of forum of debate; its movement is too rigid for ...
/j/job.htm - 62k

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