Opinion
What Does the Bible Mean by 'Opinion'?
The English word 'opinion' appears only a handful of times in Scripture, translating several Hebrew and Greek terms that convey distinct nuances. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word deaʿ (דֵּעָה), meaning 'knowledge' or 'judgment,' is translated as 'opinion' in the speeches of Elihu (Job 32:6, 10, 17). Here, it refers to the reasoned understanding or perspective of a person. A more dramatic usage comes from Elijah's confrontation on Mount Carmel, where he challenges the people: 'How long will you waver between two opinions?' (1 Kings 18:21, NIV). The Hebrew here is seippim (סְעִפִּים), from a root meaning 'to divide,' picturing a literal fork in the road or divided loyalty. In the New Testament, the Greek hupolēpsis (ὑπόληψις) appears in the Septuagint version of Ecclesiastes 3:22, warning against being led astray by one's own 'vain opinion' or conceit.
Opinion in Key Biblical Narratives
Two major narratives frame the biblical tension between human opinion and divine truth. First, the showdown on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16-40) presents opinion as crippling indecision. Elijah confronts an Israel that is trying to worship both Yahweh and Baal, a spiritual 'limping between two sides' (as some translations render it). He demands a decisive commitment, rejecting the notion that one can hold multiple, contradictory opinions about ultimate reality. Second, the Book of Job explores opinion through human attempts to explain suffering. Job's three friends offer confident opinions about God's justice, which God ultimately rebukes (Job 42:7). Elihu, a younger observer, claims his 'opinion' (Job 32:6, 10, 17) is different because it comes from the Spirit, yet his speech is also not endorsed by God, highlighting the limits of even well-intentioned human perspective.
The Danger of Human Opinion
Scripture consistently warns that reliance on human opinion, especially when elevated above God's revelation, leads to error and spiritual danger. The writer of Ecclesiastes notes that 'the conceit of many hath led them astray' (Ecclesiastes 3:22, RV). The New Testament echoes this, contrasting human wisdom with God's foolishness which is wiser (1 Corinthians 1:25) and warning against being taken captive by 'hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ' (Colossians 2:8). Paul emphasizes that the gospel he preaches is 'not of human origin' nor received from any human source, but came by revelation from Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12).
From Opinion to Conviction and Truth
The biblical trajectory moves believers from uncertain opinion to settled conviction based on God's character and word. Elijah's call was for Israel to choose whom they would serve. The prophets consistently called people away from the 'opinions' (idolatrous beliefs) of the surrounding nations to the truth of Yahweh. In the New Testament, faith is presented not as a private opinion but as confident assurance in what we hope for and certainty about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). Christians are called to be ready to give a reason (apologia, a defense) for the hope they have (1 Peter 3:15), implying a conviction that transcends mere personal viewpoint. Ultimate truth is found in the person of Jesus Christ, who declared 'I am the way and the truth and the life' (John 14:6).
Modern Application: Navigating Opinion Today
In an age that often elevates personal opinion to the status of truth, the biblical teaching provides crucial correction. The Bible does not dismiss human reason or perspective but situates it under the authority of divine revelation. Believers are encouraged to test all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and to have their minds renewed (Romans 12:2), moving from conformity to the world's opinions to discerning God's will. The church is called to unity in the truth of the gospel, not uniformity of opinion on every secondary matter (Romans 14:1-6). The key distinction lies between core truths of the faith, revealed in Scripture, and matters of personal conscience or judgment where charity is required.
Biblical Context
The concept appears in several key passages. In the historical books, Elijah's dramatic challenge in 1 Kings 18:21 uses the imagery of divided opinion to confront Israel's idolatry. In wisdom literature, the term appears in Job 32:6, 10, 17 within Elihu's speeches and in Ecclesiastes 3:22 (LXX) as a warning against deceptive conceit. While the exact word is rare, the theme of human perspective versus divine truth permeates Scripture, from the serpent's 'Did God really say?' (Genesis 3:1) to Paul's warnings about worldly philosophy (Colossians 2:8).
Theological Significance
The treatment of opinion touches core theological themes of revelation, authority, and faith. It underscores that truth is ultimately grounded in God's self-disclosure, not human consensus or reasoning. The call to move beyond wavering opinion to decisive commitment reflects the biblical demand for wholehearted devotion to God (Deuteronomy 6:5). It also informs the doctrine of Scripture, affirming that God's word provides a sure foundation for belief and practice, correcting fallible human perspectives (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Historical Background
In the ancient Near East, religious syncretism—mixing worship of Yahweh with Canaanite deities like Baal—was a persistent temptation for Israel. Elijah's challenge against 'two opinions' directly confronts this cultural context. The Baal cult, centered on fertility and storm gods, offered tangible, immediate-seeming benefits, making divided loyalty pragmatically appealing. In the Greco-Roman world of the New Testament, diverse philosophical schools (Stoicism, Epicureanism, etc.) offered competing opinions about truth, virtue, and divinity. The early church's claim of exclusive truth in Christ (Acts 4:12) stood in stark contrast to this pluralistic environment.