Knowing and the Bible

 
 

How do we know what we know?  How can we know God?  These are huge questions?  Of course there are many types and categories of knowledge and numerous ways of knowing. Types of Knowledge:

 

  • Tacit Knowledge

  • Metaknowledge

  • Imperative (or Procedural) Knowledge

  • Descriptive Knowledge

  • Situated Knowledge

  • Known Unknowns

  • Unknown Unknowns

  • A Posteriori Knowledge

  • A Priori Knowledge

  • Dispersed Knowledge

  • Domain (Expert) Knowledge

  • Empirical Knowledge

  • Encoded Knowledge

  • Explicit Knowledge

 
 

A few trips to Google search engine will lead to an elaboration of the various types of knowledge.  But then there are the ways of knowing, for example:

 

  • Language

  • Sense Perception

  • Emotion

  • Reason

  • Imagination

  • Intuition

  • Memory

  • Faith

 
 

To answer the question, how can I know God, typically it is conceded that we can only know God if God chooses to be revealed.  The occurs through general and specific revelation.  God is revealed in creation (natural and social scientists help with this) and conscience; these are general revelations.  God is also revealed in the written word (the Bible) and in the living Word, Jesus Christ.

One Protestant denomination (Wesleyans) developed the “quadrilateral” or “quad” which depicts  four ways which work in concert to help us know God.  It is a helpful way of thinking about these things.

 
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I think we have a thirst for different knowledge types and the capacities for many ways of knowing. I am for all of these. Scripture or Bible know is important to me for all sorts of reasons, including accessing faith which comes by hearing the Bible (Romans 10:17). A few years back I jotted down some of my thoughts about the Bible and thought through my own convictions concerning its role to help me to become wise, to grown in faith, and to learn what I need to learn. Click the button below to see the attached notes for reference:

 

Well, this section of the website is meant to point to or provide some resources. One of the more efficient and accessible ways to get oriented to and to grasp the Bible is through the Bible Project. These materials are easily found online but linked here for convenience. I’d encourage you to browse. These are very well done:

Introduction to Biblical Wisdom

https://bibleproject.com/all-videos/wisdom-series/

How to Read the Bible: Various Considerations

https://bibleproject.com/all-videos/how-to-read-the-bible/

Old Testament Overview

https://bibleproject.com/all-videos/read-scripture-old-testament/

New Testament Overview

https://bibleproject.com/all-videos/read-scripture-new-testament/