I translate the writing on that tee-shirt as: Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change. -Stephen Hawking. Neil deGrasse Tyson (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_deGrasse_Tyson) for background on him) is holding the tee-shirt with this Stephen Hawking shirt. I have seen Mr. Tyson numerous times and always thought he was brilliant. His presentations have always been interesting, but frankly, I simply cannot accept his views on the theory of evolution and “The Big Bang”; they are directly opposed to what the Bible plainly teaches.
Needless to say, Mr. Tyson is an intelligent man. Intelligence comes in all forms- applied (common sense), theoretical, intuitive, spiritual, etc.. If you have other categories to add to this list – fine. Share them with me, I would appreciate your thoughts.
Being intelligent is a matter of application, for I have known people with PhD’s who could not change a car tire or have the common sense to shower regularly. Others, like Mr. Tyson, have raw intellect, but do not seem have the ability to think spiritually and therefore reject Biblical Christianity. Thankfully, I have known some very bright people who were very religious (who also had advanced degrees, even some with PhD's).
As I thought about this, I remembered someone from the New Testament that was also called intelligent…
From the book of Acts…
Acts 13 ( Young’s Literal Translation)
6 and having gone through the island unto Paphos, they found a certain magian, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name is Bar-Jesus;
7 who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man; this one having called for Barnabas and Saul, did desire to hear the word of God,
8 and there withstood them Elymas the magian--for so is his name interpreted--seeking to pervert the proconsul from the faith.
9 And Saul--who also is Paul--having been filled with the Holy Spirit, and having looked stedfastly on him,
10 said, 'O full of all guile, and all profligacy, son of a devil, enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease perverting the right ways of the Lord?
11 and now, lo, a hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season;' and presently there fell upon him a mist and darkness, and he, going about, was seeking some to lead him by the hand;
12 then the proconsul having seen what hath come to pass, did believe, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
The proconsul Sergius Paulus was a governor of Cyprus in the 1st century and reported directly to the Roman Emperor; a person of importance in the ancient world. That he was intelligent (some translations use the English word prudent) and believed is important for some of our more educated people today refer to Christianity as being for the lower classes or the uneducated. They are wrong. Intelligence seeks out that which it does not understand, accepts evidence and makes a logical conclusion. Consider the following…
Acts 17 ( YLT )
10 And the brethren immediately, through the night, sent forth both Paul and Silas to Berea, who having come, went to the synagogue of the Jews;
11 and these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, they received the word with all readiness of mind, every day examining the Writings whether those things were so;
12 many, indeed, therefore, of them did believe, and of the honourable Greek women and men not a few.
From the book of Proverbs…
Proverbs 14 ( World English Bible )
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
15 A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Proverbs 18 ( WEB )
15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
From the book of Hosea …
Hos 14 ( WEB )
9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them.
Jesus says…
Matthew 11 ( WEB )
15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
See also.. Matt 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23; 7:16; Luke 8:8; Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22
Jesus’ comments are especially important because they give rise to a question: Why would he repeatedly say this statement?
Because understanding spiritual matters is just not a matter of intelligence; preconceived ideas and human will are also involved. The Pharisees and the Sadducees were intelligent, but they thought they had arrived and were not willing to learn from Jesus. Before Saul (later called Paul) became a follower of Jesus he had received a very extensive education and was fluent in several languages and was also an expert in all things relating to the Jews. It took a direct confrontation by the risen Christ to turn Saul from his anti-Christians ways to the foremost advocate of Jesus that has ever lived. Just read his letter to the Romans to see how intelligent Paul was.
One last thought…
What will it take to make you realize that Jesus is the only way to God? Use whatever ability to understand that God has given you, investigate thoroughly and see- Jesus really did rise from the grave and loves you; obey his Gospel and live eternally!