Gnósis (1108 in Strong's Concordance) is a noun in Ancient Greek that means knowledge or an understanding of something.
It is the root word for the heretical belief gnosticism; a belief that focuses on internal knowledge and rejects a need for redemption.
It is one of several words associated with the topic of predestination. A firm understanding is crucial for a holistic view of the topic.
Related Terms
The following terms are often used in connection with gnósis:
proorizó - to be predestined
horizó - to set boundaries
proginóskó - to know beforehand
prognósis - a foreknowledge, or prior determination
ginóskó - to know
gnósis - a knowledge
agnósia - an ignorance
gnómé - an opinion
gnórizó - to come to know
gnóstés - an expert
gnóstos - to be, or do something knowingly
agnóstos - to be, or do something unknowingly
kataginóskó - to blame
epiginóskó - to know exactly
anaginóskó - to know what was written
agnoeó - to be ignorant
suggnómé - to confess something known
diaginóskó - to thouroughly know
proetoimazó - to prepare beforehand
hetoimazó - to prepare
prothesis - a setting forth, or purpose
protithémi - to set before
tithémi - to set, place, or establish
Usage
Gnósis is used 29 times across 28 verses. Below is a list of all references to gnósis in the New Testament:
...to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins...
Luke 1:77 ESV
Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.
Luke 11:52 ESV
...an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth...
Romans 2:20 ESV
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Romans 11:33 ESV
I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.
Romans 15:14 ESV
...that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge...
1 Corinthians 1:5 ESV
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
1 Corinthians 8:1 ESV
However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
1 Corinthians 8:7 ESV
For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?
1 Corinthians 8:10 ESV
And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.
1 Corinthians 8:11 ESV
For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit...
1 Corinthians 12:8 ESV
And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2 ESV
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 13:8 ESV
Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
1 Corinthians 14:6 ESV
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV
...by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love...
2 Corinthians 6:6 ESV
But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.
2 Corinthians 8:7 ESV
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ...
2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV
Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
2 Corinthians 11:6 ESV
...and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:19 ESV
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ...
Philippians 3:8 ESV
...in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:3 ESV
O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge,"
1 Timothy 6:20 ESV
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
1 Peter 3:7 ESV
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge...
2 Peter 1:5 ESV
...and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness...
2 Peter 1:6 ESV
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18 ESV
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