Knowledge vs Knowing, part 1

1 Corinthians 8:1 “Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” This eighth chapter of 1 Corinthians talks a lot about idols, which is why Paul said, “We know that we all possess knowledge about the issue of idols.” But then he says, “Knowledge puffs up.” 

A few years back, we were doing a series studying through Corinthians. At the time, I gave a little background on the city of Corinth, noting that, not only was Corinth a very corrupt city, but that it was at the same time a cultural center and a place of higher learning. Academia was one of its gods, so Paul is talking to them about how they use their knowledge and how they gain it.   

In the context of these verses, Paul basically says that knowledge makes a person think they understand spiritual things. People can mistakenly think that having knowledge about God is the same as knowing God. That’s why Paul said, “Knowledge puffs up.” 

Our tendency is to believe that our service and learning equals rightness with God, resulting in knowing God, but that is not necessarily true. This is why verse two emphasizes how we gain knowledge. 1 Corinthians 8:2 “The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.” This verse could basically be read this way: “Man has not gained knowledge in the way he should gain it.” 

The beginning sentence in this verse, “the man who thinks he knows something,” speaks of pride. Anyone who is proud of what they have accomplished and what they know has not yet learned in the way they should have learned. Keep in mind, there is nothing wrong with knowledge, but there is something wrong with pride in learning.

Remember, Adam was given great knowledge by God. He gave the plants and animals their scientific names, he was incredibly smart. Scientists today tell us that we use probably only about 10 percent of our brain’s potential. Well, it’s believed that before the fall of man, Adam had full use of his brain. But then something happened. Through pride and the inability to remain humble, they ate of the forbidden fruit which was from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. So, once he gained knowledge in the wrong way, he went from the innocence of a little child to knowing too much about good and evil - which is now our primary source for worry. Why are we worried about the economy? It’s because we understand evil and what the lack of finances might do to us. 
 

When a person gains knowledge in the wrong way, it is usually pride-based and pride forgets the grace of God. It takes credit for something it had nothing to do with. Do you remember from a couple chapters earlier how Paul said, “What do you have that you did not receive? (1 Corinthians 4:7)” We could easily, without changing the meaning, add the words: “from God” here – “What do you have that you did not receive from God?”
 

Paul was trying to get them to see that everything they have, even the knowledge they have, is from the Lord. When we forget that all things come from God, we tend to become proud of our accomplishments and take credit for something that was given to us. Subsequently, we do not know in the way we should know.

Continued tomorrow