Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Corinthians 8:3
But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
3. But if any man love God, the same is known of him ] Cf. 1Jn 4:7-8. But it is observable that St Paul, dealing with inquisitive and argumentative people like the Corinthians and Galatians, takes care to invert the phrase, so as to exclude all glorying on the part of man. In Gal 4:9 he corrects himself when speaking of knowing God, and in this Epistle, written afterwards, he seems carefully to avoid the expression, and to speak, both here and in ch. 1Co 13:12, rather of being known by God; So in St Joh 6:37; Joh 6:44-45; Joh 6:65, the same doctrine is taught by Christ Himself. “The knowledge of God presupposes the being known of Him: the soul will not vivify with life from above until God has drawn nigh.” Olshausen.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But if any man love God – If any man is truly attached to God; if he seeks to serve him, and to promote his glory. The sense seems to be this. There is no true and real knowledge which is not connected with love to God. This will prompt a man also to love his brethren, and will lead him to promote their happiness. A mans course, therefore, is not to be regulated by mere knowledge, but the grand principle is love to God and love to man. Love edifies; love promotes happiness; love will prompt to what is right; and love will secure the approbation of God. Thus, explained. this difficult verse accords with the whole scope of the parenthesis, which is to show that a man should not be guided in his contact with others by mere knowledge, however great that may be; but that a safer and better principle was love, charity ( agape), whether exercised toward God or man. Under the guidance of this, man would be in little danger of error, Under the direction of mere knowledge he would never be sure of a safe guide; see 1Co 13:1-13.
The same is known of him – The words is known ( egnostai) I suppose to be taken here in the sense of is approved by God; is loved by him; meets with his favor, etc. In this sense the word known is often used in the Scriptures. See the note at Mat 7:23. The sense is, If any man acts under the influence of sacred charity, or love to God, and consequent love to man, he will meet with the approbation of God. He will seek his glory, and the good of his brethren; he will be likely to do right; and God will approve of his intentions and desires, and will regard him as his child. Little distinguished, therefore, as he may be for human knowledge, for that science which puffs up with vain self-confidence, yet he will have a more truly elevated rank, and will meet with the approbation and praise of God. This is of more value than mere knowledge, and this love is a far safer guide than any mere intellectual attainments. So the world would have found it to be if they had acted on it; and so Christians would always find it.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
1Co 8:3
But if any man love God, the same is known of Him.
Love the medium of Divine knowledge
I. Its nature.
1. Whence it proceeds.
2. What it implies.
3. What its fruits.
II. Its privilege. It secures–
1. The favour of God.
2. Fellowship with Him.
3. The enlightening influence of His Holy Spirit. (J. Lyth, D. D.)
Superiority of love to knowledge
Papa, said the son of Bishop Berkeley, what is the meaning of the words cherubim and seraphim, which we meet with in the Holy Scriptures? Cherubim, replied his father, is a Hebrew word, signifying knowledge; seraphim is another word of the same language, and signifies flame. Whence it is supposed that the cherubim are angels who excel in knowledge, and that the seraphim are angels likewise who excel in loving God. I hope, then, said the little boy, when I die I shall be a seraph; for I would rather love God than know all things.
The love and knowledge of God
From the love of man, which must be the sense of the word in 1Co 8:1 (see 1Co 13:1), the apostle passes insensibly to the love of God, partly because God is the implied, though not expressed, subject of the previous clause, partly because He is the only worthy and adequate object of Christian love.
I. For the connection of knowledge and love (1Jn 4:7-8). St. Paul substitutes is known of Him, for knows Him, to express that man can, in this life, hardly be said, in any sense, to know God. It is sufficient to be the object of His knowledge, which in itself implies that we are brought into so close a relation with Him, as to be the object of His care and love, and ultimately, therefore, to know Him.
II. For the identification of Gods knowledge with His love compare Exo 33:17; Joh 10:3.
III. For the identification of Gods knowledge of man with mans knowledge of God compare the similar blending of the spirit of man with the Spirit of God in Rom 8:15-16; 1Co 2:11; also Joh 10:15. As the Father knoweth me, even so I the Father.
IV. For the general turn of the whole expression, as implying that every part of our redemption, but especially our knowledge of God, is more properly His act than ours see 1Co 13:12; Gal 4:9; Php 3:12. For the unexpected substitution of one thought and word for another see 1Co 9:17; 1Co 10:18. (Dean Stanley.)
Known of God
I. The character that is here presented to us, the man that loves God. This love will be manifested by–
1. The state of the heart.
2. The tenor of the thoughts.
3. The influence of Gods Word.
4. Delight in holy pursuits.
II. The privilege asserted. The same is known of Him–
1. This knowledge is individual and personal.
2. It embraces all the circumstances of his present state.
3. It is a loving, parental delight in him.
4. It is a pledge of final acknowledgment.
Application:
1. What a source of pure and solid delight!
2. What a powerful incentive to holiness! (C. Simeon, M. A.)
Known of God
This verse is the antithesis of 1Co 10:2. Without love, no knowledge; with love, true knowledge. But why instead of The same knoweth God, does the apostle say, The same is known of God? Does he mean to deny the first of these two ideas? Assuredly not. But he clears, as it were, this first stage, which is self-understood, to rise at a bound to the higher stage which implies it. To be known of God is more than to know Him (Gal 4:9). In a residence every one knows the monarch; but every one is not known by him. This second stage of knowledge supposes personal intimacy, familiarity of a kind; a character which is foreign from the first. We need not therefore take known of God as equivalent to acknowledged by, or approved of, or put into the possession of the knowledge of, God. The word know is taken in the same sense as in Psa 1:6. The eye of God can penetrate into the heart that loves Him and His light, to illuminate it. In this light an intimate communion is formed between him and God; and this communion is the condition of all true knowledge–of mans being known by God as of Gods being known by man. (Prof. Godet.)
Gods knowledge of us
Sinner, let this be thy comfort, that God sees thee when thou beginnest to repent, He does not see thee with His usual gaze, with which He looks on all men, but He sees thee with an eye of intense interest. He has been looking on thee in all thy sin, and in all thy sorrow, hoping that thou wouldst repent, and when He sees the first gleam of grace, He beholds it with joy. Never warder on the lonely castle-top saw the first gray light of morning with more joy than that with which God beholds the first desire in thy heart. Never physician rejoiced more when he saw the first heaving of the lungs in one that was supposed to be dead, than God doth rejoice over thee, now that He sees the first token for good. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Intimacy between God and man
I. Its condition. It is a condition–
1. Which could scarcely occur to man apart from revelation. Men fear, reverence, worship, seek to avert the wrath of God; but to love Him is not an exercise of mind which seems congruous to the relation between the Creator and His creatures.
2. Which Christianity makes possible and natural. By revealing God as love, by bringing that love home to the heart in Christs atonement and sacrifice it makes a claim upon human love.
3. Capable of universal fulfilment, If any man. There are many whose natural powers of body and mind are very limited; but there is none who has not the capacity of love.
II. Its character. Love is represented as leading to, as involving knowledge.
1. On the side of God Himself knowledge is often used as equivalent to favour. Of course the Omniscient knows all His creatures; but He has a Fatherly, affectionate knowledge of those who love Him. He knows them to watch over, keep, guide, govern, strengthen, and save them.
2. On the side of man. This is the implicit statement of the text; for he who in the sense affirmed is known by God also knows God. How true it is that he who loves God knows Him too! We cannot know our earthly friends thoroughly unless we love them. Love opens the doors of knowledge. It creates that sympathy which gives intensity to the intuitive gaze of the soul. Thus it is that while many learned minds are ignorant of God, many lowly saints whose hearts are quickened with love, live in hallowed intimacy with Him. (Prof. J. H. Thomson.)
The man who loves God known of Him
You and I would dearly like to be known of God. Day by day we would like to be consciously at peace with God. We may know that there is no condemnation for us, that the gulf of spiritual death is behind and not in front of us, that life and immortality brought to light by the gospel are ours through grace, if love for God and our brethren reigns supreme within us. And now let us look, each one, into his heart and conscience, and examine himself as to how far he can truthfully say and feel, I love God: I am known of Him. We love God, because He first loved us. He, in the first instance, did so infinitely much that a rightly affected person could not possibly dwell upon without loving Him. And again, the statement of the inspired apostle bears yet another sense. We cannot love God without the Holy Spirit having been first given to, and dwelling within us, as His consecrated temples. But, again, let me press home the question, Do we love God? I think we seem to fall back into the days of our childhood again when we answer this question truly and profitably. In our memories of those earliest years we shall certainly find experiences of our past feelings treasured up that will help us in our endeavour to find an answer to it. Those of us who had good, loving parents dearly loved them in return. We grew up beneath the sunshine of their smiles, and thrilled at the sound of their loving words. We strove to do all things that we knew would give them pleasure. We tried to obey all their commandments. We knew, too, what would please them, even though they did not ask us to study closely everything that they wanted of us. Our love for them was not fickle or changeable. Now and then, indeed, we had our naughty, rebellious passions hindering the outward flow of our love for them, but, underneath the strong torrent of those passions, our love for our good parents lingered on calm and unmoved, just as, fathoms down below the storm-tossed waves of the sea, the water is calm and still. And when our childhoods offences had been atoned for by our soul-felt tears of penitence, then we were ready enough to inveigh against ourselves as having been solely to blame for the interruption of the happy interchange of parental and filial love, with a great joy we threw ourselves into our fathers or mothers arms again, when we saw that they had forgiven our offence completely, and again our hearts welled forth their love for them, and all was once more peace and joy within us. Now have you these sacred memories of your childhood to help you to reply to my question? If so, it is very well, for are not Gods people as just so many little children in His sight? And will they not then be happiest when they act towards Him, in all His dealings with them in providence and grace, as well disposed little children act towards their earthly parents? Will they not then feel consciously that they love God, and that God loves them? (J. C. Boyce.)
Known to God although unknown to the world
In the midst of His glory the Almighty is not inattentive to the meanest of His subjects. Neither obscurity of station, nor imperfection of knowledge sinks those below His regard who worship and obey Him. Every prayer which they send up from their secret retirements is listened to by Him; and every work of charity which they perform, how unknown soever to the world, attracts His notice. (J. Blair.)
Known of God
Thick on the moors, pushing up through the mosses, side by side where the blueberries grow, sprang up and blossomed the wild rose. There was no one to see its beauty, to breathe its fragrance. Mile after mile spread the moor, purple in the dawn glowing in the noontide, rosy in the sunset after-glow, yet there was none to see. Overhead there was the blue vault, soft and deep and silent. The wild, sweet breath of the sea swept over the moors, and tenderly touched the cheek of the wild rose. In thy heart, O Rose, it said, what beauty, in thy form what loveliness! Yet there is none to see. Wherefore, O Rose, give thy fulness of bloom where no eye may see, where nought looketh down but the sun and the stars, and no voice save mine may whisper to thee? God looketh down, answered the Rose. He seeth me, and remembereth His gracious promise, The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. In the day when He turneth the captivity of His people Israel and His ransomed shall come to Zion with everlasting joy, shall my mission be fulfilled. But now, I look up to God and whisper, Though He tarry, wait. Even so I praise Him and magnify Him for ever. (Christian Age.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 3. But if any man love God] In that way which the commandment requires, which will necessarily beget love to his neighbour, the same is known of him – is approved of God, and acknowledged as his genuine follower.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
It is of much more advantage to a soul to be known of God, that is, owned, acknowledged, and approved, than to comprehend much of the things of God in its notion. A man may know much of God, and yet be one to whom God will one day say: Depart from me, I know you not, you workers of iniquity: but if any man love God, that man is beloved of God, and shall be owned and acknowledged by him. In this sense know is taken in a multitude of scriptures: see Joh 17:3. Our translators render this word allow, Rom 7:15.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. love Godthe source of loveto our neighbor (1Jn 4:11;1Jn 4:12; 1Jn 4:20;1Jn 5:2).
the sameliterally,”this man”; he who loves, not he who “thinks that heknows,” not having “charity” or love (1Co 8:1;1Co 8:2).
is known of himisknown with the knowledge of approval and is acknowledged by God asHis (Psa 1:6; Gal 4:9;2Ti 2:19). Contrast, “Inever knew you” (Mt 7:23).To love God is to know God; and he who thus knows God has been firstknown by God (compare 1Co 13:12;1Pe 1:2).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But if any man love God,…. As they do, and show it, who love their brethren, and are careful not to grieve them; and make use of their superior knowledge, not for their destruction, but edification:
the same is known of him; is taught by him, made to know more by him; such an one increases in spiritual knowledge, or he is highly approved of, esteemed, and beloved by God: he takes a special and particular notice of him, manifests his love to him, and will own and acknowledge him another day, when proud, haughty, overbearing, and hard hearted professors, will be rejected by him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The same is known of him ( ‘ ). Loving God (condition of first class again) is the way to come to know God. It is not certain whether refers to the man who loves God or to God who is loved. Both are true. God knows those that are his (2Tim 2:19; Exod 33:12). Those who know God are known of God (Ga 4:9). We love God because he first loved us (1Jo 4:19). But here Paul uses both ideas and both verbs. is perfect passive indicative of , an abiding state of recognition by (‘) God. No one is acquainted with God who does not love him (1Jo 4:8). God sets the seal of his favour on the one who loves him. So much for the principle.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
The same is known of Him [ ] The same, i e., this same man who loves God. He does not say knows God, but implies this in the larger truth, is known by God. Compare Gal 4:9; 1Jo 4:7, 8, 16; 2Ti 2:19. Ginwskw in New – Testament Greek often denotes a personal relation between the knower and the known, so that the knowledge of an object implies the influence of that object upon the knower. So Joh 2:24, 25; 1Co 2:8; 1Jo 4:8. In John the relation itself is expressed by the verb. Joh 17:3, 25; 1Jo 5:20; 1Jo 4:6; 1Jo 2:3, 4, 5. 1 00 An idol is nothing in the world [ ] . Rev., no idol is anything. An idol is a nonentity. The emphasis is on the nothingness of the idol, hence the emphatic position of ouJuden nothing. It is a mere stock or stone, having no real significance in heaven or on earth. One of the Old Testament names for heathen gods is elilim nothings. Idol [] is primarily an image or likeness. In Greek writers it is sometimes used of the shades of the dead, or the fantasies of the mind. In the Old Testament, the number and variety of the words representing the objects of heathen worship, are a striking commentary upon the general prevalence of idolatry. Eidwlon image stands in the Septuagint for several of the different Hebrew terms for idols; as, elilim things of nought; gillulim things rolled about, as logs or masses of stone; chammanium sun – pillars, etc. Other words are also used to translate the same Hebrew terms, but in all cases the idea is that of the material object as shaped by mechanical processes, or as being in itself an object of terror, or a vain or abominable thing, a mere device of man.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) But if any man love God. (ei de tis agapa ton theon) But if anyone should love the God, in a reverential love. 1Jn 4:7; 1Jn 2:4; 1Jn 5:1-2.
2) The same is known of him. (horitos; egnostai hup autou) This one has been known of Him. This reverential love exists in each child of God, because of Gods first love for him, Joh 3:16; 1Jn 4:19.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
3. But if any man loves God Here we have the conclusion, in which he shows what is especially commendable in Christians, and even renders knowledge, and all other endowments worthy of commendation, if we love God; for if it is so, we will also love our neighbors in him. By this means all our actions will be properly regulated, and consequently approved by God. He shows, therefore, from consequences, that no learning is commendable that is not dipped in the love of God; because that alone secures, that whatever endowments we have are approved by him, as it is said in the second Epistle —
If any man be in Christ he is a new creature. (2Co 5:17.)
By this he intimates, that without the Spirit of regeneration, all things else, whatever they may have of show, are of no value. To be known by God means to be held in any estimation, or to be reckoned among his sons. Thus he erases all proud persons from the book of life, (Phi 4:3,) and from the roll of the pious.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(3) If any man love God.This explains the nature of the love which edifies. Love to God, and therefore love to man, builds up the whole Christian communion. The man gets outside the mere selfish thought of his own indulgence in his liberty. There is the under-thought in these words (the same is known of Him) of the identity between knowing God and being known of Him. The latter is the source of the former. Like water rising to its own level, the love and the knowledge rise as high as their source.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Love God As no one does who does not love his brother man.
Known of him He who loves God, and so man, is known of God as so loving. And that, be sure, is a knowledge worthy of being the object of.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Co 8:3. The same is known of him That is approved by him. Such a man has attained the true knowledge of God, and will be sure of his approbation and favour. Mr. Locke would render it, is made to know, or is instructed by him; for the Apostle, says he, though writing in Greek, yet often uses the Greek verbs according to the Hebrew conjugations. So ch. 1Co 13:12 the word ‘, which properly, in the Greek, signifies I shall be known, is used for I shall be made to know; and thus Gal 4:9. The word is put to signify being taught. See Pierce’s 6th Dissertation, and Act 10:36.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
Ver. 3. But if any man love God ] And his neighbour for God’s sake; his friends in God, his foes for God.
The same is known of him ] That is, knows him savingly, Gal 4:9 , is taught of God, 1Th 4:9 , who only gives true wisdom, Jas 1:5 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Co 8:3 is one of Paul’s John-like sayings. In the apodosis he substitutes, by an adroit turn, “is known ( : pf. pass [1228] of abiding effect upon the obj [1229] ) by God” for “hath come to know God,” the expected consequence see the like correction in Gal 4:9 ; cf. Phi 2:12 f., 1Co 3:12 ; Joh 15:16 ; 1Jn 4:10 . Paul would ascribe nothing to human acquisition; religion is a bestowment, not an achievement; our love or knowledge is the reflex of the divine love and knowledge directed toward us. Philo, quoted by Ed [1230] , has the same thought: ( De Cherub ., 32). (sc. ), “ he (and not the other) is known by Him”. Ev [1231] reverses the ref [1232] of the prons.: “He (God) hath been known by him (the man loving Him)” an unlikely use of .
[1228] passive voice.
[1229] grammatical object.
[1230] T. C. Edwards’ Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians .
[1231] T. S. Evans in Speaker’s Commentary .
[1232] reference.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
love App-135.
God. App-98.
the same = this one.
of = by. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Co 8:3. , God) The love of our neighbour follows the love of God.-, this same) who loves.-) is known. Active follows passive knowledge, 1Co 13:12. In this expression we have an admirable metalepsis[64]-he was known, and therefore he hath known, Gal 4:9, note. The knowledge is mutual.- ) by Him.
[64] See Append. A twofold trope, or figurative use of the same word or phrase.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Co 8:3
1Co 8:3
but if any man loveth God, the same is known by him.- To love God is to so honor and serve him as to seek his will that we may do it. If one properly esteems God as the great source and center of all things, honors him, and acts from a sense of duty to him, he is known and approved by God, for the Lord knoweth them that are his. (2Ti 2:19). Jesus said: If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself. (Joh 7:17). The man who loves God is the one who rightly solves the question about meat offered to idols, for nothing is viewed by him that does not take into consideration the will of God and the good of his fellow men.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
love: 1Co 2:9, Rom 8:28, Jam 1:12, Jam 2:5, 1Pe 1:8, 1Jo 4:19, 1Jo 5:2, 1Jo 5:3
is: Exo 33:12, Exo 33:17, Psa 1:6, Psa 17:3, Psa 139:1, Psa 139:2, Nah 1:7, Mat 7:23, Joh 10:14, Joh 21:17, Rom 8:29, Rom 11:2, Gal 4:9, 2Ti 2:19, Rev 2:9, Rev 2:13, Rev 2:19, Rev 3:8, Rev 3:9, Rev 3:15, Rev 3:16
Reciprocal: Deu 7:9 – which keepeth Deu 30:6 – to love the Lord Jos 23:11 – love Jdg 5:31 – them that 1Ki 3:3 – loved Psa 31:7 – known Psa 97:10 – Ye that Jer 24:5 – I acknowledge Hos 13:5 – know Mat 25:12 – I know Luk 13:27 – I tell Joh 10:27 – and I Rom 5:5 – because 1Co 13:13 – charity 2Th 3:5 – into
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Co 8:3. The greatest knowledge a man can have is shown by his love for God (and his weaker children). Such an attitude shows that the man knows God, which proves that he has the kind of knowledge that is really great. It may well be worded, “If any man loves God, such a man knows the same God.”
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1Co 8:3. but if any man loveth God, the same is known of him. See Gal 4:9. These preliminaries now bring the apostle to his point.
1Co 8:4. Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed unto idols, we know that no idol is any thing in the world, and that there is no God out one.
1Co 8:5. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe, The apostle doth not say, if any man know God; but, if any man love God, the same is known; that is, allowed, accepted, and approved of him. A man may know much of God in this world, and yet God may be ashamed to know him in another world; but the soul that sincerely loves God, is certainly beloved of him, and shall be owned and acknowledged by him.
Now, true love to our neighbour is a good evidence of our sincere love to God; and if we love our neighbour truly, we dare not scandalize our neighbour sinfully, nor offend our Christian brethren. Only here we must take notice, that by offending the weak, is not meant displeasing them; but by offending them, is meant laying a stumbling-block before them, which may occasion their falling into sin.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
but if any man loveth God, the same [i. e., God] is known by him. [i. e., the lover of God (1Jo 4:7). Before replying to the question, Paul deals with the argument which accompanied it, pointing out the fact that their boasted knowledge was confessedly without love, and being such it was puffing instead of building them up. But the man who loves God, knows God; and in the richness and fullness of that knowledge is able to deal with such questions as that which they ask. He now resumes answering their question.]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 3
Is known of him; is made to know, that is, is taught by him.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
1Co 8:3. Love to God (Rom 8:28) is of the same nature as, and is parent of, ( 1Jn 5:1,) love to our brethren; and may therefore be contrasted with knowledge.
Known by Him: Gal 4:9; 2Ti 2:19 : present to His mind as an object of observation and thought. Cp. foreknew, Rom 8:29. The context implies that God’s knowledge of us will be used for our protection and well-being. We are ignorant of much that concerns us. But, if we love God, His infinite intelligence, which comprehends fully our nature, our weakness, our circumstances, and our needs, is at work for us, watching us with ceaseless vigilance and choosing for us whatever is best. And, that God knows us, is a pledge that His purposes about us will not fail. Thus, love, whether we know much or little, places us under the protection and guidance of the infinite knowledge of God.
1Co 8:2-3 teach the important principle that Christian love is in itself essentially good, so that whosoever has it is better in proportion as he has it. For love is the inmost essence of God, 1Jn 4:8; 1Jn 4:16; and is therefore the inmost essence and the summit of the Christian life. Cp. 1 Corinthians 13. But knowledge is of secondary value, like wealth and bodily health, and like them will do good or harm according as we use it.
Fuente: Beet’s Commentary on Selected Books of the New Testament
Paul chose one subject to illustrate the proper view. Accumulating all the facts about God that one can will not result in the most realistic knowledge of Him. One must also love God. If a person loves God, then God knows (recognizes) him in an intimate way and reveals Himself to him (1Co 2:10; Mat 11:27). Consequently it is really more important that God knows us than that we know Him. When He knows us intimately, He will enable us to know Him intimately.
". . . If a man loves God, this is a sign that God has taken the initiative." [Note: Barrett, p. 190.]
Logically not only will God enable those who love Him to know Him better, but He will also enable those who love Him to understand other subjects as well. Paul said this to establish the priority of love over knowledge in determining our behavior in various situations.