in your moral excellence, knowledge Part 1

in your moral excellence, knowledge

ἐν δὲ τῇ ἀρετῇ τὴν γνῶσιν

The knowledge word that we have here is γνο͂σις (gnosis, G1108) and can be defined as: to know. Knowledge. Present and fragmentary knowledge as contrasted with epígnōsis (G1922), clear and exact knowledge…

I know that E=MC². I have no understanding of what that means; therefore I cannot apply that knowledge. I know that 1 + 1 = 2 and I understand what that means. I can even apply that knowledge. γνοσις is knowledge without necessarily understanding how to use that knowledge.

γνοσις is used 29 times in the new testament and all but six uses are by Paul. Two are by Luke and four are by Peter. The order that we will examine the verses in is as follows: γνοσις as related to God, γνοσις as related to salvation, and finally, γνοσις as related to the Christians life.

γνοσις as related to God

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" Romans 11:33

Knowledge begins with God. It would be correct to state that God is knowledge. Or another way of saying it would be that God is omniscience. Omniscience means that: "God knows everything- past, present and future. He knows the actual and the possible; only the impossible (the contradictory) is outside the knowledge of God." Because of this God is able to say: "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning," (Isa. 46:9-10) God knows what has happened, what will happen, and all of the what ifs. (Matthew 11:21-23) Since God is the embodiment of all knowledge if we are to know anything God must reveal it. This does not just apply to spiritual things but also to earthly things. (Dan. 2:20-23) Deuteronomy 29:29 tells us that the secret things belong to God but that things revealed belong to us and our descendants.

God reveals things to us through natural revelation and through specific revelation. God uses natural revelation to not only point out that He is there but also to make life on earth possible. We are able to eat, and build things because God has revealed His laws that govern how those things and others work. What we call mathematics and science is just our understanding of knowledge revealed by God and put to use by us. Knowledge gained by natural revelation works whether we acknowledge God or not. Another term for this is common grace.

Specific revelation is what God has revealed to us through His Word and can only be understood by spiritual means. (1 Cor. 2:14-16) In this passage the word translated natural man is ψυχικὸς (psychikos, G5591) and means soul. And is contrasted with "he who is spiritual" (vs. 15) Spiritual is the word πνευματικὸς (pneumatikos, G4152) and refers to the third part of what makes up a human. As humans we are tri-part creatures. We are body, soul and spirit. Depending upon how you interpret scripture, in the unbeliever either they do not have a human spirit (they get this at salvation) or they have a human spirit that is dead (it becomes alive at salvation). Either way you believe (my mind is not made up on this matter) the unbeliever has no way to discern spiritual things. (vs. 14) Once a person becomes a believer in Christ then that person is able to discern spiritual things. (vs. 15) This discernment begins with learning (knowledge) the bible. We do this through both personal bible study (2 Tim. 2:15) and through bible class (church) (Heb. 1:23-25). As we gain knowledge we will gain understanding that will lead to "full knowledge" which will be discussed latter in full detail.

One final thought if you want to know God the only way to do so is to know Christ, this is because of Col. 2:2-3 as compared with John 14:9.