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Growing in Understanding of God's Character and Ways Biblically

Growing in the knowledge of God is a central theme in Christian scripture, often linked to spiritual maturity and righteous conduct [3, 15]. This growth is not merely an intellectual exercise but involves a deeper, more intimate understanding of God's character and ways [16]. The biblical concept of "knowledge of God" (Hebrew: da'at 'elohim) implies a relational and experiential acquaintance, rather than just factual information [1, 8, 16].

The Apostle Paul prays for believers to grow in the knowledge of God's will, so they may "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way" [3, 10]. This growth is intrinsically connected to bearing fruit in good works [3, 10]. Similarly, Peter emphasizes that "grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord" [5]. This suggests that a deeper understanding of God and Christ leads to an increase in divine favor and inner tranquility [11].

This knowledge encompasses various aspects of God's character. For instance, understanding God's loving-kindness is described as excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, and everlasting [2]. It is through Christ that this loving-kindness is fully revealed [2]. The excellency and glory of Christ, as God, the Son of God, and one with the Father, are also crucial elements of this knowledge [7]. Christ is presented as the image of God, the Creator, Mediator, Prophet, Priest, King, and Judge [7].

Holiness is another attribute of God that believers are called to understand and emulate [9]. God's holiness serves as the standard for believers' conduct, just as Christ's character is the standard [9]. A godly life, marked by holiness, provides evidence of a true knowledge of God [9, 12]. Indeed, without holiness, "none shall see God" [9].

The process of growing in the knowledge of God involves several spiritual disciplines. It requires believing God, fearing Him, loving Him, and obeying Him [6]. It also entails following God's example and rejoicing in Him [6]. For Christians, this also means believing in Christ, loving Him, following His example, and obeying Him [6]. The goal is to live for Christ and to righteousness, soberly, righteously, and godly [6].

This growth is a continuous process. John Gill, one theologian, notes that "grace" can refer to the internal graces of the Spirit, which are capable of being increased and exercised more fully [11]. He also states that the work of grace is gradual, like a seed growing [13]. The Tyndale House commentary on Colossians highlights that spiritual growth leads to a clearer and deeper comprehension of Christian truth and conduct that pleases the Lord [15]. This deeper understanding equips believers with endurance and patience to stand against evil [15].

The Bible encourages believers to seek this knowledge actively. Jeremiah 6:16, for example, urges people to "stand ye in the ways, and see," implying a deliberate search for the right path, with the Scriptures serving as a guide [17]. The Psalmist David's practice of declaring his "ways" and "heart" to God, acknowledging Him in all his designs, illustrates an intimate relationship that fosters knowledge of God [14]. Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:18 for believers to "comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth" of God's love further underscores the vastness of what is to be known [4]. This pursuit of knowledge is not merely academic but transformative, leading to a life that honors God.

Sources

  1. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Deuel — the knowledge of God”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
  3. Colossians “Colossians 1:10 (BSB) — so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,”
  4. Ephesians “may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, -- Ephesians 3:18”
  5. II Peter “II Peter 1:2 (BSB) — Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
  8. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jediel — the knowledge, or renewing, of God”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
  10. Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:10: Greek, "So as to walk"; so that ye may walk. True knowledge of God's will is inseparable from walking conformably to it. worthy of the Lord-- (Eph 4:1). unto--so as in every way to be well-pleasing to God. pleasing--literally, "desire of pleasing." being fruitful--Greek, "bearing fruit." This is the first manifestation of their "walking worthy of the Lord." The second is, "increasing (growing) in the knowledge of God (or as the oldest manuscripts read, 'growing BY the full knowledge of God')"; thus, as the Gospel word (Col 1:6) was said to ”
  11. 2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 1:2: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you,.... By a multiplication of grace may be meant a larger discovery of the love and favour of God; which though it admits of no degrees in itself, being never more or less in God's heart, yet, as to the manifestations of it, it is different, and capable of being increased, and drawn out to a greater length; or else an increase of the internal graces of the Spirit of God, as to the actings and exercise of them; or a larger measure of the gifts of the Spirit, for greater usefulness among them; or a clearer view, and a more enlarged k”
  12. Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 33:15: 33:15 A godly life provides evidence that an individual truly knows God (see Col 3:5-17; Jas 2:14-18; 1 Pet 1:14-16; 1 Jn 1:5-6).”
  13. 2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 3:18: But grow in grace,.... In the gifts of grace, which, under a divine blessing, may be increased by using them: gifts neglected decrease, but stirred up and used, are improved and increase. And though men are to be thankful for their gifts, and be contented with them, yet they may lawfully desire more, and in the use of means seek an increase of them, which may be a means of preserving themselves, and others, from the error of the wicked. Moreover, by "grace" may be meant internal grace. The work of grace is gradual; it is like a grain of mustard seed, or like seed cas”
  14. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:26: We have here, 1. The great intimacy and freedom that had been between David and his God. David had opened his case, opened his very heart to God: "I have declared my ways, and acknowledged thee in them all, have taken thee along with me in all my designs and enterprises." Thus Jephthah uttered all his words, and Hezekiah spread his letters, before the Lord. "I have declared my ways, my wants, and burdens, and troubles, that I meet with in my way, or my sins, my by-ways (I have made an ingenuous confession of them), and thou heardest me, heardest patiently all I ”
  15. Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 1:9: 1:9-10 Paul prays that God would grant his readers deeper understanding of the Good News and its full expression in their lives. Spiritual growth yields a clearer and deeper comprehension of Christian truth and conduct that pleases the Lord, through which a believer will have the endurance and patience to stand firm against evil (1:11).”
  16. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:21: 1:21 To know God in Scripture usually means to have an intimate, saving relationship with him (see 2 Cor 5:16; Gal 4:9; Phil 3:8, 10). Here, however, they knew God means that people knew about God. All people have some understanding of God through creation, yet they do not do what is right based on that knowledge. Rather than learn more about God, they worship gods of their own making.”
  17. Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 6:16: Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see,.... These are the words of the Lord to the people, whom he would have judge for themselves, and not be blindly led by the false prophets and priests; directing them to do what men should, when they are in a place where two or more ways meet, and know not which way to take; they should make a short stop, and look to the way mark or way post, which points whither each path leads, and so accordingly proceed. Now, in religious things, the Scriptures are the way mark to direct us which way we should take: if the inquiry”
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