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Does Knowledge Puffeth Up?


Biblical Hermeneutics

Why one might ask, is hermeneutics important? Have you ever heard the saying that knowledge puffeth up? It comes from 1 Corinthians 8:1 wherein which I have often heard it said to me as a form of discouragement due to my love of research and knowledge. The reason proposed is that knowledge makes you prideful; thus, knowledge is a dangerous pursuit for those not pastors. This idea is not only far from what Paul was trying to say, but it also contradicts statements like what is written in Hebrews 5:11-14. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 "Knowledge puffs up, and love edifies" is best understood when read in its entirety and in comparison with "Acts 15:20; "Abstain from things contaminated by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood" which was written to Gentile believers and is the 4 rules that they had been given instead of being given the law as Jewish believers had insisted at the time. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 is about the first of these rules and that being meat sacrificed to idols. You might have knowledge that others may not yet have, that being that idols are not Gods and eating meat sacrificed to them is entirely harmless. Your brother, however (likely Jewish believers) might still lack this same knowledge. So you should respond by not eating meat sacrificed to idols around them or around believers with less knowledge because doing so might cause them to stumble. Don't be a stumbling block to those with less knowledge. Fun fact, the word "edify even means to instruct, so love is a good teacher. Paul is not contradicting what has been stated in Proverbs 1:5, 22, 29, 15:4, Hoses 4:1,6, which says to "get knowledge." I am trying to say that believers need not be afraid of knowledge but that we should embrace it as one way we pursue God. A beautiful breakdown of this verse can be found in the citation below.

Citation:

Childers, Alisa. “The Bible Says, ‘Knowledge Puffs Up." Does This Mean We Shouldn't Study Too Much?” Alisa Childers, Alisa Childres, 5 Aug. 2018, www.alisachilders.com/blog/the-bible-says-knowledge-puffs-up-does-this-mean-we-shouldnt-study-too-much


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