EPIGNOSIS (What is it?)

EPIGNOSIS (pronounced e-pē’-gnō-sēs) is a Greek word meaning precise and correct knowledge. It is used in the New Testament twenty times: fifteen times by the Apostle Paul, one time in Hebrews and four times by the Apostle Peter.

It differs in use from other words translated “knowledge” (gnosis, ginosko, epiginosko, etc.). Epignosis refers to ethical and divine knowledge of God, which is precise and correct. Here are three such examples:

“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;” (Philippians 1:9)

Here Paul’s prayer is that the Philippians’ love may abound more and more in precise and correct knowledge and in all judgment.

“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” (Colossians 3:10)

Here Paul tells us that the new man who believers put on is renewed in precise and correct knowledge after the image of the creator God.

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:” (Ephesians 1:17)

Here Paul prays that God the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, may give the Ephesian Christians the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the precise and correct knowledge of Himself. This implies that these Ephesian born-again believers needed something more than the knowledge they had. This applies to us today too.

Vines’ Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says (at C-2) Epignosis: “denotes exact or full knowledge, discernment, recognition, and [expresses] a fuller or a full “knowledge,” a greater participation by the “knower” in the object “known,” thus more powerfully influencing him. “In all the four Epistles of the first Roman captivity it is an element in the Apostle’s opening prayer for his correspondents’ well-being, Phil. 1:9; Eph. 1:17; Col. 1:9; Philem. 1:6″ (Lightfoot).”

This is very interesting! It is NOT saying people with Epignosis know everything and know everything completely. It is saying is when we have the Epignosis of scripture (use John 3:16 as an example), we actually experience the scripture and recognize it with full discernment. The power of the scripture overcomes us, we “get it”, and it influences us in all aspects of life.

Vines’ also says Epignosis is similar to Epiginosko (at A-3), which “denotes (a) “to observe, fully perceive, notice attentively, discern, recognize” and “suggests generally a directive, a more special, recognition of the object “known” than does [ginosko]; it also may suggest advanced “knowledge” or special appreciation; thus, in Rom. 1:32, “knowing the ordinance of God” (epiginosko) means “knowing full well,” whereas in verse Rom. 1:21 “knowing God” (ginosko) simply suggests that they could not avoid the perception. Sometimes epiginosko implies a special participation in the object “known,” and gives greater weight to what is stated; thus in John 8:32, “ye shall know the truth,” ginosko is used, whereas in 1 Tim. 4:3, “them that believe and know the truth,” epiginosko lays stress on participation in the truth.”

Epignosis is completely superior to these other types of knowledge. Where do we begin on the path to Epignosis knowledge? The scriptures say the fear, reverence or terror of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) and anyone who has understanding will desire knowledge in their heart (Proverbs 15:14). The scripture also says the intelligent person’s heart obtains knowledge and the wise person’s ear desires it (Proverbs 18:15).

A lot of persons rely on secular, corporeal wisdom as well as the strength that the world ascribes to money. The scripture says that both wisdom and money are transitory defences but the excellency or advantage of knowledge is that those who combine it with wisdom, live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live forever, are quickened, are alive and are restored to life or health (Ecclesiastes 7:12). This implies that possessing Epignosis will bring about a more profound experience of these things.

Like Paul’s desire for the Colossians, it is my desire that all are filled with the precise and correct knowledge of God and His will (Colossians 1:9-10).

This blog chronicles a very small part of my continuous journey on the path to Epignosis. I am always keen on quoting Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV): “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.” God calls us to Epignosis via His written Word because an increase in precise and correct knowledge brings an increase in Faith.

Be blessed in the light of the Word of God!

THE RESURRECTION (In a nutshell)

Jesus Christ was beaten bloody, nailed to a cross, died and was placed in a tomb. His body lay dead for three days but God healed His body and brought Him back from the dead. The reason for this enormous sacrifice was so that people could connect to God through Jesus Christ. This is the resurrection in a nutshell and here is it’s significance.

In 1 Peter 1 the Holy Bible says:

“³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: ⁷That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: ⁸Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: ⁹Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” King James Version (KJV)

The Apostle Peter wrote to the Christians who had been scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. They were happy about the condition of their souls but they were sorrowful and grieving because of various types of adversity, affliction and trouble.

He told them that by God’s abundant mercy “we” have been born again, unto (into, for) a lively, living and vigorously alive hope or expectation to (unto, into, for) an inheritance.

This word inheritance is translated from the Greek word κληρονομία (klēronomia) (Strong’s G2817), which, according to Thayer’s Lexicon of the New Testament, refers to “the eternal blessedness of the consummated kingdom of God which is to be expected after the visible return of Christ” as well as “the share which an individual will have in that eternal blessedness”.

He also told them that this inheritance is incorruptible, that is, it is not liable to corruption or decay and is imperishable. He said this inheritance is undefiled or unsoiled and that it does not fade away. He also said this inheritance is reserved, kept, held, held fast, preserved and guarded and is being taken care of, in Heaven for “us”.

All of this is possible because of the
RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ from the dead.

The word resurrection is translated from the Greek word ἀνάστασις (anastasis) (Strong’s G386). It refers to a raising up, rising (as if from a sitting position) and a rising from the dead. It derives from the Greek word ἀνίστημι (anistēmi) (Strong’s G450), which means to cause to rise up, raise up, arise and appear. ‘Anastasis’ appears in 40 verses in the KJV of the Holy Bible.

We modern people have not seen Jesus Christ with our eyes but we have believed in/on Him with our hearts. This is powerful faith that counts for something!

The Apostle Peter said that “we” are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation. This word kept is translated from the Greek word φρουρέω (phroureō) (Strong’s G5432), meaning guarded and protected by a military guard, either to prevent a hostile invasion, and to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from fleeing.

He said it’s faith, the full persuasion and conviction of this truth, that keeps us, and that this faith would end or terminate with the salvation of our souls “at the appearing of Jesus Christ”.

Rejoice and be obedient so that “your faith … might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”.

Blessings!