To Know by Experience

1 John 2:13-14 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

As our home Bible Study came across this passage of Holy Scripture in our lesson on “Spiritual Warfare”, repeated phrases caught our attention.

(1)   “you have overcome the evil one” – Looking up the word “overcome” in the Greek, we found that νικάω / nikaō  means to subdue and conquer the enemy and is in the perfect present tense because the phrase uses the appropriate tense of the verb “to have” plus the past participle of the verb and is in the “active” voice. So, we have and continue to conquer the devil - πονηρός / ponēros, in Christ, who equips us by His power, and strength.

(2)   “the Word of God abides in you” – the word abides in the Greek is μένω / menō and means to dwell, to Tabernacle, to stay or remain. Abide is in the present tense & active voice So we continuous dwell and remain in the Word of God in His holy presence and sanctified communion. We live there.

(3)   “you know Him” – The word “know” in the Greek is γινώσκω / ginōskō and means to know experientially. To “know” is also in the perfect present tense and in the active voice. So, we know God by experience and continue to know Him personally, walking in the Spirit with entreaty. It is to know by experience, and to know Him, is to love Him.

Now, with these definitions in mind, read back through the 1 John 2:13-414 passage, as we did, and be blessed, as we were. Praise be to God, and to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – our strength and our Redeemer.

Grace and peace, Brian