Knowing Christ—and especially the love of Christ—is more valuable than human knowledge.
Les Feldick draws from Paul's teaching that human knowledge is never exhausted and that the world by wisdom did not know God. He says the love of Christ "passeth, goes beyond knowledge," and every believer—even a plowboy without a third-grade education—has the potential for this knowledge. Education is not condemned, but it cannot equal personally knowing the resurrected Christ.
Ephesians 3:19 — This verse is the heart of Les's answer: the love of Christ "passeth knowledge," meaning it is more valuable than human intellect.
Scripture declares that the love of Christ "passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19). The apostle Paul also warns, "If any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know" (1 Corinthians 8:2). The Bible further states, "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God" (1 Corinthians 1:21), and "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent" (1 Corinthians 1:19). Paul also tells believers that even though they once knew Christ after the flesh, they are now to know Him as the risen Lord (2 Corinthians 5:16).
Les Feldick emphasizes that the love of Christ goes beyond human knowledge. He says many believers excuse themselves by claiming they lack wisdom or knowledge, but if Christ is in your heart, you have the potential for all these things. He does not criticize education—he says a believer with a great education and a brilliant mind is Christ-honoring. But when an unbeliever places all his faith in the wisdom of this world, it is nothing. Les points to Tyndale's concern for plowboys in England, who did not even have a third-grade education, to show that deep knowledge of God is not limited to the educated. He also insists that knowing Jesus after His resurrection, not merely understanding His earthly ministry, is what truly matters, and that Paul received his gospel by revelation of the resurrected Lord, not from man.
No, Les does not criticize education. He says, "For a believer, to believe or have a great education and to be able to have a brilliant mind, hey that's fine. Oh that's Christ honoring, of course it is." The problem is when an unbeliever places all of his faith in the so-called wisdom of this world—then it is nothing. He also quotes 1 Corinthians 1 to show that God has made foolish the wisdom of this world and that the world by wisdom knew not God.
Paul prays that believers may know the love of Christ, which "passeth knowledge." Les explains that this love goes beyond what human intellect can grasp, saying, "Now to know the love of Christ, which passeth, goes beyond knowledge." He encourages believers who feel they are not strong enough, reminding them that if Christ is in your heart, you have the potential to be filled with all the fullness of God, because God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.
Les says that simply understanding Jesus' earthly ministry does not bring salvation; believers must go to the cross and the resurrection. He points to Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 5:16—knowing Christ no longer after the flesh, but as the resurrected Lord. Paul's gospel also did not come from man, but by revelation of the ascended, resurrected Christ. This shows that divine revelation surpasses human learning.
The Fourth Dimension
Les describes a 'fourth dimension' in Ephesians 3:18 that God wants believers to enter, showing a spiritual comprehension beyond ordinary three-dimensional human knowledge.
Human Knowledge Is Never Exhausted
Les explains Paul's words that 'if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know'—human knowledge of God can never be exhausted.
The Love of Christ Passes Knowledge
Les says the love of Christ 'passeth, goes beyond knowledge' and points out that Tyndale risked his life so uneducated plowboys could have God's Word.
Filled With All the Fullness of God
Les emphasizes that every believer can be filled with all the fullness of God and that God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think.
Education Should Be Christ-Honoring
Les shows that education is Christ-honoring for believers, but an unbeliever's trust in the wisdom of this world is nothing; Paul was called a babbler at Mars Hill.
Knowing Christ After the Resurrection
Les insists that salvation requires knowing Christ after His resurrection, not merely understanding His earthly ministry.
The World by Wisdom Knew Not God
Les quotes 1 Corinthians 1 to show that God destroyed the wisdom of the wise and that the world by wisdom did not know God.
Revelation Not From Man
Les says Paul's message did not come from man but by revelation of the ascended, resurrected Christ, showing the supremacy of divine revelation over human learning.
Ephesians 3:19: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
This verse directly answers the question: knowing the love of Christ is more valuable than human knowledge.
Ephesians 3:20: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
This follows the prayer for being filled with God's fullness, showing God's power exceeds our human thoughts.
1 Corinthians 1:19: For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
This shows God's judgment on human wisdom, making it foolish.
1 Corinthians 1:20: Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
Human wisdom cannot stand before God; it is made foolish.
1 Corinthians 1:21: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
The world's wisdom cannot know God, but God saves through the preaching of the cross.
1 Corinthians 8:2: And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
Human knowledge is incomplete; no one can exhaust the things of God.
2 Corinthians 5:16: Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
Believers are to know Christ as the risen, resurrected Lord, not merely in His earthly ministry.
Yes. Les says a believer with a great education and a brilliant mind is Christ-honoring. The problem is when an unbeliever places all his faith in the so-called wisdom of this world, which is nothing.
Human wisdom cannot discover God on its own. Paul quotes that God destroys the wisdom of the wise and made foolish the wisdom of this world. Les uses this to show that knowing Christ surpasses human knowledge.
Les says yes. He points to Tyndale's concern for plowboys in England who did not have a third-grade education. If you have Christ in your heart, you have the potential for all the wisdom of God.
It is the love described in Ephesians 3:19 that goes beyond human intellectual understanding. Les says it is available to every believer, but believers often need to exercise the potential that is already in them.
Watch the Teaching: Why Most People Miss Who Jesus Really Is — Colossians 1:15 Explained