Love Liberates From Knowledge

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant…

Spiritual [gifts] is translated from the Greek, pneumatikos, meaning: spirituality relating to the human spirit as that part of a person that is an instrument of God; i.e. the new heart of a believer. Paul is saying to Corinthian believers: “I do not want you to be ignorant (Greek, agnoeo: without knowledge) and I’m glad you’re not, but I would that your knowledge always be in the proper context—pneumatikos.” Two other words used in the New Testament to delineate knowledge are soul (Greek, pseukikos: the soulish (inner, natural) man) and flesh (Greek, sarkikos: the carnal (outward, fleshly man, 11times). So there are essentially three perspectives on knowledge: 1) the flesh (world-conscious), 2) the soul (self-conscious), or 3) the spirit (God-conscious). In the original language Paul’s tone at the end of Chapter 12 is mocking knowledgeable Corinthian believers for their emphasis on spiritual gifts while many are yet carnal; they love to talk about their spirituality but the way they perceive knowledge reveals much carnality and worldliness.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

PAUL: “Oh, you people say we ought to all be spiritual, don’t you? You’re the knowledgeable ones always talking about spirituality, aren’t you?" [And the Bible uses pneumatikos 25 times—11 times in the letter to the Corinthians. Paul has purposely led us through this chapter up to …a more excellent way (Greek, hyperbole: a way that is beyond natural perspective)]. "Well I’m glad you are knowledgeable—everybody has knowledge—but do let me show you a better way to manage your knowledge—with love!” Now, in the next Chapter of 1 Corinthians, we have the Bible’s word on LOVE but actually God’s Word on love IS the Bible. He is God; and God is love, (1Jn 4:8,16) and the Holy Spirit is love, and our constant Comforter (Jn 14:16-18)—for we have an accuser, accusing us to God, and accusing God to us, the devil, who stands before God day and night to accuse of sin and iniquity. (Re 12:11)

"And who really cares about us? The Psalmist looks to his right and his left but he can find no man who knows him, or cares for his soul. (Ps 142:4) But Jesus does know us, and he does care about us. He is our advocate—who is also before God interceding for us; (1Jn 2:1) and no charge can ever be brought against us on the basis of his shed Blood. We’ve been brought into the Family of God where love—the more excellent way—has made us secure. This is an amazing, incomprehensible, unfathomable love; we need to hear about it continually in order to just begin to grasp the power of its work in and through our lives:" "Mere knowledge puffs us up like a balloon full of hot air, but epignosis fills us up, with all the fullness of God—Love." P Schaller