What Jesus 'Never Said': Exposing the Argument from Silence

dktippit3
Nov 18
5 min read

“Jesus never said anything about abortion.”

I’ve heard that line more times than I can count—from politicians, talk show hosts, and people who claim to “know the Bible well enough.” Joe Scarborough recently said it on MSNBC, implying that Jesus’ silence on abortion somehow means He wouldn’t condemn it. But if that logic holds, Jesus must also approve of rape, slavery, or human trafficking—because He didn’t mention those either.

That’s what we call an argument from silence, and it’s one of the weakest and most misleading forms of reasoning in theology and philosophy alike. The truth of a matter doesn’t depend on whether Jesus uttered a direct quote about it—it depends on what the whole revelation of God says about His character and His creation.

When Silence Speaks Too Loudly

We live in a time when people love to build their theology or politics off of what the Bible “doesn’t say.” It’s an easy move because silence can be molded into almost anything you want. If Scripture doesn’t record Jesus saying it, you can claim it’s up for grabs. But that isn’t how truth works, and it certainly isn’t how Scripture is meant to be read.

In their book The Incarnate Christ and His Critics, Robert Bowman Jr. and J. Ed Komoszewski point out how many groups and individuals have built entire belief systems around what Jesus didn’t say.

They write:

“For example, Jesus never said, ‘I am Michael,’ or ‘I am an archangel,’ yet Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus was Michael the Archangel. Jesus also never said, ‘I was conceived and born of a virgin,’ or ‘My mother Mary was a virgin when she conceived me by the Holy Spirit.’ Despite the lack of any such statement by Jesus, Unitarians believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, yet deny that He was God. Muslims also affirm the virgin birth of Jesus, but not His deity… Pointing out that Jesus did not make a particular statement, as though this counts against it being true, is a fallacious argument from silence.”

Their point is simple but profound: the absence of a specific phrase does not equal the absence of truth.

What the Argument from Silence Really Is

The argument from silence assumes that if something wasn’t explicitly said, it must not be true or relevant. It’s a logical fallacy because it confuses silence with contradiction.

For example:

“The Bible never says Jesus laughed—so He must not have had a sense of humor.”
“Jesus never said He was God, so He must not be divine.”
“The Bible never mentions the word ‘Trinity,’ so the Trinity isn’t biblical.”

But Scripture doesn’t need to use our preferred wording to reveal truth. The Bible communicates truth through story, implication, testimony, and revelation, not just sound bites. The word “Trinity” may not appear in Scripture, but the reality of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit existing in eternal unity is seen from Genesis to Revelation.

Silence only counts as evidence if we have strong reason to expect something would have been said. If a friend never texts you about their lunch plans, you can’t assume they didn’t eat. The absence of a text is not proof of starvation. Likewise, Jesus didn’t have to say every theological truth directly for it to be true.

Jesus Didn’t Say It—But Scripture Does

Jesus never said the sentence, “I am God.” But He said things only God could say.

He forgave sins (Mark 2:5–7).
He claimed to exist before Abraham (John 8:58).
He accepted worship (Matthew 14:33; 28:9).
He said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).

If you’re waiting for a direct quote that fits your modern phrasing, you’ll miss the entire biblical witness. Jesus revealed His identity through His actions, His authority, and His resurrection. The apostles, who heard and knew Him personally, repeatedly affirmed His deity (John 1:1–3, Colossians 1:15–20, Hebrews 1:1–4).

The same logic applies to other doctrines. Jesus never said the words “I believe in the virgin birth.” Yet Scripture testifies clearly through the angelic announcement to Mary (Luke 1:26–38) and Joseph’s dream (Matthew 1:18–25). Jesus didn’t have to repeat what God had already revealed. Truth doesn’t require redundancy.

When Silence Gets Weaponized

The argument from silence becomes especially dangerous when it’s used to justify sin.“Jesus never said anything about abortion.” True—but He also didn’t mention fentanyl, pornography, or tax fraud. That doesn’t make them moral.

Jesus affirmed what already existed in God’s moral law: the sanctity of human life, the sacredness of marriage, the value of every person as made in God’s image. His entire ministry revealed a God who defends the innocent, restores the broken, and condemns the shedding of innocent blood.

To claim that Jesus’ silence equals approval is to miss who He is entirely. The Word made flesh doesn’t need to list every form of evil to show that evil opposes His nature.

Reading the Bible the Right Way

When someone uses the “Jesus never said” argument, here’s how to respond wisely and calmly:

Ask if the silence is meaningful. Would we actually expect Jesus to mention that specific topic? The Gospels aren’t exhaustive biographies—they’re theological portraits (John 20:30–31).
Look at what Scripture does say.The Bible speaks comprehensively about God’s nature, creation, morality, and redemption. Even if it doesn’t name an issue directly, it gives us principles to apply.
Interpret silence through speech, not speech through silence. Don’t build doctrine from what’s missing. Let the words that are there shape what you believe.
Avoid circular conversations. The “Jesus never said” argument often isn’t about truth—it’s about control. People use it to shut down conversation. Stay gracious but grounded.

Why the Whole Counsel of God Matters

The apostle Paul told the Ephesian elders, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). The whole counsel—not just the quotes that fit our preferences.

God’s Word is a unified revelation. The Father speaks through the Son (Hebrews 1:1–2). The Spirit illuminates the truth (John 16:13). Every doctrine, command, and moral truth must be understood within that divine symphony—not picked apart to prove silence.

So when someone says, “Jesus never said anything about [insert topic],” remember: Jesus didn’t need to. He embodied truth itself.

Don’t Mistake Silence for Absence

Silence is not absence. The God who spoke creation into being has already spoken clearly enough about life, sin, salvation, and truth. The issue is rarely that God hasn’t spoken—it’s that we haven’t listened.

When people lean on silence to make their case, they reveal something deeper: they’re not searching for truth; they’re searching for justification.

Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The question isn’t what He didn’t say.The question is—are we listening to what He already has?

Revolver Broadcasting