🧠💬🤝 Epignōsis: The (Experiential) Knowledge of God

The phrase “they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God” in Romans 1:28 is part of Paul’s powerful indictment of human rebellion and idolatry. The Greek phrase deserves careful attention, especially the term used for “knowledge” and the broader literary and theological context.

I. 🔍 Key Phrase in Greek (Romans 1:28)

Greek (NA28):

Καὶ καθὼς οὐκ ἐδοκίμασαν τὸν θεὸν ἔχειν ἐν ἐπιγνώσει, παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς...

Literal Translation:

“And just as they did not see fit to have God in their knowledge, God gave them over…”

• ἐδοκίμασαν = they did not consider it worthwhile / they did not approve / they did not test and approve
• ἔχειν = to have / hold
• ἐν ἐπιγνώσει = in [their] knowledge
• The key word: ἐπίγνωσις (epignōsis)

🧠 Word Study: ἐπίγνωσις (epignōsis)

Definition:

Epignōsis is a strengthened form of gnōsis, implying a full, deep, or precise knowledge. It often carries relational or experiential connotations—not mere intellectual awareness, but an intimate recognition or acknowledgment.

• Thayer's Lexicon: “precise and correct knowledge; used of the knowledge of things ethical and divine”
• BDAG: “recognition, knowledge, understanding (frequently of a deep or complete kind)”

So yes, this is not just head knowledge. It's experiential, relational, and involves a moral response—recognizing God as God and living accordingly.

🔁 Usage of ἐπίγνωσις in the New Testament

1. Romans 10:2

“For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on epignōsis.”

• Paul says Israel had zeal without true, relational knowledge of God—showing epignōsis is more than information.

2. Ephesians 1:17

“…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ... may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the epignōsis of Him.”

• Epignōsis is Spirit-given and linked to knowing God personally and truthfully.

3. Colossians 1:9–10

“…that you may be filled with the epignōsis of His will…”

• It’s about being filled with the true, inward understanding of God's will—spiritual wisdom, not abstract data.

4. 2 Peter 1:2–3

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the epignōsis of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
“His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the epignōsis of Him…”

• Again, this is a relational, saving knowledge, not just doctrinal grasp.

5. 1 Timothy 2:4

“[God] desires all people to be saved and to come to the epignōsis of the truth.”

• Salvation and true knowing of God go hand in hand.

📖 Septuagint (LXX) Use of ἐπίγνωσις

In the Greek Old Testament, epignōsis is rare, but when used, it carries the same connotation of relational and ethical knowledge.

Hosea 4:1 (LXX)

“There is no truth or mercy or epignōsis of God in the land.”

• This verse directly parallels Romans 1:28: Israel rejected the true knowledge of God, leading to societal collapse.

Proverbs 2:5 (LXX)

“Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the epignōsis of God.”

• Here, epignōsis is the fruit of seeking wisdom and righteousness—intimately tied to relationship with God.

Proverbs 9:10 (LXX)

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the epignōsis of holy things is understanding.”

• The word implies an ethical reverence and experiential knowledge that transforms a person.

💡 Theological Reflection on Romans 1:28

Paul’s statement in Romans 1:28 becomes even more striking in light of this:

• Humanity did not think it worthwhile to retain the relational, ethical, and true knowledge of God.
• This wasn't mere ignorance, but a willful rejection—an “un-knowing” of God by suppressing the truth (v.18).
• The consequence: God "gave them over" (παρέδωκεν) to a debased mind—a tragic judgment that matches their choice to "un-know" Him.

Romans 1 depicts a downward spiral:

1. Suppress truth (v.18)
2. Refuse to glorify God (v.21)
3. Exchange God’s glory (v.23)
4. Exchange natural for unnatural (v.26)
5. Abandon true knowledge of God (v.28)

This is not neutral ignorance. It's rebellion cloaked in autonomy, and Paul ties this directly to idolatry and moral collapse.

🧵 Connections Across Scripture

• Genesis 4:1: “Adam knew (ידע / yada) Eve…”—Hebrew "know" often denotes intimacy and relationship, similar to epignōsis.
• Jeremiah 22:16: “[He] defended the cause of the poor and needy… Is not this what it means to know me?”—Knowing God is seen in ethical living.
• John 17:3: “This is eternal life: that they may know You…”—Knowing God is the essence of eternal life, not an optional bonus.

🪧 Summary

Romans 1:28 reveals that humanity rejected the relational, moral, and experiential knowledge of God (epignōsis). This was not accidental but intentional. As in Hosea and Proverbs, epignōsis is a knowing that transforms the knower. To suppress or discard it is to lose one’s moral compass.

✅ Epignōsis is not mere data; it is the deep, Spirit-given awareness of God that demands a response.

When that is cast aside, God hands people over, not as an arbitrary punishment, but as the logical consequence of wanting a godless existence.

Paul’s statement in Romans 10:2 is deeply theological and reflects a long biblical theme: zeal without true knowledge leads to error, disobedience, and even violence.

II. 📖 Romans 10:2

“For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”

• ζῆλος (zēlos) – zeal, ardor, fervent desire (can be positive or destructive)
• ἐπίγνωσις (epignōsis) – full, accurate, relational knowledge (not just facts, but truth that transforms)

Paul is referring to Israel, his “brothers according to the flesh” (Romans 9:3–4), who passionately pursued righteousness but missed God's righteousness revealed in Christ.

🔁 Themes in Scripture Supporting Romans 10:2

1. Zeal Without Knowledge Leads to Idolatry or Misguided Worship

🔹 Exodus 32 – The Golden Calf

• Israel, after receiving the Law, worships the golden calf in a misguided attempt to honor the Lord.
• Aaron even says: “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD” (YHWH) — showing their zeal was aimed at the true God, but completely ignorant of His holiness.
• Like Romans 10:2, their zeal lacked proper understanding and obedience.

🔹 2 Kings 10:16–31 – Jehu’s Zeal

• Jehu says, “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD” (v.16).
• He destroys Baal worshipers but fails to walk in the Law of the LORD (v.31).
• His zeal was partial, self-serving, and not rooted in full obedience—mirroring Paul’s concern.

2. Prophets Condemn Misguided Zeal or Empty Religious Fervor

🔹 Isaiah 29:13

“These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship is made up only of rules taught by men.”

• Their outward zeal didn’t match their inward understanding of God's heart.

🔹 Hosea 6:6

“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment [knowledge, da‘at] of God rather than burnt offerings.”

• God wants true knowledge, not hollow religious actions—exactly Paul’s critique in Romans 10.

3. Paul as a Living Example of Zeal Without Knowledge

🔹 Acts 22:3–4

“I was zealous for God as you all are today. I persecuted the followers of this Way...”

🔹 Philippians 3:5–6

“...as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.”

• Paul himself embodied Romans 10:2—he had intense zeal for God but completely missed God's true will in Christ until he encountered Him.

4. Jesus Confronts Religious Zeal That Misses God’s Heart

🔹 Matthew 23:15

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.”

• They had zeal, even missionary fervor—but no epignōsis of God's mercy and righteousness.

🔹 John 5:39–40

“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.”

• Knowledge without recognition of Christ leads to misguided zeal.

5. Romans Itself Builds the Context

🔹 Romans 9:31–32

“But Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.”

• They were zealous in law-keeping but missed the righteousness of faith—knowledge without spiritual insight.

🧠 Greek Word Insight: ἐπίγνωσις

As noted earlier, epignōsis in Romans 10:2 refers to relational, Spirit-given, transformative knowledge.

• Their zeal lacked this kind of knowledge.
• It's not that Israel didn't know about God; it's that they didn’t know Him truly—in faith, in submission, in love.

💡 Summary: Scripture Fully Supports Paul’s Statement

Paul’s claim in Romans 10:2 is not novel. It is built on:

✅ Paul is grieving a tragedy that Scripture has long testified to: zeal for God without the right knowledge can lead people away from Him, not toward Him.

The call to grow in the knowledge of God is a major theme throughout both Testaments. Scripture makes clear that knowing God is not static, but something we are to pursue, deepen, and live out. This knowledge is never just academic—it’s relational, transformative, and always connected to obedience and love.

III. 📜 OLD TESTAMENT FOUNDATIONS

🔹 Hosea 6:3

“Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord.”

• This is both a command and an invitation.
• “Let us press on” (Hebrew: radaf) shows persistence and pursuit.
• Israel’s failure was often not a lack of zeal, but a refusal to truly know God (cf. Hosea 4:1, 6).

🔹 Proverbs 2:1–5

“…if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”

• The “knowledge of God” is hidden to the passive.
• Wisdom literature calls for active pursuit—searching, crying out, receiving.

🔹 Jeremiah 9:23–24

“Let not the wise boast in their wisdom... but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they understand and know Me, that I am the Lord...”

• God values relational knowledge of Him over all human achievement.
• The knowledge God desires involves understanding His justice, righteousness, and covenant love.

✝️ NEW TESTAMENT COMMANDS & PRAYERS

🔹 Colossians 1:9–10 (Paul’s Prayer)

“…asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding… increasing in the knowledge of God.”

• Paul sees knowledge of God as central to maturity and fruitfulness.
• This knowledge is Spirit-given, not self-generated.

🔹 Ephesians 1:17–18 (Paul’s Prayer)

“…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ… may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened…”

• The knowledge of God opens the heart to hope, inheritance, and power.
• Paul prays this for already believing Christians—growth is ongoing.

🔹 2 Peter 1:2–3

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him…”

• Growth in grace and power is tied to deepening knowledge of God.
• The Greek word epignōsis is used—denoting full, experiential, relational knowing.

🔹 2 Peter 3:18 (Command)

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”

• This is a direct command to grow—suggesting it won’t happen passively.
• A warning against falling into error comes immediately before it (v.17).

🔹 Philippians 1:9–10 (Paul’s Prayer)

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent…”

• Love and knowledge are not separate—they feed each other.
• Right knowledge helps us choose what pleases God.

🔹 Hebrews 8:11 (New Covenant Promise)

“And they shall not teach each one his neighbor... saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know Me...”

• This is a prophecy fulfilled in Christ—a people who truly know God by the Spirit.
• The writer of Hebrews uses this to show that the goal of redemption is relational knowledge.

🪧 Summary Table

💡 Theological Reflection

In both Testaments, the true knowledge of God is:

• Relational: rooted in love and covenant
• Moral: leading to obedience and justice
• Progressive: something we grow in continually
• Spiritual: enabled by God’s Spirit, not just study

✅ To grow in the knowledge of God is to grow in Christlikeness, because Jesus is the “exact imprint of God's nature” (Hebrews 1:3) and the only one who fully reveals the Father (John 1:18).