Is there such a thing as a bad question? The Book says Yes.
Webster defines a question as “an interrogative expression often used to test knowledge” or “a subject or aspect in dispute or open for discussion.” While these may be true in many cases, the meaning of the root Latin word quaerere is “to seek, ask.”
From Satan’s “Hath God said…?” to the angel’s query to John in Revelation 17:7, the Bible has 3,298 questions. It is a wonderful way to learn. Of course there are different ways to ask questions: expecting a positive response—“You’re coming, aren’t you?” or a negative response—“You don’t like that kind of music, do you?” or not anticipating any particular response—“Did you enjoy that taste?” We see more clearly the force of the Samaritan woman’s appeal to her townsmen when she said, “Come see a Man that told me everything I ever did. It couldn’t be the Messiah, could it?”
Many passages hinge on following the Q and A layout. Job 38 has 40 questions; 2 Samuel 19 has 22; 1 Corinthians 9 has 20. And some of the most powerful passages in the word are set in a question and answer format, Romans 8:31-39 and Galatians 3:1-5, for example.
The New Testament speaks of both good and bad questions. In fact, Paul gives four stringent warnings in his pastoral epistles:
• “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do” (1 Tim. 1:4).
• “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings” (1 Tim. 6:3-4).
• “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes” (2 Tim. 2:23).
• “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain” (Titus 3:9).
That having been said, the writings of Paul are full of questions—and have stirred up questions—good, wholesome, helpful questions that have led many into truth.
The first time we hear the Lord speak, it is after His time with the doctors at the temple where He was “…both hearing them, and asking them questions” (Lk. 2:46). I imagine they were most probing kind of questions.
This first instance recorded in our Lord’s life reminds us that questions may take a rhetorical form, where the questioner already knows the answer but is calling on the hearer to think about the answer himself. Such was the query in the Garden, “Adam, where art thou?” and our Lord’s middle cry from the cross, “My God, why…?”
After enduring a barrage of questions all day from the various sects of the Jews, Jesus said, “I will also ask of you one question, and answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things” (Mk. 11:29).
On another occasion the Lord posed the question to end all questions: “And no man was able to answer Him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions” (Mt. 22:46).
This issue highlights the ten questions I am most frequently asked during Question and Answer sessions. In fact a conference hardly seems complete without some of these perennial ones popping up. Perhaps the comments included here will help to settle these and give the floor to others that will expand our biblical horizons.
In some places the Question Box is empty; the Lord’s people have nothing to ask. As my father used to say, “The tragedy is not when the Lord’s people don’t have the answers; it’s when they don’t even have the questions.”
Our own Bible study will supply both answers to questions and new questions to stimulate further study. May the Lord lead us on to know Him better and His blessed Word. After all, a good, thought-inspiring question will often prove more helpful than a glib, superficial answer.