What Do You Know?

I often comment that, “We have to stop reading the Bible like it was written in English.” Taking the time to study the Scriptures in their original languages allows you to understand them more fully. A good example of this principle is found in 1 Corinthians chapter 8.

Paul uses three different words in Greek that are each translated as some form of “knowledge” in the English. Understanding the differences in the Greek words is critical to interpreting correctly the message of the chapter.

The first Greek word used for knowledge is eido. “Concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know [eidō] that there is no such thing as an idol” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Eido means “to know spiritual truth through the physical senses.” When our eyes see an idol, in our spirit we know it is nothing more than a physical object; it has no spiritual power. That is why Paul states in that same verse, “there is no God but one.”

We read the scriptures with our physical eyes. But God sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and to teach us to know and understand the spiritual truths they contain “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things” (John 14:26).

Paul goes on to contrast two other words that are translated as knowledge, “gnosis” and “ginṓskō.” Gnosis is simply the knowledge of facts – intellectual understanding. Ginosko is both an intellectual understanding and a relational, experiential understanding.

Paul warns that “gnosis puffs up.” Some become proud of what they know and at times wield it like a club. Gnosis says to the unsaved person, “You are a sinner and you are going to hell.” Ginosko says to the unsaved person, “Your actions are displeasing to God and will result in your eternal separation from God. Because I care about you, I do not want that to happen to you. I have experienced God’s love, repented of my sins and now enjoy a relationship with God that will last for all eternity.”

Ginosko does not water-down the facts. Ginosko seeks to share the truth because of our relationship with God and our concern for the unsaved based on our relationship with them. We want them to experience God’s love and to love Him.

The Greek word for love is “agape.” Agape is “knowledge-based love.” We love God because His Holy Spirit drew us to Him and helped us understand that He does not want us to die in our sins and be eternally separated from Him. He gave us the knowledge that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for our sins (to pay the penalty for them), and by believing in Jesus and making Him Lord of our lives, we will be forgiven.

Let us endeavor to know God’s Word, to follow its teachings and to lovingly share the Gospel with others. Relational knowledge truly expresses God’s love.