 |  |
From negative premises nothing can be inferred.
A fish is not a quadruped.
A bird is not a quadruped.
No further step can be taken.
If one premise be negative, the conclusion must be negative.
There are nineteen forms or figures in which syllogisms may appear, but all valid
argument admits of being stated in the first of these figures with its four moods. As we
are not writing for students of logic, but simply to help the student of Scripture, we shall
not burden the reader with an explanation of these nineteen figures, but will deal only
with the first of them.
The first mood is suited to the discovery or proof of the properties of a thing. Its
construction is as follows:--
All B is C . . . . . All Scripture is inspired (II Tim. 3: 16).
All A is B . . . . . Paul's epistles are scripture (II Pet. 3: 16).
THEREFORE
All A is C . . . . . Paul epistles are inspired.
The best illustration of this mood is three concentric circles, the largest being "C", the
next "B" and the smallest, "A".
The second mood is suited to the discovery or proof of the distinctions that exist
between things. Its construction is as follows:--
No B is C . . . . . "The mystery" is not revealed in the O.T.
All A is B . . . . . "Gentiles in heavenly places" is part of "the mystery".
THEREFORE
No A is C . . . . . "Gentiles in heavenly places" is not revealed in the O.T.
Here we must imagine two concentric circles "B" and "A" with one separate circle
"C" standing apart.
The third mood is suited to the discovery or proof of instances and exceptions. Its
construction is as follows:--
All B is C . . . . .
The doctrine of redemption belongs to the whole Bible.
Some A is B . . .
Some of the teaching of the mystery is the doctrine of redemption.
THEREFORE
Some A is C . . .
Some of the teaching of the mystery will be found in the whole Bible.
It will be seen that this form of argument is adapted to exceptions. As a revelation, the
mystery does not form a part of all Scripture, but belongs to the prison ministry of Paul.
There is need, however, to distinguish between the doctrinal basis which it shares in