People have asked me, "Why do you read the Bible so much? Don’t you know that knowledge puffs up but love edifies?" Of course they are referring to I Corinthians 8:1.
I Corinthians 8:1:
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge [gnõsis] puffeth up, but charity [agapê] edifieth.
Can knowledge be bad? Are knowledge and love mutually exclusive? I trust you know intuitively from life that the answer to both of these questions is “no.” Certainly we want to be motivated by the love of God, [Greek Term "agapê"], and to "edify" or "build up" our brothers and sisters in Christ. We also do not want to be arrogant or proud or “puffed up” like the King James Version says, but is arrogance the inevitable result of too much knowledge?
If knowledge was bad, why would God teach man knowledge as Psalm 94:10 says? If knowledge were a bad thing why would God instruct us to cry after knowledge and promise to provide it (Proverbs 2:3,5). Truly therefore it is not an ever increasing knowledge of God that “puffs up,” but rather it is “a little knowledge” or a smug satisfaction that comes from thinking you “know it all” that breeds arrogance.
Let me ask you a question, “What do you know about “things offered to idols?” Surely the Corinthians because of their culture knew more than we do, but I suggest that not many of them knew as much about it as they needed to, because Paul taught them more. “Knowledge” in I Corinthians 8:1 is the Greek word "gnõsis." As it is used in this context it means "a little knowledge" or an isolated and incomplete knowledge. We have an proverb that says: "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." That’s the kind of knowledge Paul is talking about in I Corinthians 8:1. When people think they know all that they need to know, they are in a precarious situation.
I Corinthians 8:1:
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have [a little bit of] knowledge. [A little bit of] knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
However there is another Greek word for "knowledge" in the New Testament, "epignõsis." The "epi" prefix indicates a "full," “precise,” or “accurate” knowledge. God encourages us to grow into this "epignõsis," or "full knowledge."
II Peter 3:18:
Grow in grace and in the knowledge [epignõsis] of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ".
Indeed, He desires it.
I Timothy 2:4:
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge [epignõsis] of the truth.
Through it God blesses us, providing all things that pertain to life and godliness.
II Peter 1:2,3:
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge [epignõsis] of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge [epignõsis] of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
This kind of knowledge is required for us to continue to renew our minds.
Colossians 3:10:
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge [epignõsis] after the image of him that created him:
Indeed, it is God’s prayer by Paul and every other genuine leader in the Body of Christ.
Colossians 1:9,10:
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge [epignõsis] of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge [epignõsis] of God;
Philippians 1:9:
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge [epignõsis] and in all judgment;
Knowledge and love are not mutually exclusive. In Philippians 1:9 we see that a proper, precise, growing knowledge allows our love to abound more and more. The Corinthians were like the Israelites that Paul spoke of in Romans 10. They too, had a little knowledge of God, even great zeal for what they knew. However, they lacked the full, precise, epignõsis kind of knowledge God desired for them.
Romans 10:2:
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge [epignõsis].
We can never have too much knowledge, epignosis, of God’s Word. Growing in the knowledge of God’s Word and will provides the strength we need to live the Christian life and facilitates the development of good Christian character.
In an isolated and incomplete knowledge alone, there IS the danger of pride and arrogance. Pride and arrogance are often the fruit of a know-it-all or a smug self-satisfied attitude. We do not pursue knowledge for knowledge’ sake. We want to know God better so we can love Him more. Let’s not be content with being just acquaintances with our loving heavenly Father.
Rather let’s pursue a deeper and more intimate knowledge and acquaintance with Him that continues to grow and blossom in our family relationship as we understand more and more of His love and grace upon our lives.
