Now I Know The Difference
Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 2 Corinthians 5:16
Recognize . . Known – Greek has more than one word for “know”. Knowing the difference between these words is important. But it is often hidden in English. As a result, we don’t know what we should know about “know.”
In this verse, “recognize” is one word for “know” (eido) and “known” is another (ginosko). Paul is not saying that we now know in the same way that we used to know. Not only is there a change in the evaluation standards (no longer according to the flesh), there is also a change in the very nature of knowing.
Eido, translated “recognize,” means, “to know intuitively, to be fully cognizant of by direct heart knowledge.” Paul uses this word to express the idea that our direct heart connection with another believer is not subject to the world’s evaluation system. We know because the Spirit makes us one with each other.
The second Greek word is ginosko (“known”). This is knowledge that comes from experience. It is accumulated knowledge that comes from the collection of facts and life encounters. It is always subject to more information. It is never complete. Paul says that there was a time when he and others knew of Jesus according to the world’s evaluation standards. That means we once evaluated Jesus by the standards of this world. We looked at Him according to His educational standing, His influence, His power, His wealth, His physical presence, His connections, etc. We stood on the outside and looked in, judging whether or not He was worth knowing.
No longer! Our knowledge of Jesus and the subsequent shift that has occurred in our knowledge of His followers moved us from an experiential basis to an intimate, intuitive basis. Now we know because we are intimately connected, heart to heart.
When Jesus becomes Lord, I no longer stand on the outside looking in, determining if He is worthy of my affiliation. When Jesus is Lord, my life is radically altered. I am on the inside, seeing the world through His eyes. Believe me, it is not the same.
Do you know?
