² For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.

Zeal without knowledge—that characterizes so many passions in the world, especially religious passions. Paul’s assessment of the Jewish problem with unbelief characterizes so many religious efforts today. In fact, one wonders whether God chose them because they so represent all of humanity in their fall from God, despite their best human efforts. Paul attested to this fact from his own personal experience; he knows this way of life and thinking quite well, for it describes his life before Christ. Indeed, he could now see that he was quite deluded back then. Everyone recognized that he was head and shoulders above others in keeping the Law of Moses and zealously defending what he and the Jews believed: ^“as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless” (Phil 3:6). Yes, Paul knew all about misplaced, uninformed zeal!

So he not only could understand, but had a passion for his fellow Jews who were still under misconceptions about the Law and about God. They had knowledge, but not the full knowledge—because of sin. They refused to believe that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). As they saw it, they might not be perfect in keeping the entire Law of Moses, but at least they had the Law and attempted to keep it. But Paul, with great credibility, could say that although they had the truth of God’s Word within their reach, they chose to ignore that knowledge of the light of Christ. So in summary, their zeal for God was “not in accordance with knowledge.”

Is this not true for many today? In the developed world, Christianity has either come and gone (as in many places in Europe) or it has become so popular that anyone can say he is a Christian without fear of persecution—and without true knowledge of Christ. In some places it is in vogue to attend a vibrant, entertaining Sunday morning service, to get excited about the upbeat church services, the relevant sermons that make God “relatable” and speak only in the most general terms. In some ways, Christianity has become, in reality, a spiritual self-help, therapeutic approach to helping people live better lives. And there is great zeal for this kind of Christianity. But the knowledge is shallow.

The knowledge Paul writes about consists of the core truths, like the fact that all have sinned and deserve death, the demonstration of God’s love through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, and our resurrected life in Christ through God’s grace.

Father, help me root my zeal for You on solid truths, not on fluff and style.