TWO KINDS OF KNOWLEDGE
The New Testament speaks of two different kinds of knowledge: Ginosko and Epiginosko.
Ginosko: Strongs 1097, verb
signifies “to be taking in knowledge, to come to know, recognize, understand,” or “to understand completely,” e.g., Mark 13:28,29; John 13:12; 15:18; 21:17; 2 Cor. 8:9; Heb. 10:34; 1 John 2:5; 4:2,6 (twice),7,13; 5:2,20; in its past tenses it frequently means “to know in the sense of realizing,” the aorist or point tense usually indicating definiteness, Matt. 13:11; Mark 7:24; John 7:26; in John 10:38 “that ye may know (aorist tense) and understand, (present tense);” John 19:4; Acts 1:7; 17:19; Rom. 1:21; 1 Cor. 2:11 (2nd part),14; 2 Cor. 2:4; Eph. 3:19; 6:22; Phil. 2:19; 3:10; 1 Thess. 3:5; 2 Tim. 2:19; Jas. 2:20; 1 John 2:13 (twice),14; 3:6; 4:8; 2 John 1:1; Rev. 2:24; 3:3,9. In the Passive Voice, it often signifies “to become known,” e.g., Matt. 10:26; Phil. 4:5. In the sense of complete and absolute understanding on God’s part, it is used e.g., in Luke 16:15; John 10:15 (of the Son as well as the Father); 1 Cor. 3:20. In Luke 12:46, AV, it is rendered “he is … aware.”
Epiginosko: Strongs 1921, verb
denotes (a) “to observe, fully perceive, notice attentively, discern, recognize” (epi, “upon,” and No. 1); it suggests generally a directive, a more special, recognition of the object “known” than does No. 1; it also may suggest advanced “knowledge” or special appreciation; thus, in Rom. 1:32, “knowing the ordinance of God” (epiginosko) means “knowing full well,” whereas in verse Rom. 1:21 “knowing God” (ginosko) simply suggests that they could not avoid the perception. Sometimes epiginosko implies a special participation in the object “known,” and gives greater weight to what is stated; thus in John 8:32, “ye shall know the truth,” ginosko is used, whereas in 1 Tim. 4:3, “them that believe and know the truth,” epiginosko lays stress on participation in the truth. Cp. the stronger statement in Col. 1:6 (epiginosko) with that in 2 Cor. 8:9 (ginosko), and the two verbs in 1 Cor. 13:12, “now I know in part (ginosko); but then shall I know (epiginosko) even as also I have been known (epiginosko),” “a knowledge which perfectly unites the subject with the object; (b) “to discover, ascertain, determine,” e.g., Luke 7:37; 23:7; Acts 9:30; 19:34; 22:29; 28:1; in Acts 24:11 the best mss. have this verb instead of No. 1; hence the RV, “take knowledge.” J. Armitage Robinson (on Ephesians) points out that epignosis is “knowledge directed towards a particular object, perceiving, discerning,” whereas gnosis is knowledge in the abstract.
STUDY NOTE: The above narrative of ginosko and epiginosko is found in Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. This is a very useful resources for Bible study.
In comparing these two words it can be said that ginosko essentially refers to the kind of knowledge that we acquire by using our human skills and abilities (e.g. eyes, ears, intellect, etc.). This is the kind of knowledge that is available to Old/First Covenant religionists but not to New Covenant disciples as we read in 1 Corinthians 13:11-13:
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly*; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
We see here that epiginosko kind of knowing refers to a deep, thorough kind of knowledge and face-to-face intimacy that we acquire through spiritual perception. Epiginosko does not employ simple, immature (i.e. childish) human abilities and skills applied by Old/First Covenant religionists who interpret the Bible literally. Instead, epiginosko knowing is the kind of knowledge/knowing/recognition/awareness/understanding of truth that is only available to New Covenant disciples who listen to God’s spoken voice (i.e. spirit).
Because epiginosko knowledge comes from hearing God’s spoken voice, it is the perfect, ultimate kind of knowledge that leads to faith because faith comes by hearing God’s spoken word which is spoken by God’s spirit through true prophets. It is impossible to come to true faith without hearing God’s voice.
When we continue to study Greek words related to knowledge, we find that there is a third kind of knowledge: Gnosis.
1 Corinthians 8:1-2: Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 2 If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know;
Knowledge in plain text in these verses is the gnosis kind of knowledge that is available to anyone. It is the Greek word from which the term “Gnosticism” originates. The words knows, known and know in bold text are the ginosko kind of knowing.
The point of studying these Greek words is to understand that there are different kinds of knowledge. Each religion has its own kinds of ginosko and gnosis knowledge that is recorded in books and taught by its theologians and religious leaders. Judaism and Christianity have accumulated thousands of years of gnosis and ginosko knowledge that seem right in the minds of both religions because that knowledge seems to be solidly based on the literal words of the Bible. And indeed it does have some limited value, but the truth is that the literal words of the Bible are foundations of sand — not rock.
God’s spoken word is the only firm, unshakable foundation on which belief can be built. New Covenant disciples who hear the voice of God build on this foundation.