Can we know God? If so, how?

[Bruce.Leiter]

What does knowing God mean in the Bible? How can we grow in knowing God?

 

[miamited]

Hey Bruce.Leiter

That comes through spending time with Him and reading what He has given you to read about Him.

 

[electedbyHim]

Prayer, bible study, sermons, Theology, fellowship.

Someone might say direct revelation but that is not true.

 

[Hopeful 2]

Prayer, bible study, sermons, Theology, fellowship.

I agree.

Someone might say direct revelation but that is not true.

Why ?
Aren't prophesies direct revelations from God ?

 

[miamited]

Aren't prophesies direct revelations from God ?

In fact, Hopeful 2, I believe the entirety of the Scriptures is a direct revelation from God. That seems to be how Paul was explaining the 'oracles of God'. Men wrote the Scriptures as they were led by the Holy Spirit of God. Unless someone would consider direct revelation to be God actually speaking to them personally, as He did a couple of times speaking from the clouds to people surrounding Jesus' baptism and the transfiguration. And of course, when Moses was on the mount for 40 days he seems to claim to have been speaking directly to God and God speaking to him. Me, I consider that God speaking to the writers of the Scriptures through His Holy Spirit to be direct revelation at least to those men who wrote the Scriptures.

 

[Hopeful 2]

In fact, Hopeful 2, I believe the entirety of the Scriptures is a direct revelation from God. That seems to be how Paul was explaining the 'oracles of God'. Men wrote the Scriptures as they were led by the Holy Spirit of God. Unless someone would consider direct revelation to be God actually speaking to them personally, as He did a couple of times speaking from the clouds to people surrounding Jesus' baptism and the transfiguration. And of course, when Moses was on the mount for 40 days he seems to claim to have been speaking directly to God and God speaking to him. Me, I consider that God speaking to the writers of the Scriptures through His Holy Spirit to be direct revelation at least to those men who wrote the Scriptures.

I agree with that summation, but my point was that we can still receive revelations from God.
The gifts of prophesy, and the gift of the interpretation of tongues, can both reveal things directly from God.

 

[electedbyHim]

I agree.

Why ?
Aren't prophesies direct revelations from God ?

God does not give direct revelation today.

There is no proof of this, we have His written word and that is direct enough.

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

What does knowing God mean in the Bible? How can we grow in knowing God?

Through his son, Jesus, the only legitimate way to know God. That's the purpose of his incarnation. A magnanimous fireball in the sky is not knowable, a human being of humble origin is.