Vain Knowledge

All knowledge is futile without the knowledge of God. Socrates said, “I know only one thing, that I know nothing.” I cannot vouch that this was said in sincerity or with a false show of humility. But after studying the Holy Scriptures for half a century, it is plain to me that every worldly wise philosopher’s knowledge is vain.

Few there are who understand that the real issue among Job’s so-called friends was which among them had the greater knowledge. Each desperately attempted to exalt himself at the other’s expense. To paraphrase Paul, “…they did not know as they ought to know.” God tells us in no uncertain terms at the end of Job that these know-it-alls knew nothing at all.

Peter exhorts Believers in his second epistle, “Add to your faith…knowledge.” He goes on to describe of what sort this knowledge consists, “But grow…in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” The Christian’s greatest desire should be to know Him more intimately. Not the Christ of the world, but the Christ of the Word.

Jesus said, “Search the scriptures…they…testify of me.”