Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
John Calvin honors, dignities, nobility, beauty, and other things of that nature, puff up; because men, elated through a mistaken confidence in these things, very frequently become insolent. 458 Nor is it always so; for we see that many who are rich and beautiful, and abounding in honors, and distinguished for dignity and nobility, are, nevertheless, of a modest disposition, and not at all tainted with pride. And even when it does happen to be so, it is, nevertheless, not proper that we should put the blame upon what we know to be gifts of God; for in the first place that were unfair and unreasonable; and farther, by putting the blame upon things that are not blameworthy, we would exempt the persons themselves from blame, who alone are in fault. My meaning is this — "If riches naturally tend to make men proud, then a rich man, if proud, is free from blame, for the evil arises from riches."
We must, therefore, lay it down as a settled principle, that knowledge is good in itself; but as piety is its only foundation, 459 it becomes empty and useless in wicked men: as love is its true seasoning, where that is wanting it is tasteless. And truly, where there is not that thorough knowledge of God which humbles us, and teaches us to do good to the brethren, it is not so much knowledge, as an empty notion of it, even in those that are reckoned the most learned. At the same time, knowledge is not by any means to be blamed for this, any more than a sword, if it falls into the hands of a madman. Let this be considered as said 460 with a view to certain fanatics, who furiously declaim against all the liberal arts and sciences, as if their only use were to puff men up, and were not of the greatest advantage as helps in common life. 461 Now those very persons, who defame them in this style, are ready to burst with pride, to such an extent as to verify the old proverb — "Nothing is so arrogant as ignorance."
2. And if any man thinketh That man thinketh that he knoweth something, who is delighted with the opinion that he entertains of his own knowledge, and despises others, as if he were far above them. For Paul does not here condemn knowledge, but that ambition and haughtiness which ungodly men contract in consequence of it. Otherwise he does not exhort us to be sceptical, so as to be always hesitating and hanging in doubt, and he does not approve of a false and counterfeit modesty, as if it were a good thing to think that we are ignorant of what we do know. That man, therefore, who thinketh that he knoweth something, or, in other words, who is insolent from an empty notion of his own knowledge, so that he prefers himself before others, and is selfconceited, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know For the beginning of all true knowledge is acquaintance with God, which produces in us humility and submission; nay more, it prostrates us entirely instead of elating us. But
458"Et intraittables;" — "And insufferable." 459"La crainte de Dieu est le seul et vray fondement d'icelle;" — "The fear of God is its only true foundation."
460"J'ai bien voulu dire ceci;" — "I have felt prepared to say this." 461"Moyens et instrumens tres-vtiles, tant a la cognoissance de Dieu, qu'a la conduite de la vie commune;" — "Most useful means and instruments, both for the knowledge of God, and for the conduct of common life."