At the end of May, Scot McKnight asked his readers what they thought were the most commonly misinterpreted verses in the Bible. Even though there were many responses, I was surprised to find most of the ones on my own list missing. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2013/05/31/most-mis-interpreted-bible-verses-whats-at-the-top-of-your-list/
Among an array which I hope to write about in the near future, let me mention just one: I Cor. 8:1.
The pithy “knowledge puffs up, but love edifies” is frequently slung out as a warning that knowledge is somehow intrinsically corrosive. The conclusion many tragically make is to steer clear from acquiring too much knowledge for it will make you arrogant. Love is where it is at. The first commandment after all is to love God, not know about Him!
There are many problems with this line of thinking. Let me briefly sketch out a few. The context of I Cor. 8:1 addresses those who feel the freedom to eat food sacrificed to idols and those who don’t. Paul warns against allowing “this knowledge” (as the ESV helpfully renders it) which gives some the freedom to eat the food to guard against being critical of those who don’t have the same freedom. It is knowledge misused not knowledge in and of itself that Paul is warning about.
Furthermore, we know that Paul makes many appeals to knowledge and right thinking throughout his teaching on Christian growth, so knowledge per se is not in Paul’s spiritual cross hairs. A brief, but wise summary of these is found in John R.W. Stott, Your Mind Matters (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1972), 41-42.
It would make no sense for the apostle Paul to diminish the importance of knowledge when he warns against “thinking like children” and the need to be “mature in our thinking.” And this occurs in the same book as the misapplied verse of I Cor. 8:1 (see I Cor. 14:20)!
Our real nemesis is pride not knowledge. Pride can tempt those who know a lot, but pride can equally tempt those who may not know as much, but are prideful about how zealous they are. I can attest to pride’s seductive allure with both extremes.
Acquiring knowledge is viewed as virtuous in the book of Proverbs. And knowledge is much more closely related to wisdom there (and vice versa) than many Christians appreciate, but that will have to wait for another day.
In our pursuit of knowledge (again a noble endeavor) we must remember that pride often lurks to flatter our egos, but knowledge is not our enemy. Pride is our true nemesis and it is ever-present to entice knowledgeable Christians who look down on those who don’t think in very sophisticated categories. It also tempts those who are zealous to look down their spiritual noses at those who are not “doing so much for the kingdom.” As some of my Cru friends used to say, “We are the Green Berets” of American Christianity. Many times we were encouraged to “attack hell with a squirt gun” while being warned over pursuing too much education.
We need to remember pride is one of the seven deadly sins not knowledge!
I’ve never seen this scripture as a warning against gaining knowledge, but rather a warning for those who strive to demonstrate they are the smartest person in the room. Here’s how it plays out in the Austin technology sector — If Person-A can communicate in a way that demonstrates his ideas are better than Person-B (i.e., Person-A demonstrates he’s smarter), then Person-A can gain power and control over Person-B, Person-C and Person-D. In this example, Person-A’s hidden goal is to gain power and control from his superior knowledge.
I see this in the Austin technology sector where the old class structure of family and money have been replaced by a new class structure of position (i.e., working on the latest technology at the hottest technology company). The more power and control Person-A can get, the higher position Person-A can attain and the more it strokes his ego.
I once had a technology executive tell me, “I know things and see things that others don’t know and don’t see and it’s clear to me what needs to be done.”
That very well may be, but that executive has a choice on how to use that knowledge and insight. He can use it to gain power and control over others for his own benefit, or he can use it to lift the organization as a whole, such that the organization collectively benefits. It’s about motive.
Hey Joe,
Interesting dynamic you speak of and glad to know you never saw I Cor. 8:1 as advocating a warning against knowledge.
As you say, love definitely needs to encase knowledge to be used in the way God wants it to be used.
The favorite misused Bible quote in the blue-collar church I grew up in was, “A workman needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) This was generally taken to mean that (1) a seminary education was not needed in order to completely understand the Bible and (2) such an education was probably more of a detriment than a help. Of course, you can imagine their views on secular colleges.
I would hope that such attitudes within the church are rarer today, but I am rather doubtful. Many Christians would still rather rely on best selling fiction authors or popular bloggers for their theology rather than works by evangelical scholars with impeccable credentials.