Knowledge vs. Intelligence

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Jan 6, 2012
1,233
10
0
#1
I want to make a distinction between knowledge and intelligence as they apply to God and spiritual and daily life. The Bible uses certain words interchangeably (e.g. wisdom, knowledge, understanding; spirit, soul, heart; etc.), but each word still holds its own specific meaning just like there is one God who is Three Persons. Knowledge in the Bible can mean much more than knowledge means in the dictionary and in the average person's life: knowledge of Scripture and knowledge of God are two different types of knowledge about two different things. Today, knowledge basically means 'information'. I read books, study a career in college, and acquire information from those things. Unfortunately, people tend to confuse knowledge with intelligence. If you have a lot of facts (i.e. if you have knowledge), people say you are intelligent. I recall grimacing when Obama was first up for election and people kept saying that he was intelligent. He knew a lot (knowledge), and they called it intelligence (understanding or wisdom-- the proper application of knowledge). I think it's apparent to most people now that he knew just enough to get into office and we can hardly call knowing what to say (knowledge) that intelligence.

Most people have been tricked into believing that knowledge is superior to intelligence; on top of that, knowledge is then called intelligence since it's apparent that intelligence is superior to knowledge. The problem with intelligence is that it is superior to knowledge but that one doesn't have to be superior to others to have it. Plant life, animal life, the basest life-forms operate because of intelligence not knowledge so much. This means intelligence is basic or a given and not something special. Babies who can't yet think (for not having language to do so) and who have little knowledge still operate by intelligence; the nervous system operates by intelligence, not knowledge which means it doesn't have to know what to do but does what is necessary for life. Knowledge tends to naturally lead people away from God (even if they don't mean it to). Paul said, "We know that 'We all possess knowledge.' But knowledge puffs up while Love builds up" (1Cor. 8:1). (He was saying, "Everyone knows something, so we're all in the same class and can't really be better than anyone else. We all have knowledge (of something or other), however, we don't all have Love." (The message was that knowledge brags when it actually has no right to ("We all have knowledge") but that Love doesn't though it actually has the right to (since it does what knowledge doesn't do: "Love edifies").) Intelligence tends to naturally lead people toward God as it is how God created all things to work:

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse" (Rom. 1:18-20).

To suppress truth means to suppress intelligence, the natural way God made people to work. God hates homosexuality not just because people are 'doing bad things' but because people are not functioning how He created them to function (when you read the rest of the above passage about homosexuality, etc., this all makes more sense. Plant life functions by intelligence as does animal life most of the time, but human beings, because of our ability to think independently, often choose knowledge over intelligence and so then always miss God in the process: "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Rom. 1:22) and "Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world... For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength" (1Cor. 1:20, 25). God didn't present tense make human wisdom foolish but did past tense in eternity when He determined how everything would work. "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" is a prayer to live the way one was created to live. There are so many people running around publishing their knowledge and all the things they learned, showing off their knowledge; but Jesus, who was the real thing, said that He only did what He saw God doing as He operated by intelligence (wisdom, functioning the way one is created to function). The teachers of the Law had lots of knowledge; but Jesus had intelligence and therefore, not having studied as they had, knew and understood things much more than they did, even teaching them when He was only twelve. There's only one explanation for this:

"Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on Your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey Your precepts" (Ps. 119:98-100).

Since we all have knowledge (even plant life has it), we can't realistically brag about having knowledge or info.; so, is there something more important that actually classes a person in a different category from everyone else? Yes; it's to live by intelligence (wisdom and understanding) or how one was designed to live which is toward God and not self: "We know that we all have knowledge; knowledge puffs up, but Love edifies" (1Cor. 8:1).
 
S

Sirk

Guest
#2
Holy crap dude. That's a long one. A distinction can be made even from intelligence and wisdom. I've seen some really smart people that are really dumb. I sum it up like this.
Nothing is fool proof to a sufficiently talented fool. Even the wise and intelligent are gonna reason their way right to hell.
 
Jan 6, 2012
1,233
10
0
#3
Holy crap dude. That's a long one. A distinction can be made even from intelligence and wisdom. I've seen some really smart people that are really dumb. I sum it up like this.
Nothing is fool proof to a sufficiently talented fool. Even the wise and intelligent are gonna reason their way right to hell.
It's Sunday, so I have time to sit :) Yes, there are distinctions among all those words; this is why the dictionary has many synonyms for one word and then differing definitions among those synonyms which then tie to other words and it continues, etc. My above post is the long way of saying what Solomon, after trying out everything and finding no satisfaction, said, "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Eccl. 2:13-14).

The word origin of 'intelligence' narrows down to these: inter- "between" + legere "choose, pick out". It literally means 'to choose between' or 'to discern <rightly>'. After Solomon, with all his wisdom, did so many things wrong, he returned to the facts and said that correct discernment (living right before God (since there will also be a judgment or a time for reward and consequence)) is "the whole duty of man". Everything was created to live or flourish a certain way; when they do as they were created to do, they are in line with their 'intelligent design'; they are living wisely. I drive one of my friends nuts making super tiny distinctions sometimes (only when we talk spiritual and philosophical); but I see good things coming of it down the road.
 
Oct 31, 2011
8,200
182
0
#4
This truth really needed to be said, and we all need to think about it. I know several highly educated people who are dumb and some people with almost no education who are very intelligent. One very intelligent in world thinking that I know spends most of his time trying to convince others he is intelligent so he is an absolute bore. Another intelligent person with a second grade education but a knowledge of God hires a secretary to do his writing. He has transformed his community.

To add wisdom to intelligence is knowing how God operates our world. I know one person with so low an IQ that he simply cannot comprehend more than the very basic math, but knows Jesus and expresses love for others always. We have all read posts by atheist who know a lot about the mechanical working of the world but are completely blind to any understanding of how God is working in our world.
 
Jan 19, 2013
11,909
141
0
#5
I want to make a distinction between knowledge and intelligence as they apply to God and spiritual and daily life. The Bible uses certain words interchangeably (e.g. wisdom, knowledge, understanding; spirit, soul, heart; etc.), but each word still holds its own specific meaning just like there is one God who is Three Persons. Knowledge in the Bible can mean much more than knowledge means in the dictionary and in the average person's life: knowledge of Scripture and knowledge of God are two different types of knowledge about two different things. Today, knowledge basically means 'information'. I read books, study a career in college, and acquire information from those things. Unfortunately, people tend to confuse knowledge with intelligence. If you have a lot of facts (i.e. if you have knowledge), people say you are intelligent. I recall grimacing when Obama was first up for election and people kept saying that he was intelligent. He knew a lot (knowledge), and they called it intelligence (understanding or wisdom-- the proper application of knowledge). I think it's apparent to most people now that he knew just enough to get into office and we can hardly call knowing what to say (knowledge) that intelligence.

Most people have been tricked into believing that knowledge is superior to intelligence; on top of that, knowledge is then called intelligence since it's apparent that intelligence is superior to knowledge. The problem with intelligence is that it is superior to knowledge but that one doesn't have to be superior to others to have it. Plant life, animal life, the basest life-forms operate because of intelligence not knowledge so much. This means intelligence is basic or a given and not something special. Babies who can't yet think (for not having language to do so) and who have little knowledge still operate by intelligence; the nervous system operates by intelligence, not knowledge which means it doesn't have to know what to do but does what is necessary for life. Knowledge tends to naturally lead people away from God (even if they don't mean it to). Paul said, "We know that 'We all possess knowledge.' But knowledge puffs up while Love builds up" (1Cor. 8:1). (He was saying, "Everyone knows something, so we're all in the same class and can't really be better than anyone else. We all have knowledge (of something or other), however, we don't all have Love." (The message was that knowledge brags when it actually has no right to ("We all have knowledge") but that Love doesn't though it actually has the right to (since it does what knowledge doesn't do: "Love edifies").) Intelligence tends to naturally lead people toward God as it is how God created all things to work:

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse" (Rom. 1:18-20).

To suppress truth means to suppress intelligence, the natural way God made people to work. God hates homosexuality not just because people are 'doing bad things' but because people are not functioning how He created them to function (when you read the rest of the above passage about homosexuality, etc., this all makes more sense. Plant life functions by intelligence as does animal life most of the time, but human beings, because of our ability to think independently, often choose knowledge over intelligence and so then always miss God in the process: "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Rom. 1:22) and "Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world... For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength" (1Cor. 1:20, 25). God didn't present tense make human wisdom foolish but did past tense in eternity when He determined how everything would work. "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" is a prayer to live the way one was created to live. There are so many people running around publishing their knowledge and all the things they learned, showing off their knowledge; but Jesus, who was the real thing, said that He only did what He saw God doing as He operated by intelligence (wisdom, functioning the way one is created to function). The teachers of the Law had lots of knowledge; but Jesus had intelligence and therefore, not having studied as they had, knew and understood things much more than they did, even teaching them when He was only twelve. There's only one explanation for this:

"Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on Your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey Your precepts" (Ps. 119:98-100).

Since we all have knowledge (even plant life has it), we can't realistically brag about having knowledge or info.; so,
is there something more important that actually classes a person in a different category from everyone else?
Yes; it's to live by intelligence (wisdom and understanding) or how one was designed to live which is toward God and not self: "We know that we all have knowledge; knowledge puffs up, but Love edifies" (1Cor. 8:1).
Intelligence does not save any more than knowledge does.

Both are powerless to save.
 

breno785au

Senior Member
Jul 23, 2013
6,002
764
113
39
Australia
#6
interesting post, both knowledge and intelligence without love puffs up.
 
Oct 31, 2011
8,200
182
0
#7
Intelligence does not save any more than knowledge does.

Both are powerless to save.
The bible talks about more than being saved. Being saved is the first, without that the scriptures are as nothing, but we are not to stop there, we are to go on to living in Christ. Being saved is what God does for us, purely selfish of us to stop with what the Lord does for us. We are rewarded for walking in the way of Christ, too.
 
Jan 6, 2012
1,233
10
0
#8
This truth really needed to be said, and we all need to think about it. I know several highly educated people who are dumb and some people with almost no education who are very intelligent. One very intelligent in world thinking that I know spends most of his time trying to convince others he is intelligent so he is an absolute bore. Another intelligent person with a second grade education but a knowledge of God hires a secretary to do his writing. He has transformed his community.

To add wisdom to intelligence is knowing how God operates our world. I know one person with so low an IQ that he simply cannot comprehend more than the very basic math, but knows Jesus and expresses love for others always. We have all read posts by atheist who know a lot about the mechanical working of the world but are completely blind to any understanding of how God is working in our world.
As we see more and more of Eph. 4:11-16, all these things (knowledge, wisdom, understanding, intelligence, Love, peace, righteousness, obedience, faith, prudence, discretion, discernment, insight, revelation, order, unity, Grace, etc.) perfectly tied together. There's so much of an 'in part' right now that there are far more questions than answers and too many gaps between things. As unity comes, the meanings of all these things will become manifest (apparent), and they will tie perfectly together (with all their different meanings and different-faceted positions) and will make perfect sense to everyone, even to kindergarteners: "The unfolding (manifestation, revelation, unveiling, distribution, publication, surfacing) of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple" (Ps. 119:130). Like a human body with its many parts, unity (Eph. 4:11-16) will bring all these many facets together into one perfect (mature) and understandable whole so that everyone (from least to greatest) will understand it and so be able to do it (as Saints are to work and do ministry also and not just receive ministry).
 
Jan 6, 2012
1,233
10
0
#9
Intelligence does not save any more than knowledge does.

Both are powerless to save.
The psalmist said, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding" (111:10). Good understanding there is the same as 'intelligence' as I use it here. When something works as it is supposed to, then it is working 'intelligently'. That's the real definition of intelligence (just as the Bible talks about 'the knowledge of God'). But I know how 'intelligence' is defined today; according to that definition, you're right that intelligence does not save any more than knowledge does. Nothing that is engineered by or that comes from the flesh has any power towards godliness, fulfillment, or satisfaction. But "this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent" (Jn. 17:3). In the end, Jesus saves; but before the end, we need to learn how to respond to those who ask us why we want to be saved in the first place, those who don't understand or care for 'Jesus talk'.
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,261
2,386
113
#10
There is one major problem comparing knowledge to intelligence.

They are apples and oranges.

Knowledge is a biblical word, with very specific doctrinal significance.
It is a word which is actually defined by God in scripture.

Intelligence is a non-biblical word, without any doctrinal significance.
It is a word only defined by man, and as most words, the nuance of meaning changes over time.

You can of course discuss words any way you like.
But if you want a BIBLICAL discussion of words,
then you have to compare BIBLICAL WORDS TO OTHER BIBLICAL WORDS.

Biblical words that have a similar meaning to "knowledge",
which are used in similar ways and in related passages,
would be words like wisdom, understanding, judgement, justice, and equity.

The word "intelligence" is missing from this group, and is WHOLLY missing from all of scripture.

There is a reason that "intelligence", and other words which represent your innate abilities,
are usually absent from scripture.
It's a good thing to look into.
 

Apostol2013

Senior Member
Jan 27, 2013
2,105
39
48
#11
I want to make a distinction between knowledge and intelligence as they apply to God and spiritual and daily life. The Bible uses certain words interchangeably (e.g. wisdom, knowledge, understanding; spirit, soul, heart; etc.), but each word still holds its own specific meaning just like there is one God who is Three Persons. Knowledge in the Bible can mean much more than knowledge means in the dictionary and in the average person's life: knowledge of Scripture and knowledge of God are two different types of knowledge about two different things. Today, knowledge basically means 'information'. I read books, study a career in college, and acquire information from those things. Unfortunately, people tend to confuse knowledge with intelligence. If you have a lot of facts (i.e. if you have knowledge), people say you are intelligent. I recall grimacing when Obama was first up for election and people kept saying that he was intelligent. He knew a lot (knowledge), and they called it intelligence (understanding or wisdom-- the proper application of knowledge). I think it's apparent to most people now that he knew just enough to get into office and we can hardly call knowing what to say (knowledge) that intelligence.

Most people have been tricked into believing that knowledge is superior to intelligence; on top of that, knowledge is then called intelligence since it's apparent that intelligence is superior to knowledge. The problem with intelligence is that it is superior to knowledge but that one doesn't have to be superior to others to have it. Plant life, animal life, the basest life-forms operate because of intelligence not knowledge so much. This means intelligence is basic or a given and not something special. Babies who can't yet think (for not having language to do so) and who have little knowledge still operate by intelligence; the nervous system operates by intelligence, not knowledge which means it doesn't have to know what to do but does what is necessary for life. Knowledge tends to naturally lead people away from God (even if they don't mean it to). Paul said, "We know that 'We all possess knowledge.' But knowledge puffs up while Love builds up" (1Cor. 8:1). (He was saying, "Everyone knows something, so we're all in the same class and can't really be better than anyone else. We all have knowledge (of something or other), however, we don't all have Love." (The message was that knowledge brags when it actually has no right to ("We all have knowledge") but that Love doesn't though it actually has the right to (since it does what knowledge doesn't do: "Love edifies").) Intelligence tends to naturally lead people toward God as it is how God created all things to work:

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse" (Rom. 1:18-20).

To suppress truth means to suppress intelligence, the natural way God made people to work. God hates homosexuality not just because people are 'doing bad things' but because people are not functioning how He created them to function (when you read the rest of the above passage about homosexuality, etc., this all makes more sense. Plant life functions by intelligence as does animal life most of the time, but human beings, because of our ability to think independently, often choose knowledge over intelligence and so then always miss God in the process: "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Rom. 1:22) and "Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world... For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength" (1Cor. 1:20, 25). God didn't present tense make human wisdom foolish but did past tense in eternity when He determined how everything would work. "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" is a prayer to live the way one was created to live. There are so many people running around publishing their knowledge and all the things they learned, showing off their knowledge; but Jesus, who was the real thing, said that He only did what He saw God doing as He operated by intelligence (wisdom, functioning the way one is created to function). The teachers of the Law had lots of knowledge; but Jesus had intelligence and therefore, not having studied as they had, knew and understood things much more than they did, even teaching them when He was only twelve. There's only one explanation for this:

"Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on Your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey Your precepts" (Ps. 119:98-100).

Since we all have knowledge (even plant life has it), we can't realistically brag about having knowledge or info.; so, is there something more important that actually classes a person in a different category from everyone else? Yes; it's to live by intelligence (wisdom and understanding) or how one was designed to live which is toward God and not self: "We know that we all have knowledge; knowledge puffs up, but Love edifies" (1Cor. 8:1).
yes brother salutation my brethren my friend , I see the very lack of real intelligence in , yes alot of knowledge but little show of intelligence due to lack of the right knowledge , what Imean the right knowledge to answer this i must explain , first before being able to receive the right knowledge we mus have faith to believe that God is real and his word infallable but this cannot be received without faith to recognize God in order to really walk in his love , faith is the substance in the hopes for things not seen . once one has aknowledged then there can be some understanding to the right mindframe that brings true intelligence but the right knowledge is very vital and crucial to our very dear lives because for men it is impossible but with God everything is possible and we know we cannot do anything without God .
 
Jan 6, 2012
1,233
10
0
#12
There is one major problem comparing knowledge to intelligence.

They are apples and oranges.

Knowledge is a biblical word, with very specific doctrinal significance.
It is a word which is actually defined by God in scripture.

Intelligence is a non-biblical word, without any doctrinal significance.
It is a word only defined by man, and as most words, the nuance of meaning changes over time.

You can of course discuss words any way you like.
But if you want a BIBLICAL discussion of words,
then you have to compare BIBLICAL WORDS TO OTHER BIBLICAL WORDS.

Biblical words that have a similar meaning to "knowledge",
which are used in similar ways and in related passages,
would be words like wisdom, understanding, judgement, justice, and equity.

The word "intelligence" is missing from this group, and is WHOLLY missing from all of scripture.

There is a reason that "intelligence", and other words which represent your innate abilities,
are usually absent from scripture.
It's a good thing to look into.
If we plan to reach the common man, we need to speak his language. We are to compare spiritual words with spiritual, not words in the Bible with words in the Bible. I was watching King Arthur years ago, and the Lord was already speaking to me. I went outside and smoked and cigarette while weeping as He spoke to me from the movie but about the Kingdom: in this, He wasn't speaking Bible to me; He was speaking spiritual and using an everyday thing (a movie in this instance) to communicate. While we are among Christians, we speak Christian just as we speak English among English speakers; but this world is full of people who speak many other languages besides Christian (and English). If we had to read the Bible in the original three languages (Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek), we would be in trouble; but it was translated for us to understand. If we had to understand God in His glory, we would be lost; but He became us and spoke our language. Though not all Christians will minister cross-culturally as far as other countries and ethnic groups, we don't have a choice but to minister cross-culturally since we are surrounded by people of every culture and belief. In other words, we all need to learn different ways of speaking, speaking spiritual words and not restricting ourselves to speaking Bible words alone.

The word 'intelligence' is not called 'intelligence' in the Bible; but it appears under many other terms. One of these terms, believe it or not, is truth: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse" (Rom. 1:18-20). In creating us, God gave us all a 'conscience', an 'intelligence' in order to know what is right or wrong, etc. It is our 'intelligence' itself that makes us 'without excuse'. So, some people will speak more among Christians with more Biblical terms, and some will speak more among the common people; those people will need to speak the natural way that others speak, speaking that natural language with spiritual words (or in a spiritual way or with spiritual meaning), but both people will be right.
 
Jan 6, 2012
1,233
10
0
#13
yes brother salutation my brethren my friend , I see the very lack of real intelligence in , yes alot of knowledge but little show of intelligence due to lack of the right knowledge , what Imean the right knowledge to answer this i must explain , first before being able to receive the right knowledge we mus have faith to believe that God is real and his word infallable but this cannot be received without faith to recognize God in order to really walk in his love , faith is the substance in the hopes for things not seen . once one has aknowledged then there can be some understanding to the right mindframe that brings true intelligence but the right knowledge is very vital and crucial to our very dear lives because for men it is impossible but with God everything is possible and we know we cannot do anything without God .
Yes. I realize I am speaking words meant for the average person to Christians, so it apparently doesn't come across too sensibly often. I'm more suited to speaking to people whose thinking gets in the way of their believing; however, as Ravi Zacharias says, there's nothing wrong with "helping the thinker to believe. Helping the believer to think."
 
K

Kerim

Guest
#14
I may say we are all born with common weakness "ignorance" also with an intelligent human brain.
We may represent, as an analogy, a human baby as a powerful computer that has no data and useful programs installed on it yet.

So, I personally don't think there is a mature sane person less intelligent than I


But, at the same time, I would be surprised knowing that someone has exact priorities in life as mine


Naturally, each of us is interested to seek the knowledge that gives him better chance to live his priorities in life (which depend on the nature he is created of).

Therefore, I don't see people as good or bad, I see them just different and they are created having different end purposes and/or to play different roles in life (Jesus already pointed out this universal point in simpler words and with parables).

(Please note that the notion of 'good' or 'bad' is a relative matter; for example, two friends or partners see each other as good ones no matter if they are criminals or good teachers).
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Apostol2013

Senior Member
Jan 27, 2013
2,105
39
48
#15
Yes. I realize I am speaking words meant for the average person to Christians, so it apparently doesn't come across too sensibly often. I'm more suited to speaking to people whose thinking gets in the way of their believing; however, as Ravi Zacharias says, there's nothing wrong with "helping the thinker to believe. Helping the believer to think."
i was oftenly a stumble scripturally till the right precept of thinking was introduced .but otenly and mostly there is a lack of deep meaning in our words ,where we say one thing and do otherwise , bringing into rememberance :
[SUP]6 [/SUP]He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
[SUP]7 [/SUP]They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’[SUP][b][/SUP]

[SUP]8 [/SUP]You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
[SUP]9 [/SUP]And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[SUP][c][/SUP] your own traditions! . simply put we must let go of our thinking and let God do the work that our speech aligns with our actions , being said by this in obedience It ts God that does the works ..
 
Jan 6, 2012
1,233
10
0
#16
I may say we are all born with common weakness "ignorance" also with an intelligent human brain.
We may represent, as an analogy, a human baby as a powerful computer that has no data and useful programs installed on it yet.

So, I personally don't think there is a mature sane person less intelligent than I


But, at the same time, I would be surprised knowing that someone has exact priorities in life as mine


Naturally, each of us is interested to seek the knowledge that gives him better chance to live his priorities in life (which depend on the nature he is created of).

Therefore, I don't see people as good or bad, I see them just different and they are created having different end purposes and/or to play different roles in life (Jesus already pointed out this universal point in simpler words and with parables).

(Please note that the notion of 'good' or 'bad' is a relative matter; for example, two friends or partners see each other as good ones no matter if they are criminals or good teachers).
You got it.
 
Jan 6, 2012
1,233
10
0
#17
i was oftenly a stumble scripturally till the right precept of thinking was introduced .but otenly and mostly there is a lack of deep meaning in our words ,where we say one thing and do otherwise , bringing into rememberance :
[SUP]6 [/SUP]He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
[SUP]7 [/SUP]They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’[SUP][b][/SUP]

[SUP]8 [/SUP]You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
[SUP]9 [/SUP]And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[SUP][c][/SUP] your own traditions! . simply put we must let go of our thinking and let God do the work that our speech aligns with our actions , being said by this in obedience It ts God that does the works ..
You said it. This work is still in progress. :)
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#18
have you studied the two types of wisdom?

i've always found it interesting:

James 3
[h=3][/h][SUP]13 [/SUP]Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. [SUP]14 [/SUP]But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. [SUP]15 [/SUP]This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. [SUP]16 [/SUP]For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. [SUP]17 [/SUP]But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. [SUP]18 [/SUP]Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
 
Jan 6, 2012
1,233
10
0
#19
have you studied the two types of wisdom?

i've always found it interesting:

James 3
[SUP]13 [/SUP]Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. [SUP]14 [/SUP]But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. [SUP]15 [/SUP]This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. [SUP]16 [/SUP]For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. [SUP]17 [/SUP]But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. [SUP]18 [/SUP]Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
I agree. What do you think about the second type of wisdom? Do you see it around you a lot or barely? I think we need a lot more of it!