knowing, Knowing, and KNOWing

This study was taken from what was the first 'intermission' to occur in my morning Bible studies, which began as a look at the word epignosis. This is a far more expansive look at knowing than I had undertaken at that time.

What we know:

to know (eido [1492]):: to perceive with the outward senses, to know intuitively (without the effort required by reasoning), a having seen or perceived and thereby knowing.
Ro 5:3: We know that tribulation brings about perseverance.
Ro 7:14: We know the law is spiritual.
Ro 8:28: We know that all things work to our good in Christ.
1Jn 3:2: We know we will be like Him.
1Jn 5:19-20: We know that God's reborn don't sin, and that we are of God. (all instances of 'know' in this passage are eido.)

What we Know:

to know (ginosko[1097]):: to know experientially (by trial and practice, by the 'spiritual exercise of the mind); intimate knowledge.
Mt 13:11: It has been given us to know the mysteries of the kingdom.
Jn 17:3: To know the only true God and His Christ is eteranl life.
2Co 8:9: We know the grace of Christ, who made His richness poor so that our poverty might be made rich.
Gal 4:9: We have come to know God, or more properly, to be known by Him.
Eph 3:19: We know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge, and fills us to the fullness of God.
1Jn 3:19-20: We know that we are true to Him, and can assure our hearts in that God is greater than our hearts, and knows all things.

Comparing eido and ginosko:

From Vine's: Ginosko tends to indicate a coming to knowledge, a beginning to understand; whereas eido tends to indicate a fullness of knowledge and understanding. Another aspect is that ginosko implies a relation between the knower and the known, that eido does not consider.

Mk 5:29: The woman felt (ginosko) within that she had been healed.
Mk 5:33: The woman fell before Jesus in fear, knowing (eido) that He had healed her.
Jn 8:55: You have not known (ginosko) Him, but I know (oida) Him.
Jn 10:4: His sheep know (eido) His voice.
Jn 10:14-15: The Good Shepherd knows (ginosko) His sheep and they know (ginosko) Him, even as the Father and the Son know each other.
Jn 13:7: You don't know (eido) what I do, but you will know (ginosko). (You don't realize but you will understand.)
1Co 13:12: I now know (ginosko) in part, but I will know (eido) in full.
Jn 21:15-17: You know (eido) that I love You. You know (eido) all things, You know (ginosko) that I love You.
: "Do you agape Me?" "You eido that I phileo You."; "Do you agape Me?" "You eido that I phileo You."; "Do you phileo Me?" "You eido all things; You ginosko that I phileo You."

KNOWING:

To know (Epiginosko [1921]):: the verbal form of epignosis, indicates a fullness of perception, an attentiveness in discernment. It is a more direct and special knowing than ginosko, indicating a greater degree or completeness of the knowing. Epiginosko tends to suggest a participation in the thing known. As a comparison point:
Jn 8:32: indicates that you shall ginosko the truth - a general knowledge. By contrast,
1Ti 4:3: speaks of those that believe and epiginosko the truth - the knowledge having led to belief. It is a knowledge that fully unites the subject with the object, the knower with the known.
: The triune nature of knowing.

Eido is brought in from external sources. Ginosko is brought into being by the understanding of the soul. Epiginosko is the knowledge of the Spirit - that life changing knowledge that can only be known by the enlightening presence of the Holy Spirit within.

Knowing by degrees.

Another way to view the three ways of knowing is that eido is to know intuitively - it is knowledge perceived immediately, and requiring no application of reason. Ginosko is to know experientially - it is knowledge gained by trial and practice. Epiginosko takes the experiential knowledge of ginosko a step further, the thing becoming so known as to cause profound change in the one who knows it. It IS the knowledge so fully participated in that it can change my life.

Epignosis - Knowledge that changes:

How we KNOW:

Eph 1:17: Such knowledge of God can only come by the revelation and wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
Col 3:10: It is to this true and life-changing knowledge that we are being transformed and renewed, so that we might resemble our Creator.
Col 1:9: Again, by the work of the Holy Spirit, we may attain to such a knowledge of God's will as will cause us to change our lives.
What KNOWing does:
Col 1:10: Our growth in this knowing will necessarily be accompanied by works befitting a child of God, a life pleasing to Him in all ways.
1Ti 2:4: God's desire is that all men should know His truth in such a way as changes them unto salvation.
2Pe 1:2: True knowledge of God multiplies our grace and peace.
2Pe 1:3: For in that knowledge, He has granted us to know all that pertains to godliness and life.
Why God wants us to KNOW:
2Pe 1:8: As we allow faith to provide moral excellence, knowledge (gnosis), self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (each proceeding from the prior), and as they increase, we are made useful and fruitful in true knowledge of Christ. [For they are evidence of that life-changing knowledge]
Col 2:2: Our understanding begins in the place of unifying love (the safety net), giving us to know that our true wealth comes from the assurance of true, life-changing knowledge of the mystery of Christ.
Eph 4:13: That all might have such a knowledge of Christ is the unifying purpose of faith, and the Church's role in redemption is to provide a place where such knowledge can be found.
Phm 6: Our fellowship is only effective when it is founded on true knowledge of all the good gifts of Christ which are in us for His sake!

It's interesting to note that such an understanding of God begins in the place of unifying love, a place of sound fellowship where we are surrounded by those who both know and express God's love, and that it brings us by steps to the point of having that love ourselves - making us part of that unifying safety net of love whereby others may com to know!

What we KNOW:

Ro 3:20: Here, we see that the Law served to bring man to such a knowledge of sin as ought to show them their need for God's own redemption. Our sin leaves us hopeless without His help.
Ro 10:2-3: The Jews - in rejecting Messiah - showed that they didn't understand God's righteousness to the point that it changed them. Such true knowledge knows that Christ came to complete the claims of the Law.
Ti 1:1: Paul is an apostle of that true knowledge which will bring one into line with godly character. True knowledge has faith in Christ as Savior.
Heb 10:26: If we have attained to this true knowledge of Christ's work, and yet continue on in willful sin, there remains no further hope for us.

Our sin, His righteousness, His salvation - these are the only things we need to KNOW.