Knowledge and Acknowledgement

In recent years, we have seen a trend of people not acknowledging a leader. When Presidents Trump or Biden were elected, people carried posters saying, “Not my president.” Similarly, when King Charles III was coronated, some held the signs, “Not my king.” They know who the president or king is, but they don’t acknowledge that person’s office over them. Their failure to recognize, however, makes little or no difference since the leaders continue to govern or reign with or without their support or acknowledgment.

The Greek language clarifies the difference between knowledge and acknowledgment by adding a single preposition, epi. Knowledge is ginosko, and acknowledgment is epi-ginosko. Judah had three sons. The first took a wife, Tamar. When that son died, by law, Judah gave his second son to Tamar. He, too, died. Fearing that if he gave the third and only living son to Tamar, he might die as well, Judah sent her to her mother’s house, lying that when his third son came to adulthood, he would give him to Tamar. She knew his lies and weaknesses. Pretending to be a prostitute, she visited Judah, had sex, and became pregnant by him. To guarantee payment, he had given her his staff and signet ring. Judah didn’t know he slept with his daughter-in-law. When he heard she was pregnant, he brought her back to his house to burn her alive for playing harlotry. She acknowledged that she had played harlotry and deserved death but had one request: For Judah to find out who impregnated her. With that, she handed him his staff and signet ring.

“Judah recognized (epiginosko) the items and said, ‘Tamar is more just than I am.’ Afterward, he didn’t know(ginosko) her again” – a metaphor for having sex with her (Gen 38:26).

Paul contrasted love with gifts and “totality.”

“Love never falls, but prophecies will be fulfilled, and languages/tongues will end. We know in part, we prophesy in part, but when the totality comes, the parts dissipate. When I was a breastfed baby, I spoke as one, I thought as one, and I reasoned as one. Now that I have become an adult, I set aside childish things. Even as an adult, I only see as in a mirror. But then, one day, I will see face to face. Now I know (ginosko) in part, but then I will recognize(epiginosko) as I would be recognized (epiginosko).” (1 Cor 13:8–12)

When the totality came (whatever it was), it was far greater than prophecies, languages/tongues, or knowledge (ginosko) – it was a full recognition (epiginosko) of everything spiritual and Paul.

In these and several other examples, we can see a distinct difference between knowledge (ginosko) and recognition of a truth (epiginosko). Peter, too, prayed that his readers would have the recognition of who God and Jesus were.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in recognition (epiginosko) of God and Jesus our Lord.” (2 Pet 1:2)

They theoretically knew God and Jesus, but Peter wanted them to acknowledge them as God and Lord over them. Peter would say these three more times (1:3, 8; 2:20). Each time, their recognition or acknowledgment of who Jesus was – their Lord and Savior – changed their lives.

People hold those protesting signs because they are upset and don’t want that person to govern or rule their world. The same could be said of spiritual life. But when we recognize Jesus as Lord and let him rule our lives, our lives change.