Critique of Calvin's Institutes - Chapter 1

The first line of the first chapter of the institutes reads
"Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. " 

Is this the biblical view of wisdom? Does the bible say that Wisdom includes also knowledge of the self ? For as far as i know , the new testament is very clear , "But unto them who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." 1 corinthians 1:24 So from a biblical point of view , true and solid wisdom is through knowledge of Christ alone i.e , through whom God is made manifest. "No one has ever seen God. The unique God, who is close to the Father's side, has revealed him".John 1:18

 

  Even other religions and people from other religions have a deep realization of their sinfulness. apokam, papa kanmokam, papathma papa sambhava;
thrahimam pundarikaksha sarva papa hari hare…
which means, I am born in sin, doer of sin, and a sinful self; I am the worst of all sinners, Lord
save me from all sins. Why sin is a hurdle? Because, it is an offense against God or society (Rig
Veda 7.86.3). Sin is something done against brother, friend, neighbor or stranger (5.85.7,8).
Even sleep does not remove evil doings (7.86.2-7). Even though I am in the midst of waters,
I am thirsty forever. Be kind and grant me rest (7.89.4). 

Atharva Veda (6.45.1a) says: “O, sin in my mind why do you give me evil counsel? Get away, I do not desire you”. 

Sin has many names in Sanskrit Scriptures namely pap (sin), aagg (fire), dushkrit (evil deeds), thamas(darkness), prakrit (inborn nature), asathya (untruth), nirdaya (lack of compassion), krodha(anger), mada (pride), lobha (greed), dvesha (hatred), trishna (craving) etc.

The Bruhat Aranyaka Upanishad(4.3. says, that the Jeeva (soul) acquires evil, right at thebirth. Rog Sog Dhuk Paritab Bhandan Vyasnanicha, Aatma aparatha Vrukshanam phalarh edhanidehinam (Mithralab 42), which means, what are the fruits of this sinful tree which is our body? Sickness,sorrow, pain, bondage and many other kinds of sins. No man is free from this bondage of sin. Gita confirms that all created beings on earth are under the bondage of sin and death(Gita 3:27,18:40).

 
In the Bhagavat Gita, the disciple Arjun asks his Guru Krishna:
Atha kena prayukto yam papam carati purusha anichanapi varsaneya baladiva niyojitha
What is that, O scion of the varsni race; how does a man is prompted and forced to live a sinful
life even against his will? Krishna answers him saying:
Kama esa krodha esa rajoguna samudhbhavah maha sanao maha papma vidhi enam iha
vairinam. It is the insatiable lust and anger born of rajoguna prompting man to great sin. Know
this to be the enemy of spiritual life (B. Gita 3:36,37).

The point is man knows he is sinner as romans 2 declares through conscience. That is my point.

 

 To say that man can only know his true nature when he comes to know God is neither scriptural nor in accordance with the common experience of mankind .

 

To know you are sinful , you just need to be true to your conscience and that is why even people who never saw or heard of Christ were able to have a very complete realization of their sinfulness nature.

 

 The bible says "Christ the wisdom of God" 1Cor 1. "God has hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ" Colossians 2:3 . "All" the treasures of wisdom and understanding are hidden by God in Christ. Why do you want to include knowledge of self additionally if every aspect of wisdom is covered in Christ. Here too "Christ alone" , "Sola Cristos".