Learn to Discern

Testing Premises (the process)

a. take whatever is being taught

b. make it a premise

c. test it against what the Bible actually teaches

d. use proper hermeneutics and exegesis

e. come to a biblical conclusion about the premise
(the point of testing it)

~

(expanded)

1. write the teaching / premise out (fully, or an accurate pith of it) at the top of a paper

2. use reliable Bible study tools to gather Bible passages that use the key words and phrases found in the premise

(i.e. use tools like a Bible concordance, cyclopedic index, topical Bible, theological books, reliable online Bible study articles on the subject from bible.org - monergism.com - desiringgod.org, etc.)

3. keep alert for related words and phrases that pertain to the premise and help open up the subject

4. write down small portions of all Bible verses you find and their addresses

5. carefully and prayerfully discern what the Bible teaches on the subject by studying the verses you have gathered (what do they a.c.t.u.a.l.l.y. say?)

6. come to a biblical conclusion about the premise:
does the Bible teach the premise, or not?

7. renew your mind with what God's Word actually teaches


note: you are looking for God's truth
so strive to test premises without a bias (one way or the other)
see what God's Word says

note: sometimes there is one definitive verse
that confirms or refutes the premise
more often there are many verses that bring a biblical conclusion

note: an excellent book that teaches how to test premises:
A Call For Discernment (A Call To Discernment older editions) by Jay Adams