Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Thursday, August 12, 2010 7:16:50 AM
‘If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him’ [1 Corinthians 8:2-3].
That man thinks that he knows something, who is delighted with the opinion that he entertains of his own knowledge, and despises others, as if he were far above them. For Paul does not here condemn knowledge, but that ambition and haughtiness which ungodly men contract in consequence of it. Otherwise he does not exhort us to be skeptical, so as to be always hesitating and hanging in doubt, and he does not approve of a false and counterfeit modesty, as if it were a good thing to think that we are ignorant of what we do know. That man, therefore, who thinks that he knows something, or, in other words, who is insolent from an empty notion of his own knowledge, so that he prefers himself before others, and is self-conceited, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.
For the beginning of all true knowledge is acquaintance with God, which produces in us humility and submission; nay more, it prostrates us entirely instead of elating us. But where pride is, there is ignorance of God — a beautiful passage! Would to God that all knew it aright, so as properly to understand the rule of right knowledge! [Calvin]
The Bible defines the fool as someone who says that there is no God. We have learned first hand that the fool is confident in his ignorance. What greater ignorance is their among men than that caused by the suppression of the knowledge of God? We are not so foolish as to think we can separate a fool from his folly. Let’s move on to more profitable things.