Well ... what do you know?

As I continue my personal study of First John I keep bumping into the word "know." John chose to use it frequently in his Epistle. He was writing to dispel the false doctrine of the Gnostic and to remind his readers of what true doctrine and behavior looks like. What does it mean to be "in the know" according to John?

There are several words from the Greek which are translated into the English word "know" in the Bible. Each one offers a different meaning which I will briefly share with you in the next paragraph. It is important to note that John only uses two of them in his First Epistle.

The two Greek words John does not use are: "Epiginosko" - which means to have complete knowledge of something, or to have something figured out completely. The other word is "Proginosko" - meaning to know before hand, or to have foreknowledge.

The two words John does use in the Epistle are "Ginosko" and "Eido". These are great words which give meaning and understanding to the text in study. Ginosko means "to know intuitively, to feel the knowledge. To be one with an object both abstractly and dynamically." It is commonly used in the scriptures when speaking of sexual intercourse between a husband and wife. John uses "Ginosko" in the following verses: 2:3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 18, 29; 3:1, 6, 19, 20, 24; 4:2, 6, 7, 8, 16, 18; 5:2, 20b.

The second word John uses for "know" in the Epistle is "Eido". Eido refers to the acquiring of knowledge. It's often used in the past tense, meaning "to be taught or come to understand or realize something through an educational process or intellectual accent. The references for John's use of "Eido" in his First Epistle are 2:11, 20, 21,29a; 3:2, 5, 14, 15; 5: 13, 15, 18, 19, 20a.

John's point (at least one of them) in using these two Greek words for "know" is clear. The more we subject ourselves (eido) to the life and teaching of Jesus the more intuitive, natural (ginosko) they will become in us. When you study the Bible, whether it is Old Testament or New, look for Jesus. To become one with God's will and way is conditional upon Jesus. He must be the common thread we use to find meaning in the Bible and purpose for life.

Thanks for stopping by!
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Adrian