Knowledge puffs up?

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1 Corinthians 8:1.
What does “knowledge puffs up” mean in that verse? Does it mean that it isn’t important? Does God want to say that knowledge really doesn’t mean anything but generating pride?
If this is what He means, does He want us to gain knowledge? (Talking about science, etc.)
 
I’d tell you but you might get puffed up.
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The verse is talking about meat sacrificed to idols and then goes into the realization that we all “have knowledge’; knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.”
The next verse, I think, explains it: “If anyone supposes he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.”

We can take pride in our knowledge of spiritual things, and make that knowledge the be-all and end-all of our spiritual life. If we suppose we know God, we know nothing as God is unknowable. Thomas Aquinas, towards the end of his career, realized that all his writings, all his great thoughts, all his knowledge were but as a drop in the vast ocean of the meaning of God.

The humble scholar comes to realize that the more he learns the more he has to learn.
 
God wants us to gain knowledge so we can use our full potential to do His will.

The problem comes when we start thinking we are more important than others because we have more knowledge (in other words, we lack humility and charity and instead commit the sin of pride), or worst of all when we use our knowledge to reject God or work against God.
 
Knowledge is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (see Isa. 11:2). The problem is, divorced from charity and humility before God, it can become a source of pride. Back on the old forum format, my signature was the following quote from St. Robert Bellarmine, one of the most knowledgeable men of his time, known for his mastery of arguing for the Catholic faith (it’s in his book, The Mind’s Ascent to God).
“Let prayer delight thee more than disputations, and the charity which buildeth up more than the knowledge which puffeth up.”
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I always though it was a good reminder for me and and really everyone participating in an Apologetics focused forum.
 
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Agreed. I’ve always felt that participating in the Fora is kind of an exercise in vanity.
Like “listen to me, I know stuff”. LOL
Although it’s important to share faith and to occasionally offer a correction.
But take care it doesn’t consume your thoughts and motivations. That’s why I’m glad we no longer have post count.
😉
 
“charity must be added to knowledge. Augustine says: add therefore charity to knowledge, and knowledge will be useful.” (1 Cor, C. 8 L. 1, 423)
 
Tis_Bearself said:
The problem comes when we start thinking we are more important than others because we have more knowledge
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I see that happening on Internet forums all the time, especially Christian ones. People seem to lack the self-awareness to see it in themselves. We behave like the Pharisees which was exactly how Jesus didn’t want us to behave. Spiritual pride is the worst kind of pride in my opinion. Because it assumes a higher station than the person they are helping. As if they are closer to heaven and therefore know exactly what God wants.
 
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Yesterday I read a comment of people arguing over the existence of black holes.

A little knowledge indeed puffs up, believe me. People get big heads and become prideful. Knowledge is good if properly taken. However, if a peasant who cannot read has greater faith than the learned theologian, then what good has his knowledge brought?
 
This is why 1cor 2… Paul. Said i didn’t. Come to you with the wisdom of man.But with the demonstration of the holy spirit

Most people come quoting scripture.
With. Out. The power .
 
Hi!

It means that if man allows himself to fall prey to the wisdom of the world he will fail.

It is not about knowledge but about knowledge in the absence of God.

Consider Romans 1–also look into society (contraception, divorce, homosexuality, abortion…); devoid of God even science can prove to be man’s own downfall.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Hi!

…we can also see this in the way that “professionals” behave… the firms/movies/shows–even news reporters seem quite full of themselves as they attempt to “connect” with “their audience.”

Maran atha!

Angel
 
…and the reason this happens (even amongst “Christians”) is because they forget that:
5 In like manner, ye young men, be subject to the ancients. And do you all insinuate humility one to another, for God resisteth the proud, but to the humble he giveth grace. 6 Be you humbled therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in the time of visitation: (1 St. Peter 5)
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Maran atha!

Angel
 
I think there is always a tendency to become prideful to some degree when you know more things than other people. Pride is terribly subtle sometimes. It can be hard to detect in ourselves.
 
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scope said:
1 Corinthians 8:1.

What does “knowledge puffs up” mean in that verse? Does it mean that it isn’t important? Does God want to say that knowledge really doesn’t mean anything but generating pride?

If this is what He means, does He want us to gain knowledge? (Talking about science, etc.)
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D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 1. Now concerning those things. It appears from this whole passage that the Corinthians had, in a former letter, consulted this apostle, upon the subject of eating meats offered to idols. It was not unusual to reserve some part of the sacrifice of which they made a supper, either in their own family, with their friends, or sometimes even in the temple. Some of the Christians of Corinth attended without scruple at these sorts of feasts, and eat of the meats offered to idols; whilst others, on the contrary, took scandal at this conduct, and thought it a tacit approbation of idolatry. St. Paul being consulted upon this difficulty, gives them his advice in this chapter. (Calmet) — We know that we all have knowledge about it. That is, all we, who are sufficiently instructed, have knowledge enough to be convinced, that idols are nothing in themselves, nor the meats offered to them better nor worse upon that account. (Witham) — Knowledge puffeth up, &c. Knowledge, without charity and humility, serveth only to puff persons up. (Challoner)
 
Hi, Jamal!

I concur. It is the reason why Jesus warns about seeking to remove the speck in the eye of our neighbor while ignoring the beam in our own eye.

It is interesting how we are able to see clearly to other people’s faults but we dismiss anything that may point to our own faults.

Humbling ourselves to God cannot be done unless we humble ourselves to man. The second we exalt ourselves we make ourselves equal to God–it is the reason why God rejects the proud!

Maran atha!

Angel
 
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