Biblical Lexicon

γνῶσις G1108

N-AFS | 29× in 1 sense

knowledge — cognitive understanding and spiritual insight, especially knowledge of God and divine truth

Gnosis, from the root ginosko ('to know'), appears 29 times in the New Testament and carries a distinctive theological weight far beyond its classical Greek sense of 'inquiry' or 'acquaintance.' Luke introduces it in Zechariah's prophecy: John the Baptist will give 'knowledge of salvation' to God's people (Luke 1:77), and Jesus later condemns the lawyers for taking away 'the key of knowledge' (Luke 11:52). Paul is the word's primary theologian. He celebrates the unfathomable depth of God's gnosis (Rom 11:33), names it a spiritual gift (1 Cor 12:8), yet famously warns that 'knowledge puffs up, but love builds up' (1 Cor 8:1). In 2 Corinthians 2:14 he describes his ministry as a fragrance spreading 'the knowledge of Christ' everywhere. Peter's closing exhortation — 'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord' (2 Pet 3:18) — makes gnosis an eschatological trajectory. French 'connaissance,' Spanish 'conocimiento,' and German 'Erkenntnis' uniformly reflect a single cognitive-spiritual sense.

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Senses

1. Knowledge (cognitive understanding / spiritual insight) — Cognitive and spiritual knowledge, especially the saving knowledge of God and Christ. Luke introduces it as 'knowledge of salvation' (Luke 1:77) and 'key of knowledge' (Luke 11:52). Paul develops it most fully: a spiritual gift (1 Cor 12:8), a potential source of pride that must be tempered by love (1 Cor 8:1-2), and a fragrance of Christ spread through apostolic ministry (2 Cor 2:14). Peter crowns it as the goal of Christian growth (2 Pet 3:18). Romans 11:33 places divine gnosis beyond human fathoming. 29×

MENTAL_LIFE › Know › Knowledge and Learning

AR["المَعرِفَةِ", "المَعْرِفَةُ", "المَعْرِفَةِ", "الْمَعْرِفَةِ", "مَعرِفَةً", "مَعرِفَةٌ", "مَعرِفَةٍ", "مَعرِفَةِ", "مَعرِفَتِهِ", "مَعْرِفَةٌ", "مَعْرِفَةٍ", "مَعْرِفَةَ", "مَعْرِفَةِ", "مَعْرِفَتِ"]·ben["জ্ঞান", "জ্ঞান,", "জ্ঞান;", "জ্ঞানে", "জ্ঞানে,", "জ্ঞানের", "বুদ্ধির"]·DE["Erkenntnis", "γνώσεως", "γνῶσιν"]·EN["in-knowledge", "knowledge", "of-knowledge"]·FR["connaissance"]·heb["דַּעַת", "מָשִׁיחַ"]·HI["ग्यअन", "ज्ञान", "ज्ञान-के", "ज्ञान-में"]·ID["pengenalan", "pengetahuan", "pengetahuan,", "pengetahuan;"]·IT["conoscenza", "gnoseos", "gnosin"]·jav["kawruh", "kawruh,", "kawruh;", "pangertosan", "pangertosan,"]·KO["지식", "지식-을", "지식에", "지식은", "지식을", "지식의", "지식이", "지식이라면"]·PT["conhecimento", "conhecimento,", "conhecimento;", "de-conhecimento", "em-conhecimento"]·RU["-ведения", "Знание", "знание", "знание;", "знании", "знании,", "знания", "познание", "познанием", "познании", "познания"]·ES["conocimiento", "de-conocimiento", "en-conocimiento"]·SW["maarifa", "maarifa,", "maarifa;", "ujuzi"]·TR["bazıları", "bilgi", "bilgide", "bilginin", "bilgisini", "bilgisinin", "bilgiyi-", "herkeste", "içinde-", "o-"]·urd["علم", "علم-کی", "علم-کے", "پہچان-کے"]

Luke 1:77, Luke 11:52, Rom 2:20, Rom 11:33, Rom 15:14, 1 Cor 1:5, 1 Cor 8:1, 1 Cor 8:1, 1 Cor 8:7, 1 Cor 8:10, 1 Cor 8:11, 1 Cor 12:8 (+17 more)

BDB / Lexicon Reference

γνῶσις, εως, ἡ, seeking to know, inquiry, investigation, especially judicial, τὰς τῶν δικαστηρίων γ. Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 result of investigation, decision, Refs 3rd c.BC+ __II knowing, knowledge, Refs 1st c.AD+; opposed to ἀγνωσίη, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to ἄγνοια, LXX+5th c.BC+ __II.b higher, esoteric knowledge, NT __II.2 acquaintance with a person, πρός τινα Test. cited in Refs 4th c.BC+ __II.3…