Epignosis. Full Knowledge.

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:10

What does having the ‘full knowledge’ mean? In the Greek the word is epignosis. It means knowledge gained from first hand relationship. It is ‘contact’ knowledge in an individual context. It’s like the difference between reading an autobiography and learning and studying someone’s life thoroughly by reading their book and actually meeting the person and talking with them face to face regularly. That is in Greek considered the ‘true knowledge’. This is the concept of knowledge that those reading the scriptures in the first century understood. It wasn’t by book-learning, it was by first-hand relationship with the individual.

This is how spiritual knowledge is obtained …by first-hand experience with our God. Whether it is by meeting Jesus in person or by the Holy Spirit, the first-hand experience is recognized and it ‘marks’ the individual. This is epignosis. This IS the “full knowledge” – to have a personal, individual, first-hand relationship with God. No schooling or study can do that. You must have an ‘encounter’ with Him. Now obviously the more you meet with a person face to face the more you will “know” the person. This is how deep relationships are built over time. Now the individual might refer you to their autobiography in your conversations to explain the story you had read within it. This is the way we should anticipate the conversation to go between you and the Holy Spirit when reading / listening to the scriptures.

This is why I feel so driven to introduce to the disciples of Christ the deeper life with the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that you have 100% of availability 24/7 if you ask Him. Actually He has chosen to indwell you if you have invited Him in. Did He knock on your heart’s door? Did you open it to Him and invite Him in? It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to introduce you to Jesus and His life. The Holy Spirit always brings you to Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to guide you, teach you, and help you with understanding the scriptures and the life of Christ.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-11

Are you really wanting to meet with Him today? He’s waiting for you.

“Lord Jesus … meet with me today. Come Holy Spirit.”