Wisdom and Knowledge in Christ

As a good follow-up to the last post with Packer's wisdom, I want to set forth here a bit of wisdom from Owen.  This sort of instruction has got to get into our system corporately, covenantally, and last (not first, which is our inclination) individually. 

Owen instructs:

"All true and solid knowledge is laid up in, and is only to be attained from and by, the Lord Jesus Christ; and the hearts of men, if they are but true to themselves and their most predominate principles, must needs be engaged to him." 

We often throw knowledge unrelated to the Lord Jesus alongside the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, as if both are simply equally true and wise and right-minded.  But that is not so.  As Jesus said of the law, that there are weightier provisions in it, so it is with wisdom and knowledge.  And the only "true and solid knowledge" is laid up in Christ Jesus.  This should be asserted boldly and without shame or fear of contradiction.  And it also ought to be done without everyone assuming that thereby knowledge not attained directly from the Bible (like scientific knowledge) is worthless.  It isn't.  (By itself, relatively speaking, it virtually is, if set over against Christ or apart from Christ.)  But it only has its fullness and richness and most meaningful meaning when seen in relation to the Son. 

In him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3).  Outside of him is folly and madness, whatever face may be put on it, however sophisticated and learned.