Fully Known verses absolute knowledge!

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Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13 -  “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”  Paul uses specific words for, “Fully” and “Fully Known.” The Greek words are ginosko and epiginosko. The prefix “epi” intensifies the word to mean “to really know” or “to know more intensively.”

Paul’s wording would never have been used toward humans as absolute knowledge … that is a different word, ta panta, which is translated, “to know all things.” Paul did not choose to say that, instead he chose to say that we would be fully known without error or misconceptions in our knowledge. Equality with God is never in Scripture. Paul is teaching us that sin will not be present to cloud our vision. So, we will never stop learning … even in heaven we learn.

Why do I bring this up, especially on Valentine’s Day? Love is more than a feeling. Love is an action. The New Living Translation explains Paul’s words like this: “Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror.”

Mirrors in Paul’s time had serious flaws. Corinth was famous for its bronze mirrors, but the color was off and shapes were distorted. The mirror’s image lacked the quality of seeing someone face-to-face. In the Greek world … the paradigm (Worldview) of the Hellenistic world … Knowing and seeing were nearly synonymous … the more you saw, the more you knew.

In other words … the more you practice love, the clearer you will see God’s glory. This is what we will completely know in heaven, but it does not have to start in heaven. You can start experiencing your reward in heaven by dedicating your actions LOVE.

Seeing clearly is to love. Seeing clearly is to love people as God views people in their redeemed reality! How do you see yourself and others? 

You know I love ya, Don