Proverbs 26:4-5 give us what are seemlingly contradictory advice.
Sometime soon, we’ll do a deep dive on why we can fully trust the Bible. I personally used to be an atheist, so I had to work through a bunch of the typical reasons why people reject the Bible. Perhaps, it’s enough, for now to say that Jesus considered the Old Testament to be scripture, to be God’s word. And He powerfully and in real life situations used it. Peter also mentions that Paul’s writings are on the same level of scripture (2 Peter 3:16).
So then, what do we do with these two sentences?
“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.
Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes” Proverbs 26:4-5.
Do I answer a fool, or do I not?
I think the answer comes with wisdom, God’s wisdom.
One time, yes, you need to answer back. If you don’t the other person and perhaps others around you are going to start to think that you are foolish.
And another time, don’t. It would just make you look silly, or petty.
Context is everything. Who is it? Do you know them? Are you a leader? Who else is around? What kind of history do you have?
Sometimes the context is very complex too.
What we need is wisdom flowing from a relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Remember you have access to the very mind of Christ.
