…so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding,
Summary: “Complete understanding” is very different than “understanding” that is not complete.
One of the things that makes writing fun for me is being able to play with words. For example, what is the opposite of “understanding?” Wouldn’t it be “misunderstanding?”
A misunderstanding happens when you don’t have all the information you need for complete understanding. However — and this is very important! — understanding and misunderstanding both feel exactly the same!
If a person misunderstands something, they think they understand, but they don’t. For example, a man’s wife tells him to go to the store and get a can of beans. He comes home with a can of beans and puts them on the kitchen counter. The wife looks at the can and says, “This isn’t what I asked for.”
The husband looks at his wife and patiently replies, “I’m sorry, I thought you asked for a can of beans.”
The wife looks at the husband with that look she gets when their three-year-old son brings a frog into the house. “Not those beans!,” she says. “I need black beans! Didn’t you hear me say we are having Mexican for dinner tonight?”
At this point in the conversation, the husband looks at the can of green beans on the counter and realizes he misunderstood.
When we are dealing with spiritual matters, misunderstandings can be more consequential.
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.’” (Luke 17:1)
Nobody I know wants any of that “woe” Jesus is talking about! We need to be careful about what we teach the body of Christ.
Yet, every day Christian churches are teaching that their denomination’s “understanding” of the Scripture is right. That means that every other denomination is wrong! What are the odds that people teaching conflicting “truths” about the Bible are both right?
Estimates are that there are tens of thousands of Christian denominations, but assume for the sake of discussion that there are only ten. If all ten have a different teaching on a certain point of faith, does that mean one is right? Maybe. It could be that all ten are wrong. At the very least, nine are wrong.
The word Paul used for “understanding” is “synesis” (Strong’s G4907). It means that knowledge and understanding come together in the mind. “Knowledge” means knowing the truth, and “understanding” means knowing how to apply the truth. Both are needed for “complete understanding.”
Division is a sign that misunderstanding exists somewhere. Complete understanding leads to complete unity (John 17:22-23). It is worth considering as we ponder what divides us and what God truly wants us to do.
Application: Knowledge of the truth is a prerequisite for complete understanding.
Food for Thought: How does having “complete understanding” change a person’s life?
I guess it depends on whether the complete understanding is based on truth. We live in a culture where many proclaim being “woke.” But some of what is promoted denies basic common sense.
If we are truly seeking truth from Gods word and seeking Christ, we will have a better understanding and be moving toward complete understanding according to a biblical worldview. We will truly be awake to the truth and our understanding will align with reality. The battle is not only for the heart, but the mind.
Romans 12: 2: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Corinthians 10: 3 – 5: For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Colossians 2: 6 – 8: So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces a of this world rather than on Christ.
Brother Rich —
You write: “I guess it depends on whether the complete understanding is based on truth.”
Absolutely!
Also — I should add a bit of clarification. As I thought about this today after it was published, I realized that it would be easy to misunderstand my thought process. There are certain things that are fundamental to the Christian faith. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection is the absolutely essential point .
Beyond that, and the truths stated in Scripture, there are things that are debatable. Romans 14:1 comes to mind:
“Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.”
Then, a few verses later Paul writes:
“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. ” (Romans 14:13)
There are clear biblical truths that are the core of the Gospel and most Christian denominations agree on.
There are misunderstandings about biblical truths that people argue about and cause division.
Finally, there are doctrines that are not reflected in Scripture but for some groups have taken on the authority of Scripture.
It seems to me that the essence of unity is based on the core truths reflected in the Bible’s teaching on the Gospel, and then, as Paul teaches, allowing for discussion on those things that are not agreed on. What I find hurtful is people standing on things that are debated while being divisive. (I would add that this is a generic observation and not a judgment on anyone I know personally.)
Having said all this, if I have misunderstood, I hope someone will lovingly straighten me out. 🙂
I suppose everyone is guilty at some point of taking a secondary issue and making it a primary one. I think perhaps we should all look in the mirror from time to time and ask when we are unnecessarily causing division along doctrinal grounds. Always a good idea to take such an inventory.
Thank you, Brother!
Point taken! 🙂
There was a book that was popular among Volkswagon owners in the late 60’s and early 70’s called “The Volkswagen Beetle: The People’s Car” by John Muir. The author not only wrote about fixing cars, but he included tips on dealing with people, too.
One story in the book that comes to mind is when he was on a road trip with family and friends and someone was upset about something. They stopped the car and everyone got out and sat in a circle. They sat there holding hands until everyone had listened to the hurts and complaints. Eventually, when harmony in the group had been restored, they would climb back in the car (or bus in this case) and continue their journey.
I was always impressed by that story — how they took the time to come together.
That sounds like an interesting book brother
It’s a fun read, and by the end of the book you know enough to try rebuilding a VW engine! 🙂
How does having “complete understanding” change a person’s life?
I agree with Rich!
Colossians 2 ( Entire Chapter )
2 [For my hope is] that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in [unselfish] love, so that they may have all the riches that come from the full assurance of understanding [the joy of salvation], resulting in a true [and more intimate] knowledge of the mystery of God, that is, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [regarding the word and purposes of God]. 4 I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive [but thoroughly deceptive] arguments.
6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], 7 having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude.
20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were still living in the world, do you submit to rules and regulations, such as, 21 “Do not handle [this], do not taste [that], do not [even] touch!”? 22 (these things all perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men. 23 These practices indeed have the appearance [that popularly passes as that] of wisdom in self-made religion and mock humility and severe treatment of the body (asceticism), but are of no value against sinful indulgence [because they do not honor God].
Thank you, Ron!
I love the description of being “knit together in [unselfish] love.” What a lovely way to describe the Body of Christ!