Knowing Him

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Last post of the year!

A long while back I became interested in how “know” is used in the Bible after reading John 10 – The sheep know my voice.  How do we know his voice?  So, I did a word study.

There are nine Greek words in the New Testament translated as the word “know”, but six of them are used sparsely, such as only once and then translated as other words.  I’m going to concentrate on the other three that are used most often.  (I’m using KJV and Strong’s Concordance; I’m choosing not to type out the verses as that would make this post very long.)

EIDO

  • Definition – perceive or come to know information
  • Other translations –See and Saw: as often as it’s translated Know
  • Examples – Matt 9:6, Luke 23:24, Romans 8:28, Phil 4:12
  • I was blind but now I see
  • Lest they should see with their eyes and believe

EPIGINOSKO

  • Definition – recognition or identification
  • Other translations – Acknowledge
  • Examples – Matt 7:16,20, Luke 1:4, I Cor 13:12, II Cor 13:5

GINOSKO

  • Definition – process of understanding with personal involvement
  • Other translations – Understand; most often used with will, shall, and should have
  • Examples – Matt 13:11, John 8:28,32, John 10, John 17, I Cor 2:14,16, Gal 4:9, Phil 4:5

These can be put together into a progression…

  • Eido – I know that you are there; I perceive it.
  • Epiginosko – I recognize who you are; I can identify you.
  • Ginosko – I understand you in the process of getting to know you.

Likewise our “knowing” Christ is also a progression…

  • Eido – I know that there is a Christ
  • Epiginosko – I recognize that he is the Son of God
  • Ginosko – I understand him through the process of getting to know him.

Although God has known us before we were born, for us as sheep, coming to know him and understand him as shepherd is a process. What an awesome thought that God wants us to know him and provides the means for that process to take place through prayer, reading, meditation, the Holy Spirit, worship, fellowship, and gratitude.

May 2018 be a continuation of this process for all of us!