His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains the meaning of knowledge as science or knowing what was not known before, or adding new information to the self.
🔹 Biblical Examples of the Meaning of Knowledge
He cites verses like Psalm 25:4 and Psalm 143:8 where a person asks the Lord to make his ways known and teach him the paths, and he quotes from Job 42 about confessing prior ignorance and then learning.
🔹 Knowledge as Declaration and Disclosure
He clarifies that the word “knew” can also mean to declare or reveal truths, as in Christ’s prayer to the Father: “I have made your name known” meaning He announced to them who You are.
🔹 Different Types of Knowledge
He distinguishes between types of knowledge: general knowledge (information), relational knowledge (like a man knowing his wife), and a special knowledge which is knowledge of God that is entirely different from human knowledge.
🔹 The Uniqueness of God’s Knowledge
He affirms that God’s knowledge is comprehensive and complete, differing from human knowledge because it is without mediators and occurs at once; the Lord knows hidden and revealed things and what is in hearts and thoughts.
🔹 Examples Illustrating God’s Foreknowledge
He refers to Abraham’s story where the Lord said “now I know that you fear God,” indicating that God knew beforehand but the practical act proved the knowledge.
🔹 God’s Question That Does Not Imply Lack of Knowledge
He explains that God sometimes asks as if unaware (example Cain) not from ignorance but for another purpose, and questions in language can move beyond their original meaning.
🔹 Spiritual Conclusion
He concludes that the knowledge of the Lord is the fullness of knowledge and a treasury of wisdom, a type of knowledge different from human knowledge, calling the believer to humility and reliance on God’s perfect knowledge.
For better translation support, please contact the center.
Biblical Terms – Knowledge
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains the meaning of knowledge as science or knowing what was not known before, or adding new information to the self.
🔹 Biblical Examples of the Meaning of Knowledge
He cites verses like Psalm 25:4 and Psalm 143:8 where a person asks the Lord to make his ways known and teach him the paths, and he quotes from Job 42 about confessing prior ignorance and then learning.
🔹 Knowledge as Declaration and Disclosure
He clarifies that the word “knew” can also mean to declare or reveal truths, as in Christ’s prayer to the Father: “I have made your name known” meaning He announced to them who You are.
🔹 Different Types of Knowledge
He distinguishes between types of knowledge: general knowledge (information), relational knowledge (like a man knowing his wife), and a special knowledge which is knowledge of God that is entirely different from human knowledge.
🔹 The Uniqueness of God’s Knowledge
He affirms that God’s knowledge is comprehensive and complete, differing from human knowledge because it is without mediators and occurs at once; the Lord knows hidden and revealed things and what is in hearts and thoughts.
🔹 Examples Illustrating God’s Foreknowledge
He refers to Abraham’s story where the Lord said “now I know that you fear God,” indicating that God knew beforehand but the practical act proved the knowledge.
🔹 God’s Question That Does Not Imply Lack of Knowledge
He explains that God sometimes asks as if unaware (example Cain) not from ignorance but for another purpose, and questions in language can move beyond their original meaning.
🔹 Spiritual Conclusion
He concludes that the knowledge of the Lord is the fullness of knowledge and a treasury of wisdom, a type of knowledge different from human knowledge, calling the believer to humility and reliance on God’s perfect knowledge.
For better translation support, please contact the center.