Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 9/13/2008

Question
I am trying to identify the source of some passages I learned in a bible course I took many years ago.  The fragments I remember go something like this:

There are those who know and know that they know.  Befriend them.

There are those who know but don't know that they know . . . .

There are those who don't know and know that they don't know . . . .

There are those who don't know but don't know that they don't know.  Avoid them.

I am trying to teach this wisdom to my 11-year-old.  Can you help me fill in the blanks, identifying the chapter, verse, and author?  Thanks.

Answer
Dear Bob,

Thank you for your question, but I cannot help you. This proverb is not in the Bible, although I’ve heard it a number of times. I know not from whence it came.

Some preachers have used the proverb in connection with Jesus’ parable of the ground in which seed fell—some on the pathway, some on stony ground, some on thorny ground, and some in good soil (Mark 4:3-8).

But I think it’s far more important to know Jesus than to know these other things. He told us how important knowing Him can be:

John 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

To know God personally and to know Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin, is to find access to eternal life. And knowing that, is a life or death matter. Teach your son how to know Christ and you will teach him a wisdom that will last for eternity. And you too can enjoy eternal life with him.

Spend time reading about Jesus from the book of Matthew; get the set of DVDs on the book of Matthew from your local Christian book store and watch it with him. The dialog is taken entirely from the NIV and there is nothing said except actual Scripture. Get to know Jesus and teach your son to know Jesus, and you’ll know everything that is really worth knowing.

Check out my website www.PettyPress.com. I’ve posted a lot of books that I wrote on the site, along with Bible study guides, and much more. But I think there are two important books you would find helpful in learning to know Jesus: “QUEST FOR THE SUPER LEADER” and “THE DESIRE OF AGES.” The latter book is much more important than the former.

Always be ready for Jesus to come.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
Thurman@PettyPress.com