Knowing We Know Nothing
Humility and Wisdom
Socrates famously asserted, I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing. Though this statement arises from a distinctly Greek philosophical tradition, the essence of the sentiment finds resonance in the Christian scriptures. The Bible frequently confronts the limitations of human knowledge and the necessity of humility before the omniscience of God. From the earliest writings of the Old Testament to the teachings of the apostles, a theme emerges: true wisdom lies in acknowledging the finitude of human understanding and relying on the divine revelation given by God.
The Biblical Parallel to Socratic Wisdom
The Socratic method famously led its interlocutors to confront the boundaries of their own knowledge. Socrates' declaration was not an admission of ignorance in the simplistic sense but rather an acknowledgment of the inadequacy of human wisdom when faced with the mysteries of existence and the divine. In the Bible, Job epitomizes this realization.
After enduring immense suffering and questioning God, Job is confronted with the grandeur of God’s power and wisdom through a series of divine revelations. In response, Job humbles himself, confessing, "I have uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not" (Job 42:3). Here, Job acknowledges the limits of his understanding, recognizing that God’s knowledge far surpasses human comprehension. Job’s journey to humility mirrors the Socratic admission that human beings, in their pursuit of wisdom, must recognize their own ignorance in light of a higher, divine wisdom.
Proverbs: The Foundation of True Wisdom
The book of Proverbs offers a consistent thread of instruction regarding the pursuit of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." The “fear of the LORD” is not mere reverence; it is the acknowledgment that human wisdom can only begin when one submits to the truth that God alone possesses perfect knowledge. This is not unlike the Socratic method of stripping away the illusion of knowledge to arrive at genuine understanding. The writer of Proverbs points us to the fact that no man, unaided by God, can claim to possess true wisdom. It begins with an awareness of one’s limitations and an acknowledgment of God’s infinite understanding.
Paul’s echo of this truth in 1 Corinthians reinforces the biblical perspective: "If any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know" (1 Corinthians 8:2). The apostle Paul, a man steeped in both Jewish and Hellenistic thought, cuts to the heart of the matter. In the context of the church at Corinth, Paul addresses those who pride themselves on their knowledge, cautioning them that intellectual arrogance is incompatible with true wisdom. To truly know is to understand how little one knows, especially in comparison to God’s infinite knowledge.
The Fallibility of Human Wisdom
Throughout the scriptures, human wisdom is contrasted with the wisdom of God, often revealing the inadequacy of man’s intellectual prowess. In Isaiah, the prophet declares, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). This passage reveals a fundamental biblical truth: human wisdom, no matter how advanced, will always fall short of divine wisdom. Just as Socrates recognized the limits of human understanding, the Bible exhorts believers to grasp their fallibility and seek wisdom from the One whose knowledge is complete and whose ways are inscrutable.
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon, known for his wisdom, also grapples with the limitations of human understanding. Reflecting on his own pursuit of knowledge, he concludes, "For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow" (Ecclesiastes 1:18). Solomon, despite his great wisdom, recognized the futility of seeking fulfillment through human knowledge alone. In this, we find a deep parallel to the Socratic thought that true wisdom lies in acknowledging the insufficiency of human insight and the need for a higher source of wisdom.
Relying on Divine Revelation
If human wisdom is limited, then the question arises: how can one attain true wisdom? The Bible makes it clear that wisdom comes from God, and His revelation provides the knowledge necessary for righteous living. In James, we read, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5). True wisdom, unlike the philosophical musings of the world, is a gift from God. It is the product of a mind steeped in God’s Word (Psalm 1:2).
Paul, again writing to the Corinthians, emphasizes that the wisdom of God is revealed through the Spirit.: "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). From the great inspiration chapter we learn that God inspired the first century Christians and those spiritual men wrote down what was inspired using words commensurate to the divine message so we, too, can be made wise 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:15).
Conclusion: Humility in the Pursuit of Wisdom
In the biblical worldview, true wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD and the recognition of human limitation. Just as Socrates, through his philosophical inquiries, came to the conclusion that human wisdom is, at best, a humble admission of ignorance, so too does the Bible teach that man’s knowledge pales in comparison to the infinite wisdom of God.
The scriptures exhort believers to seek God’s wisdom, knowing that human efforts alone will fall short. As Paul reminds us, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19). Therefore, the believer’s pursuit of wisdom must be grounded in humility, always acknowledging that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours and that true wisdom comes from His revelation.
In both the ancient philosophical tradition and the Bible, wisdom is not found in the certainty of human knowledge, but in the humble admission of its limits and the recognition of the need for divine insight. To know that we know nothing is the beginning of wisdom, for it is in that humility that we are led to seek the perfect wisdom of God.
I fully agree that God’s Wisdom is far superior to mankind’s Wisdom. I am a Christian who is in Love with God! However I put a high value on the Wisdom of us humans as well, even on the wisdom of animals,and of flora as well as the entire Cosmos: all of these being God’s creations. I don’t set up one against the other but honour both with all my heart and soul. That is why I came up with the idea of Global Proverb Exhange ( under Wisdom Distillery) so that we may enrich each other with all wisdoms from all round the world! God’s Love and Wisdom surely permeates through all and His Wisdom in my humble opinion is the very DNA of all other wisdoms in all of creation. Thank you for putting your great summation together in such a great way, I will save it to remind me to always walk humbly in God’s Grace. May you be richly blessed. 🙏🌞😇🕊️🌈❤️