Romans 11:33-36 : O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. How sublime are these words! They refer to the provisions for salvation as revealed in the gospel, including God's use of men and nations in the development of this plan of salvation, as had been set forth in this letter, and not merely, as some think, to what was said in Romans 11:30-31. In the Bible use of the term "knowledge of God" that phrase does not refer to what God knows, but to what is known, or may be known, about him; that is, it re-fers to the things revealed about him and his plans. Here are some examples of the use of the phrase: "Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:5). " . . . there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land" (Hosea 4:1). "Some have no knowledge of God" (1 Corinthians 15:34). Paul prayed that the Colossians be "in-creasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:9-10). "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). (See also Hosea 6:6; 2 Corinthians 10:5 2 Peter 1:2-3; 2 Peter 1:8). In not one passage does the phrase refer to what God knows, any more than the phrase "knowledge of mathematics" refers to what mathematics knows. No uninspired man could search out and discern the judgments of God, nor trace out his ways down through the ages as he used men and nations in working out his plans and purposes. And no one can know the mind of God, save as he reveals it. By man's unaided powers he cannot find out these glorious things. "But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth" (1 Corinthians 2:9-13). Only as God reveals himself may we know his mind. And no one has ever given anything to God, so as to bring God under obligation to recompense him; for all things are of him, through him, and unto him. We cannot therefore enrich him by giving him that which is already his; but we can, with Paul, say, "To him be glory forever."