Adam, it has been estimated, had an IQ between 165 and 300. He would be considered a genius today. There is, however, no record of Adam’s or King Solomon’s IQ, so it would be challenging to compare them to men today. We do know that the Lord blessed Adam and Eve with intelligence such as He had not given to any other creature at creation. He made Adam the rightful sovereign over all the works of His hands. Man, made in the divine image, could contemplate and appreciate the glorious works of God in nature. Such a wonderful masterpiece that our Creator made.

Who was the most intelligent king

in THE Bible?

In the Bible we read that Solomon was the king who was most the famous for his wisdom. In 1 Kings it is recorded that he sacrificed to God, and later we read how the Lord appeared to him in a dream, asking him what he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom in order to be a better ruler and guide for his people. “Above every earthly good, the king desired wisdom and understanding for the accomplishment of the work God had given him to do. He longed for quickness of mind, for largeness of heart, for tenderness of spirit.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 28. Solomon’s intelligence was the greatest among the wise. God answered his request and granted him great wisdom. He was bestowed with exceedingly deep insights, and had understanding beyond measure.

“But while the knowledge of science is power, the knowledge that Jesus came in person to impart is still greater power. The science of salvation is the most important science to be learned in the preparatory school of earth. The wisdom of Solomon is desirable, but the wisdom of Christ is far more desirable and more essential. We cannot reach Christ through mere intellectual training, but through Him, we can reach the highest round of the ladder of intellectual greatness. While the pursuit of knowledge in art, literature, and trades should not be discouraged, the student should first secure an experimental knowledge of God and His will.” –Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 19. Solomon declares that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 9:10. Concerning the value and importance of this wisdom, he writes: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7

There are so many things to learn, so much to know in the search for intelligence. Modern technology although it seems intriguing, in reality it has created an irreversible mess. Globalization, artificial light, and large urban cities are causing a change in the atmospheric gases with rising concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane as well as industrial byproducts. Sometimes there are also radiation leaks. And not to mention the billions of electronic devices and antennas giving off large amounts of electromagnetic transmissions.

Would other planets’ civilizations be like ours, with the same chemical and electromagnetic issues? We know that in the Spirit of Prophecy we can read about Sister White visiting another planet in vision, and clearly this was not an issue there. Today, though scientists have been searching for intelligent life beyond this earth. The search has been changing with time. They are now searching the skies for electronic signals similar to those we have on earth, which would indicate intelligent life forms in other parts of the heavens.

Worldly intelligence though is not always in line with the intellect that God desires His children to have. “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:19. However,  the Lord still does expect each person  to develop their intellect to its maximum, “God requires the training of the mental faculties. He designs that His servants shall possess more intelligence and clearer discernment than the worldling, and He is displeased with those who are too careless or too indolent to become efficient, well-informed workers. The Lord bids us to love Him with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and with all the mind. This lays upon us the obligation of developing the intellect to its fullest capacity, that with all the mind we may know and love our Creator.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 333

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding’ (Proverbs 9:10). The great work of life is character building, and a knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education. To impart this knowledge and to mould the character in harmony with it, should be the object of the teacher’s work. The law of God is a reflection of His character. . . . God has revealed Himself to us in His word and in the works of creation. Through the volume of inspiration and the book of nature, we are to obtain a knowledge of God.” –Christian Education, p. 64

“The science of redemption is the science of all sciences; the science that is the study of the angels and of all the intelligences of the unfallen worlds; the science that engages the attention of our Lord and Saviour; the science that enters into the purpose brooded in the mind of the Infinite—‘kept in silence through times eternal;’ the science that will be the study of God’s redeemed throughout endless ages. This is the highest study in which it is possible for a man to engage. As no other study can, it will quicken the mind and uplift the soul.” –Education, p. 325

“What we need is knowledge that will strengthen our minds and soul, that will make us better men and women. Heart education is of far more importance than mere book learning. It is well, even essential, to have a knowledge of the world in which we live; but if we leave eternity out of our reckoning, we shall make a failure from which we can never recover.” –Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, p. 388. Our hearts must be educated to become steadfast in God. We are to form habits of thought that will enable us to resist temptation. We must learn to look upward. The principles of the Word of God—principles that are as high as heaven, and that compass eternity—we are to understand in their bearing upon our daily life.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 314

“The Lord is a God of knowledge. In His Word, He is represented as weighing men, their development of character, and all their motives, whether they be good or evil. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, the child granted her by God in answer to her earnest entreaty, said, ‘The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him, actions are weighed’ (1 Samuel 2:3). David declared, ‘Men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity’ (Psalm 62:9). Isaiah says, ‘Thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just’ (Isaiah 26:7). Solomon writes, ‘All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weigheth the spirits’ (Proverbs 16:2). It is for the eternal interest of everyone to search his own heart and to improve every God-given faculty.” –The Upward Look, p. 53

“‘Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.’ Psalm 119:18. Could your eyes be opened, you would see not only good angels who are trying to impress hearts, but you would see also evil angels who are seeking to make of none effect the message of truth God has in mercy sent.” –Christ Triumphant, p. 43

Higher Learning

“He who is seeking with diligence to acquire the wisdom of human schools should remember that another school also claims him as a student. Christ was the greatest teacher the world ever saw. He brought to man knowledge direct from heaven. The lessons which He has given us are what we need for both the present and the future state. He sets before us the true aims of life, and how we may secure them.

“In the school of Christ, students are never graduated. Among the pupils are both old and young. Those who give heed to the instructions of the divine Teacher constantly advance in wisdom, refinement, and nobility of soul, and thus they are prepared to enter that higher school where advancement will continue throughout eternity.

“Infinite wisdom sets before us the great lessons of life—lessons of duty and happiness. These are often hard to learn, but without them, we can make no real progress.” –Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 50­–51

“Human knowledge of both material and spiritual things is partial and imperfect; therefore many are unable to harmonize their views of science with Scripture statements. Many accept mere theories and speculations as scientific facts, and they think that God’s Word is to be tested by the teachings of ‘science falsely so called.’. . .  Men have endeavored to be wiser than their Creator; human philosophy has attempted to search out and explain mysteries which will never be revealed, through the eternal ages. . . . To many, scientific research has become a curse. God has permitted a flood of light to be poured upon the world in discoveries in science and art; but even the greatest minds, if not guided by the Word of God in their research, become bewildered in their attempts to investigate the relations of science and revelation.” –Darkness Before Dawn, p. 9, 8

God is the foundation of all true intelligence. He is the author of true science. “Rightly understood, science and the Written Word agree, and each sheds light on the other. Together they lead us to God, by teaching us something of the wise and beneficent laws through which He works.” –Christ Triumphant, p. 426. “Knowledge of true science is power, but while the knowledge of science is power, the knowledge that Jesus came in person to impart is still greater power. The science of salvation is the most important science to be learned in the preparatory school of earth. The wisdom of Solomon is desirable, but the wisdom of Christ is far more desirable and more essential.” –Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 19

“Learning is good. The wisdom of Solomon is desirable, but the wisdom of a greater than Solomon is far more desirable and essential. Through the learning in our schools, we cannot reach Christ, but we can through Christ reach the highest end of the ladder in science; for the word of inspiration says, ‘Ye are complete in Him’ (Colossians 2:10). Our first business is to see and acknowledge God, and then He will direct our path.” –Manuscript Releases, vol. 6, p. 262. Amen.

Daniel Kimeu