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I. THE KNOWLEDGE HERE MENTIONED.

1. Its subject.

(1) Christ's person. Jesus points out divinity: the signification being Jehovah, the Saviour. It was given Him in fulfilment of the prophecy which declared that He should be called Immanuel, or God with us.

(2) His offices. Christ or Messiah means "anointed," as were prophets, priests, and kings — all types of Christ.

(a) He is the prophet of His Church (Deuteronomy 18:18, 19). He reveals to us the will of God, and accompanies it with the illuminating influences of the Spirit.

(b) He is High Priest who, having offered sacrifice for sin, arose to make intercession.

(c) He is King; He restrains, and finally destroys His enemies; He makes His people willing in the day of His power, governs them by His holy laws, and defends them.

2. His work. "Him crucified." The atonement thus made is explicitly inculcated in every part of the scriptures. In the prophets (Isaiah 53:5; Daniel 9:24, 26, &c.). By our Lord (Matthew 20:28; John 6:51); Matthew 26:28). By the apostle (Romans 5:6, 10; Colossians 1:14). It was pointed out by all the sacrifices, and in heaven the Redeemer appears as "a Lamb as it had been slain(Revelation 5:6, 9, 11, 12).

3. The kind of knowledge which we should have of this subject. There are two kinds of knowledge of Christ — speculative and practical. The former remains in the head, the latter in the heart. The former is obtained by exercise of our own faculties; the latter only by the Holy Spirit. The latter is intended in the text. This knowledge leads us to receive Jesus as our Divine Saviour; which prompts us to rely on Christ in reference to every one of His offices. Intellectual knowledge, however, is not to be neglected, because we cannot be affected by truths of which we are ignorant.

II. ITS SUPREME IMPORTANCE.

1. Absolutely it gives important benefits.

(1) Acquaintance with the real character of God. The Cross of Christ impresses us with a sense of —

(a)  His holiness and justice.

(b)  His mercy and love.

(c)  His wisdom.

(2) Peace to the wounded conscience.

(3) The foundation of all Christian graces, tempers, and obedience. It is the view of Him whom our sins pierced which leads us to mourn for them. It strengthens faith — "He that spared not His own Son,... shall He not freely give us all things?" It furthers progress in holiness. We abhor that sin which heaped such suffering on the Redeemer.

2. Relatively —

(1) It is more useful than any other kind of knowledge. Human learning has its important use, but the interests of eternity are preferable to those of time.

(2) It is more easily acquired. It is true, indeed, that where a right disposition be wanting, you shall find things hid from the wise and prudent. It is true that persevering diligence is requisite. It is true that there are depths attending this knowledge which the utmost powers of intellect cannot fathom.

(J. J. S. Bird, B.A.)

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KJV: For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

WEB: For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.