What is "the word of knowledge"? AI gives us the following definition:
The word of knowledge is a spiritual gift in Christianity, specifically mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:8. It refers to a divine insight or revelation about a person, situation, or truth that is not accessible through natural means.
However, Artificial Intelligence is not 'intelligent' - it merely collects what is generally believed, in this instance regarding Paul's mention in 1 Corinthians 12:8. So, is this definition accurate? Not according to the rest of the Scriptures. And we should get the names right, using those inspired by the Holy Spirit to describe His gifts. Paul says:
Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words (1 Cor 2:12-13)
Biblical Definition
We can easily miss that Paul is actually using a long established Jewish phrase regarding the communication of knowledge, as seen in Proverbs 1,000 years earlier:
6. A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.
7. Leave the presence of a fool,
Or you will not discern words of knowledge. (Prov 14:6-7, emphasis added)
In other words, if we are willing to learn, 'knowledge is easy' (v. 6), but if we are scoffing or cynical, we will not 'discern' or recognise knowledge even when someone tries to give it to us, i.e. to teach us. "The word of..." means the communication of…, and we still use this idiom today when we ask someone if we can "have a word" with them. Do we mean literally one word? Of course not. We want to talk to them until they understand our message; we use as many words as are needed. 'Knowledge' in its Jewish context here is, of course, knowledge of God and His ways, especially as revealed in the Scriptures. These 'words of knowledge' were therefore to be found with 'the teachers of the Law' (Luke 5:17, 1 Tim 1:7) and not with 'false teachers' who 'secretly introduce destructive heresies' (2 Pet 2:1, 2 Tim 4:3).
Application
Proverbs again:
Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge. (Prov 19:27, emphasis added)
This is particularly important - if we are unwilling to listen to instruction from the Scriptures, we will leave knowledge behind. Being unteachable is a sure recipe for disaster. I have seen good, strong Christian friends turn their backs on the Scriptures' teaching and end up losing their faith altogether.
Personally, one of my favourite verses, and much-needed in my own inner life, puts it bluntly:
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof is stupid. (Prov 12:1, emphasis added)
Anytime I get defensive when I'm being reproved or rebuked by anyone, I remind myself that right now, God says I'm being stupid! I need to listen even to a donkey, as Balaam did (2 Pet 2:15-16), or to the littlest child (Luke 9:46-48), in case they are right. Truth always overrules authority and hierarchy.
Lastly in Proverbs:
Apply your heart to discipline
And your ears to words of knowledge. (Prov 23:12, emphasis added)
We see two aspects of our inner life here: we need to have a healthy attitude in our hearts towards being told off and we need to keep our minds engaged when we are being taught the word of God.
In summary, Biblically, 'words of knowledge' refers to accurate teaching of the Scriptures regarding the ways of God. And then there's the corollary - "words without knowledge".
"Words Without Knowledge"
Even older than Proverbs is the Book of Job where Elihu rebuked him:
"…Job opens his mouth emptily;
He multiplies words without knowledge." (Job 35:16, emphasis added)
God then confirmed Elihu's rebuke:
"Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?" (Job 38:2, emphasis added)
Speaking 'words without knowledge' means we don't know what we're talking about. It also means we can "darken counsel" - far from adding enlightenment to a conversation or dispute, we're making it darker and harder to resolve.
Worse than Job, however, were the first three of Job's counsellors - Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite (Job 42:7-9). All of their counsel to Job was based on their wrong understanding of the Scriptures that he must have sinned because he was being punished. God, however, testified of him that he hadn't sinned (Job 1:8) - he was being tested for endurance (Jas 5:11, 1 Pet 1:6-9, 4:12)
We see then that, Biblically, speaking out "words without knowledge" is not only inaccurate but also misrepresenting the will of God.
Divine Insight
What then are we to make of AI's definition of 'the word of knowledge'? It refers to 'a divine insight or revelation about a person, situation, or truth that is not accessible through natural means.' However, on three occasions when this divine insight is recorded in the New Testament, it is actually called prophecy. Look at:
(i) The Samaritan woman at Jacob's well
When Jesus tells her:
"…you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband" (John 4:18)
She doesn't respond with, "Sir, I perceive you have had a word of knowledge about me". She instead says:
"Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet" (John 4:19, emphasis added)
(ii) Simon the Pharisee
Simon had been secretly condemning Jesus for allowing a woman to weep over His feet and wipe them with her hair, saying to himself:
"If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner" (Luke 7:39, emphasis added)
Jesus then proves He is indeed a prophet by answering Simon's secret thoughts with a parable not only about the woman but also about Simon's own motivations!
(iii) Secrets of our hearts
Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 14:
24. …if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, and called to account by all;
25. the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you (1 Cor 14:24-25, emphasis added)
What convinces the recipient of this kind of prophecy is that 'the secrets of his heart are disclosed' by God who alone knows them. This is why in ancient Israel prophets were called 'seers' (1 Sam 1:9) - they could see the invisible whenever God revealed it to them. Obviously, there is much more to prophecy than just "reading someone's mail" - it is speaking out whatever the Spirit of God wants to say to anyone anytime.
'Knowledge Will Be Done Away'?
Understanding that 'a word of knowledge' means teaching also clears up a misunderstanding of 1 Corinthians 13:8. Paul says that when Jesus returns:
…if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. (1 Cor 13:8, emphasis added)
If 'knowledge' itself is to be done away, why would Paul continue…?:
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. (1 Cor 13:12, emphasis added)
We will all 'know fully' means that knowledge will not disappear but will vastly increase - that will actually do away with the need for teaching. It is 'the word of knowledge' that will be done away. This is also why prophecy and speaking in tongues will no longer be necessary (v. 8).
Conclusions
We should name the spiritual gifts correctly because:
(i) The Holy Spirit has labelled His gifts so we can recognise them - why would we mislabel them?
(ii) Many believe 'the word of knowledge' (1 Cor 12:8) is 'a divine insight or revelation about a person, situation, or truth that is not accessible through natural means'. That's not true; Biblically, this 'insight', i.e. 'seeing into...', is an example of 'prophecy' and often given via a 'prophet'.
(iii) 'The word of knowledge' is the communication of Biblical knowledge and often given via a 'teacher'. Conversely, in the Scriptures 'words without knowledge' is the communication and/or application of untrue teaching.
So, although not many of us can be teachers (Jas 3:1), we can all teach what we do know (1 Cor 14:26, Heb 5:12) and we can all prophesy, 'for you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted' (1 Cor 14:31). Not only can we, but we should...:
Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy… [speaking to everyone] for edification [i.e. building up] and exhortation [i.e. encouragement] and consolation [i.e. comfort] (1 Cor 14:1 & 3)
Who knows? If you ask God to use you in prophecy - if you simply tell someone what you think He is saying to them (Rev 19:10) to build them up, to encourage and comfort them - you may end up unwittingly convicting them, calling them to account, and revealing the secrets of their heart so that they experience God for themselves.