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understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4: 6, 7,
N.I.V.).
We have been studying references to the mind, but we find that sometimes in the A.V.
the word "understanding" is used. This leads us to think of the understanding as well as
the mind. There is a Greek word that occurs seven times in the N.T., and is translated
"understanding" six times, and "knowledge" once. So let us conclude our random
thoughts by reading four of the references:
"... by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)"
(Eph. 3: 3, 4).
"We also ... do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the
knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk
worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing" (Col. 1: 9, 10).
"That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches
of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God,
and of the Father, and of Christ: in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge" (Col. 2: 2, 3).
"Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" (II Tim. 2: 7).
Behind these four references is the prayer that the Lord will grant an understanding of
His plan and purpose and His will, and that after we have received the revelation of His
will we might walk worthy of our vocation. The source of all knowledge and
understanding is the Lord in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
No.4.
Knowledge shall be increased.
pp. 197 - 200
"and knowledge shall be increased" (Dan. 12: 4).
If instead of jotting down some random thoughts on knowledge, we attempt to make a
systematic study, we should have to review about 100 passages of Scripture in the O.T.
and approximately 40 in the N.T. In these short articles, however, we will be content to
choose just a few texts which we hope will provide a little food for thought.
The first time we read of knowledge in the Scriptures is in connection with the garden
of Eden. God had planted a garden and in it placed Adam. He caused trees to grow in
the garden and a river ran out of it to water the ground. In the midst of the garden was
the tree of life, and God also planted a tree called the "tree of knowledge of good and
evil". God instructed Adam to dress and keep the garden, and told him he could eat of
the fruit of the trees except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
When we reach Gen. 3: we find that Adam and Eve did eat of the forbidden fruit:
the great disobedience had taken place. Their eyes were opened and they knew both