Quoting Others

In another thread one of the commenters advised us to read and find out about what C.S. Lewis believed. After that he stated, "Many folks who should know better quote C.S. regularly." A few months or so back a friend on Facebook complained about quoting Oscar Wilde, citing his homosexual practices.

That brings to mind a question about quoting others. What is the criteria for quoting other people? If the quote is inspiring, truthful, good, useful, does it matter who said it? Must they be theologically sound? Morally upright?

If you have an opinion about quoting others, who it is wrong and right to quote, let's hear it. If you have biblical reasons beyond an opinion, that would be even better!

 

Well, I was thinking more generally, when we're blogging, when we're writing, when we're preaching, etc. Should we stay away from quotes of authors who are suspect, even if the quote might be true? If so, what about passing along quotes when we don't know who made the statement?

 

I realize Al Mohler can be something of a lightening rod among Southern Baptists, but I have read Mohler with benefit in the past. (Haven't read much recently.) That said, when I saw the quote list above, it made me wonder if he had time left to quote the Bible! It should be the main source of quotes in the preacher's repertoire!

That is a good observation that is probably true in many cases.

Strong's still serves its purpose. Some people may have gotten too smart to notice.

Well, since all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, perhaps we should quote no one! (Of course, taking that approach, we might also have to stop speaking for ourselves as well.)

I think we cannot banish the idea of quoting someone just because of an error in belief, since Paul quoted Greek poets or philosophers in his message on Mars Hill (strategically, of course; Acts 17). The beliefs and practices of those men likely would not hold up to standards set as high for quoting as some would like.

Many times I find that someone else has already said something first and better. Why reinvent the wheel? Quote them and give them credit. And let's not steal their words and use them as if they were our own. Certainly, there can be times when a quote may seem to promote the person being quoted, and if so, there probably are times when we should think twice about quoting them.

 

I agree that the purpose is a factor that plays into it. I have been writing for my blog about preservation of the scriptures. I have chosen to quote several people who wouldn't agree with part of my proposition for the purpose of showing, in part, that on the general topic there is much wider agreement than some might suppose.

 

The person on the Baptist Board was referring to quoting C. S. Lewis positively, yes. In the other reference re Oscar Wilde, the initial story goes back to a church putting a quote on their marquee, which source was not identified in the marquee but the complaining person in question knew it was by Oscar Wilde. (I suspect the church had no idea where it came from.)

I don't think we should throw caution to the wind, and can use wisdom in whom we quote. If Billy Graham and Adolf Hitler said basically the same thing about something, we'd want to quote Graham rather than Hitler, wouldn't we? (Unless maybe we were trying to prove that even someone as evil as Hitler could get something right once in awhile.) But on the other hand, I think it is easy to take criticism of quoting others way too far. Paul quoted Aratus or Cleanthes, or both. Who knows what kind of rascals they might have been? Who cares? But, again, it was a calculated quotation -- not, wow, this Aratus guy is great!

So, yes, perhaps a better way to ask the question is, where do you draw the line when using quotes in a positive manner?

 

I have tried to develop some categories to represent the quotes used in the Bible. Seems like they naturally fall into what kinds they were, and for what purpose they were used. The categories are not mutually exclusive. The categories can be improved upon and expanded with your help.

Historical quoting would be quoting used in telling a story, so-and-so said such-and-such. In a sense all of the quoting in the Bible is historical in that God is using them in the context of telling his story/history. Kinds of quotes include verbatim/direct quote and paraphrase/indirect quote (including reference to what someone said). The use of quotes is often found in dialogue.

Sometime quotes are made approvingly. Any “Thus saith the Lord” quotes fall into this category, but quotes of men & women may be so used as well. In Titus 1:12-13 Paul refers to the words of a Cretan prophet as accurately identifying the characteristics of his own people.

Sometimes quotes are made disapprovingly. Luke 4:23, Jesus quotes what the Nazarenes will say. In Ezekiel 12:22-24 God says the Jews will no longer be able to quote the proverb they have been using.

Sometimes quotes are calculated to a purpose. In Acts 17:28 Paul quoted a Greek poet. It was something they would know, possibly believe and was relevant to the point he was making about what the unknown (to them) God was like.

Sometimes quotes are reminders. In Acts 20:35 Paul told the Ephesian elders to remember the words of Jesus, and then quoted him as saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Consider also Jude 1:17. These reminders are usually for the purpose of something like exhortation, motivation, and/or inspiration.

So what do you think? What kinds of quotes are found in the Bible, and for what purposes?

Thanks!