Cursed Wisdom

[py3ak]

Ephesians 1:7-10
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Preaching on this passage, and specifically about the phrase according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself, Calvin says:

It is true that we may well apply all our endeavor to know God’s will, but we must proceed no further than he has revealed in his Word, for his Word is our light. But where God holds his peace, he will have us rein ourselves in and, as it were, be captives, and not go on any further, for if we would try to know more than is granted us, that is to say, more than we ought to know and more than is imparted to us by his Word, it would be only entering further and further into a labyrinth, or rather, into the bottom of hell. Therefore let us note well that St. Paul’s meaning in this text is that whenever God keeps his purpose to himself, it becomes us to bow our heads and keep ourselves content to be ignorant of it. For it is a cursed wisdom and such a wisdom as sends us to the pit of hell when we presume to know anything beyond where God’s Word guides and governs us.​

 

[Herald]

Ruben, this is a good word. Thank you

I wonder how much levity we have to plunge the depths of the Word without exceeding what God wants us to know? I think of Christian philosophers like Francis Schafer and R.C. Sproul. Theologians in their own right, but also prolific philosophers. How much rope do we have in our musings about God and His Word?

 

[py3ak]

If a conclusion is obtained by legitimate deduction from the word, I don't think that is going beyond what is written. I imagine for many of us, it's easiest to fall into that sort of thing when asking questions of a passage of Scripture that it isn't intending to address.

 

[Herald]

Ruben, thank you.