Assembly summary: The Foundation of All Knowledge
Author: Yolanda Watt | Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2021-22
Estimated Reading Time: 3 min.
As an alumnus of Living University, Mr. Jacob Hall wanted to impress upon us a lesson that he’d learned as a student.
He asked the students what the phrase “The Bible is the foundation of all knowledge” meant to them. One student responded that the Bible is the starting point for learning, and another said that it is a guidebook.
Mr. Hall then defined “knowledge” as facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education, and he defined “foundation” as an underlying basis or principle. If the Bible is the foundation of all knowledge, then it gives the correct starting point on which we can build information, facts, and skills related to any subject of study. We were then advised that whatever path we take, we will need to evaluate the information that we come across, thinking about what it is telling us and where it is coming from. Before we internalize any knowledge, we must be sure that our knowledge is built on the right foundation. Mr. Hall made two main points to illustrate this.
1. The Bible is relevant to our everyday lives
Mr. Hall emphasized that regardless of what the subject or topic is, the Bible is the foundation of all knowledge; we cannot assume that it is silent on any particular area of interest in our lives. Whether we’re learning about marriage, health, finances, or work habits, we need to know what the Bible says about it first. The Bible even teaches us how to interact with others—how to speak and how not to speak. Since God is the Creator of all, we can and should look to His word for guidance on whatever we’re trying to learn. Proverbs 2:1-6 demonstrates that from the mouth of God proceeds knowledge of the world.
2. Test all information against God’s word
The other point that Mr. Hall expounded on is that this world is full of the wrong type of knowledge. We are living in a world that pumps out more and more information for us to consume, and so much of it can lead us in a wrong direction. For example, each day there are approximately 500 hours of video content uploaded to YouTube every minute. We have to be careful about what we accept and take in, because much of the wealth of information that is available does not line up with God’s way of life. In 2 Peter 3:17-18, we are warned not to be “led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
As Mr. Hall made clear, growing in godly knowledge is especially important in the information age. We must study and implement practical judgment, adding the right type of knowledge to our faith and understanding that the right knowledge begins with God.
