Part 10 of 15 – Two Kinds of Knowledge

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called Two Kinds Of Knowledge.

I hope by now the two kinds of knowledge discussed in this series are clearly understood by the reader. If not, the n I trust this installment will make them ever so clear to you.

These two kinds of knowledge for the Christian are mentioned together in this one verse. Here we see eido, the “sense knowing” and ginosko, the “learned knowing.”

1John 5:20 And weknow(Gk. eido, we already know by know by an intuitive sense) that the Son of God is come (in us), and hath given us an understanding (an intuitive perception by His Spirit),

that we may know him (ginosko, come to know Him experientially, as a growing knowledge) that is true, and we are in him that is true, even (that is) in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

1.) The first “know” in 1John 5:20 is “eido,” Greek 1492, Strong’s, i'-do; properly to see (literal or figurative); by implication (in the perf.  only) to know: - be aware, behold, × can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know (-ledge), look (on), perceive by any of the senses, see, be sure, understand).

It is by this “sense knowing,” which is of the indwelling Spirit of Christ indwelling the believer that the believer knows Christ has come to dwell in him. 1 John 4:13 Hereby know (eido) we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

It is also by this sense knowing that we know for sure that God is our Father. Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Thus it is clear what Jesus said. John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

2.) The second “know” in 1John 5:20 is ginosko, Greek 1097, Strong’s, ghin-oce'-ko; a prolonged form of a primary verb; to know” (absolute), in a great variety of applications and with many implication (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed) :- allow, become acquainted with, come to know, get knowledge, become… aware (of), perceive, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand. (“To know,” as in “Adam knew Eve,” is an idiom for sexual intercourse = experiential knowing). This is acquired, learned, knowledge, to “become acquainted with, to come to know.”

Such knowledge becomes learned by experience.