Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical context, the rejection of knowledge is a theme that underscores the consequences of turning away from divine wisdom and understanding. The Scriptures frequently highlight the importance of knowledge, particularly the knowledge of God, and the peril that comes with its rejection.Old Testament Context The prophet Hosea provides a poignant illustration of the rejection of knowledge. In Hosea 4:6 , God laments, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children." This passage underscores the direct correlation between the rejection of divine knowledge and the resulting judgment. The Israelites' failure to adhere to God's law and their pursuit of idolatry led to their downfall, illustrating the severe consequences of rejecting the knowledge of God. Proverbs also speaks to the rejection of wisdom and knowledge. Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Here, the rejection of knowledge is equated with folly, emphasizing that true understanding begins with reverence for God. The book of Proverbs consistently contrasts the wise, who seek and embrace knowledge, with fools, who reject it. New Testament Context In the New Testament, the rejection of knowledge is often linked to the rejection of Christ and His teachings. Jesus Himself encountered resistance and rejection from those who refused to accept His message. In John 12:48 , Jesus declares, "There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day." This highlights the eternal consequences of rejecting the knowledge of Christ and His gospel. The Apostle Paul also addresses the rejection of knowledge in his epistles. In Romans 1:28 , he writes, "Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done." This passage illustrates the moral and spiritual decline that follows the rejection of God's knowledge, as individuals are left to their own devices and fall into sin. Theological Implications The rejection of knowledge in the Bible is not merely an intellectual oversight but a willful turning away from God's truth. It is often associated with pride, stubbornness, and a refusal to submit to divine authority. This rejection leads to spiritual blindness and separation from God, as seen in the lives of those who choose to ignore His commandments and guidance. The biblical narrative consistently warns against the dangers of rejecting knowledge, urging believers to seek wisdom and understanding through a relationship with God. The fear of the Lord, as the foundation of knowledge, calls for humility and a willingness to learn from the Creator. The Scriptures encourage the pursuit of knowledge that leads to life and godliness, contrasting it with the destructive path of ignorance and rejection. Nave's Topical Index Hosea 4:6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. Nave's Topical Index Library Jesus Rejected in Jerusalem. "Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge" Messiah Despised, and Rejected of Men The Knowledge of Jesus Christ the Best Knowledge True Knowledge not Held by the Philosophers. On Development in Religious Knowledge. ... The Evolution of Early Congregationalism the Stone which the ... Sources of Our Knowledge of Jesus The Knowledge of God Different Degrees of Knowledge. Resources How are people destroyed from a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the spiritual gifts of the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge? | GotQuestions.org Why did God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden? | GotQuestions.org Knowledge: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Knowledge of God More than Burnt offering Knowledge of More Value than Gold Knowledge: "Now we Know in Part" Knowledge: The Earth Shall be Full of Knowledge: The Fear (Reverence) of the Lord is the Beginning of Knowledge: The Priest's Lips should Keep Knowledge: Those Who Reject are Destroyed Related Terms |