Knowledge By Mark Mayberry 12/20/2015 INTRODUCTION In this lesson, let us consider the value of knowledge as it relates to the gospel of Christ. In the New Testament, the Greek word gnōsis and its related word family express the idea of knowledge. Thomas defines gnōsis as a knowing, knowledge [1108]. It is derived from ginōskō [to come to know, recognize, perceive], which in turn, comes from the primary root gnō. BDAG say it refers to (1) comprehension or intellectual grasp of something, knowledge as possessed by God and humans. [Note: Because of the frequent blend of abstract and concrete in the use of gnōsis in our literature some of the passages cited above will fall under 2 and some in 2 may also apply here.]; (2) the content of what is known, knowledge, what is known; (3) a dissident variety of knowledge, knowledge, e.g. the oppositions of so-called knowledge (1 Tim. 6:20). As summarized by Swanson, Louw & Nida offer the following distinctions: 1. to possess information about something (Luke 1:77) [28:1]; 2. the content of what is known (Rom. 2:20; 1 Cor. 8:1) [28:17]; 3. esoteric knowledge (primarily philosophical and religious), with the implication of its being heretical and contrary to the gospel (1 Tim. 6:20) [28.19]; 4. understanding, perception, comprehension (Luke 11:52) [32.16]. Luke 1:77 (NASB95) 77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, Romans 2:20 (NASB95) 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth, 1 Corinthians 8:1 (NASB95) 1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 1 Timothy 6:20 (NASB95) 20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called knowledge
Luke 11:52 (NASB95) 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering. Unfortunately, the anthem of many young people echoes the lyrics of Sam Cooke s famous song, Wonderful World, first recorded in 1960, and subsequently released by various pop artists: Don t know much about History, Don t know much about Biology, Don t know much about the French I took, Don t know much about a Science Book, But I do know that I love you, And Oh if you would love me too... What a wonderful world it would be! Well maybe... But without a good education, without learning a skill or a trade, how are you going to put food on the table, pay the rent, and drive that fancy car? Knowledge is essential to success in life. Unfortunately, many young people are being shortchanged and cheated. Schools often fail to provide the knowledge that young people need to function in the secular realm. Churches often fail to provide the knowledge they need to function in the spiritual realm. Spiritual instruction is being neglected in favor of the sugarcoated pabulum of the social gospel. Fun and frolic have been substituted for the fundamentals of faith. A watered-down gospel offers little help to a world lost in sin. Serious economic and social consequences will result from our decline in academic standards. However, the effect of spiritual ignorance is even more devastating. The very foundations of a civil society crumble when men do not retain God in their knowledge (Hos. 4:6; Rom. 1:28-32). Hosea 4:6 (NASB95) 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Romans 1:28-32 (NASB95) 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
We must acquire spiritual knowledge. The greatest truth that a person can possess is truth about God (Psa. 46:10; 100:3). We should abound in knowledge (Phil. 1:9-10), be filled with knowledge (Col. 1:9-10), and grow in knowledge (2 Pet. 3:17-18). A proper understanding of spiritual truths is based upon a diligent pursuit of knowledge (Prov. 2:1-5). Psalm 46:10 (NASB95) 10 Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 100:3 (NASB95) 3 Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Philippians 1:9-10 (NASB95) 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; Colossians 1:9-10 (NASB95) 9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 2 Peter 3:17-18 (NASB95) 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. Proverbs 2:1-5 (NASB95) 1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God. KNOW THYSELF Know that despite all our potential for accomplishment and success, we are still sinners. Solomon affirmed that there is not a righteous man on the face of the earth who always does what is right and never sins (Eccles. 7:20). Isaiah said that we all, like sheep, have gone astray (Isa. 53:6). Paul asserted that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). According to John, those who say they have no sin are self-deceived (1 John 1:8); all who would argue thus make God a liar (1 John 1:10). Ecclesiastes 7:20 (NASB95) 20 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.
Isaiah 53:6 (NASB95) 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. Romans 3:23 (NASB95) 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 1 John 1:8 (NASB95) 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:10 (NASB95) 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. KNOW THE TRUTH Know that there is an objective standard of truth: the Bible (1 Thess. 2:13). All of man s accumulated wisdom pales in comparison to a proper knowledge and understanding of God (Isa. 55:8-9; Jer. 9:23-24). Divine truth offers us liberty from the shackles of sin; it delivers us from all fabrication, fiction and falsehood (John 8:31-32). Consequently, let us never be ashamed of the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16-17), but be willing to sacrifice everything for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:7-8). 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NASB95) 13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NASB95) 8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NASB95) 23 Thus says the Lord, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things, declares the Lord. John 8:31-32 (NASB95) 31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. Romans 1:16-17 (NASB95) 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, But the righteous man shall live by faith.
Philippians 3:7-8 (NASB95) 7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, KNOW SALVATION Mere knowledge, by itself, is insufficient. In order to find salvation, we must be obedient to the Word of God. Despite their intrinsic worth, divine precepts are of practical value only when they are kept (Psa. 19:9-11). Jesus said that is required if we are to receive His blessings (John 13:17). The parable of the wise and foolish builders illustrates this point (Matt. 7:24-27). Psalm 19:9-11 (NASB95) 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward. John 13:17 (NASB95) 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. Matthew 7:24-27 (NASB95) 24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell and great was its fall. Although we might (theoretically) possess all knowledge and perfect understanding, it is for naught if we do not live according to its demands (1 Cor. 13:1-3). James describes the folly of one who is a hearer of the word, but not a doer (James 1:23-25). The one who knows God takes to heart the fact that He is Lord, and demonstrates knowledge by keeping God s commandments. Religious knowledge is no mere intellectual or philosophic grasp of the truth. It is a personal, responsive relationship with the living God. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NASB95) 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. James 1:23-25 (NASB95) 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself
and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. CONCLUSION The consequences of rejecting God are indeed serious (Eccles. 11:9). Judgment will fall upon those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (2 Thess. 1:7-8). Therefore, will we be blessed or cursed in eternity? The choice is ours (Rom. 2:6-10). Remember the words of Solomon (Eccles. 12:1, 13-14). Resolve to follow the obedient example of Christ (Heb. 5:8-9). Ecclesiastes 11:9 (NASB95) 9 Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 (NASB95) 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Romans 2:6-10 (NASB95) 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Ecclesiastes 12:1 (NASB95) 1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, I have no delight in them ; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NASB95) 13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. Hebrews 5:8-9 (NASB95) 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,
Sources: BDAG = Frederick William Danker, ed., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., (Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 2000). Swanson = James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.), (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), s.v. Gnōsis. Thomas = Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition, (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998, 1981).