There is a war against knowledge in the Body of Christ. If you dare to throw a little Greek or Hebrew definition; if you dare to talk about context, exegesis, sound doctrine, good theology and, if you dare to request a chapter and a verse to backup some of the outrageous post you see in social media today, you are immediately accused of having a religious spirit or being legalistic.

         Let me start by addressing this teaching of knowing Jesus beyond knowledge. That one blew my mind! When I requested a Scripture I was given Ephesians 3:19, “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (NKJV) The word knowledge here is the word, gnṓsis; basically meaning to know.^[1] This is basically what we know as head knowledge. This is not hard to understand.

         Many people do have head knowledge about God, but they do not know God personally. Some people that are not saved know Scripture, but without the Spirit behind it. That is why the letter kills, but he Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:6). This is not a divorce between the Spirit of God and the Word of God, this is simply pointing out the dangers of head knowledge without the relationship with God. So Paul is encouraging the people to know God beyond knowledge (head knowledge) and to know God personally. Knowing everything about God to the point of knowing Him beyond knowledge is an impossibility. I will prove this point later, if the Scripture is your final authority. If the Scripture is not, I am sure you will find another reason to argue.

         The idea that there is an exclusive people in the body of Christ that know Jesus beyond knowledge is pretty arrogant; it is actually very secret-society-like; the idea that I know something you don’t know. If you are a Born Again Christian, you know God beyond head knowledge… period!

         We also must remember that during the times of the original apostles there was an assault from within the church manifesting through Gnosticism. This is the basic idea that God the Father is evil and that salvation is not achieved through Jesus, but through knowledge. The Apostle Paul was very accurate in challenging this view and teaching the need to go beyond simply head knowledge.

         Were the apostles anti-knowledge? No! The Apostle Peter encourages us in 2 Peter 3:18 to “…grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…” (KJV) The word knowledge here is the same Greek word Gnosis. The bottom line is that in loving God above all things we are also encourage to love him with all of our minds. (Mark 12:30) God is clearly not promoting ignorance and stupidity.

                  No doubts that love is at the center of our Christian walk, but God also wants us to know what we are talking about. That is why he tells us to study and to rightly divide the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15) The word study in 2 Timothy 2:15 is the word, spoudázō; meaning “Earnestness, diligence. To be diligent, earnest, or eager.^[2] This is how we should approach God’s Word. Taking God’s Word lightly is not biblical. Now, there is a verse that brings love and knowledge together nicely.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11New King James Version (NKJV)

         The word knowledge is the Greek word epígnōsis. This is a very interesting and profound word.

“To recognize. It is more intens. than gnṓsis (1108), knowledge,   because it expresses a   more thorough participation in the acquiring of knowledge on the part of the learner. In the NT, it often refers to knowledge which very powerfully influences the form of religious life, a knowledge laying claim to personal involvement. When used as an obj. (Eph. 1:17; 4:13; Col. 1:9,      10; 2:2; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Tim. 2:25; 3:7; Titus 1:1; Heb. 10:26; 2 Pet. 1:2, 3), it shows the relationship of the learner to the object of his knowledge (2 Pet. 1:8). It increases spiritual  blessings upon the believer (Eph. 1:17; 2 Pet. 1:2, 3) and determines the manifestations of the religious life (2 Pet. 2:20). When used without an obj. in a formal sense (Rom. 1:28; Col.   3:10), it gives a more precise definition as a knowledge which is self–determined or self–regulated, so that the difference mentioned in Col. 3:10 disappears. In Col. 2:2, meaning the discernment which comes in connection with possessing salvation which helps in determining the moral conduct (see    Phil. 1:9 which refers to the knowledge which enables one to avoid error [cf. Rom. 10:2; 11:33; 2 Pet. 1:5]).”^[3]

         This is an amazing definition and is loaded with many Bible verses to expand and explain. I recommend that you look at these verses so you truly grab the awesome meaning of this word. I want to point out a few verses here starting with Romans 10:2-3,

“For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (KJV)

         The word knowledge here is the word epígnōsis. These verses are clearly describing many of my brothers and sisters in social media today; they do have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge; furthermore, they have declare war on knowledge. They are divorcing the Spirit of God from the Word of God; the are divorcing the anointing of God from the Study of God’s Word and Jesus from the Word.

         Regarding this false teaching that people can know Jesus beyond knowledge in the sense of actually knowing Him, I give you Romans 11:33-36,

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (KJV) 

         Please folks, do not make God so small, do not water down the Gospel, do not take away from the magnitude of the sacrifice of Jesus, stop declaring war on knowledge and study before you COME UP with more ridiculous and shameful doctrines. Respect Jesus, honor HIM and stay in HIS LOGOS; in fact that is the evidence of your discipleship.

“…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;” John 8:31 (KJV)

^[1] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

^[2] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

^[3] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).