Not just the surface (though real) conceptual knowing that involves an intellectual seeing of a concept or a line of reasoning, an intellectual journey.
Not just the "amphibious" knowing of a skill: that of a mind hanging out in the presence of the conceptual side of things whilst bodily skills of creativity are learned and muscle memory is developed, so that a skill is developed and appears to be seen in this world, and finally known by a human being.
Not just as friends who are open to each other, and who see each other regularly, can be said to know each other through the covenant of friendship. A journey through some aspects of life together.
Not just as husband and wife know each other through the covenant of marriage, and the enactment of an intercourse that is deeper & more than any one aspect. It is a life, a communication, a thing where the whole is MORE than the sum of the parts. More open, more giving, more personal than just verbal, mental, intellectual, imaginative, consensual, bodily, sexual intercourse. And it kind of slides from a single experience of this more complete intercouse, into the life of seeing each other (not just each other's face), and knowing each other in regular sexual intercourse, a marriage. This will involve a prior commitment, a hope for affection to grow, a sharing of intimacies, & regular interactions allowing for a sharing of not only hopes and dreams, but of property, friends, allies and enemies, & progeny. It will involve a journey together through the entire life of this real, though invisible, covenantal creature (of which a spouse is a member, or organ) which some call a TWOMAN.
But as YHWH-GOD and offspring/beloved of YHWH-GOD know each other (this involves a fuller, more complete knowledge & understanding of a human than any other kind of knowing). Moreover this kind of knowing involves the depths of knowing, accepting, sharing, giving, empowering of all lesser kinds of knowing, and goes further.
"And Adam knew his wife, and she conceived and bore a son…" (Genesis 4 beginning)
"For the Lord knows the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish" (Psalm 1 end)
But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Matthew 25:12 NRSVUE
And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3 NRSVUE
Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental principles? How can you want to be enslaved to them again? Galatians 4:9 NRSVUE
"but anyone who loves God is known by him." 1 Corinthians 8:3 NRSVUE
"Then I shall know as I am known." (1 Cor 13, near end)
So then from now on we know no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer. …
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. 2 Corinthians 5:11,16
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