1 Corinthians 8:2 … The necessary Knowing (02/08/17)
“Anyone who claims to know does not yet have the necessary Knowledge;
but anyone who Loves is Known.” ~ Paul (1 Corinthians 8:2)
How ironic that Paul would make this particular statement, seeing as how he himself was the one claiming more than most to “know better” – and that he was the one who had never seen Jesus in the flesh and who had never heard Jesus teach; that he was the one who quite clearly did not have the “necessary Knowledge” – a Knowledge of the Way of Christ that can only come from living it; something that Paul never did once in his entire biblical ministry …
Indeed, not only did Jesus specifically warn us of Paul and those like him (see Matthew 15:13-14 & Luke 12:1 vs Acts 23:6 & Acts 26:5 … see John 5:43 vs Acts 13:9 … see Matthew 24:26 vs Acts 9 & Galatians 1:11-12), but Paul himself was a hypocrite (see 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 vs 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, Romans 1:1, & 1 Corinthians 3:10 et al), and Jesus soundly rejected both hypocrites & hypocrisy throughout his ministry (see Matthew 23:13-29 et al).
On the other hand, Paul is correct here when he says that “anyone who Loves is Known” – for the entire ministry of Jesus Christ was built solely on a foundation of unconditional Love, and thus anyone who has the humility to approach others with gentleness (Matthew 18:3-4) and the courage to then Love them boldly & self-sacrificially (see Matthew 7:21-22, Matthew 24:12-14, John 13:15-17, Matthew 25:35-40 et al) is indeed “Known” thereby as one who truly understands his Way, his Truth, & his Life (for “by their fruits they will be known” – a la Matthew 7:15-20).
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