John wrote: > Have you ever changed your mind in regards to the > meaning of a particular passage? Of course you have. > How do you know, then, that what you now accept > is not due for change sometime in the future? > Answer: you don't. This is exactly why Paul > wrote I Cor 8:1-3.
This is an excellent passage in regards to the subject you are addressing, but I hope you do not interpret this passage to be saying that we cannot be certain about the truthfulness of any knowledge that we now have. Faith is being certain about some knowledge for which we have no empirical proof (Heb. 11:1), so to surmise that all knowledge we have is subject to being discarded is to make the virtue of faith something that is unobtainable. Let's look at the passage you reference. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 (1) Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. (2) And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. (3) But if any man love God, the same is known of him. This passage tempers us in regards to being puffed up with knowledge, and I think this is your primary point (which is a very good and important point!). It explicitly states that if any man thinks he knows something, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. It then expresses greater importance on being known of God, which happens if we love God. I do not see "changing our mind about the meaning of a passage" as being EXACTLY why Paul wrote this. Rather, he is showing how our knowledge is continually growing. For example, I believe Jesus is the Christ. Will I ever find that I need to change my mind about this? No. But... my knowledge of Christ will increase and my understanding of what it means to believe upon Christ will increase. The thrust of what Paul is saying here is that we ought not be puffed up about what knowledge we have, because, as all older men and women have experienced, our comprehension of what we think we know will grow. He is working from that Platonic concept of absolutes versus the Aristolean concept of change, and pointing to being known of God as the absolute aspect which does not change. Therefore, the implication to his Greek audience appreciative of the Platonic philosophy is that loving God and being known of God is greater than anything we think we know. I hope you don't take my comments as refuting what you have said. I am simply trying to refine how you have articulated it. The focus should be on growth in knowledge not on the idea that everyone will someday discard the knowledge he now has as erroneous. Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
