Zeal without knowledge

A Pastoral Message Based on Romans 10:2

“For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” — Romans 10:2

 

A Word to Those Who Divide the Church over the “Perfect Bible”

Beloved brothers and sisters,
Many of you are passionate about the Word of God. Your zeal is not in question — like Paul said of Israel, “I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God.” But, as the apostle warned, zeal without true knowledge can lead people astray. It can turn devotion into division, and faith into pride.

There are some among us who claim that only one Bible translation — the King James Version — or one textual tradition — the Textus Receptus — is perfectly preserved. You teach that every other translation is corrupt or inferior, and in doing so, you have wounded the Body of Christ.

This is not the fruit of the Spirit. It is not the wisdom from above. It is the fruit of pride and human reasoning — what Paul called “zeal without knowledge.”

The Tragic Result of Zeal Without Knowledge

When zeal is not guided by the Spirit’s wisdom, it produces:

• Division instead of unity

• Pride instead of humility

• Suspicion instead of love

• Argument instead of prayer

• Idolatry of words instead of worship of the Living Word

The pursuit of a “perfect Bible” has led some to forget the Perfect Savior.
In trying to defend the letter, they have wounded the Body.
In chasing precision, they have lost compassion.

God never called His people to worship a translation, but to worship the God who speaks through His Word — in every faithful tongue and version.

A Call to Repentance and Renewal

My brothers and sisters, return from the path of pride and division.
Stop calling others evildoer or heretics because they read from a different Bible version.
Stop fighting the very Body Christ died to save.

Instead, kneel before the Lord who gives wisdom to the humble and grace to the lowly.
Pray as James exhorts:

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” — James 3:17

Let this be your new pursuit — not the perfection of a manuscript, but the perfection of Christ’s love in your heart. Seek not to prove others wrong, but to show others Christ.

A Closing Prayer

Lord, forgive us when our zeal outruns our wisdom.
Forgive us for the pride that divides, and for the arguments that dishonor Your name.
Teach us to love truth in humility, to handle Your Word with grace,
and to rejoice that Your gospel is proclaimed in every faithful tongue.
Give us hearts of peace, lips of gentleness, and minds renewed by Your Spirit.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Final Exhortation

Zeal without knowledge divides.
Knowledge without love destroys.
But love guided by truth unites the church and glorifies Christ.