What Is Knowledge Base?

Transcription

1 What Is Knowledge Base? By Mary E. Caruana Scripture quotations taken from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE, Copyright 1954,1958,1962,1964,1965,1987 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission. ( Page 1 of 11

2 What Is Knowledge Base? To discern what is knowledge thirty scripture verses are studied starting in Genesis and continuing through the Bible. As the verses unfold in order an understanding of what the Bible means by knowledge is developed. An idea of what is knowledge base according to the Scriptures which starts in the Old Testament, the prediction of Christ, and ends in the New Testament, the revelation of Christ. Genesis 2:17 The first introduction to knowledge is in the Garden of Eden. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. God gave this commandment to man when He placed him in the Garden of Eden. Man did eat of the fruit of this tree and sin entered into man s life. This sin was separation from God and God took man out of the Garden of Eden and had him work the ground. As a child, a person tries to know what is right and wrong, or knowing good and evil. As a child grows, he becomes aware of blessings and calamities. This is death to God to try and evaluate himself rather than looking to God for the meaning of being. God relates to a person spiritually but when he is only concerned about what he thinks of himself, his spirit leaves out God and he dies to God. 1 Samuel 2:3 The Lord God knows. Talk no more so proudly; let not arrogance go forth from your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. Hannah, Samuel s mother, prayed to God when she gave Samuel to the Lord when he was weaned. This verse is part of her exaltation to God. Hannah points out that God knows about people and weighs their actions. By knowledge of self which is arrogance and pride, people are not known by God. The Lord God instead knows people and knows their actions. God wants people to pray to Him about their actions and needs. This is the knowledge of a person that makes an indelible impression on God. Job 32:8-10 Knowledge comes through inspiration. But there is [a vital force] a spirit [of intelligence] in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives men understanding. It is not the great [necessarily] who are wise, or [always] the aged who understand justice. So I say, Listen to me; I also give you my opinion [about Job s situation] and my knowledge. The youngest of the three friends who came to comfort Job in his losses thought he had knowledge of God through the spirit in a person. He had the opinion that God destroys the sinner. God said this was not true of Job when He responded at the end of the book of Job. Page 2 of 11

3 The spirit in a person is his intelligence. Through intelligence a person forms an opinion. But it requires the Spirit of God to develop knowledge from opinion. Elihu, the young friend, believed that his understanding came from the Spirit of the God. Psalms 19:2 The mind puts together knowledge at night. Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge. David in this psalm described how the earth is connected to knowledge. He said during the day, people speak freely. It is at night that knowledge is put together. At night the mind puts together pieces of knowledge to form dreams and visions. Sometimes people lie awake mediating in the quiet of the night to develop their knowledge. Sleep occurs when the body is at rest and the mind is active. Psalms 73:11 The wicked do not think that God has knowledge. And they say, How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High? The seventy-third psalm describes wicked people. Wicked people are arrogant and foolish in their prosperity. They lead God s people astray. Wicked people do not understand that God knows about them. They are out of relationship to God and do not perceive that God has knowledge. In the end God brings them to failure because He does know what they are doing. Psalms 139:6 The Lord has infinite knowledge of a person. Your [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high above me, I cannot reach it. In this psalm David is writing about how he is known by the Lord. The Lord knows where and when a person sits down and rises. He is acquainted with all of a person s ways. He knows of a person s words before the person says them. David describes the Lord s knowledge of himself as too great for him to realize fully. This is very comforting to be fully known. Where ever a person goes, the Lord is there with him, to the farthest ends of the earth, even to heaven and hell. The darkness does not hide the Lord from a person s presence. The Lord knows about a person s body if he or she is sick. People need to confess their sins to the Lord because He perceives their wrong doings. Proverbs 8:12 Wisdom finds out knowledge. I, Wisdom [from God], make prudence my dwelling, and I find out knowledge and discretion. Wisdom is speaking in this proverb. Godly wisdom comes from a concept of prudence or thinking something through before acting. In this way knowledge is found, by thinking something out. A person acts with discretion after acquiring knowledge and applying wisdom. Page 3 of 11

4 A knowledge base comes from wise thinking. Wise thinking can only be done through knowledge of God. Wisdom is comprehensive ideas about God s ways and purposes. Wisdom is at the foundation of the world that God made. Knowledge of the world can only be found by using wisdom. Proverbs 9:10 Knowledge of Christ is insight and understanding. The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding. Before a person can be taught knowledge, he or she must respect for authority. Wisdom starts there with fear of the Lord. The proper fear is developed when the Lord is revered and worshipped. The Lord is known when an understanding of how Christ is the holy and spotless Lamb of God. Knowledge of this aspect of Christ takes insight from God. Wisdom is obtained from the knowledge of Christ and His removal of sins. Wisdom cannot be gained without the knowledge of Christ giving a person understanding. Proverbs 14:6 Knowledge is easy to those who would be taught. A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands. Proverbs identifies types of people such as the wise, the foolish, etc. Scoffer is one of the types of people that a proverb is written about. There are many proverbs to describe the actions and attitudes of a scoffer. The attitude of a scoffer is to disregard the importance of knowledge. A scoffer cannot receive wisdom because he does not consider the meaning of it. By scoffing he is blind and deaf to wise dealings. However if a person wants to be taught, God gives understanding so that knowledge is easy. Proverbs 19:2 Only with knowledge can a person s wants be fulfilled. Desire without knowledge is not good, and to be overly hasty is to sin and miss the mark. This proverb stands alone in the nineteenth chapter. The proverbs before and after it in the chapter are not related to it. Two aspects of knowledge are discussed. The first is in relationship to a want. To just desire an object or goal is not enough. Knowledge of the object or how to reach the goal is necessary. The second aspect of knowledge is to be too hasty to stop and learn about something. As usual if a person does not read the directions it is hard to complete a project. Desire can cause hasty action and the proverb cautions that is to miss the desired result. Proverbs 30:3 Wisdom gives people knowledge of Christ and the purpose of His relationship. I have not learned skillful and godly Wisdom, that I should have the knowledge or burden of the Holy One. Page 4 of 11

5 These are the words of Agur as recorded in the thirtieth chapter of the book of Proverbs. He didn t consider himself so learned that he had acquired enough skill and wisdom to know of Christ. According to previously studied proverbs, wisdom is at the foundation of knowledge and knowledge cannot be obtained without knowing Christ. This Scripture verse also refers to Christ as the Holy one. This is because the proverb is found in the Old Testament when Christ was only predicted. Christ s purpose on earth was to save people from their sins. This was Christ s burden that He carried to the cross. At the time of the Old Testament a person had to use wisdom to gain knowledge of Christ and His coming purpose. Ecclesiastes 9:10 There is no knowledge in the place of the dead. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the place of the dead), where you are going. In the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon preaches about life and death. In this verse, Solomon says that it is good to work with the hands on earth because in death a person can do nothing. To do something, work is required along with devices and knowledge and wisdom. None of these resources is found in Sheol. People can do nothing there. Of particular interest to this study is that there is no knowledge to be found out in death. Isaiah 11:9 Knowledge of the Lord stops hurting and destroying. They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the water cover the sea. The prophet Isaiah in this chapter described a future day when Christ would rule on earth. This verse is part of the description of all the animals and young children not hurting one another. The reason given for no one being hurt or destroyed is that the earth will know the Lord. He will rule with righteousness and justice over the poor and downtrodden. Knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters of the sea to produce this world of peace. Isaiah 28:9 Knowledge is taught to babies. To whom will He teach knowledge? [Ask the drunkards.] And whom will He make to understand the message? Those who are babies, just weaned from milk and taken from the breasts? [Is that what He thinks we are?] In this scripture verse, Isaiah is prophesying about Samaria, the drunken capital of Israel at the time. Isaiah says that there will be a time when the Lord of Hosts will come and teach knowledge. The Lord will provide a remnant for Israel this way. Page 5 of 11

6 Teaching basic principles starts with teaching young children. This is necessary particularly when the adults are acting poorly. Knowledge is also taught to any who would come as children to learn. People must start as children just weaned from milk to learn knowledge. Isaiah 53:11 Christ has knowledge of Himself. He shall see [the fruit] of the travail of His soul and be satisfied; by His knowledge of Himself [which He possesses and imparts to others] shall My [uncompromisingly] righteous One, My Servant, justify many and make many righteous (upright and in right standing with God), for He shall bear their iniquities and their guilt [with the consequences, says the Lord]. This chapter in Isaiah contains a description of Christ, His grief and purpose to His life. The eleventh verse of the chapter is a description of Christ s knowledge of Himself and the results of that knowledge. Christ shall see the results of His work on earth and find satisfaction in it. By His knowledge of Himself which is what He taught to others, He shall justify and make righteous many people because He bore the guilt and consequences of their sins on the cross. Many people will come into right standing before God because of Christ s work on the earth. Jeremiah 3:15 Spiritual shepherds, given by God, feed people knowledge, understanding and judgment. And I will give you [spiritual] shepherds after My own heart [in the final time], who will feed you with knowledge and understanding and judgment. Jeremiah prophesied that in a final time God would return Israel to Zion and that He would provide for them men who were shepherds to spiritually feed those who return with knowledge. Along with the knowledge will come understanding and people will receive fair and just judgment. God gives people shepherds who guide and protect them spiritually. God is interested in the spiritual for people and carries this interest to even providing men who can spiritually guide and protect them. With the guidance of the shepherds comes knowledge of Christ and an understanding of the world He came to save. To rule the world in the knowledge of Christ, the shepherds are able to give just judgment. Daniel 12:4 In the end times, knowledge of God s will becomes great. But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the Book until the time of the end. [Then] many shall run to and fro and search anxiously [through the Book], and knowledge [of God s purposes as revealed by His prophets] shall be increased and become great. This scripture verse is a part of Daniel s prediction of the end times. It is in the final chapter of Daniel and is one of his last visions. It is not clear if the knowledge of God s will written about here comes with Christ s teachings or later as people study the Scriptures in particular what the prophets spoke. Whatever the interpretation, the Page 6 of 11

7 verse says that many people will search the Bible and knowledge of God s purposes will become generally known. Hosea 4:6 Priests have knowledge for the people. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. The Old Testament prophet Hosea spoke to Israel about the backsliding they were doing. His concern in this verse was for the priests. They had forgotten the laws of God and for this God was going to forget their children. After virtue a person needs knowledge to develop self control. A lack of knowledge destroys a people because they are unable to control themselves. The priests were in charge of teaching knowledge of the law. In Hosea s time the priest had rejected being the source of knowledge for Israel and Israel was losing their focus on God. God s response was to reject the priests. Habakkuk 2:14 The earth will be filled with knowledge of God s glory. But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters over the sea. Habakkuk, another minor prophet in the Old Testament, was concerned about wicked people prospering. He has a dialogue with God to understand the right God was doing. God encourages Habakkuk and the people of Israel by giving Habakkuk a prophecy concerning a coming time when God s glory will be prevalent. There will be knowledge of the glory of the Lord as abundant as the waters of the sea. Malachi 2:7 The lips of the priests guard knowledge. For the priest s lips should guard and keep pure the knowledge [of My law], and the people should seek (inquire for and require) instruction at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. The last Old Testament prophet Malachi is concerned with the coming judgment of God and the wrongs of Israel. He clearly delineates the responsibilities of the priests concerning knowledge. Instruction in the Law should come from the priests. The priests have the duty of keeping knowledge of the Law pure for the people, for the priest is a messenger of the Lord. The people of Israel did not have Bibles to read for themselves. They were dependent on the priests to study and teach the Law to them. The priests needed to guard the knowledge for the people. John 17:12 God preserves people in knowledge. Page 7 of 11

8 While I was with them, I kept and preserved them in Your Name [in the knowledge and worship of You]. Those You have given Me I guarded and protected, and not one of them has perished or is lost except the son of perdition [Judas Iscariot the one who is now doomed to destruction, destined to be lost], that the Scripture might be fulfilled. In this chapter in John, Jesus is praying for His disciples before he is betrayed. He knows Judas will betray Him and He is saying that he protected the rest of the disciples from falling away from God. Jesus with His example is teaching people that they are kept close to God by knowledge. It goes as far as a preservation of them for God. Not only knowledge performs this function for people but worship also is important. Church attendance provides the teaching and worship necessary to kept God s people with Him. Romans 2:20 The Law is the embodiment of knowledge and truth. You are] a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the childish, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and truth In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote to the church that they were teaching others about the Law but not practicing it themselves. Though the Law they were correcting the foolish and teaching the childish but not changing their own ways. Paul knew the Law was the whole truth as he had been a teacher of the Law himself. But the essence of the Law, love of neighbor is missed if Christ is not taken into account. Through Christ forgiveness of sins, a person can use the Law to correct his own ways or another s. This is love of people. The Law lets a person know what he or she does that is right or wrong and is a corrector of a person s inner most ideas. But change for the better cannot take place unless trespasses against the Law are forgiven. Romans 10:2 The Law itself is not correct knowledge. I bear them witness that they have a [certain] zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to [correct and vital] knowledge. Paul here is writing about the Israelites who understand the Law with zeal for God but need knowledge of Christ to have vital knowledge. He wants the Roman church to understand that Christ has fulfilled the Law by His death on the cross. The fulfillment of the Law occurred when Christ died as the atoning sacrifice. Before the Law required animal sacrifice for the atonement of sin. Sin required death as its end. When Christ died on the cross he met the requirement for sin. He died so that people did not have to die. This is correct knowledge about the Law. 1 Corinthians 8:1 Knowledge without love puffs up. Now about food offered to idols: of course we know that all of us possess knowledge [concerning these matters. Yet mere] knowledge causes people to be puffed up (to bear themselves Page 8 of 11

9 loftily and be proud), but love (affection and goodwill and benevolence) edifies and builds up and encourages one to grow [to his full stature]. The city of Corinth was a trade center and had many pagan customs. Idol temples were one of the pagan customs that Paul wrote about in his first letter to the church in Corinth. In the eighth chapter of the book of first Corinthians, Paul discusses food sacrificed to idols. He says that idols are not really gods. This is the knowledge that he writes about. Concerning eating at an idol temple, Paul believed that the idol was really only wood or stone and did not have the power of God. Yet he says this knowledge causes a person to be lofty and proud which does nothing for Jesus command to love other people. When considering whether to eat at an idol temple, a person uses love for the other people eating there. Knowing the difference between an idol and God does not edify or build up others who might eat there. Love of other people is more important than the knowledge of the difference between idols and God. Ephesians 3:19 Knowledge without experience is surpassed by practical knowledge of the love of Christ. [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison to the church at Ephesus. He describes a general idea of church and wants the church members to really know Christ. Knowledge of the facts of Christ s life and death is knowledge without practical experience with the love of Christ. Forgiveness of sin is experience with the love of Christ. Paul wants church members to have this experience so that they become filled with the fullness of God. The fullness of God is defined as the godly presence within our bodies as Christ forgives in every area of life. Colossians 2:3 All the riches of spiritual enlightenment and knowledge are stored up as treasure in Christ. In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden. While Paul was in prison, he wrote to the church at Colossae. Those who believed in human philosophy were threatening the new church there. Paul insisted that Christ was perfectly adequate for all their church beliefs. Belief in Christ gives Christians plenty of godly wisdom. Using Christ s relationship all insight into God s purpose can be obtained. Christ gives spiritual knowledge, enlightening his people in ways that surpass human philosophy. This knowledge is hidden in Christ and not given to those who are not His followers. Page 9 of 11

10 Colossians 3:10 The new spiritual self is in the process of becoming more and more perfect in knowledge. And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it. In the tenth chapter of his letter to the Colossians, Paul writes about the new self in Christ. It is made in God the Father s own image. Our image as a Christian uses clothes that show our new spiritual self. The new self increases in knowledge growing more and more perfect. In the process of this growth, a person is renewed continually until a complete remolding occurs. The growth is in knowledge of Christ s teachings and relationship. 2 Timothy 3:15 Knowledge of Scripture instructs and gives understanding. And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. Paul is writing from prison in Rome to Timothy to encourage and strengthen him to serve as a church leader. Paul s ministry is nearing its end. Timothy has knowledge of the sacred writings of his time. He learned these writing as a child. The writings instructed him in the way of salvation through Christ by using faith. Timothy placed complete trust in the power and goodness of God such that his entire human personality leaned on Christ. Paul wanted Timothy to understand that this reading of Scripture gave him instruction and understanding and Timothy was to continue in his belief and practice of reading it. 2 Peter 1:5-7 Exercising virtues develops knowledge and exercising knowledge develops self-control. For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety), And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love. The apostle Peter wrote in his second letter that disciples of Christ are sharers in the divine nature. He went on to explain how the divine nature is developed. It starts with faith and develops virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness. Godliness develops brotherly affection and ends with the result Christ had in mind Christian love. This study is Page 10 of 11

11 interested in how knowledge is developed and what develops from knowledge. A person exercises the virtues, defined as excellence, resolution and Christian energy. Virtue is doing a person s best with determination and energy supplied by Christ s relationship. Exercising these practices results in the ability to learn knowledge. And with knowledge of Christ s teachings a person can develop self-control. The mind and heart work together to develop intelligence and then the ability to have self-control. 2 Peter 3:18 Grow in knowledge of Christ. But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)! This scripture verse is the last verse in the second letter of Peter. It is a blessing to the disciples of Christ to whom Peter wrote. The ending gives the glory to Christ. There are four areas in which to grow in this blessing, grace, recognition, knowledge and understanding. All areas concern the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole bible teaches about Christ and summarizes this sturdy of what is knowledge base. Basically knowledge is knowledge of Christ s teachings and purpose on earth. All other knowledge is gained when this knowledge is obtained. Page 11 of 11