To know God is not merely to know things about him, such as his character, but also to experience his presence and power. To know God is to be transformed by him. Human knowledge of God is as a result of God's revelation of himself.
The origin of knowing God
Knowing God depends on revelation
Romans 11:33–36 See also Isaiah 40:13; Deuteronomy 29:29; Numbers 12:6, Numbers 23:3; Job 12:22; Isaiah 40:5, Isaiah 65:1; Ezekiel 20:5; Daniel 2:20–23, Daniel 2:28 Amos 4:13; Matthew 11:25–27 parallel Luke 10:21–22 Jesus Christ praises the Father for the revelation the disciples receive; Romans 16:25–26; Galatians 1:12; Ephesians 3:4–5
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” “Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
God gives knowledge of his reality through creation
Romans 1:20 See also Psalm 8:1, Psalm 19:1–4, Psalm 97:6; Acts 14:17, Acts 17:24–27
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
God gives knowledge of his mercy and his will through Scripture, both law and gospel
Romans 1:17 See also Deuteronomy 31:13; Acts 10:36; 1 Corinthians 1:20–21; Hebrews 8:10–11; Jeremiah 31:33–34
For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
God gives knowledge of himself through Jesus Christ
Matthew 11:27 parallel Luke 10:22 See also John 3:2, John 8:19, John 10:32, John 14:7, John 16:30, John 17:3; Colossians 2:2; 2 Timothy 1:9–10; 1 Peter 1:20–21
All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
God gives knowledge of himself and his ways through the Spirit
Ephesians 1:17 See also Isaiah 11:2; John 14:16–17, John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:12–15; Acts 4:31; 1 Corinthians 2:9–11, 1 Corinthians 12:8; Ephesians 3:16–19; 1 Peter 1:12
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
God gives knowledge of his greatness and grace through experience of him, submission to him and in answer to prayer
Psalm 56:9–11 See also Exodus 9:29; Psalm 17:6–7, Psalm 66:19–20; Isaiah 41:19–20, Isaiah 45:3–6, Isaiah 50:4, Isaiah 60:16; Jeremiah 22:16, Jeremiah 24:7; Ezekiel 6:7
Then my enemies will retreat on the day I cry for help. By this I will know that God is on my side. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
The nature of knowing God
Knowing his character
Jonah 4:2 See also Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 9:10, Psalm 36:10, Psalm 135:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5; 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16
So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion — One who relents from sending disaster.
Knowing his words and works
Amos 3:7 See also Genesis 41:25 Pharaoh; Exodus 6:6–7, Exodus 7:5, Exodus 7:17, Exodus 18:11; DEU 29:291SA Deuteronomy 3:7, 1SA 3:211SA 1 Samuel 17:46; 2 Samuel 7:21 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:19; 2 Samuel 7:27 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:25 2 Kings 8:10 Elisha; 2 Kings 19:19 Hezekiah; Psalm 147:19; Ezekiel 20:9; Luke 2:26 Simeon; John 17:8; Acts 2:22, Acts 22:14
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.
To know Jesus Christ is to know God
John 14:6; Colossians 1:15 See also Matthew 16:16–17; John 8:19, John 15:15, John 16:15, John 17:26; Colossians 2:2–3; 1 John 5:20
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
To know God is to experience his salvation
John 17:3 See also Psalm 17:6–7; Isaiah 25:9, Isaiah 43:12, Isaiah 52:10, Isaiah 56:1; 1 John 5:13, 1 John 5:20
Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.