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NASB | Colossians 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Colossians 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [regarding the word and purposes of God]. |
Subject: The Christian's Use of Reason |
Bible Note: "Should Christians endorse the use of reason? Two equal but opposite mistakes are possible in answering that question. (1) Believers can recognize the appropriateness of using reason, taken as their intellectual faculty, but then slide into endorsing reason as intellectual autonomy. (2) Believers can recognize the inappropriateness of reason as intellectual autonomy, but then mistakenly think this entails rejecting reason as an intellectual faculty. The first group honors God's gift to man of reasoning ability, but dishonors God through its rationalism. The second group honors God's ultimate authority and the need for obedience in all aspects of man's life, but it dishonors God through anti-intellectual pietism. "Paul counterbalances both of these errors in Colossians 2. He writes that 'all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are deposited in Christ' (v. 3). Accordingly we must 'beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy, even vain deceit, which is after the tradition of men, after the elementary principles of the world, and not after Christ' (v. 8). This exhortation is not a diatribe against the use of reason or the study of philosophy. "Paul makes it clear that believers have the advantage of the best reasoning and philosophy because Christ is the source of all knowledge -- all knowledge, not simply religious matters or sentiment. Moreover, if there are many philosophies which are not 'after Christ,' there is also that philosophy which is. Anti-intellectualism throws the baby out with the bath. It destroys true wisdom in the name of resisting foolishness. "On the other hand, it is equally plain from Colossians 2 that Paul does not endorse reasoning and philosophy which refuse to honor the ultimate authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is in Christ that wisdom and knowledge must be found. Any alleged wisdom which follows the traditions of men and elementary principles of the world -- rather than Christ -- is to be rejected as dangerous and deceitful. "The Bible teaches us, therefore, that 'reason' is not to be taken as some neutral authority in man's thinking. It is rather the intellectual capacity with which God created man, a tool to be used in serving and glorifying the ultimate authority of God Himself." --Dr. Greg Bahnsen |
Down View Branch | ID# 200853 | ||
Questions and/or Subjects for Col 2:3 | Author | ||
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DocTrinsograce | ||
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srbaegon | ||
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DocTrinsograce | ||
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dalehill47 |