2 Corinthians 5:7 – If faith overrides direct evidence, how can we trust any form of empirical or logical inquiry?

2 Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

I. Understanding the Context

2 Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth. In chapter 5, he addresses believers’ hope of the eternal, resurrected body promised by God. Verse 7 declares, “For we walk by faith, not by sight,” emphasizing reliance on God’s promises even when He remains unseen. Paul is not advocating a blind, irrational disregard for evidence; he highlights the call to trust God’s word, character, and plan even when circumstantial proofs are incomplete.

II. Faith and Evidence: An Initial Perspective

When Scripture speaks of “walking by faith,” it does not negate the proper role of empirical or logical inquiry. In fact, Scripture commends careful examination (cf. Acts 17:11: “[The Bereans] received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.”). The biblical writers frequently point to the observable deeds of God—miracles, healings, fulfilled prophecy, historical events—as confirmation of His authority. Faith becomes the lens through which believers interpret the data they observe, rather than a refusal to consider facts.

III. The Harmony of Faith and Reason

1. Biblical Examples of Evidence-Based Belief

– After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to many witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:5–8). These encounters did not require blind trust; they offered tangible, historical verification.

– Gideon sought confirmation through multiple signs (Judges 6). God honored these requests without condemning Gideon’s desire for evidence.

2. Historical and Archaeological Corroboration

– The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 (Qumran) confirmed the consistency of Old Testament manuscripts dating back centuries before Christ.

– Inscriptions like the Tel Dan Stele (discovered in 1993) reference “the House of David,” aligning with scriptural accounts.

3. Philosophical and Logical Inquiry

– Christian philosophy (e.g., from thinkers who argue for the “reasonableness” of theism) points out that the laws of logic themselves require a foundation in an ordered, rational framework for reality. Scripture teaches that God is the Creator of this ordered world (Genesis 1:1).

– Rational processes, far from contradicting faith, are seen as gifts endowed by a Creator who fashioned humans in His image (cf. Genesis 1:27), granting them the capacity for reason.

IV. How 2 Corinthians 5:7 Relates to Empirical Trust

1. Faith Extends Beyond Immediate Sight

– This passage asserts that God’s promises may sometimes outstrip what we can currently perceive. In everyday life, trusting a reliable provider is rational, even if we do not see a provision the moment we request it. We have grounds for trust based on proven character.

– Christianity claims God’s trustworthiness emerges from His past acts—creation itself, the historical resurrection of Christ, and scriptural fulfillment over centuries.

2. Completion vs. Contradiction of Evidence

– “For we walk by faith, not by sight” does not say “against sight” or “without sight.” Rather, faith completes our perspective where direct evidence alone may be limited.

– Empirical evidence is part of how God reveals His glory and design: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities…have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship” (Romans 1:20).

V. Biblical and Modern Illustrations

1. Old Testament Witness

– Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and other miraculous accounts are remembered as historical events—ones that were observed directly at the time. Later generations relied on these eyewitness testimonies preserved in Scripture.

2. New Testament Witness

– Many first-century Christians believed in the risen Jesus because they “had seen the Lord” (John 20:25). Thomas famously needed physical evidence: “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side” (John 20:27). Jesus did not denounce Thomas for seeking tangible confirmation; He provided it.

3. Historical Documentation

– Extra-biblical sources such as Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews, 18.3.3) mention Jesus and the early Christian community, reinforcing that there was a historical, real person at the center of these events.

– Archaeological and textual scholars continue to find details consistent with the biblical narrative, which supports the reliability of the accounts.

VI. Bridging Faith, Evidence, and Logical Inquiry

1. Trust in a Consistent Witness

– Scriptures repeatedly call God faithful (2 Timothy 2:13: “He remains faithful”). If He is the author of creation and the One who orchestrates history, then trusting in His revelation does not undermine the investigative processes used for threats, wants, or everyday pursuits—even if at times He calls believers to accept truths beyond their immediate perception.

2. Empirical Study as a Tool, Not an Idol

– Genuine Christian inquiry welcomes scientific, historical, or philosophical tools as methods to explore God’s world. Just as a microscope helps elucidate fine details in biology, so these methods help illustrate God’s design.

– However, “we walk by faith” reminds us that human cognition is finite and that God’s revelation is the final authority. Where observable data falls short, faith leads us to trust what God has spoken in Scripture.

3. The Role of the Resurrection

– The resurrection of Christ, supported by documented eyewitness testimonies (1 Corinthians 15:6 refers to more than 500 witnesses), stands as a paramount historical anchor.

– As a unique event, it refuses to be constrained merely by everyday empirical domains, yet it has historical attestation nonetheless. The minimal facts approach, proposed by researchers who catalog the consensus among critical scholars (e.g., the empty tomb, post-resurrection appearances), underscores that faith in Jesus’ resurrection aligns with careful historical inquiry.

VII. Balancing Tension and Embracing Complementarity

1. Scripture Interpreting the World

– Because God is the source of truth, the Christian worldview leverages Scripture to interpret scientific and logical findings. This does not discard or devalue proper evidence; it orients it according to the ultimate reality God has revealed.

2. Confidence in God’s Character

– Walking by faith includes recognizing the track record of God’s reliability. When faced with incomplete data, the believer’s confidence rests on the One who has proven faithful in verifiable ways—through miracles in history, archaeological confirmations, and, principally, the resurrection event.

VIII. Conclusion

2 Corinthians 5:7 calls believers to anchor themselves in God’s proven truth even when not all details are visible. Rather than sideline evidence or logic, the call to “walk by faith, not by sight” invites a posture of trust in the One who established both the laws of nature and the foundation of reason.

Empirical and logical inquiries remain valuable tools, regularly confirming and illustrating the reliability of God’s Word. This synergy underscores that authentic faith does not undermine empirical or logical study; it complements them. Believers look beyond current limitations, standing on the strong basis of God’s character, scriptural revelation, and centuries of tangible, historical confirmations of biblical truth.