Fountains of Wisdom-A Study in Proverbs (Part 32) Laying Aside All that I might Have Christ
It seemed that my study came to a standstill when I reached Proverbs 18:1 and not because of how I originally saw it. Instead, as I began to look at other translations and other paraphrases; I was baffled. The more I have read, the more confusing it became. It would appear that many have been just as baffled and that indeed people translate this into two very distinct and different ways. I will present to you briefly the two interpretations and then I will return to that which I initially believed and found many who did concur. Then I will leave it that you and God may need to discuss this verse and how it relates to you.
The verse as found in the King James Version is as follows:
Proverbs 18:1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
The most popular of interpretations and commentaries is that of: “Men who withdraw themselves to seek after their own desires and thus become quarrelsome against true wisdom.” In each of those it was that the word intermeddleth was viewed as always having a negative connotation and hence all these views hinged upon that. However, the original Hebrew reportedly is somewhat vague and even after an exhaustive search, I have found that within the commentaries there remained this great divide. I have prayed long and then turned to the Geneva Bible for some possible guidance. For history sake the Geneva Bible predated the King James version by more than 50 years and is the first mass produced English translation. It was the Bible that was brought to the United States when first settled and the one used by John Bunyon. It was the first to be divided into chapter and verse, as well as the first with extensive marginal notes written by such reformists as John Calvin, Miles Coverdale, and William Whittingham.
Proverbs 1 (GNV): 1 “For the desire thereof he will 1 separate himself to seek it, and occupy himself in all wisdom.” 1He that loveth wisdom, will separate himself from all impediments, and give himself wholly to seek it.
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Am I willing to count all loss for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus? Am I willing to lay aside everything else to be able to see Him in all His Glory? Is He my greatest treasure—my fullness of Joy?
Let’s read what Paul wrote:
Continue reading Laying Aside All that I might Have Christ (Part 32 of a study in Proverbs)
