What Is the Meaning of Epistemology In Christianity?
Big Idea
Without God, we could not know anything.
Introduction
In 1998, a group of youth group leaders from a local church took a bold step—heading to a large university campus to film conversations with college students about truth. One of the interviews stood out:
Interviewer: “Is there such a thing as absolute truth?”
College Student: “No.”
Interviewer: “And it is absolutely true that there is no absolute truth?”
College Student: “Yes.”
When this was shown to the youth group back at the church, the high schoolers burst out laughing. They saw the contradiction right away. How could the student claim it’s absolutely true that there’s no absolute truth? This was a case of the student, with all his education, overlooking a basic logical inconsistency.
This situation mirrors the growing confusion in our culture today. A recent report from the Washington Times highlights that 54% of Americans now believe truth is subjective. This shift toward relativism, where truth is seen as a personal or societal construct rather than an absolute standard, challenges everything we understand about knowledge.
But here's the bottom line: If there is no absolute truth, then knowledge itself becomes impossible. So, is knowledge really off the table? As Christians, we believe knowledge is not only possible, but that we can truly know things about God, about the world, and about ourselves. The challenge now is how to communicate that to a world that’s increasingly uncertain about truth and, whether they realize it or not, about knowledge.
In this lesson, we’re going to explore what the Bible teaches about knowledge and how to construct a biblical theory of knowledge (epistemology). We'll unpack how the world views knowledge, and what the Bible says about how we can truly know things—something that's far more than a philosophical question; it’s foundational to our faith.
What is the Main Concept of Epistemology?
At its core, epistemology is the theory of knowledge. The word itself was coined in 1856 by philosopher James Ferrier, combining the Greek words episteme (meaning knowledge or skill) and logos (meaning word or study). Epistemology is concerned with questions like, What can we know? and How do we know it?
You may not often stop to ask these questions, but we should. After all, why should we think we can know anything? What does it even mean to know something? These questions are at the heart of the Christian understanding of knowledge, and we need to think carefully about them.
What Is the True Meaning of Knowledge?
The classical definition of knowledge is justified, true belief. In order to have knowledge, three components must be present:
Belief: You must believe something.
Truth: That belief must be true.
Justification: You must have a good reason for your belief.
For centuries, philosophers have debated the nature of justification. More recently, philosopher Alvin Plantinga proposed the idea of “warranted belief” instead of “justified belief.” According to Plantinga, a belief is warranted when it is produced by our faculties—those truth-seeking abilities of reason, intuition, and the senses—functioning properly in a favorable environment.
In other words, our belief is warranted if it is formed through our God-given faculties and aligns with reality. Knowledge isn't just about having a belief, it's about having a belief that corresponds to the truth and has a solid foundation for that belief.
What Are the Three Main Epistemologies?
Let’s break down the three major theories of knowledge that have shaped much of philosophical thought.
1. Rationalism
Rationalism asserts that knowledge comes from reason alone. The idea is that certain principles or truths can be known independent of sensory experience—truths like logic or mathematics. The rationalist trusts reason over the senses, which can be deceptive. René Descartes, for example, famously said, Cogito, ergo sum—"I think, therefore I am."
Rationalism rightly recognizes that reason plays a crucial role in knowledge, but it overlooks the importance of sensory experience and cannot explain certain intuitions we all have about the world. There are things we just know—things that don't come from reason alone.
2. Empiricism
Empiricism, on the other hand, holds that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience—what we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. This view tends to elevate science as the primary means by which we can know truth. If something can’t be empirically tested, then it’s not truly known.
Empiricism has its strengths, particularly in scientific endeavors, but it fails to account for things we intuitively know or can reason out. Not everything can be proven by the senses or by the scientific method. For instance, how do we “know” things about the future? Our senses can’t tell us what will happen, but we intuitively trust that the future will be like the past in many ways.
3. Subjectivism
Subjectivism claims that there is no objective, absolute truth. Instead, each individual has their own truth based on personal experiences. Walt Whitman’s quote, “Whatever satisfies the soul is truth,” encapsulates this idea.
Subjectivism rightly acknowledges that there are personal, experiential truths, but it goes too far in denying that there is an objective reality outside of our personal perceptions. While our personal truths may be meaningful, subjectivism cannot account for a world that operates independently of our experience.
Revelational Epistemology: How the Bible Ties Everything Together
None of these non-biblical epistemologies offer a complete or coherent understanding of knowledge. Rationalism, empiricism, and subjectivism each address one aspect of how we come to know things, but they neglect others. The Christian view of knowledge integrates all three truth-seeking faculties—reason, experience, and intuition—and unites them under God’s revelation.
The Bible reveals truth through both General Revelation (the world around us) and Special Revelation (Scripture). Through our ability to reason, to interact with the world through our senses, and to know certain things by intuition, we are engaging with God’s creation and His truths. For instance, the beauty and order of the world point to a Creator (Psalm 111:2), and our innate knowledge of right and wrong is evidence of God's moral law written on our hearts (Romans 2:14–15).
The Bible doesn’t just offer us a theory of knowledge; it shows us that knowledge is possible because God has made us in His image, and He has placed us in a world full of truths for us to discover.
Without God, the ability to know anything would be impossible. But because of God’s revelation, we can confidently say: Knowledge is possible.
Conclusion
Without God, there is no knowledge. All the theories about how we know things fall short when they attempt to explain knowledge without God’s role as the foundation. As Christians, we don’t just believe in knowledge; we believe that God has made it possible through His revelation. Our reasoning, senses, and intuition all have a purpose, and they are meant to point us back to Him. Without God, we could not know anything. But with Him, all things are knowable.
For more insight into epistemology and the Christian view of knowledge, I recommend looking up the following Scriptures: Isaiah 1:18, 1 Peter 3:15, Psalm 111:2, Isaiah 40:26, Psalm 94:9, Job 38:36, and Romans 2:14-15.
Disclaimer:
This article was generated by AI and is based on lessons written by Joel Settecase for a forthcoming Biblical Worldview curriculum. While the content has been adapted for clarity and accessibility, the original teachings and insights reflect the author's intent to provide a biblical perspective on key issues related to faith and worldview.