To Answer or Not to Answer a Fool?

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To answer or to answer not a fool is a heavy question. Proverbs 24:4-5 seems to be contradicting statements. We read at first to never answer a fool according to his folly yet the second verse says to answer a fool according to his folly or he will be wise in his own conceit. So should you answer a fool or not?

The answer would be most likely a case to case basis. It's like Matthew 5:16 says to let your light so shine before men yet we also read in Matthew 6:1 not to perform acts of righteousness in public. Yet there's no contradiction. Jesus told people to let people see your good works yet the problem is not about doing it in public but the motive behind it. It's wrong to do good works in public to be applauded by men and only for their applause.


So how would Proverbs 26:4-5 apply? The illustration above by Creation.com seems to show a good answer. Ever heard of the statement to never stoop down to the level of the fool? It says, "Answer not a fool otherwise you will be like unto him." It means to answer the fool but never stoop down to the level of the fool. It's all about reflecting back on their arguments or answering them wisely. It's remaining wise in giving fools their answers.

Here's also a useful incite from Bulletin Inserts for more useful information:
Proverbs 26:4 reads like this: “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.” The message seems clear enough: Don’t be a fool the way you answer a fool.
We can be certain that verse is not telling us that we should never respond to a fool, because the next verse goes on to say, “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.” Far from being contradictory, these two verses complement each other. They inform you that when (if) you deem it appropriate to correct, instruct, or rebuke a fool, you must do so in a manner that is likely to expose (and hopefully correct) his folly, but never in a manner that lowers you to his level.

It's like fools are fond of name-calling and using foul language. They can go ahead and use whatever offensive means but wise people ought to answer them wisely. They should still remain calm and composed while they answer a fool. Sometimes, it's better not to answer at all if the fool is just out there looking for a fight and has been warned more than twice.


The very warning of John Calvin still stands true. Calvin may have had some of his mistakes such as believing Mary never had other children aside from Jesus in His humanity  - yet he provided useful insights in many of his books. One of his biggest pieces of advice is that debating with heretics is a waste of time. Sure, you need to warn the heretic but if after once or twice then why waste time getting engaged in quarrelsome disputes with said person, right?

So let's consider what Titus 3:10 says. It says admonish a heretic once or twice but after that reject. You have done your part to answer the fool so why get stuck in useless babble. It's like a doctor warns a person many times of the need to get treated but if the person doesn't listen then the former has to leave the other be. A wise person should let the fool be a fool if after once or twice - said person just continues in their idiocy. It's useless to waste your time arguing with fools after you've warned them once or twice. Just remember God's statement to Ezekiel about the watchman's duty. If the people wouldn't listen to the warning - the blood of a said person is no longer on one's hands.

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