It only stands to reason

[tigersnare]

Whence comes intellectual giftedness but from God?

The point that many highly intelligent people are completely idiots with regard to the Scripture and many people of unremarkable intelligence are amazing biblical scholars only reinforces God's sovereignty so much more in this way. God chooses those that will represent him. He will not be denied his remnant, but will choose "from the least of these" that will defend his word and receive his Son.

The Holy Spirit can and does illuminate even the darkest of minds and brings knowledge of truth to even the densest of heads. We know this is true because we see plenty of highly intelligent atheists that refuse to accept the basic truths of God's word and many very unintelligent people among God's sheep. What then shall we conclude? That it is not of him who wills nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

Eh, this changes the argument again. Now you are talking about the converted vs the unconverted and who sees what in scripture. The original argument again was, at least what I thought it was, was why do two christians read their bibles and come to different conclusions if they are both illuminated by the holy Spirit.

 

[Jon_]

Eh, this changes the argument again. Now you are talking about the converted vs the unconverted and who sees what in scripture. The original argument again was, at least what I thought it was, was why do two christians read their bibles and come to different conclusions if they are both illuminated by the holy Spirit.

It only changes the argument if you think the dynamic of human understanding is somehow different after conversion than it is before. I contend that it is not. Human understanding is as much a gift of God to the unconverted as it is to the converted. I have not seen any verses that lead to any other conclusion. In fact, there seems to be many that oppose it.

(2 Co. 4:6 AV) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

(Eph. 3:19 AV) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

(Php. 2:13 AV) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
​

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[Jon_]

I guess I should draw out the inference, as well. My argument above concludes that the Holy Spirit does not equally illuminate all men. God is pleased to reveal his scriptural truth to those that he does. Likewise, he is pleased to withhold his truth from even those that seek it. These things the Lord does for his own purposes that he might be glorified through the fulfillment of his will.

A good general rule to apply when asking the question, "Why is something the way it is?" is to answer, "God wants it that way."

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon