Wisdom and knowledge
4 exhortations from the Birmingham breaking of bread, 1867–1899, that dwell on this.
- Solomon’s Proverbs as the Oracles of GodNo. 76 · 1 June 1876 · 28 min read aloud
Taking Peter’s rule to speak “as the oracles of God”, the speaker argues that Solomon’s Proverbs carry apostolic authority and that they supply correctives against extremes: diligence against shiftless trust, warnings against haste to be rich, firmness towards fools and false brethren alongside kindness, and knowledge against the dangers of pride.
- True Wisdom Versus the Wisdom of the WorldNo. 107 · 1 May 1879 · 24 min read aloud
The speaker asks what wisdom is, contrasting the world’s claims to wisdom with Paul’s words that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
- True Agnosticism and Charity Toward the WeakNo. 147 · 1 June 1883 · 24 min read aloud · Read: 1 Corinthians 8
Taking 1 Corinthians 8, the speaker says knowledge by itself puffs up, and that Paul and modern science agree nothing can be known of the ultimate nature of things in the philosophical sense.
- Wisdom Applied: Seeking Life and Bearing the CrossNo. 158 · 1 July 1884 · 25 min read aloud · Read: Proverbs 8
Takes the parable of wisdom in Proverbs 8 and says that God’s wisdom is seen in all creation, while human wisdom is the right use of knowledge to secure life, so that a man who lives only for the present is a fool.