Deductive
and inductive approaches to the use of the Bible in Mission
A deductive
approach is like the Socratic method: A method of studying the Bible
involves picking a certain topic and then going through the Bible and finding
passages that support the topic. This is related to the “topical approach” to
Bible study. An inductive approach is a verse or a passage, break it
down, and examine its details to draw out the meaning.
Deductive reasoning moves from the general to the
specifics. Inductive reasoning moves the other way, from the specific to the
general. Inductive reasoning starts with
the details and moves to a general conclusion.
Deductive method try
deduce or derive the principles of missions from a Biblical doctrines already
held with conviction'. In other words, in deductive method Biblical principles
are applies directly to the context. Here the movement is from text to the
context. In the deductive approach, the concept of mission as given in the Word
of God word becomes the starting point for engagement in mission. It can be
also termed as mission from above.
An inductive approach,
on the other hand, makes the context the point of departure. It does not start
with given or already derived principles from the Bible rather with concrete
situations and contexts. This approach tries to read Bible from a given context
and try to do mission according to the contextual challenges. In the words of K.C.
Abraham “any biblical interpretations are not reiteration of timeless truths or
propositions.” In this approach there no effort to apply a fabricated system of
ideas to a situation. Rather missiological articulations arise out of our
experience: experience of suffering, of humiliation and also our aspirations.
Mission engagements are done on the basis of Biblical principles articulated
from a context. we determine God's will from a specific situation rather than
try to apply in it. The nature and purpose of the Christian mission therefore
has to be reformulated according to the context. In the words of the Uppsala
Assembly: The world provides the agenda'
David J. Bosch equated
the difference between the deductive and inductive method with the difference
between the Ecumenicals and the Evangelicals. He wrote: 'Whereas Evangelicals
seek to apply Scripture deductively. whereasEcumenicals follow the inductive
method; the situation or context becomes the hermeneutical key for biblical and
missional interpretation.
The empirical study of
mission is mainly or only inductive, whereas the philosophical and theological
studies of mission are mainly deductive.
Merit and Demerits of
these approaches
Both deductive
missiology and inductive missiology have their own rights. Bosch (1980:45) is
quite right in stating that neither method should be practised 'in isolation
from or over against one another'. Missiology, as a scientific discipline,
needs both induction and deduction.
The advantage of the
inductive method is that it makes missiology a broder and suitable on according
to the changing context. But its danger is to secularise missiology. Extreme
contextual reading may deviate us from the original emphasis in the Bible.
The advantage of
deduction is that the biblical and ecclesiastical roots of mission and
missionary theology are fully respected and maintained. But its danger is to
lose contact with the contemporary context and its variety of challenges. It
may become narrow understanding.
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