Knowing God in 2008: Knowing and Being Known

We're looking at J.I. Packer's Knowing God, and now we're at chapter three: "Knowing and Being Known."

WARNING: This post will not do this chapter justice. There's a lot here, and it's very worthwhile reading. Grab the book, read chapters one through three at least. Maybe next week we'll tell you chapter four is also indispensable!

What stands out to me in this chapter is a contrast: God is highly exalted; God is personal.

Packer reminds us, "The more complex the object, the more complex the knowing of it." He points out that of course this is true of God, and we should expect the study of God to be...well, actually impossible. Unless he makes himself known to us.

But God is not just a complex object of inquiry. God, who has revealed himself to us in His word and in His Son, is personal. For this reason, it is better to compare God to an exalted person whom we would not be able to know unless they chose to make themselves known to us -- like a president or world leader. Actually, as Packer reminds us, this is true of anyone -- we do not know anyone unless they choose to share their "real" self with us.

It's amazing that we have such a God who does choose to make Himself known. And if we find ourselves in the process of knowing God, we can be sure that it's because He knew us first!


"But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God..." (Galatians 4:9)

"And this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3)