There is one more way in which God's word instructs us authoritatively. We have already seen how His commands or statements of fact are authoritative. We also examined the relevance of examples, or "precedents," found in the Scripture that shows God's approval or disapproval. This artricle will focus on how the Bible instructs using "inferences."

Possibly a better term to use would be "inescapable conclusions." These would be the only reasonable and obvious implications one could come to when reading a Biblical text. This should not be foreign to us because we use this approach in our everyday speech with others, especially in the capacity of having authority over subordinates (children, employees). Such "conclusions" are not stated. However, what the text demands, it teaches. An implied truth is just as binding as a stated one.

For example, when one reads Heb. 10:25 and learns we are not to "forsake the assembling of ourselves together,..." the conclusion we reach inescapably is that we must have a place to assemble. Thus, we have authority for church buildings. A public building is not necessarily inferred, but some place to meet is.

Again, when one reads 1 Cor. 16:1-2 and learns "...to lay something aside...," the conclusion we reach inescapably is somewhere to store our collected funds. Thus, we have authority for a church treasury. A bank account is not necessarily inferred, but some place to keep the money is.

"Inescapable conclusions" are especially vital re: what is taught. Read Acts 8:35-38. Question: is water baptism necessary? Some would say "No" and challenge us to find such teaching in this passage. However, why would the eunuch have asked what he did in v. 36? Can we not conclude inescapably that "preaching Jesus" is to preach the necessity of baptism?

Special care must be exercised when using this approach. Many things may be inferred in a given Biblical text, but not all of them are necessarily implied.