Understanding and Experiencing a Deeper Knowledge of God
The concept of "knowledge of God" in biblical thought extends beyond mere intellectual understanding to encompass an intimate, saving relationship with the divine [8]. This deeper knowledge is presented as a profound spiritual experience, often linked with wisdom and understanding [2, 3].
Scripture indicates that while all people may have some awareness of God through creation, true knowledge involves a transformative relationship [8]. For instance, Paul's desire in Philippians was "that I may know him," referring to an experimental and personal knowledge of Christ, not just doctrinal assent [9]. This knowing involves not only redemption but also a direct connection to the Redeemer [9]. It includes experiencing "the power of his resurrection" and sharing in his sufferings and death, signifying a deep identification with Christ's life and work [12, 13].
The love of Christ is central to this deeper knowledge. Ephesians 3:19 speaks of knowing "the knowledge-surpassing, love of the Christ," so that believers "may be filled unto all the fulness of God" [1]. This love, according to Adam Clarke, is the measure of God's love, demonstrated in the giving of Christ for redemption [10]. John Gill further describes Christ's love as special, sovereign, durable, and unparalleled, evidenced by his actions as surety, his incarnation, and his atoning death [11].
This profound knowledge of God is not static but involves growth and multiplication. Colossians 1:10 connects true knowledge of God's will with walking conformably to it, bearing fruit, and "growing in the knowledge of God" [14]. Similarly, 2 Peter 1:2 speaks of grace and peace being "multiplied" through the "knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord," suggesting an increase in the manifestation of God's favor and the exercise of spiritual graces [15]. The Bible also uses names like Deuel, Eldaah, and Eliada, which mean "knowledge of God," and Jediel, meaning "the knowledge, or renewing, of God," reflecting the significance of this concept [4, 5, 6, 7].
Sources
- Ephesians “Ephesians 3:19 (Rotherham) — To get to know, also, the knowledge-surpassing, love of the Christ,—in order that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God:”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 2:5 (Geneva1599) — Then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord, and finde the knowledge of God.”
- Romans “Romans 11:33 (Tyndale) — O the depnes of the aboundaunt wysdome and knowledge of God: how vnserchable are his iudgementes and his wayes past findyng out.”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Deuel — the knowledge of God”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Eldaah — knowledge of God”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Eliada — knowledge of God”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jediel — the knowledge, or renewing, of God”
- 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.”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:10: That I may know him--experimentally. The aim of the "righteousness" just mentioned. This verse resumes, and more fully explains, "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ" (Phi 3:8). To know HIM is more than merely to know a doctrine about Him. Believers are brought not only to redemption, but to the Redeemer Himself. the power of his resurrection--assuring believers of their justification (Rom 4:25; Co1 15:17), and raising them up spiritually with Him, by virtue of their identification with Him in this, as in all the acts of His redeeming work”
- Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 3:19: To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge - It is only by the love of Christ that we can know the love of God: the love of God to man induced him to give Christ for his redemption; Christ's love to man induced him to give his life's blood for his salvation. The gift of Christ to man is the measure of God's love; the death of Christ for man is the measure of Christ's love. God so loved the world, etc. Christ loved us, and gave himself for us. But how can the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, be known? Many have labored to reconcile this seeming co”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 3:18: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,.... The love of Christ to his own, to his church and people, is special and peculiar; free and Sovereign; as early as his Father's love, and is durable and unchangeable; the greatest love that ever was heard of; it is matchless and unparalleled; it is exceeding strong and affectionate, and is wonderful and surprising: the instances of it are, his engaging as a surety for them; his espousing both their persons and their cause; his assumption of their nature; his dying in their room and stead; his payment of th”
- Philippians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Philippians 3:10: 3:10 to know Christ: In knowing him, a person knows and is accepted by God (cp. 3:7-8; John 1:12-13; 17:3). • Believers experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead, both now and in eternity (see Rom 6:4-14; 8:10-11; Col 3:1-4). • to suffer with him, sharing in his death: Joined to Christ, a believer has the privilege of experiencing his life and death (see Phil 1:29; 2 Cor 4:10-12; Col 1:24; 1 Pet 4:13-16).”
- Phil (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Phil 3:10: 3:10 to know Christ: In knowing him, a person knows and is accepted by God (cp. 3:7-8; John 1:12-13; 17:3). • Believers experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead, both now and in eternity (see Rom 6:4-14; 8:10-11; Col 3:1-4). • to suffer with him, sharing in his death: Joined to Christ, a believer has the privilege of experiencing his life and death (see Phil 1:29; 2 Cor 4:10-12; Col 1:24; 1 Pet 4:13-16).”
- 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 ”
- 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”