Experimental Knowledge Must be Added to Book Knowledge
1 Timothy 4:13
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.


It is well known that the great doctors of the world, by much reading and speculation, attain unto a great height of knowledge, but seldom to sound wisdom; which hath given way to that common proverb, "The greatest clerks are not always the wisest men." It is not studying of politics that will make a man a wise councillor of state till his knowledge is joined with experience, which teacheth where the rules of state hold and where they fail. It is not book knowledge that will make a good general, a skilful pilot — no, not so much as a cunning artizan — till that knowledge is perfected by practice and experience. And so, surely, though a man abound never so much in literal knowledge, it will be far from making him a good Christian, unless he bring precepts into practice, and, by feeling experience, apply that he knows to his own use and spiritual advantage.

(J. Spencer.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

WEB: Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching.




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