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Writer's pictureEdward D. Andrews
Oct 119 min read

How Does Epistemology Relate to Christian Faith and Knowledge of God?

Epistemology, the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature, origin, and scope of knowledge, has played a significant role in shaping the way people understand truth, reality, and ultimately, God. For the Christian, epistemology is not merely an abstract philosophical discipline but a critical foundation for understanding the relationship between divine revelation and human knowledge. Throughout Scripture, we find that the knowledge of God is central to the life of faith, and the way in which we come to know and understand God is shaped by epistemological principles that are grounded in the Bible.



The Biblical Foundation for Knowledge: Revelation as the Source


The starting point for Christian epistemology is the understanding that all true knowledge begins with God and is made known to humanity through divine revelation. In contrast to secular epistemology, which often emphasizes human reason or sensory experience as the primary means of acquiring knowledge, the Bible teaches that true wisdom and knowledge come from Jehovah.


Proverbs 1:7 declares, "The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." This foundational verse establishes that the pursuit of knowledge, particularly knowledge of God, must begin with a recognition of God's sovereign authority and the reverent fear of Him. In this way, Christian epistemology is grounded in the divine initiative—God reveals Himself, and humanity responds to that revelation.


Divine revelation comes in two primary forms: general revelation and special revelation. General revelation refers to the knowledge of God that is available to all people through creation. Psalm 19:1-2 states, "The heavens are declaring the glory of God, and the expanse is telling of the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech, and night after night they reveal knowledge." Through the natural world, God has made certain truths about Himself known to all people, leaving them without excuse (Romans 1:20).


Special revelation, on the other hand, refers to the specific and direct communication of God to humanity through His Word. This is the unique means by which God reveals His plan of salvation, His moral law, and His purposes for creation. 2 Timothy 3:16 emphasizes the role of Scripture in imparting knowledge: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness." Thus, for the Christian, the ultimate source of knowledge is not human reason or experience but the Spirit-inspired Word of God.



Human Reason and Its Limits: A Biblical View of Epistemology


While human reason plays an important role in the pursuit of knowledge, Scripture makes it clear that reason alone is insufficient to fully grasp the truth about God. The Bible provides numerous examples of the limitations of human wisdom when it comes to understanding divine matters. In 1 Corinthians 1:20-21, Paul writes, "Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe."


This passage illustrates the key epistemological distinction between human wisdom and divine revelation. While human wisdom may excel in certain areas of life, it is ultimately inadequate when it comes to knowing God apart from revelation. This is because, as fallen creatures, our ability to reason has been affected by sin. Romans 1:21 speaks of the consequences of rejecting God's revelation: "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." The distortion of human reason due to sin means that apart from God's intervention, we are incapable of arriving at a correct understanding of ultimate truth.


However, this does not mean that reason is to be entirely rejected. Reason is a gift from God and has a rightful place within Christian epistemology when used in submission to divine revelation. In fact, the Bible encourages the use of reason in understanding the truths of the faith. Isaiah 1:18 says, "Come now, and let us reason together," inviting believers to engage their minds in the pursuit of God's truth. Likewise, 1 Peter 3:15 commands Christians to "always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect."


Thus, reason is a tool that is to be employed within the framework of biblical revelation. It is not an autonomous source of knowledge but rather serves to help us understand and apply the truths that God has revealed through His Word.



Faith and Knowledge: How Do They Interact?


One of the central questions in epistemology, particularly from a Christian perspective, is the relationship between faith and knowledge. Secular epistemology often views faith and knowledge as mutually exclusive—faith is seen as belief without evidence, while knowledge is viewed as justified true belief based on reason or experience. However, the Bible presents a different view of the relationship between faith and knowledge.


In Hebrews 11:1, faith is defined as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." This verse highlights that faith, rather than being a blind leap in the dark, is a confident trust in the promises of God based on His revealed Word. Faith and knowledge are not in opposition to one another; rather, they are complementary. True faith is rooted in the knowledge of God's character and His revelation. Romans 10:17 states, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Faith is therefore based on the knowledge of God's Word and is a response to the truth that has been revealed.


Furthermore, the Bible teaches that faith is necessary for true knowledge of God. In Matthew 11:25, Jesus thanks the Father for hiding certain truths from the "wise and intelligent" and revealing them to "infants." This passage underscores the fact that human wisdom and intellect are not sufficient to grasp spiritual truths apart from faith. It is through faith that we come to know God in a personal and saving way. As Hebrews 11:6 states, "Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."


Thus, in Christian epistemology, faith is not a substitute for knowledge but is the means by which we come to a true understanding of God. Faith and knowledge are inseparable because both are grounded in the revelation of God through His Word.



The Role of the Holy Spirit in Christian Epistemology


The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding believers through the inspired Word of God. As we pray and seek God's direction, it is essential to immerse ourselves in the Scriptures to understand His will. For example, in Psalm 119:105, we read, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." This verse emphasizes the importance of Scripture in providing guidance and clarity in our lives. Just as praying for a job requires taking action by filling out applications, seeking God's guidance through the Holy Spirit involves diligently studying His Word and applying its truths to our circumstances.


Understanding how we receive illumination and guidance from God is rooted in the inspired, inerrant Word of God. According to 1 Corinthians 2:12-14, the process involves more than merely acquiring a mental grasp of biblical truths; it requires embracing these truths as divinely revealed. The expressions "does not accept," "folly," and "not able to understand" highlight how unbelievers critique and reject divine revelation. This passage does not imply that unbelievers are incapable of understanding the Bible's content; rather, they view it as foolishness. Christians, however, are guided by having the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), achieved through being biblically minded. This necessitates a careful analysis of the Bible's genres, historical context, and language, employing the conservative, objective historical-grammatical method of interpretation while avoiding the speculative fallacies of modern biblical criticism.


John 14:16-17 and 16:13 are often misunderstood as promises that apply to all Christians, but a closer examination reveals that Jesus spoke these words specifically to His apostles. These verses do not indicate that the Holy Spirit would indwell all believers, but rather that the apostles would receive special guidance to remember and teach the truths that Jesus had shared with them. This was a unique promise to ensure the accurate transmission of Jesus' teachings. Today, Christians are guided by the Spirit through the inspired Word of God, but this guidance requires active participation. Just as praying for a job without taking the steps to apply would be fruitless, praying for understanding without diligent study of the Scriptures will not result in spiritual growth. The Holy Spirit works through our engagement with the Bible, illuminating its meaning as we earnestly seek to understand the authors' intended message through study and application.


I challenge the common notion that the Holy Spirit "illuminates the mind of the believer" in a way that directly imparts knowledge or understanding apart from diligent study. If the Holy Spirit provided direct, universal illumination, all Christians would indeed hold the same interpretations of Scripture. The fact that believers throughout history have arrived at different conclusions on various doctrinal points suggests that the Holy Spirit does not work in this way. Instead, the Holy Spirit has already given us the inspired, inerrant Word of God. Our understanding is deepened not through some mystical or magical enlightenment but through earnest study and careful application of the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit's role is not to bypass the intellect but to guide us as we engage with the text, leading us to truth through the words that have been preserved. This means that illumination comes as a result of our active involvement in understanding the Bible, not as an automatic or effortless impartation of knowledge. If we seek understanding, we must be willing to put in the work to dig into the Scriptures, where the truths we need have already been clearly communicated.



The Danger of False Epistemologies


The Enlightenment, as explored in a previous analysis, brought with it a shift in how knowledge was perceived, leading many to embrace human reason and empiricism as the ultimate sources of truth. This secular shift birthed numerous false epistemologies, many of which continue to influence modern thought. These secular approaches often reject divine revelation, placing human intellect and autonomy at the center of their pursuit of knowledge.

One such epistemology is rationalism, which asserts that human reason alone is capable of discerning all truth. While reason is valuable, as mentioned earlier, rationalism elevates it to a position of autonomy, denying the necessity of divine revelation. Proverbs 3:5 warns against this error, commanding, "Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." The Christian must guard against the temptation to place reason above Scripture, remembering that human wisdom is fallible, whereas God's Word is infallible.


Empiricism, another false epistemology, teaches that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience. While the Bible acknowledges the role of experience in learning (Proverbs 24:32), it makes clear that not all knowledge can be gained through human senses. For example, the doctrine of creation, as revealed in Genesis 1, cannot be verified through empirical means. It is known only because God has revealed it. Hebrews 11:3 affirms, "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."


Relativism, a product of postmodernism, claims that all truth is subjective and relative to individual perspectives. This view contradicts the biblical teaching that God's truth is absolute and unchanging. Jesus declares in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." Truth is not a matter of personal opinion but is grounded in the person of Jesus Christ, who reveals the eternal truth of God.



Christian Epistemology in Practice: Living Out the Knowledge of God


Christian epistemology is not a purely theoretical discipline; it has profound implications for the way believers live their lives. The knowledge of God, as revealed in Scripture, is meant to shape the entire course of a believer’s life. Jesus Himself emphasized this connection between knowledge and obedience in John 14:15: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."


The pursuit of knowledge, therefore, is not an end in itself but is intended to lead to a life of faithful obedience to God. James 1:22 exhorts believers, "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." True knowledge of God results in a transformed life, one that reflects the character of Christ and brings glory to God.


About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).



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