"Wisdom Comes Only When Preceded by Knowledge"

[WordSword]

The believer's spiritual growth derives from numerous doctrines in Scripture but, "not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches" (1 Cor 2:13). The only means of avoiding the error of the former is to continue to increase familiarization of Scripture, esp. within the NT--it being the present dispensation and it stands to reason it will result in enhanced understanding of the OT. Reading through is obviously encompassing, which is the point and returning where you left off promotes ease of consistency, because it eliminates the decision of where to read.

I once heard it humorously put that you want to avoid what happened to a reader, though zealous, yet misguided, decided to read wherever his finger landed on a page and at the first attempt, he landed on "and Judas went and hung himself." Upon his dissatisfied choice he pointed again and read "go and do thou likewise." In hopes of a successful third try he landed on "what thou doest, do quickly." (lol)

Can it be expected of God to teach us His wisdom without His knowledge? True, knowledge of Scripture is not what regenerates because, “It is the Spirit who gives life" (John 6:63); which is sensible to presume that His teachings are commensurate with His knowledge.

My reasoning and motivation for reading Scripture regularly is to realize there has to be progress when consistent (a least a chapter every day or every other day) with Bible reading, because God will not allow it to be in vain and therefore will inevitably cause increase in understanding. One good example is the simple analogy of a computer system; only what has been programmed can be operated. Another (my favorite) is related to the sun. The more you're exposed to it, the more the effect; thus, the more your're exposed (reading) to the Word, the more the effect. Our part is exposure, His is effect. Just as the believer does not produce the fruit, but the Vine, and the believer "bears it" (John 15:8).

What do you think?

Edited March 21, 2013 by Word-Sword

[Guest]

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

[back2thebible]

The believer's spiritual growth derives from numerous doctrines in Scripture but, "not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches" (1 Cor 2:13). The only means of avoiding the error of the former is to continue to increase familiarization of Scripture, esp. within the NT--it being the present dispensation and it stands to reason it will result in enhanced understanding of the OT. Reading through is obviously encompassing, which is the point and returning where you left off promotes ease of consistency, because it eliminates the decision of where to read.

I once heard it humorously put that you want to avoid what happened to a reader, though zealous, yet misguided, decided to read wherever his finger landed on a page and at the first attempt, he landed on "and Judas went and hung himself." Upon his dissatisfied choice he pointed again and read "go and do thou likewise." In hopes of a successful third try he landed on "what thou doest, do quickly." (lol)

Can it be expected of God to teach us His wisdom without His knowledge? True, knowledge of Scripture is not what regenerates because, “It is the Spirit who gives life" (John 6:63); which is sensible to presume that His teachings are commensurate with His knowledge.

My reasoning and motivation for reading Scripture regularly is to realize there has to be progress when consistent (a least a chapter every day or every other day) with Bible reading, because God will not allow it to be in vain and therefore will inevitably cause increase in understanding. One good example is the simple analogy of a computer system; only what has been programmed can be operated. Another (my favorite) is related to the sun. The more you're exposed to it, the more the effect; thus, the more your exposed (reading) to the Word, the more the effect. Our part is exposure, His is effect. Just as the believer does not produce the fruit, but the Vine and the believer "bears it" (John 15:8).

I was always under the assumption the beginning of wisedom was the fear of the Lord

[WordSword]

I was always under the assumption the beginning of wisedom was the fear of the Lord

Hi B2TB - I like your ID and the radio program with J. Vernon Magee called "Back to the Bible." Your reply is significantly applicable to this thread, as Scripture describes "the beginning of wisdom," which as you know is solely in Scripture.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom . . ." (Psa 111:10; Prov 9:10). Though many are initially frightful of God (myself included) because of His wrath and of eternal damnation, the word "fear" here in Scripture means "respect" or "honor," which leads to an affection for God with reverence of Him and which believers inevitably learn.

As you may already know, honoring God is "the beginning" of the process of learning His wisdom, which, by His Spirit revealing Scripture to our understand is an ongoing process.

[Qnts2]

The only means of avoiding the error of the former is to continue to increase familiarization of Scripture, esp. within the NT--it being the present dispensation and it stands to reason it will result in enhanced understanding of the OT. What do you think?

In the initial post, there is a lot of things I would agree with.

However, this one line has issues. Everything a person needs to know about how to be saved is in the NT. And the NT will enhance understanding of the OT, as long as one realizes the OT came first. The OT and the NT are actually one book, all inspired by the same Author, to fulfill His purposes. Page 1 begins with Genesis 1:1.

So, if someone wants to find out how to be eternally saved, that topic is covered in more detail in the section of scripture called the NT, and we can go directly there, but if is a fuller understanding of all of scripture, the OT lays the foundation.

In the OT, to establish something as truth, there must be 2 or 3 witnesses. The OT gives prophesies concerning the future Messiah. The disciples of Jesus studied the OT scripture and the prophesies, witnessed Jesus life and teachings, and then were able to be the people who actually saw and heard as witnesses of Who Jesus was, based on what was foretold in the OT. Had Jesus taught anything which opposed or contradicted the OT, then the witnesses would have verified that Jesus broke the law and could not have been the Messiah.

[WordSword]

The only means of avoiding the error of the former is to continue to increase familiarization of Scripture, esp. within the NT--it being the present dispensation and it stands to reason it will result in enhanced understanding of the OT. What do you think?

In the initial post, there is a lot of things I would agree with.

However, this one line has issues. Everything a person needs to know about how to be saved is in the NT. And the NT will enhance understanding of the OT, as long as one realizes the OT came first. The OT and the NT are actually one book, all inspired by the same Author, to fulfill His purposes. Page 1 begins with Genesis 1:1.

So, if someone wants to find out how to be eternally saved, that topic is covered in more detail in the section of scripture called the NT, and we can go directly there, but if is a fuller understanding of all of scripture, the OT lays the foundation.

In the OT, to establish something as truth, there must be 2 or 3 witnesses. The OT gives prophesies concerning the future Messiah. The disciples of Jesus studied the OT scripture and the prophesies, witnessed Jesus life and teachings, and then were able to be the people who actually saw and heard as witnesses of Who Jesus was, based on what was foretold in the OT. Had Jesus taught anything which opposed or contradicted the OT, then the witnesses would have verified that Jesus broke the law and could not have been the Messiah.

I agree the NT delivers the salvation message and the OT can only lead to it. This was my intention by "increase familiarization of Scripture, esp. within the NT--it being the present dispensation."

The lost need saved and the saved needs continuing deliverance from self, Satan and society, which comes from strengthening our faith in the spiritual growth truths of Scripture.