“And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.” 1 Cor 8:2
For every Christian, there are certain expectations regarding what should be known from the Bible. However, we know in part, until we know how we are fully known!
Dear friends, recently, I felt led by God to start studying deeply into the Bible, exploring every part without skipping anything. This journey has brought me a fresh understanding of what it really means to “know.” Even after 42 years of reading the Bible, this has been eye-opening.
In the Bible, “knowing” isn’t just about gathering facts or being aware of information. It’s a profound, multifaceted concept, especially when it comes to our relationship with God. To truly grasp what “knowing” means in a biblical sense, we need to explore its different dimensions and how they shape our faith. So, for the rest of this season, I want to focus on this idea of “knowing” as it appears in the Bible. We’ll break it down into different categories to help us study it more thoroughly.
We’ll look at various Greek terms, such as “ginosko” (experiential knowledge – John 17:3, Philippians 3:10), “oida” (intuitive understanding – 1 Corinthians 8:2, Romans 2:15), “epiginosko” (full knowledge – Colossians 1:10, 2 Peter 1:3), “epistamai” (skillful knowledge – 2 Timothy 2:15, Luke 12:47), and “prognosko” (foreknowledge – Romans 8:29, 1 Peter 1:2). We’ll also discuss “agnosia” (ignorance – Hosea 4:6, 1 Corinthians 12:1) to see what to avoid. Each aspect can help us grow deeper in our faith. The Greek words for “knowing” give us a rich framework for understanding our relationship with God and His truth. As 1 John 5:20 says, “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true.”
Knowing the truth shapes what we believe, and those beliefs, in turn, guide us in our pursuit of further knowledge. Our knowledge of Christ, given by Him, is intended to deepen our understanding of truth. Knowing Christ more fully enables us to grasp deeper truths and enrich our spiritual understanding. Let us embrace the Word of God as vital and personal. Start to read the bible to know Him better! Love you all!
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk