Knowledge Puffeth Up?

I have heard said that “knowledge puffeth up, so we should not study the Bible," it causes pride and we should not have pride. The Bible really does say that "knowledge puffeth up". However, this reasoning transgresses the first principle of exegesis by taking a teaching out of context. Also it is self refuting.

The Bible passage says, "Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth" (1 Corinthians 8:1). What is missed is that the sentence before says "we all have knowledge." With the above line of thinking, we all have knowledge, so we all are proud. I think you see the problem. It just does not make sense if we read it that way.

It must mean something deeper, which it does. I will challenge you to find that deeper meaning, read the whole chapter in context! (Maybe I will post on that topic later.)

However, I want to point out another failure in thinking. For one to be able to read and understand this verse (even a deviant interpretation), one has to have some knowledge and reason. Second, this person "studied" the Bible to find this verse.

I think you can see the problem. This person is inadvertently saying that they themselves are proud because they have biblical knowledge and they "studied" the Bible to form this conclusion. It is like saying that all those who blog are wrong and should not do it. This thinking does not make sense after one reflects over this argument.

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