Real knowing , knowing the differences,

I want to take a slight detour here, to look at epignosis [1922]. It is a stronger knowledge than gnosis [1108], for gnosis is the general knowledge, where epignosis is the full knowledge - a knowledge that powerfully impacts and influences the one who knows it.
Amongst verbal forms, there is ginosko [1097] - to come to knowledge, understand, to know in the sense of realizing.

 It often indicates a relationship between the one who knows and the thing known, generally with approval. Oida, or eido [1492], indicates a having seen or perceived and thereby knowing. By comparison, ginosko is the coming to knowledge, whereas oida is the fullness of knowledge (Jn 8:55 - you have not ginosko Him, but I oida Him.

You haven't begun to know, but I know perfectly.) Oida, on the other hand does not have the implication of relation to the knowledge that ginosko has. Epiginosko [1921], the verbal form of epignosis, indicates a fullness of perception, an attentiveness in discernment. It is a more direct and special knowing than ginosko, indicating a greater degree or completeness of the knowing.

 Epiginosko tends to suggest a participation in the thing known. As a comparison point, Jn 8:32 indicates that you shall ginosko the truth - a general knowledge. By contrast, 1Ti 4:3 speaks of those that believe and epiginosko the truth - the knowledge having led to belief. It is a knowledge that fully unites the subject with the object.


Another way to view the three ways of knowing is that eido is to know intuitively - it is knowledge perceived immediately, and requiring no application of reason. Ginosko is to know experientially - it is knowledge gained by trial and practice. Epiginosko takes the experiential knowledge of ginosko a step further, the thing becoming so known as to cause profound change in the one who knows it.


This idea of epignosis or epiginosko has been showing up so frequently lately in various bits of my studies. It is the knowledge so fully participated in that it can change my life. As such, and as my prayers move toward that degree of knowing, I want to see those places it has been used. Vine notes 20 places that epignosis shows up in the New Testament..