The Word of Knowledge

.... The next two spiritual gifts in our series are closely related: the Word of Knowledge and the Word of Wisdom. Please notice that they are called ‘words’ and not ‘gifts’ in the sense of ongoing endowments. King Solomon, for example, was endowed with an actual gift of wisdom from God (1 Kings 10:3). It was an ongoing ability that was capable of operating even without the Lord. And because the gift was his own, Solomon controlled it’s use and eventually abused it.

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.... But the ‘word’ of wisdom and the ‘word’ of knowledge are specific communications from God that occur in timely episodes (similar to prophecy). On one hand, they are more limited in their scope because they are meant for those applications alone, as a form of timely guidance; on the other hand they are more insightful because they are supplied by the Spirit of God and because they are based on our relationship with Him. They are revalatory in nature, as opposed to Solomon's gift which depended on logic; they keep us in touch with God and dependent on Him in timely ways, whereas Solomon's independence led him to trouble.

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.... But returning to our present discussion: the Word of Knowledge and the Word of Wisdom are like two sides of a coin. In a Word of Knowledge, God tells us what is happening. In a Word of Wisdom, He tells us why something is happening, or else He is supplying us with some other useful insight into its meaning. Let’s take a look at some Scriptural examples, beginning with the Word of Knowledge:

.... "While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them’."

(Acts 10:19-20)

.... Earlier in this passage, Peter had received a vision that would eventually open the door of faith to the Gentiles. Then came a Word of Knowledge: "Behold, three men are seeking you." Let's think about this instruction carefully:

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.... Through this word, in a revelatory way, Peter was being told what is happening; but in the same message we see that he was not being told why it was happening. In that regard he was simply told: "go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them’."

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.... This passage demonstrates the Word of Knowledge, which tells us what, as opposed to the Word of Wisdom which would have explained why. We will discuss the Word of Wisdom further in our next posting.

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Daily Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 7