“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
Fools, in the Bible, are not intellectually challenged. Fools are not stupid. In almost hyperbolic language, the Bible equates "fools" with those who possess knowledge, but don't possess knowledge. It's just like Paul in this tongue-twisting text in 1 Corinthians, chapter 8. It is here that Paul unravels that floppy muscle in the cavity of our mouths and says this: The measure of your knowledge is in direct proportion to the expression of your knowledge. In fact those who don't express their knowledge in the way that God directs are indicted with these words: "[They are] people who think they know so much don’t know anything at all." (1 Corinthians 8:2, CEV). So the question that the previous post left was this: "What will turn presumed knowledge into precise knowledge?" The answer is sandwiched in the text. Note:
" Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up." (1 Corinthians 8:1, ESV)
and
"But if anyone loves God, he is known by God." (1 Corinthians 8:3, ESV)
The first half of the sandwich is this: Knowledge (to be knowledge in reality and in precision) must be expressed in love. This is well-known to us. I remind you of 1 Corinthians 13:2. The second half of the sandwich takes more thought and explanation. Here is the chain of thought:
To be known by God is His foreknowledge or election (Romans 8:29; etc.) -->
To be chosen by God is be humbled by one's inability and inadequacy -->
Therefore: To be known by means all life is by grace therefore ". . . What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7, ESV)
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