--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we pursue theological knowledge for…" description: "\"If we pursue theological knowledge for its own sake, it's bound to go bad on us. It will make us proud and conceited.\" — J. I. Packer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/j-i-packer-1856_bounds_if-we-pursue-theological-knowledge-for-i_1401549.png" --- # If we pursue theological knowledge for its own sake, it's… ![“If we pursue theological knowledge for its own sake, it's bound to go bad on us. It will make us proud and conceited.” quote by J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/j-i-packer-1856_bounds_if-we-pursue-theological-knowledge-for-i_1401549.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/j-i-packer-1856_bounds_if-we-pursue-theological-knowledge-for-i_1401549.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/j-i-packer-1856_bounds_if-we-pursue-theological-knowledge-for-i_1401549.png) > “If we pursue theological knowledge for its own sake, it's bound to go bad on us. It will make us proud and conceited.” [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeking theology for its own sake breeds pride and leads to misuse. **In simple terms:** Pure theology can become arrogant. Key Takeaway Study theology with humility and purpose. Themes humility theology pride Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic study - church leadership - personal faith - public preaching Key Concepts spiritual growth ethical responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What checks can prevent pride in learning? - How does humility shape theological work? A Different Perspective Intellectual pursuits can still be valuable if balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Conceited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceited/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Proud Conceited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud-conceited-4364573/) [Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue/) [Pursue Theological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue-theological-4913022/) [Sake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sake/) [Theological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theological/) [Theological Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theological-knowledge-700385/) ## Related quotes > [Oft has it been my lot to mark A proud, conceited, talking spark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrick/oft-has-it-been-my-lot-to-mark-a-proud-conceited-talking-spark/) [James Merrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrick/) > [All schools, all colleges, have two great functions: to confer, and to conceal, valuable knowledge. 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If it were his beauty that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/narcissus-does-not-fall-in-love-with-his-reflection-because-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Azerbaijan unleashed the war, and was defeated in that war; Azerbaijan asked for truce (including from the Commander of Karabakh's forces) and later started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serzh-sargsyan/azerbaijan-unleashed-the-war-and-was-defeated-in-that-war-azerbaijan/) [Serzh Sargsyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serzh-sargsyan/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by J. I. Packer > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [What matters supremely, therefore, is not, in the last analysis, the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/what-matters-supremely-therefore-is-not-in-the-last-analysis-the-fact/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [For what higher, more exalted, and more compelling goal can there be than to know God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/for-what-higher-more-exalted-and-more-compelling-goal-can-there-be/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Fanciful spiritualizing, so far from yielding God's meaning, actually obscured it. 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Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Maturity is a compound of wisdom, goodwill, resilience, and creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/maturity-is-a-compound-of-wisdom-goodwill-resilience-and-creativity/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [The peace of God is first and foremost peace with God; it is the state of affairs in which God, instead of being against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/the-peace-of-god-is-first-and-foremost-peace-with-god-it-is-the-state/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Today, on our own turf, we face pagan ignorance about God every bit as deep as that which the early church faced in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/today-on-our-own-turf-we-face-pagan-ignorance-about-god-every-bit-as/) [J. I. 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Packer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) ## More Bounds quotes > [Man will not always stay on Earth; the pursuit of light and space will lead him to penetrate the bounds of the atmosphere, timidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/man-will-not-always-stay-on-earth-the-pursuit-of-light-and-space-will/) [Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/) > [Importunity is a condition of prayer. We are to press the matter, not with vain repetitions, but with urgent repetitions. 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