Knowing to the point of transformation
There is a vast difference between knowing about something and truly knowing something to the point where your life is changed by it. The Greek language distinguishes between gnosis(mere intellectual knowledge, knowing about facts) and epignosis (full knowledge, knowing the facts to the point where your life is transformed by them). Epignosis is not just information β it is truth applied, internalized, and lived out. It is the goal of all biblical teaching: not to fill the head with facts, but to change the heart and transform the life.
The Greek New Testament uses two distinct words for knowledge. Gnosis (Ξ³Ξ½αΏΆΟΞΉΟ) refers to intellectual knowledge β knowing facts, knowing about something. It is information stored in the mind. A person can have gnosis without any change in life or behavior. Gnosis is head knowledge.
Epignosis (αΌΟΞ―Ξ³Ξ½ΟΟΞΉΟ) is full knowledge β knowing something so fully and deeply that it changes you. It is knowledge that has moved from the head to the heart, from theory to practice, from information to transformation. Epignosis is experiential, relational, and life-altering. It is the kind of knowledge that the Bible commends and commands.
A person can know about Christ without knowing Christ. A person can know about the Bible without being transformed by the Bible. Gnosis alone produces pride and puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). Epignosis produces humility, love, and godliness. The goal of Christian teaching is not gnosis, but epignosis β not to make people smarter, but to make them more like Christ.
John 14:16-17 β "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
The Holy Spirit is the Comforter and the Spirit of truth. He dwells in every believer from the moment of salvation. His presence is not temporary β He abides forever. The world cannot receive Him because it does not see or know Him. But believers know Him because He dwells in us.
John 14:26 β "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
The Holy Spirit teaches believers all things. This is His primary ministry in the life of the Christian: to teach, to illuminate, to bring Scripture to remembrance, and to apply truth to the heart. Understanding the Bible is not a matter of human intellect or education β it is a matter of the Holy Spirit's teaching.
John 15:26 β "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."
The Holy Spirit testifies of Christ. His teaching always points to Jesus. Any teaching that does not exalt Christ, glorify Christ, and lead people to Christ is not from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit's work is to reveal Christ in and through the Word.
John 16:13-14 β "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you."
The Spirit guides believers into all truth. He does not speak of Himself but reveals what He hears from the Father. He shows things to come and glorifies Christ. This is divine teaching β not human wisdom, but God's revelation given by the Spirit to those who have ears to hear.
1 Corinthians 2:12-14 β "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
Believers have received the Spirit of God so that we might know the things freely given to us by God. The Holy Spirit teaches spiritual truths in spiritual words, not in the words of man's wisdom. The natural man (the unsaved person) cannot receive or know these things because they are spiritually discerned. Only the Holy Spirit can open the eyes of the heart to see and understand the Word of God.
Our understanding of the Bible does not depend on our intellect, our education, or our cleverness. It depends on the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit and on our willingness to let Him use His Word to change us. The wisest theologian without the Spirit is blind. The simplest believer with the Spirit can see the truth.
Colossians 1:9-11 β "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness."
Paul's prayer for the Colossians was that they might be filled with the knowledge (epignosis) of God's will. Not just knowing about God's will, but being filled with it β saturated, controlled, directed by it. This knowledge is coupled with wisdom and spiritual understanding. Wisdom is the skillful application of knowledge. Understanding is discernment, seeing how truth applies to life.
The result of epignosis is a worthy walk: "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing." Full knowledge produces a life that pleases God. It results in fruitfulness in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God, and being strengthened with all might. Epignosis leads to patience, longsuffering, and joy. This is spiritual maturity.
Philippians 1:9-11 β "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."
Paul's prayer for the Philippians was that their love may abound in knowledge (epignosis) and judgment (discernment). Love without knowledge is blind sentiment. Knowledge without love is cold intellectualism. But love abounding in knowledge is biblical love β love that sees clearly, loves rightly, and acts wisely.
The purpose is "that ye may approve things that are excellent" β to discern what is best, to choose the good over the acceptable, the excellent over the mediocre. Epignosis produces spiritual discernment, sincerity, and a blameless life until the day of Christ. And it results in being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which bring glory and praise to God.
These prayers reveal the heart of the apostle: not that believers would merely know more facts, but that they would grow in full knowledge and application of the Word, bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This is the goal of all teaching β transformation, not information.
James 4:6 β "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
God gives more grace. He provides what we need to grow. Grace is not just for salvation; it is for every step of the Christian life. God resists the proud (those who think they can grow in their own strength), but He gives grace to the humble (those who depend on Him for growth). Humility is the soil in which epignosis grows.
Ephesians 4:12, 16 β "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ... From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."
God has given the church gifted teachers for the perfecting (equipping, maturing) of the saints. The goal is the work of ministry and the edification of the body of Christ. Each member contributes to the growth of the whole body. As we use what God has given, we grow individually and corporately, building up one another in love.
Ephesians 5:16, 18 β "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil... And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit."
We are commanded to redeem the time β to make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. And we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit. This is a continuous command: keep being filled. Fullness of the Spirit comes through the Word of Christ dwelling richly in us (Colossians 3:16). The more we fill our minds and hearts with Scripture, the more the Spirit fills and controls our lives.
Ephesians 6:10 β "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."
We are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Not in our own strength, not in our own wisdom, but in His. God has provided everything for the believer so that we might grow in the fullness of the stature of Christ. As we use what He has given β His Word, His Spirit, His grace, His teachers β we grow and enjoy the life that God intended for us.
The Bible uses various terms and pictures to describe spiritual growth. These are not different things, but different angles on the same reality β the believer advancing in his or her knowledge and application of God's Word.
(a) Putting on the whole armor of God
Ephesians 6:11-13 β "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Spiritual growth is pictured as putting on the armor of God. Each piece of armor represents an aspect of truth: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God). To grow is to put on these truths, to be equipped for spiritual warfare, to stand firm against the devil's schemes.
(b) Following the pastor (spiritual leader)
Hebrews 13:7, 17 β "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation... Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."
Growth involves following the example and teaching of godly leaders. Not blind obedience, but willingness to be taught, to listen, to submit to biblical teaching. God has given pastors and teachers to the church for our spiritual growth. To reject teaching is to reject growth.
Philippians 3:13-17 β "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample."
Paul invites believers to follow his example: pressing toward the goal, forgetting the past, reaching forward. Spiritual growth is a race, a pursuit, a pressing on toward maturity in Christ. Those who are mature in the faith provide a pattern for others to follow.
(c) Godliness
1 Timothy 6:3-6 β "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain."
Godliness is conformity to God's character, living in a manner pleasing to Him. It is produced by doctrine β sound teaching according to godliness. Godliness with contentment is great gain. This is the fruit of epignosis: a life that reflects the character of God.
2 Peter 1:3 β "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue."
God's divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. It comes through the knowledge(epignosis) of Him who called us. Full knowledge of God leads to godliness. Knowledge without godliness is dead. Godliness without knowledge is blind. But knowledge that produces godliness is epignosis.
Only believers who advance in their Christian walk are truly suited for service to the Lord. This is not elitism β it is reality. A baby Christian cannot teach what he has not learned. A carnal Christian cannot lead others where he himself has not gone. Maturity precedes usefulness.
Advanced believers are those who have grown in epignosis. They know the Word, they apply the Word, and they live the Word. They are accustomed to listening regularly to the teaching of the Holy Spirit within. They have trained their spiritual senses to discern good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). Because they know how to hear and obey the Spirit's voice, they are able to be led into more and more service.
God does not call the equipped; He equips the called. But He uses those who have allowed Him to equip them. The more we grow in knowledge of God, the more we are prepared to serve. The more we walk in obedience, the more opportunities He gives for ministry. Epignosis leads to service, service leads to more growth, and the cycle continues.
This is God's pattern: learn, apply, serve, repeat. Knowledge that does not lead to obedience is worthless. Obedience without knowledge is dangerous. But knowledge applied in obedience β epignosis β is the path to spiritual maturity and fruitful service.
The principles of epignosis:
The goal of all Bible study is not to know more facts, but to know God more fully and to be transformed by that knowledge. It is not enough to know about Christ β we must know Christ. It is not enough to know aboutthe Bible β we must be changed by the Bible. This is epignosis: full knowledge that produces godliness, fruitfulness, and spiritual maturity. May we pursue not mere gnosis, but epignosis β knowing God and His Word to the point where our lives are transformed by it.