1 Corinthians 3:18-20 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.… Let us show wherein the faith of a Christian, commanded by the Scripture, doth far surpass all human knowledge and science which men by nature do glory in. First, faith doth surpass all human sciences in the dignity of the subject. The matter about which a Christian's faith is exercised doth far transcend all that about which human knowledge doth exercise itself; for the highest that they could reach unto is only to the knowledge of natural effects produced by natural causes. And if any could prove these by the former, this they called a demonstration, though some men say no man ever yet gave a demonstration. So, then, all the excellent wisdom of the world hath been only to consider the nature of sublunary things; and if they did arise to consider of a God, the Maker of these, it was in a very uncertain, doubtful way. This is all our human wisdom can help us to, but now by faith we have the supernatural mysteries of salvation revealed unto us. The Scripture tells us of a God in Christ reconciling man to Himself; of man's original misery; of Christ the Mediator. Alas! how poor and contemptible are the highest notions even of Plato, though called Divine, when you come and read Paul! Secondly, faith differs from all their human science in respect of the excellency of the end; for the end of all Scripture wisdom is to bring us to eternal life (2 Timothy 3:15; John 20:31). There was never any human knowledge could teach a man to be eternally happy. Plato's divinity and Aristotle's morality, though they have the words of happiness anti have large discourses about it, yet wanted the thing itself. Thirdly, faith doth surpass all human knowledge in its certainty and infallibility; for the object of faith being God's testimony and His Divine authority, it is as impossible for faith to be deceived as it is for God to lie. Hence it is called the full assurance of hope (Hebrews 10:22). And we believe, therefore we speak (2 Corinthians 4:13). How could the holy martyrs witness those Divine truths even to death, had they not been possessed with sure knowledge of them? Fourthly, faith doth more establish and quiet the heart of men than all human wisdom. Solomon observeth a vanity and vexation of spirit even in all human knowledge; but now faith doth satisfy the soul (Hebrews 11:1). Oh, the anxiety and perplexities that mere human knowledge hath cast men into! Lastly, the Christian faith is above all philosophical knowledge, because of the strong and mighty effects it hath to convert the heart and reform the life (Acts 15:9). Never did human knowledge make such wonderful converts, and work so great a reformation as the Christian faith had done. In the next place, the moral or practical wisdom of the world cometh far short of Scripture wisdom; for — First, the most knowing men were ignorant of original sin, which yet is the fountain of our calamity. Secondly, all human wisdom and prudence knoweth not how to mortify and forsake sin upon true grounds, because they were ignorant of God's Spirit. Thirdly, all earthly prudence cometh short of this wisdom, because it is circumscribed within the bounds of this world and this life. It looketh out no further, whereas the Scripture giveth directions for the world to come and for eternity. (A. Burgess.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. |
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