From: mfox@ms.rose.cc.ok.us
Date: Wed May 29 1996 - 14:03:29 EDT
FROM too long. Original FROM is 'Paul Dixon - Ladd Hill Bible Church
<pauld@iclnet93.iclnet.org>'
---------------------- Original Message Follows ----------------------
The problem with most interpretations of Acts 2:38 is a logical one. The
conditional thought behind the verse is simply this:
If you repent and are baptized, then your sins will be forgiven.
It is invalid to deduce the negation, that is, "if you repent and are not
baptized, then your sins will not be forgiven." That simply does not
follow logically. Technically, "If A and B, then C" means simply on the
condition of both A and B, then C follows. It does not imply "if not (A
and B), then not C." This is the negation. One of the ways the negation
exists here is, "if A and not B, then not C." This is the form of Acts
2:38. We do not have to resort to fancy exegetical gymnastics in order
to show baptism is not required. It is not, because logic forbids it
here. Baptism would be required only if such a statement as "if a man
is not baptized, then his sins are not forgiven" can be found.
Fortunately, none can be found in Scripture.
On the contrary, the negation for belief and/or repentance is found in
numerous passages (Jn 8:24, Mk 16:16b).
Let us not abuse the logic of the conditional thoughts in Scripture.
Dr. Paul S. Dixon, Pastor
Ladd Hill Bible Church
Wilsonville, Oregon
Marion Fox here: Paul has committed a grave error in logic. Paul Dixon
stated:
Technically, "If A and B, then C" means simply on the
condition of both A and B, then C follows. It does not imply "if not (A
and B), then not C." This is the negation. One of the ways the negation
exists here is, "if A and not B, then not C."
Marion here again:
The problem with this assertion is that it violates the basic rules of
logic.
The statement: "If A and B, then C" means if either not A or not B then
not C."
I quote Stephen Barker (but could quote several logic books): "The way in
which
an ordinary conjunctive sentence is true is also straightforward. The
conjunction is
true when both its parts are true; otherwise it is false. Using the
ampersand as our
symbol for truth-functional conjunction, we can abbreviate "p and q" as "p
& q."
p q p & q
true true true
false true false
true false false
false false false
Thus, for instance, the sentence "It will rain and it will get colder" is
true if it rains and
also gets colder, but it is false if either one of these things fail to
happen.
Barker, Stephen F. (1974). The Elements of Logic. 2nd ed. New York:
McGraw-Hill Book Co. ISBN 0-07-003718-3
Anyone who knows how to read a truth table knows that you have overlooked a
fundamental principle of logic. If you wish I can quote several other
logic books
that say essentially the same thing!
Logically, what Acts 2:38 is saying is: "you must both repent and be
baptized in order to
have remission of sins and if you either do not repent or are not baptized
you will not have
remission of sins." This can be easily established by the usage of
DeMorgan's Theorem
(a theorem in logic). This same reasoning can be applied to Mark 16:15-16.
Marion R. Fox
Engineering Science Department
Rose State College
6420 SE 15th Street
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73110
Home:
4004 Twisted Trail Dr. SE
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73150-1910
E-mail MFox@ms.rose.cc.ok.us
Voice 405-733-7594 Home 405-732-1050
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