What is Epignosis?

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

Epignosis is one of the Greek words for knowledge used in the New Testament; it occurs 20 times. But why should you bother about epignosis? Because it is the critical link between intellectual(“head”) knowledge and personal transformation and the experience of  God through the Word (supernatural results).

The New Testament uses epignosis to mean personal knowledge of something or someone that is clearly understood, accepted as true with a personal acquaintance that influences or changes the person. It will be impossible to explain this definition in this brief devotional fully; please watch the Deshen live Bible study on this subject to solidify your understanding of this subject. An everyday example will help clarify this term. 

Consider a college student studying computer science. Imagine the hypothetical scenario where this student has completed three years of computer lectures without ever seeing or handling a physical computer. While our computer science student might have some knowledge of computers, you will agree that knowledge will be incomplete. When students finally have a computer in their hands and interact with it, they will know computers personally and differently. We can say the student has now had epignosis of computers—this intimate full knowledge with a personal acquaintance.

Epignosis produces practical results in our knowledge of God. For example, we may understand healing but still be sick in our body. When you have epignosis of healing, you get healed! Or someone can know that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah yet continue in sin and is not saved. But when they come to epignosis of Jesus or the knowledge of the truth(2 Timothy 2:25), they become saved—epignosis links head knowledge and practice transformation and experience of what is known.

Watch the Recording from Deshen Live Bible Study: What is Epignosis?

Meditate

What is epignosis in your own words from the brief discussion above?

Apply the Word

Scripture repeatedly urges us to grow in our epignosis of God( Colossians 1:9-10).

Ask the Father for the spirit of wisdom and revelation to grow in your epignosis of Him.

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