What Knowledge? Part 1 of 2

What Knowledge? Part 1 of 2

There are some interesting thoughts to consider from Proverbs, relative to the more common understandings associated with the term “knowledge”.

Beginning in chapter 1, v.7 it says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”. It occurred to me that the using one’s knowledge of the Bible, as in playing a game of Bible Trivia, does not tend to develop an association with the fear of the Lord. Continuing on in chapter 1, v. 29, it says “Because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord”. Again, the thought came to mind; who hates knowledge? On the contrary, it is often that we are overly fond of our knowledge. That is why the apostle Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 8:1 that “Knowledge makes arrogant”, or “puffs up” (ESV).

Moving ahead to chapter 12, v. 1, it says “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid”. Now that one is a difficult connection for the standard woridview! The author of the book of Hebrews notes in 12:11, “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful …”. Even when we continue with the balance of the verse – “yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”(NASB), it is still difficult to say we love discipline, let alone connect it to a love of knowledge. Another valuable lesson we can learn from Proverbs is how Solomon relates knowledge to wisdom and understanding. First, it is significant to note the chronology of the terms. A number of times, especially in the early chapters, he places understanding after wisdom. Note Prov. 4:7 “The beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding”. (NASB)

Later on in chapter 24, the fairly well known verse 3 further establishes where knowledge fits in the “hierarchy” when it says – “By wisdom the house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches”. So what does this have to say about our view of knowledge? I think the question can be addressed with a question. If you could choose from all that can be known, what (or who) would you want to know? (And what “knowledge” are you currently pursuing?) That can be a very insightful question if we have some time invested in pursuing the relationship with God which He has in mind for us.

It might bring to mind the question Jesus used to answer His disciple Phillip’s response in John 14, (v.8) when he said to Him “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us”. Then in v.9 – And Jesus said to him “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Phillip?” One last thought from Proverbs. This one from 29:19 – “A slave will not be instructed by words alone, for though he understands, there will be no response”. When we consider “what knowledge?” Solomon might have in mind, we should also consider that the sum of all we know can still be void of a response. That is the difference between knowing and believing, and it is belief that changes behavior.

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