What is EPIGNOSIS?

EPIGNOSIS (pronounced e-pē'-gnō-sēs) is a Greek word meaning precise and correct knowledge. It is used in the New Testament twenty times: fifteen times by the Apostle Paul, one time in Hebrews and four times by the Apostle Peter. In its usages it refers to things ethical and divine. Here are three such examples:

"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;" (Philippians 1:9)

"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:" (Colossians 3:10)

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:" (Ephesians 1:17)

Vines' Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says (at C-2) Epignosis: "denotes exact or full knowledge, discernment, recognition, and [expresses] a fuller or a full "knowledge," a greater participation by the "knower" in the object "known," thus more powerfully influencing him. "In all the four Epistles of the first Roman captivity it is an element in the Apostle's opening prayer for his correspondents' well-being, Phil. 1:9; Eph. 1:17; Col. 1:9; Philem. 1:6" (Lightfoot)."

Vines' also says Epignosis is similar to Epiginosko (at A-3), which "denotes (a) "to observe, fully perceive, notice attentively, discern, recognize" and "suggests generally a directive, a more special, recognition of the object "known" than does [ginosko]; it also may suggest advanced "knowledge" or special appreciation; thus, in Rom. 1:32, "knowing the ordinance of God" (epiginosko) means "knowing full well," whereas in verse Rom. 1:21 "knowing God" (ginosko) simply suggests that they could not avoid the perception. Sometimes epiginosko implies a special participation in the object "known," and gives greater weight to what is stated; thus in John 8:32, "ye shall know the truth," ginosko is used, whereas in 1 Tim. 4:3, "them that believe and know the truth," epiginosko lays stress on participation in the truth."

Where do we begin on the path to this type of knowledge? The scriptures say the fear, reverence or terror of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) and anyone who has understanding will desire knowledge in their heart (Proverbs 15:14). The scripture also says the intelligent person’s heart obtains knowledge and the wise person’s ear desires it (Proverbs 18:15).

A lot of persons rely on secular, corporeal wisdom as well as the strength that the world ascribes to money. The scripture says that both wisdom and money are transitory defences but the excellency or advantage of knowledge is that those who combine it with wisdom, live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live forever, are quickened, are alive and are restored to life or health (Ecclesiastes 7:12).

Like Paul’s desire for the Colossians, it is my desire that all are filled with the precise and correct knowledge of God and His will (Colossians 1:9-10). It is for this reason that God has led me to revisit and compile the lessons of my free newsletter ‘To The Saving Of The Soul’ and offer them here.

Each post on this blog presents the reader with a more profound knowledge of a different topic from the Bible and I pray that each pricks not just the mind but the heart as well.

God calls us to Epignosis via His written and spoken Word because an increase in knowledge brings an increase in Faith.

Be blessed in the light of the Word of God!

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