Knowledge is very important. No one will deny that. But there are two ways of knowing something, and the Greek of the New Testament brings this out very clearly. Greek is an amazingly constructed language. Let me explain.
The first Greek verb is OIDA, and it should frequently be translated “recognise”, whereas GINOSKO requires us to do a little investigation to “get to know” something or someone.
A simple example in English will clinch the matter. You go to a crowded railway terminus to meet your brother from the train. You “know” (GINOSKO) your brother through much contact with him. But now you search through the crowd until you spot his face. Immediately you “recognise” him (OIDA) from amongst all the other faces due to familiarity.
In John 10, Jesus speaks about the Shepherd and the Sheep. In verse 4 He says that His sheep “know” His voice. Here it is OIDA. They recognise His voice. But they do not recognise the voice of a stranger. But in verse 14 He says, “I know my sheep, and my sheep know me.” Both are instances of GINOSKO. There has been a “getting to know” each other, and that is why the sheep “recognise” the Shepherd’s voice when they hear it.
Have we learned to know our Shepherd? If so, we shall recognise His voice when He speaks to us. Furthermore we shall draw back from other voices, the voices of “strangers” who come to steal, hurt, and plunder.
