Last updated: February 2, 2026
Biblical encouragement to ask questions.
The Bible repeatedly encourages asking questions, seeking wisdom, and examining what is claimed.
God invites us to reason with Him.
"'Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.'"
We are commanded to test everything.
"Test everything; hold fast what is good."
The Bereans were praised for examining Scripture daily.
"Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
We should not believe every spirit, but test them.
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
We are to be as wise as serpents.
"Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."
Simple people believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.
"The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps."
Jesus promised that asking leads to receiving.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
Jesus often answered questions with questions to promote deeper thinking.
"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?"
Jesus invited examination of His works as evidence.
"If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."
Jesus praised those who asked for understanding.
"He replied, 'Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.'"
Jesus welcomed questions about His identity.
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Wisdom begins with seeking knowledge.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
We are commanded to get wisdom and understanding.
"Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them."
The wise person seeks counsel and listens to advice.
"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge.
"The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out."
Iron sharpens iron through discussion.
"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
Those who trust in their own hearts are fools.
"Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe."
God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Investigation and truth align.
"For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth."
Earnest seeking yields results.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
The biblical tradition presents seeking wisdom through honest inquiry as a commended practice.