Supplies for our Faith (Knowledge)

When it comes to knowledge, there can be a lot of misguided thoughts as to what this can mean in Scripture. In the context of Peter’s letter, he wants his readers to add their faith goodness and add to their goodness knowledge. Being good is one thing but it is another to know right from wrong and to have knowledge of what is good and who is the source of good. Today we are going to look at knowledge as it supplies our faith. 

Knowledge in the Greek simply means to have intelligence, understanding or moral wisdom. In the biblical context, it is to know about God and the gospel of Jesus. 

Paul would see knowledge and goodness go hand in hand. In order to be good and pure, one must have knowledge of what is good and pure. Romans 15:14 pulls goodness and knowledge together, “you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” Having knowledge can also lead to being able to instruct someone else so they have the knowledge as well (2 Corinthians 2:14). But what knowledge are we to have? What are we to know about? 

In Zechariah’s prophecy of John the Baptist, he claimed that he would be one to give people “knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of sins” (Luke 1:77). We need to know that salvation comes through forgiveness of sins, and this was only made possible by Jesus. This knowledge would also be generalized as understanding the gospel, who Jesus is, and what He did.  

It is also good to recognize that having knowledge can be a gift of the Spirit as well to help other believers and others become believers. However, as Paul explores in Philippians and Colossians, knowing Jesus might come with great loss and in Him is knowledge and truth. He is the source of all that is good and is the source of all knowledge. 

Paul refers to the law as the embodiment of knowledge, and in Romans 7 he explores the idea that the law tells us what sin is, therefore giving us knowledge. When we add to our faith knowledge, we should be reading God’s Word and learning more about Him and his ways everyday.