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good and evil. This knowledge that they had acquired was a doubtful asset: it brought a
new responsibility. Adam and Eve had the power of choice and already they had made
one wrong choice. Now that they knew good and evil they had the problem of choosing
in future between what was good and what was evil. If evil things were dressed up to
look attractive, how easy it would be to make the wrong choice! So man was now in
great danger. Already he needed a saviour and redeemer.
In the book of Daniel we read of many visions, and the interpretation that he was able
to make of them. When we reach chapter 12:, we are reading of the time of the end, and
Daniel is told to seal the book with the prophecies until the time of the end. Daniel was
told "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (12: 4). In the present
days this has become remarkably true. Travel is easier and many indeed travel all over
the world with great swiftness. Knowledge also has certainly been increased. There are
so many examples of this that comment is unnecessary. One result of this increase in
knowledge is that we can manufacture items with a much smaller work force, and so our
knowledge produces, or at least contributes to, high unemployment. But we do not seem
to have the wisdom to solve the unemployment problem.
The book of Proverbs contains many references to knowledge: "The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Prov. 1: 7).
The wise man warns his son about sinners and pleads with him not to be enticed by their
evil suggestions, "Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets" (1: 20),
but those enticed do not heed the advice given: "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love
simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?" (22).
"Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man
regarded" (24). But in chapter 2: the wise man turns to his son with advice if he is
willing to receive the words of wisdom. If the ear is inclined to wisdom, and the heart to
understanding, then the prayer will be answered and "thou shalt understand the fear of the
Lord, and find the knowledge of God" (2: 5). Solomon adds:
"When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: to deliver thee from the
way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh forward things" (Prov. 2: 10-12).
In Ecclesiastes, the Preacher exclaims "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity". Having had
experience of knowledge and wisdom, he arrives at the conclusion that no joy or
happiness is obtained by the acquisition of knowledge. Yet, in the end he decided that
the people ought to be taught knowledge. Here are the two conclusions:
"And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived
that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that
increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow" (Eccles. 1: 17, 18).
"Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity. And moreover, because the
Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed and
sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable
words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth" (12: 8-10).
When we turn to the N.T. we find that about half the references to knowledge are in
Paul's letters to the Corinthians. The first comment Paul makes shows that he regarded