PART 2 · A NEW STUDY BUILT ON FOUNDATIONAL BIBLICAL DOCTRINE
Knowledge — Foundational Biblical Doctrine
OPENING WORD
Knowledge is a treasure, and a people who lack it are destroyed. That is the foundation already laid before us; now we go further, with fresh witnesses to the same truth. The Hebrew word is daath (H1847, knowledge), which comes from yada (H3045, to know), and it means to know by seeing — to be personally acquainted with God, not just to hear about him. The Greek word is gnosis (G1108, knowledge); and there is a fuller word, epignosis (G1922, acknowledging), the complete knowledge that takes hold of the truth. Notice this carefully: the knowledge God wants in you is not the piling up of books, because study by itself only wears out the body. It is to know a person. One person can study a whole lifetime and never reach it; another fears God, cries out for it, and finds it. It begins in the fear of the LORD; it is found by those who seek it; and its end is life — to know the true God, and the Son he has sent. A day is coming when the whole earth will be full of it. So be careful how you listen. Search it out.
THREE QUESTIONS THIS STUDY ANSWERS:
1. Where does knowledge begin, and how does a person get it?
2. What is the end of all knowledge — what must a person know to have eternal life?
3. What comes on those who reject knowledge, and what hope is promised to the whole earth?
THE FOUNDATION ALREADY LAID — KNOWLEDGE
THE FOUNDATION → WISE MEN LAY UP KNOWLEDGE (PROVERBS 10:14).
THE FOUNDATION → MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE (HOSEA 4:6).
THE FOUNDATION → MY PEOPLE ARE GONE INTO CAPTIVITY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE (ISAIAH 5:13).
THE FOUNDATION → THROUGH KNOWLEDGE SHALL THE JUST BE DELIVERED (PROVERBS 11:9).
THE FOUNDATION → WHOM SHALL HE TEACH KNOWLEDGE? = THEM THAT ARE WEANED FROM THE MILK (ISAIAH 28:9).
THE FOUNDATION → PRECEPT MUST BE UPON PRECEPT + LINE UPON LINE + HERE A LITTLE, AND THERE A LITTLE (ISAIAH 28:10).
This Part 2 confirms the same truth from a fresh set of witnesses.
(My personal thoughts — notice the two Greek words, because they are closely related but not the same. gnosis (G1108, knowledge) is knowledge, science; epignosis (G1922, acknowledging) is full discernment, an acknowledging of the truth. A person can gather the first all their life and never reach the second: always learning, but never able to arrive at the epignosis of the truth. God chose the fuller word there, and that choice itself teaches us something.)
(My personal thoughts — Strong's says yada (H3045, to know) means to know by seeing. Job said this after all his hearing: I had heard of you with my ears, but now my eye sees you. That is the knowledge this study is after — not just hearing with the ear, but sight.)
OPENING ANCHOR
Proverbs 1:7Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD = THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE.
(My personal thoughts — knowledge has a beginning, and the beginning is the fear of the LORD. daath (H1847, knowledge) is not found by the proud; it begins where a person bows down and fears God. Anyone who will not fear him cannot learn from him.)
1. SEEK IT, AND LAY IT UP
1.Proverbs 18:15Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
THE HEART OF THE PRUDENT GETTETH KNOWLEDGE + THE EAR OF THE WISE SEEKETH KNOWLEDGE.
(My personal thoughts — knowledge is not poured into a lazy person; the prudent GET it, the wise SEEK it. It has to be sought.)
2.Proverbs 2:3Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
IF THOU CRIEST AFTER KNOWLEDGE + LIFTEST UP THY VOICE FOR UNDERSTANDING.
3.Proverbs 2:5Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
THEN SHALT THOU UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE LORD + FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.
(My personal thoughts — notice the order: cry out for it, lift up your voice, and THEN you will find. The word translated knowledge in Proverbs 2:3 is biynah (H998, understanding); the knowledge of God in Proverbs 2:5 is daath (H1847, knowledge). Cry out for understanding, and God gives you the knowledge of himself. He does not hide it from the person who cries out.)
4.Proverbs 19:2Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
THE SOUL WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE = NOT GOOD + HE THAT HASTETH WITH HIS FEET SINNETH.
2. THE END OF ALL KNOWLEDGE — TO KNOW GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST
1.John 17:3Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL = THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD + JESUS CHRIST, WHOM THOU HAST SENT.
(My personal thoughts — here is the goal all knowledge presses toward. ginosko (G1097, to know) is not to know about him, but to know HIM. Eternal life does not rest in the written letter, but in knowing a person — the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.)
2.Philippians 3:8Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
I COUNT ALL THINGS BUT LOSS → FOR THE EXCELLENCY OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST JESUS MY LORD + THAT I MAY WIN CHRIST.
3.2 Corinthians 4:6Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
GOD HATH SHINED IN OUR HEARTS → THE LIGHT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD = IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST.
(My personal thoughts — the same God who commanded light to shine out of darkness has shined in our hearts. And what does that light show? A face. The knowledge of the glory of God has a face, and it is the face of Jesus Christ. All true knowledge ends by looking to him.)
3. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE DESTROYETH
1.Hosea 4:6Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE + THOU HAST REJECTED KNOWLEDGE → I WILL ALSO REJECT THEE.
(My personal thoughts — notice this: they were not destroyed for lack of power, or of bread, but for lack of knowledge. And the knowledge was not hidden from them — it was REJECTED. The fault was not in the giver.)
2.Romans 1:28Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
THEY DID NOT LIKE TO RETAIN GOD IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE → GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO A REPROBATE MIND.
(My personal thoughts — Hosea and Paul give the same testimony, one to Israel, the other about the Gentiles. Push God out of your knowledge, and the mind itself is handed over. epignosis (G1922, acknowledging) — they would not acknowledge God, and God gave them over.)
4. THE WARNING — A KNOWLEDGE THAT PUFFETH UP
1.1 Corinthians 8:1Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
KNOWLEDGE PUFFETH UP, BUT CHARITY EDIFIETH.
(My personal thoughts — knowledge by itself makes a person swell up; love makes a person build. Get knowledge, but carry it in love, so that it does not puff you up.)
EVER LEARNING + NEVER ABLE TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.
3.1 Timothy 6:20Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
KEEP THAT WHICH IS COMMITTED TO THY TRUST + AVOIDING OPPOSITIONS OF SCIENCE FALSELY SO CALLED.
(My personal thoughts — the word science here is gnosis (G1108, knowledge) — a so-called knowledge that is false. There is a kind of learning that never arrives at the truth, and a knowledge that is really no knowledge at all. Guard what has been entrusted to you, and test everything.)
5. THE HOPE — THE EARTH FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD
1.Isaiah 11:9Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
THEY SHALL NOT HURT NOR DESTROY → THE EARTH SHALL BE FULL OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD.
2.Habakkuk 2:14Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
THE EARTH SHALL BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF THE LORD + AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEA.
(My personal thoughts — the knowledge people now reject will one day fill the whole earth. What began in a few who feared him will cover every land. God will not leave his earth in ignorance.)
MOUTH OF TWO
Isaiah 11:9Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
THE EARTH SHALL BE FULL OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD.
Habakkuk 2:14Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
THE EARTH SHALL BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF THE LORD.
Numbers 14:21Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory [H3519 kabod] of the LORD.
AS TRULY AS I LIVE → ALL THE EARTH SHALL BE FILLED WITH THE GLORY OF THE LORD.
Ecclesiastes 4:12Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
TWO SHALL WITHSTAND HIM + A THREEFOLD CORD IS NOT QUICKLY BROKEN.
(My personal thoughts — set the three side by side. Isaiah says the earth will be full of the KNOWLEDGE of the LORD; Habakkuk says the knowledge of the GLORY of the LORD; and the LORD himself swore to Moses that the earth would be filled with the GLORY of the LORD. Knowledge and glory are joined in one promise: to know him is to see his glory, and the whole earth will see it.)
THE SHADOW AND THE FULFILLMENT
3.Hosea 6:3Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
THEN SHALL WE KNOW, IF WE FOLLOW ON TO KNOW THE LORD + HIS GOING FORTH IS PREPARED AS THE MORNING.
4.2 Corinthians 4:6Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
THE LIGHT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD = IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST.
(My personal thoughts — Hosea says, keep pressing on to know the LORD, and his coming is as sure as the sunrise. Paul says the morning has come: God has shined in our hearts. What the prophet was pursuing, we now see with an unveiled face — the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.)
CLOSING
2 Peter 3:18Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
GROW IN GRACE + IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.
John 17:3Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL = THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE.
(My personal thoughts — here is the conclusion of the whole matter. Knowledge must be searched for like silver, and it begins in the fear of the LORD. Those who reject it are destroyed; those who hold it without love are puffed up; and those who learn without acknowledging never arrive at the truth. But the end of it all is not many books — it is a face, and a person, and eternal life: to know God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. Grow in that knowledge, and the day is coming when the whole earth will be full of it.)
GREEK KEYWORDS
These are the keywords for this study. Tap any dotted word in the verses above to see its meaning here.
“knowledge” — G1108 gnosis — knowledge, science
the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
“knowledge” — G1922 epignosis — acknowledging, full discernment
to come to the knowledge of the truth
“know” — G1097 ginosko — to know, to perceive
that they might know you the only true God
HEBREW KEYWORDS
“knowledge” — H1847 daath — knowledge, perception
the ear of the wise seeks knowledge
“know” — H3045 yada — to know, to ascertain by seeing
then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD
“knowledge” — H1844 deah — knowledge
the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD
1. Proverbs 18:15 — The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise:
a) heareth the reproof of life
b) seeketh knowledge
c) is filled with hearing
2. Hosea 4:6 — My people are destroyed for lack of:
a) vision
b) counsel
c) knowledge
3. John 17:3 — This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and:
a) Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent
b) the Spirit of truth, whom he shall send
c) Moses, in whom ye trust
4. 1 Corinthians 8:1 — Knowledge puffeth up, but:
a) wisdom excelleth folly
b) charity edifieth
c) prophecy edifieth the church
5. 1 Timothy 6:20 — Keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of:
a) science falsely so called
b) philosophy and vain deceit
c) the commandments of men
6. 2 Corinthians 4:6 — For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God:
a) in the face of Moses
b) in the pillar of the cloud
c) in the face of Jesus Christ
7. Numbers 14:21 — But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with:
a) the knowledge of the LORD
b) the glory of the LORD
c) the praise of the LORD
ANSWER KEY: 1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-b, 5-a, 6-c, 7-b
HOW THIS STUDY BRANCHES
→ How the new covenant explains it: the promise says, they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest (Jeremiah 31:34), and the word is said again in Christ (Hebrews 8:11) — a shadow met by its fulfillment, ready for its own study.
→ How the words matter: the word science in 1 Timothy 6:20 is gnosis (G1108, knowledge), and the word knowledge in Proverbs 2:3 is biynah (H998, understanding) — mark which word stands in which place, and why.
→ How it is hid in Christ: in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3) — dig for it more than for hid treasures, and the digging ends at a person.
→ How to apply your heart to it: knowledge stands in the ladder of 2 Peter 1:5-7 — add to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance — every step of that ladder leans upon this one.
→ How it reaches to eternity: this is life eternal, to know him (John 17:3) — and they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament (Daniel 12:3).
