Gifts

I'm not sure about a "gift of knowledge",
but I can recomend you study the book of Proverbs. Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding. These three work hand in hand.
You can, in a sense, have one without the others, but if so, it's an incomplete work.
The world seeks after knowledge & wisdom, but not understanding.

 

KJV says: 1 Cor.
12:8: For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

Knowledge is a gift of increased understanding (or interpreting) of God's word and Wisdom is the gift of being able to apply God's word.

John MaCarther says he has the gift of wisdom
and so relys on those with the gift of knowledge to interpret the Greek to english etc... Hope that helps.
In Christ,

Brian

 

The "gift of knowledge" was a special gift given during Apostolic times wherein a man could receive knowldege directly from God, without having to study, so he could in turn teach God's people. The gift of wisdom is a similar gift given in lieu of the completed canon of Scripture. When the canon was completed, the gifts, no longer being necessary, passed away.

Today, we have to study in order to gain knowledge, and apply the knowledge we have acquired, through study, to our lives in order to gain wisdom.

There are no "short cuts." Spiritual maturity, knowledge and wisdom, come slowly with much study, prayer, and application of God's word to our lives.

[ September 25, 2001: Message edited by: Thomas Cassidy ]

 

I agree with Thomas on this. You must remember the NT had not been written yet. If they had a question about certain things they could not just go to a certain Book and Chapter to find the answer.

Now that the answers are all written down, we must do what Thomas said "we have to study in order to gain knowledge, and apply the knowledge we have acquired, through study, to our lives in order to gain wisdom."

~Lorelei

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Thomas Cassidy: Spiritual maturity, knowledge and wisdom, come slowly with much study, prayer, and application of God's word to our lives.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Amen to that Bro. Cassidy! Just to mention that my maternal Grandfather never had more than two elementary grades completed. He was born in the eighteen hundreds and kids out in the country at that time did not study any further. During those two years he learned how to read and write and then had to help out with the house chores. But he knew how to read his Bible. He never would have missed reading it daily. The Lord gave him so much wisdom and knowledge that during my time, when he was an old Grandpa, educated preachers used to ask for his advise and opinion. He had such a broad knowledge of God's words. He was a godly example to me!

 

I agree with Dr. Cassidy on the correct time and use of the "gift of knowledge."

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. (1 Cor 13:8 NIV)

Tongues,prophecies, and knowledge (direct revelation from God) were Apostolic gifts. Tongues and prophecies "ceased" instantly when the last Apostle died. "Knowledge" "passed away" more slowly as it could be passed on through training (like Paul training Timothy) for a few generations, but eventually the divine revelation aspect disappeared, while the completeness of God's written Word took shape.

Contrasting that, we see in charismatic circles today, the misapplied abuse of that "gift." Pat Robertson and other modern "prophets" (wanna-be's) claim to have a "word of knowledge" suddenly come to them from God. I guess it's good for viewer ratings. Pat likes to say something like "there's someone in the audience with a pain in their left knee, and . . . " Well, when you've got two million viewers, there's a reasonable probability that one or more of them have a hurting knee at that particular moment. Nothing divinely supernatural about his pretentious "gift" at all!

 

The gift of wisdom not for today...

James 1:5: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

So, should I stop praying for wisdom?

HankD

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by HankD:
So, should I stop praying for wisdom?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>No, you should start.

And I suggest you start here:

Proverbs 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
Proverbs 1:3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
Proverbs 2:10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Proverbs 4:11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
Proverbs 5:1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 10:13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
Proverbs 10:31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
Proverbs 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

And so on.

 

Lets see now, Thomas Cassidy or John MacArther. I go with JM on this one. He has more Wisdom, oh wait maybe he doesn't the gift is gone---not.

P,T,K all passed at the same time? That doesn't hold up with the differences in verb types. TC and I have been down this road before. Wisdom is not mentioned in the verse but TC and others want to make it the same as Knowledge when it is mentioned seperate in verse I used before.

In Christ,
Brian

[ September 25, 2001: Message edited by: The Briguy ]

 

Thank You Bro Tom for the exansion of your answer.

Proverbs 20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

HankD

 

What is all this talk and comparison of "wisdom" in the same breath as the "gift of knowledge?" Paul is talking about limited and supernaturally acquired gifts. Normal wisdom or normal knowledge do not fit here! Thomas Cassidy nailed it when he said this was "special knowledge" as in the direct revelation of God. Paul told of how he received everything he preached directly from Jesus (Gal 1:12). OT prophets communed with God as did a number of selected others.

Now I believe God speaks to us, to our hearts today, but I do not believe this Apostolic "gift" has not "passed away."

 

I think we all agree that the miraculous gifts are gone. The disagreement is which ones are and aren't in that category. Lets agree to disagree.
TC, personally, from your other posts on the board I believe you have the gift of wisdom,
though you don't show it in one area. Can you guess which one? (Ha Ha) Take care,
Brian