Word of knowledge
Word of knowledge
Summary:
It is written in the Bible that someone can have a spiritual gift of "WORD (OF) KNOWLEDGE" (1 Corinthians 12:8).
A WORD of knowledge is to SPEAK knowledge.
KNOWLEDGE can include things that are ALREADY KNOWN in the Scriptures.
Several examples of word of knowledge can be found in the Bible, where knowledge found in the Scriptures already known were spoken to highlight an information that would address a particular situation.
Knowledge can be DISTINCT from: a REVELATION, a PROPHECY, a TEACHING.
You can find more details below:
Word of knowledge:
It is written in the Bible that someone can have a spiritual gift of "WORD (OF) KNOWLEDGE" (1 Corinthians 12:8).
This is a spiritual gift among the list of other spiritual gifts available.
For more information:
List of spiritual gifts:
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A WORD of knowledge is to SPEAK knowledge:
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 about the spiritual gift of "WORD (of) KNOWLEDGE [gnо́sis 1108 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 12:8).
Paul wrote 2 chapters later in 1 Corinthians 14 that someone can SPEAK "KNOWLEDGE [gnо́sis 1108 in Greek]", as it is written: "what will-I-profit you unless I-SPEAK (to) you either by (a) revelation or by KNOWLEDGE [gnо́sis 1108 in Greek] or by (a) prophecy or by (a) teaching?" (1 Corinthians 14:6).
In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul listed spiritual gifts which he then mentioned again in 1 Corinthians 14:6, for example:
1 Corinthians 12:10: "PROPHECY".
➔ 1 Corinthians 14:6: "PROPHECY".
1 Corinthians 12:10: "WORD (of) KNOWLEDGE".
➔ 1 Corinthians 14:6: "I-SPEAK [...] by KNOWLEDGE".
Knowledge can be QUANTIFIED:
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 about the spiritual gift of "WORD (OF) KNOWLEDGE [gnо́sis 1108 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 12:8).
In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul listed spiritual gifts which he then mentioned again in 1 Corinthians 13, for example:
1 Corinthians 12:9: "FAITH".
➔ 1 Corinthians 13:2: "if I-have all FAITH".
1 Corinthians 12:10: "PROPHECY".
➔ 1 Corinthians 13:2: "if I-have PROPHECY".
1 Corinthians 12:10: "word (of) KNOWLEDGE".
➔ 1 Corinthians 13:2: "If I [...] know [...] all KNOWLEDGE".
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13: "if I-have prophecy and know all mysteries and all KNOWLEDGE [gnо́sis 1108 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 13:2). Here Paul mentioned the possibility to know about "ALL KNOWLEDGE " (1 Corinthians 13:2), demonstrating that KNOWLEDGE can be QUANTIFIED: it is possible to know SOME knowledge or even up to ALL knowledge.
Example of KNOWLEDGE:
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 about the spiritual gift of "WORD (OF) KNOWLEDGE [gnо́sis 1108 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 12:8).
Earlier in 1 Corinthians 8, Paul would have given an EXAMPLE of KNOWLEDGE, writing: "concerning the foods-sacrificed-to-idols, we-know that we all have KNOWLEDGE [gnо́sis 1108 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 8:1), "concerning the eating (of) the foods-sacrificed-to-idols, WE-KNOW [eidо́ 1492 in Greek] that (an) idol (is) nothing in (the) world, and that (there is) no God except one" (1 Corinthians 8:4), "But (THIS) KNOWLEDGE [gnо́sis 1108 in Greek] (is) not in all (people)" (1 Corinthians 8:7).
So here, if something asked themselves if an idol was something in the world, because they asked themselves if they could eat of the food sacrificed to idols, then the knowledge "that (an) idol (is) nothing in (the) world, and that (there is) no God except one" (1 Corinthians 8:4) would profit the person.
This KNOWLEDGE was ALREADY KNOWN in the 1st century AD when Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, as it was already written in the Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 8:4: "WE-KNOW that (an) idol (is) nothing in (the) world"
➔ Psalms 115:4-5: "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see."
1 Corinthians 8:4: "WE-KNOW [...] that (there is) no God except one"
➔ Deuteronomy 6:4: "Hear, O Israel: YHWH our God, YHWH is one."
Examples of word of knowledge:
Jesus in Matthew 22:23-32:
Jesus was tested on the topic of the resurrection by Sadducees who did not believe that there is a resurrection:
It is written that "Sadducees came to-Him, (ones) saying (that) there-is not (a) resurrection. And they-questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses said [in Deuteronomy 25:5] ‘If someone dies not having children, his brother shall-as-next-of-kin-marry his wife and raise-up (a) seed (for) his brother’. Now there-were seven brothers with us. And the first, having-married, came-to-an-end. And not having (a) seed, he-left his wife (to) his brother. Likewise also the second, and the third, up-to the seventh. And last (of) all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, (of) which (of) the seven will-she-be (the) wife? For they all had her!”" (Matthew 22:23-28).
Jesus answered with a word of knowledge in order to address their issue:
Jesus said: "You-are-mistaken, not KNOWING [eidо́ 1492 in Greek] the Scriptures, nor the power (of) God. For in the resurrection, they neither marry nor are-given-in-marriage, but are like messengers of God in heaven. And concerning the resurrection (of) the dead (ones), did-you not read the (thing) having-been-spoken (to) you by God, saying [in Exodus 3:15] ‘I AM the God (of) Abraham, and the God (of) Isaac, and the God (of) Jacob’? He-IS not the God (of) dead (ones), but (of) living (ones)”." (Matthew 22:29-32).
Jesus here was given to speak a passage already KNOWN in Exodus 3:15 that was resolving their issue: in that passage, God is using THE PRESENT TENSE to describe Himself as the God of people who already died at that point in Exodus 3, and yet God is not the God of dead ones, but of living ones, thus a resurrection of the dead ones is to be expected (instead of believing, like these Sadducees, that there was not a resurrection).
Further insight on Matthew 22:23-32:
Just before this was recorded in Matthew 22:23-32, it is written in Matthew 22:15-22 that Jesus was asked about Caesar and paying taxes, answering with a word of wisdom.
➔ Matthew 22:15-22: word of WISDOM [1] given.
➔ Matthew 22:23-32: word of KNOWLEDGE [2] given.
This would follow the order that Paul listed them in 1 Corinthians 12:
➔ 1 Corinthians 12:8: "(to) one (a) word (of) WISDOM [1] is-given through the Spirit; and (to) another, (a) word (of) KNOWLEDGE [2] (is-given) according-to the same Spirit".
For more information on the word of wisdom given in Matthew 22:15-22 regarding Caesar and the taxes:
Word of wisdom:
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Jesus in Matthew 22:41-46:
Jesus questioned the Pharisees on the topic of the Christ's identity:
It is written: "the Pharisees having-been-gathered-together, Jesus questioned them, saying, “What seems (right to) you concerning the Christ, Whose son is He?” They-say (to) Him, “David’s”." (Matthew 22:41-42).
Jesus then spoke to them a word of knowledge in order to provide more insights concerning Christ's identity:
It is written about Jesus that "He-says (to) them, “How then does David in (the) Spirit call Him ‘Lord’, saying [in Psalms 110:1], ‘(The) Lord said (to) MY LORD, “Be-sitting on My right (side), until I-put Your enemies under Your feet”’? Therefore if David calls Him ‘Lord’, how is-He his son?” And no-one was-able to-answer Him (a) word, nor did anyone dare from that day to-question Him any-more." (Matthew 22:43-46).
Jesus here was given to speak a passage already KNOWN in Psalms 110:1 that was providing more insights concerning Christ's identity: The Christ is the son of David, but also his LORD.
Jesus in Mark 2:23-27:
The Pharisees said something to Jesus on the topic of the Sabbath:
It is written: "it-came-about (that) He (was) passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to-make (their) way (while) plucking the heads (of grain). And the Pharisees were-saying (to) Him, “Look! Why are-they-doing (on) the Sabbath what is not lawful?”" (Mark 2:23-24).
Jesus answered with a word of knowledge in order to address their issue:
It is written about Jesus that "He-says (to) them, “Did-you never read [in 1 Samuel 21:1-6] what DAVID did when he-had (a) need and was-hungry, he and the (ones) with him, how he-entered into the house (of) God in the time of Abiathar (the) high-priest and ATE THE BREAD (OF) PRESENTATION WHICH IS NOT LAWFUL (FOR ANYONE) TO-EAT BUT THE PRIESTS, and he-gave (it) also (to) the (ones) being with him?” And He-was-saying (to) them, “The Sabbath was-made for-the-sake-of mankind, and not mankind for-the-sake-of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:25-27).
Jesus here was given to speak a passage already KNOWN in Samuel 21:1-6 that was providing more insights concerning why it was justified to understand that what His disciples were doing was not unlawful, as David did something similar and the ones being with Him. So then the Sabbath was made for the sake of mankind, and not mankind of the sake of the Sabbath.
James in Acts 15:
Some having believed were saying that it was necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and command them to keep the Law of Moses:
It is written about "the conversion (of) the Gentiles" (Acts 15:3) that "some (of) the (ones) from the sect (of) the Pharisees having-believed stood-up-out-of (the assembly), saying that “It-is-necessary to-circumcise them and to-command (them) to-keep the Law (of) Moses”. And the apostles and the elders were-gathered-together to-see about this matter." (Acts 15:5-6).
James answered with a word of knowledge in order to address their issue:
It is written that "James responded, saying, “Men, brothers, listen-to me. Simeon described how God first visited to-take (a) people (for) His name from (the) Gentiles. And the words (of) the prophets agree (with) this, just-as it-has-been-written [in Amos 9:11-12]: ‘After these (things) I-will-return and I-will-rebuild the fallen tent (of) David. And I-will-rebuild its (things) having-been-torn-down. And I-will-restore it so-that the rest (of) mankind may-seek-out the Lord, EVEN ALL THE GENTILES UPON WHOM MY NAME HAS-BEEN-CALLED UPON THEM’, says (the) Lord doing these (things) known from (the past) age are to God all His works. Therefore I judge (that we) NOT BE-TROUBLING THE (ONES) FROM THE GENTILES TURNING TO GOD" (Acts 15:13-19).
James here was given to speak a passage already KNOWN in Amos 9:11-12 that was providing more insights concerning why it was not necessary to trouble Gentiles with becoming Jewish by circumcising them, as God said that he would take a people for His name from THE GENTILES.
Knowledge can be DISTINCT from REVELATION:
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 about the spiritual gift of "word (of) KNOWLEDGE [gnо́sis 1108 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 12:8).
Paul wrote 2 chapters later in 1 Corinthians 14 that there can be a distinction between a REVELATION and KNOWLEDGE, as it is written: "what will-I-profit you unless I-speak (to) you EITHER by (a) REVELATION OR by KNOWLEDGE [gnо́sis 1108 in Greek] or by (a) prophecy or by (a) teaching?" (1 Corinthians 14:6).
So here the KNOWLEDGE spoken is not a REVELATION.
A knowledge spoken seeks to highlight something that has to be ALREADY known. Example: did you KNOW that it is written in the Scriptures that Jesus is "The Christ" (Acts 17:3)?
A revelation spoken seeks to reveal something that is NOT YET known. Example: when people did not know yet the identity of Jesus, Peter suddenly said to Jesus: "You are the Christ" (Matthew 16:16), to which Jesus answered: "flesh and blood did not REVEAL (it to) you, but My Father in the heavens" (Matthew 16:17). Peter did not quote a Scripture known to him at that time, and other people did not seem to know that Jesus is the Christ at the time. Peter received a REVELATION.
Knowledge can be DISTINCT from PROPHECY:
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 about the spiritual gift of "word (of) KNOWLEDGE [gnо́sis 1108 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 12:8).
Paul wrote 2 chapters later in 1 Corinthians 14 that there can be a distinction between a PROPHECY and KNOWLEDGE, as it is written: "what will-I-profit you unless I-speak (to) you EITHER by (a) revelation or by KNOWLEDGE [gnо́sis 1108 in Greek] OR by (a) PROPHECY or by (a) teaching?" (1 Corinthians 14:6).
So here the KNOWLEDGE spoken is not a PROPHECY.
A knowledge spoken seeks to highlight something that has to be already known.
A prophecy can include making evident hidden information in the heart of someone, so that the person is examined, as Paul wrote: "if they all PROPHESY, and some unbeliever or (an) uninstructed (one) comes-in, he-is-convicted by all. HE-IS-EXAMINED by all. The HIDDEN (things of) his heart BECOME EVIDENT" (John 4:17-18).
This is for example what Jesus did in John 4 when a "woman responded and said (to) Him, “I-do not have (a) husband”. Jesus says (to) her, “You-said rightly that ‘I-do not have a-husband’. For YOU-HAD FIVE HUSBANDS. And NOW HE-WHOM YOU-HAVE IS NOT YOUR HUSBAND. You-have-spoken this (as a) true (thing)”." (John 4:17-18). This would have been a PROPHECY, as it is then also written: "The woman says (to) Him, “Sir, I-perceive that You are (a) PROPHET" (John 4:19). The prophecy here made evident the hidden woman's life, examining her.
For more information on the spiritual gift of prophecy:
Knowledge can be DISTINCT from TEACHING:
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 about the spiritual gift of "word (of) KNOWLEDGE [gnо́sis 1108 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 12:8).
Paul wrote 2 chapters later in 1 Corinthians 14 that there can be a distinction between a TEACHING and KNOWLEDGE, as it is written: "what will-I-profit you unless I-speak (to) you EITHER by (a) revelation or by KNOWLEDGE [gnо́sis 1108 in Greek] or by (a) prophecy OR by (a) TEACHING?" (1 Corinthians 14:6).
So here the KNOWLEDGE spoken is not a TEACHING.
A knowledge spoken seeks to highlight something that has to be known. Example: did you KNOW that it is written in the Scriptures that Jesus is "The Christ" (Acts 17:3)?
A teaching spoken seeks to explain or give understanding of those things. Example: When it is said that Jesus is "the Christ", it means that [followed by an explanation of what it means].
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