SOUNDING OUT:
Can Knowledge Be Bad?
People have asked me,
"Why do you study the Bible so much? Don’t
you know that knowledge puffs up but love edifies?"
Of course they are referring to I Corinthians 8:1.
I Corinthians
8:1:
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that
we all have knowledge. Knowledge [gnõsis]
puffeth up, but charity [agapê] edifieth.
Can knowledge be bad?
Are knowledge and love mutually exclusive? I trust you
know intuitively from life that the answer to both of
these questions is “no.” Certainly we want
to be motivated by the love of God, agapê, and
to "edify" or "build up" our brothers
and sisters in Christ. We also do not want to be arrogant
or proud or “puffed up” like the King James
Version says, but is arrogance the inevitable result
of too much knowledge?
If knowledge was bad, why would God teach man
knowledge as Psalm 94:10 says? If knowledge were a bad
thing why would God instruct us to cry after knowledge
and promise to provide it (Proverbs 2:3,5). Truly therefore
it is not an ever increasing knowledge of God that “puffs
up,” but rather it is “a little knowledge”
or a smug satisfaction that comes from thinking you
“know it all” that breeds arrogance.
Let me ask you a question, “What do you
know about “things offered to idols?” Surely
the Corinthians because of their culture knew more than
we do, but I suggest that not many of them knew as much
about it as they needed to, because Paul taught them
more. “Knowledge” in I Corinthians 8:1 is
the Greek word "gnõsis." As
it is used in this context it means "a little knowledge"
or an isolated and incomplete knowledge. We have an
American proverb that says: "A little knowledge
is a dangerous thing." That’s the kind of
knowledge Paul is talking about in I Corinthians 8:1.
When people think they know all that they need to know,
they are in a precarious situation.
I Corinthians
8:1:
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that
we all have [a little bit of] knowledge.
[A little bit of] knowledge puffeth up, but charity
edifieth.
However there is another
Greek word for "knowledge" in the New Testament,
"epignõsis." The "epi"
prefix indicates a "full," “precise,”
or “accurate” knowledge. God encourages
us to grow into this "epignõsis,"
or "full knowledge."
II Peter 3:18:
Grow in grace and in the knowledge [epignõsis]
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ".
I Timothy 2:4:
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto
the knowledge [epignõsis] of the truth.
Through it God blesses
us, providing all things that pertain to life and godliness.
II Peter 1:2,3:
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge
[epignõsis] of God, and of Jesus our
Lord,
3 According as his divine
power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto
life and godliness, through the knowledge [epignõsis]
of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
This kind of knowledge
is required for us to continue to renew our minds.
Colossians 3:10:
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge
[epignõsis] after the image of him that
created him:
Indeed, it is God’s
prayer by Paul and every other genuine leader in the
Body of Christ.
Colossians 1:9,10:
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do
not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might
be filled with the knowledge [epignõsis]
of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy
of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every
good work, and increasing in the knowledge [epignõsis]
of God;
Philippians 1:9:
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more
and more in knowledge [epignõsis] and
in all judgment;
Knowledge and love are
not mutually exclusive. In Philippians 1:9 we see that
a proper, precise, growing knowledge allows our love
to abound more and more. The Corinthians were like the
Israelites that Paul spoke of in Romans 10. They too,
had a little knowledge of God, even great zeal for what
they knew. However, they lacked the full, precise, epignõsis
kind of knowledge God desired for them.
Romans 10:2:
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God,
but not according to knowledge [epignõsis].
We can never have too
much knowledge, epignosis, of God’s Word. Growing
in the knowledge of God’s Word and will provides
the strength we need to live the Christian life and
facilitates the development of good Christian character.
In an isolated and incomplete knowledge alone,
there IS the danger of pride and arrogance. Pride and
arrogance are often the fruit of a know-it-all or a
smug self-satisfied attitude. We do not pursue knowledge
for knowledge’ sake. We want to know God better
so we can love Him more. Let’s not be content
with being just acquaintances with our loving heavenly
Father. Rather let’s pursue a deeper and more
intimate knowledge and acquaintance with Him that continues
to grow and blossom in our family relationship as we
understand more and more of His love and grace upon
our lives.
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