Thoughts on the Purpose of Biblical Knowledge

(HT to imonk at the Boar's Head Tavern for linking this fine post)

Joe Thorn has written an excellent short piece on the dangers of theology becoming an end in itself and an idol that can actually lead us away from God. Thorn points out this tendency specifically in the context of reformed circles of which he is familiar. These are wise words and by no means is he the first to say them. Here is a quote thatI believe summarizes his view on the problem well:

I believe in many cases we have replaced God with theology. Often our zeal
is for doctrine over deity, and many of us are more about having the answers
than having God. We delight in the beautiful system of thought more than the
God that stands above it all. Let me put it this way; theology – even the
right theology – can be the idol that subtly leads us away from God. Of
course the problem is not the doctrine, we are. We have allowed
pride and arrogance to smother our study so that much of it is more about us
than God.

How true this can be that pride and arrogance can and does rage in the hearts of
those of us who attempt to study the Bible. How sad that fallen men can take something as potentially valuable and edifying as the study of God's Word and pervert it. Thorn (rightly) concludes that theology must lead us to worship God and it must produce a change in our lives. Thinking about these issues made me reflect on the Biblical purpose (or one of the Biblical purposes) of knowledge of God. I am convinced that we cannot separate the intellectual and the spiritual in our walk with God and that if we do so the only result will excess in one direction or the other.

One passage that speaks of the proper outcome of knowledge is Colossians 1:9-14:

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking
that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom
and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully
pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the
knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to
his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving
thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of
the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and
transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have
redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Paul is writing to the church. He begins this thought by writing 'since the the day we heard'. The context of the preceding verses tells us that he means since he heard of the faith of the Colossians. So from the very time Paul knew about the children of God in this church who were seeking to follow Jesus, he prayed for them. But what did Paul pray? He could have prayed many things and I am sure he did. But the one thing he brings to their attention is that he prayed that they 'may be filled with the knowledge of [God's] will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding'. This is amazing in some ways. Paul was deeply concerned that they increase in their knowledge of the will of God and spriritual things.

I notice a few things about this knowledge and the pursuit thereof that are very important:

1. It is for believers

As we have already said, Paul is writing to the church. This is reiterated in v. 12 when Paul points out that God has (past tense) qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints. So we see right away that this pursuit of the knowledge of God is profitable to believers.

2. There is a supernatural component to the knowledge

Paul prays that they be filled with knowledge. He prays that they will be strengthend accordng to God's glorious might (v. 11). We must realize that without the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds, we will not increase in true knowledge of God. Left completely on our own we are helpless in this regard. This is a basic truth but it deserves restating here. It is also worth stating that this does not preclude our effort in the matter. We would do well to imitate, in our attitude toward study, Paul's attitude toward laboring for the gospel in verse 29 of chapter 1 when he writes "... I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me." We work with the knowledge that it is God's work in us that makes it possible.

3. The knowledge visible results in the life of a follower of Jesus

Paul wants them to have knowledge so that they will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and bear fruit in every good work, pleasing God in all respects! The knowledge of God is obtained so that believers live a more Christ-like and holy life. That is Paul's hope. He doesn't want them to have knowledge to win debates or simply be smarter. He wants them to learn about God so that they turn and glorify Him in their lives. John Owen knew this truth when he wrote that the will cannot choose what the mind cannot comprehend. We must know what is right and good and pleasing to God before we can choose it.

4. It results in wanting more knowledge of God

Paul follows up the prayer for good works and holy lifestyle by praying that they continue to increase in the knowledge of God (v. 11). As we make our childlike attempts to know God through Scripture and through life, we find that we are terribly out of our league. He is so far above us, we are hopeless in attempting to know Him completely. But that does not decrease the joy and the fruit that comes from knowing Him as our ability allows. Realizing that there is always more that we could (and should) know about God helps to keep us humble and keep our perspective on how weak we are compared to Him.

5. It produces a humility and reverence for God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ

The final point is very relevant to this discussion. Paul prayed that as they increased in knowledge and saw the fruit of that, that they would continually give thanks to God for qualifying them to be among the saints (v. 12). He urges them to realize that this qualifying is through Jesus Christ and that it is only because of Jesus that we have redemption (v.13-14). Because as we said earlier, This is a message for believers. Without the person and work of Jesus Christ, the almighty God incarnate; we are apart from God. We have no redemption. We have no power of God through the Holy Spirit at work in us. So our only claim to being able to know about God is what He did for us through Christ. If we forget this point and try to claim knowledge of God as our own, we have missed the point entirely.

So let us pray that this may be the pattern of our lives. Let us study the Scripture and meditate on them. Let us read good books and writings of other Christians. Let us take our theology very seriously. But, at the same time, let us pray that God would be so merciful as to fill us with knowledge of Him and His will. Not so that we may appear smarter than our brothers and sisters. Not so that we may justify sin in our lives based on technicalities. Not so that we may be exalted. No. Pray that we do these things so that we bear fruit in our lives that is to the praise and glory of God. Pray that as we learn of our dependence on Him, that our dedication and commitment to Jesus Christ was burn so hot that we would have no choice but to live it out in practice.