What is Mysticism? 1 Corinthians 2:12-16

What is Mysticism?

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**Welcome to Pleroma Pathways apocalyptic and mystic Christianity where we explore esoteric and apocalyptic texts.**

### The Spiritual Discernment of Mysticism in Christian Tradition

The Christian path has always been one marked by deep spiritual mystery, intuition, and the experience of divine presence. At its heart, the Christian faith teaches that the highest truths are not comprehended by human reasoning alone but must be spiritually discerned. As the Apostle Paul wrote:

> "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 'For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:12-16)

This passage encapsulates the essence of Christian mysticism: that true understanding of divine realities comes not through natural reason but through the active force of God's Spirit.

**What is Mysticism?** Mysticism is defined as the "practice of the presence of God; the life of prayer that results in intuitive knowledge and experience of God." It is the recognition that spiritual realities can only be known directly by the Spirit's illumination. The Bible, far from being merely a historical or doctrinal book, contains more high mysticism than any other text, inviting believers to continually seek deeper communion with the living God.

A mystic, therefore, is "a person who has intimate, firsthand acquaintance with God; a man of prayer." Jesus Christ is described as the greatest mystic of all ages, as he lived in continual communion with the Father and revealed the mysteries of the Kingdom.

Mystics, throughout history, have been identified by their deep yearning for union with God. As it has been written:

> "Mystics are the ones who hunger and thirst after righteousness, as the Bible puts it, the ones who yearn for continued or increased union with the other reality they themselves feel is the real reality—the reality which heals and makes all things new again. Their yearning is their most distinctive mark and has been called by some a 'deep and burning wound,' because it propels them toward the transcendent nature of life much as a lover is drawn toward the object of his love."

This deep yearning is not merely a psychological development but a transformation of the very self into unity with the transcendent reality — the Absolute, the Pleroma. It involves a process called **self-transcendence**, which is "letting go of egoistic interests and practical, worldly matters," allowing the small self to dissolve into the higher Self, into God Himself.

Mysticism is not a path free from difficulty. The mystic must undergo a profound selflessness. As noted:

> "The path of the mystic can be experienced as painful because of the degree of selflessness that is required along the way. But, this path can also be the most glorious experience in the spiritual development of the soul if the disciple thoroughly understands the process of transformation that is taking place. Prayer is the foundation and daily bread upon which this stage of enlightenment depends."

Without prayer, this transformation is nearly impossible. Through prayer, the mystic maintains connection with God and allows the Spirit to illuminate hidden truths.

Mysticism has always been part of Christianity. However, a crucial distinction must be made between **institutional Christian mysticism** and **Gnostic mysticism**. In the former, the mystics "achieved awareness of one's self through the teaching and rituals from the scriptures; they came to know God because the church told them to do so." Institutional mysticism was mediated through the Church's teachings and sacraments.

In contrast, the early Christian mystics, known as the **Gnostics**, emphasized **direct perception** of God through personal experience and intuitive insight. As the **Gospel of Thomas** proclaims:

> "When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty." (The Gospel of Thomas)

Gnostic Christianity taught that self-knowledge was the pathway to divine knowledge — not mediated by external authority but through an interior awakening. Jesus himself is seen as the great way-shower in Gnostic Christianity. His teaching was not merely about moral behavior but about the inner transformation that leads to direct union with God.

This way is one of **opening the heart** to God, experiencing profound unity with all creation, and surrendering to the divine will. Gnostic teaching expresses it thus:

> "It is fundamentally an opening of the heart accompanied by a sense of oneness with God and all creation, a sense of gratitude and joy for all things that flow into one’s life and a willingness to manifest that which God wants to express through one’s life."

The Gospel of Thomas affirms Jesus' presence in all things:

> "Jesus said: I am the light that is above them all. I am the all; the all came forth from me, and the all attained to me. Split a piece of wood: I am there. Lift a stone, and you (plur.) will find me there." (The Gospel of Thomas, Saying 77)

This mystical vision sees Christ not confined to heaven or a future kingdom but present everywhere, in every piece of wood, every stone, and every breath of life.

Thus, Christian mysticism — especially in its Gnostic expression — is the profound realization that God's presence is within and around us always, waiting to be perceived by the heart that is awakened through prayer, self-forgetting, and Spirit-taught understanding.

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Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:12-16)

The Nag Hammadi Library : The Gospel of Thomas : When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty."

What is mysticism?

--The practice of the presence of God; the life of prayer that results in intuitive knowledge and experience of God.

The Bible contains more high mysticism than any other book. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. It is necessary to call upon God's holy spirit or active force to help guide us into the deep mysticism of the Bible.

A mystic--a person who has intimate, firsthand acquaintance with God; a man of prayer. Jesus was the greatest mystic of all ages

"Mystics are the ones who hunger and thirst after righteousness, as the Bible puts it, the ones who yearn for continued or increased union with the other reality they themselves feel is the real reality — the reality which heals and makes all things new again. Their yearning is their most distinctive mark and has been called by some a 'deep and burning wound,' because it propels them toward the transcendent nature of life much as a lover is drawn toward the object of his love. 

The term is also descriptive of the slow and painful completion process of joining totally with, or being in, the transcendent state — a process which should not be confused with psychological development. The latter is a matter of self-understanding, self-acceptance and personal integration. The former involves itself with self-forgetting, the disappearance of the self into mysterious union with God, the Absolute, the Transcendent aspect of reality, the Pleroma. Thus the term self-transcendence (with its emphasis on the small 's' in the word self, as opposed to the Self, higher aspect of the personality) means letting go of egoistic interests and practical, worldly matters"

The mystic yearns for God-awareness, and God-awareness only! The "things" that are added unto as the result of seeking God are no longer of importance to the mystical mind. The path of the mystic can be experienced as painful because of the degree of selflessness that is required along the way. But, this path can also be the most glorious experience in the spiritual development of the soul if the disciple thoroughly understands the process of transformation that is taking place. Prayer is the foundation and daily bread upon which this stage of enlightenment depends. Without it, the process is indeed a difficult one.

Mysticism has always been part of the Christian tradition, Christian mystics achieved awareness of one's self through the teaching and rituals from the scriptures; they came to know God because the church told them to do so.

However the early Christian mystics known as Gnostics looked beyond reason and found intuition to be the reliable pathway to know one’s self. So mysticism, as practiced by Gnostics, is a direct perception of the reality of God, free of any church teaching or sacrament. Gnostic Christianity has a name for this direct perception of God — self knowledge and self gnosis— and that is why Christian mystics are known as Gnosticism.

Gnostic Christianity teaches that we also can have an awareness of our real self, just as did Jesus. In

Gnostic Christianity, Jesus is often referred to as the way-shower, he who shows the way. What is this way that Jesus taught?

Gnostic Christianity teaches that it is fundamentally an opening of the heart accompanied by a sense of oneness with God and all creation, a sense of gratitude and joy for all things that flow into one’s life and a willingness to manifest that which God wants to express through one’s life.

Gospel of Thomas Saying 77) Jesus said: I am the light that is above them all. I am the all; the all came forth from me, and the all attained to me. Split a piece of wood: I am there. Lift a stone, and you (plur.) will find me there."

What is "eternal life"? Romans 6:22-23

What is "eternal life"?

Aeon, the Greek word translated as 'eternal life', means an age. For enlighten believers, Aeon refers to life in the period of the glory of the Christ Consciousness, as well as eternal life in the sense of indefinitely lasting life in the coming system of things.

Eternal life, in the sense of the higher stages of consciousness, surfaces in Rm 6:22-23. "But now that you have been set free from sin, the return you get is sanctification [awakening into the Christ Consciousness] and its end, eternal life [participation in the glory of the Christ Consciousness]. For the wages of sin is death [living a barren life], but the free gift of God is eternal life [the full manifestation of the Christ Consciousness].

Therefore, brethren, be more zealous to confirm your call [awakening of your conscience] and election [the renewing of your mind] for if you do this you will never fall [back slide into lower stages of Consciousness]: so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord [the full manifestation of the Christ Consciousness]." (2 Pt 1:11)

In 3:17-18, Peter uses the term Aeon in reference to the Christ Consciousness "Beware least you be carried away with the error of lawless men [pre-rational consciousness or the consciousness of sin] and lose your stability. But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord…to him be the glory both now [in the awakening of your Consciousness] and to the day of the age [the period of the full manifestation of the Christ Consciousness]."

The mystical consciousness of the second coming John 14:23

The mystical consciousness of the second coming John 14:23

Mystic definition of "eternal life"

In allegory, "eternal life" refers to the experience of timeless rebirth, or the discovery of the fact of your true real self the Christ Consciousness. This is the true, main mystic or allegorical meaning of "eternal life".

the discovery of timeless rebirth in the Christ Consciousness, is shown and revealed and unveiled by the word of God during the uncovering or revelation of the hidden mystery.

awakening to the kingdom of Heaven while in this life is the most important thing in this life.

The mind that overcomes the world and takes a higher perspective consciously enters Heaven and the eternal life right now, in this life. That is as certain as anything could be.

What happens after bodily death?

What is the Condition of the dead

Adam was made to be a soul, not given one. Gen 2:7; 1Co 15:45



It is man, the soul, that dies. Ezekiel 18:4; Isa 53:12; Job 11:20
The Dead are unconscious, they know nothing. Ecc 9:5, 10; Psalm 146:3, 4
The dead not alive with God as spirits. Psalm 115:17; Isa 38:18
Dead asleep awaiting resurrection. John 11:11-14, 23-26; Ac 7:60

mystical afterlife

There are two conceptions of afterlife: Metaphor and literal. After spiritual ego death, one's mortal corruptible self has been sacrificed and has died, and one is by definition in the afterlife, in the kingdom of god, ascended, beyond the last judgement.


This type of death and immortal life after death is certain and is the ultimate experience for which we have evidence. What about literal bodily death and some literalist type of eternal life in heaven? There's little support for it in Biblical scripture. Scripture lends itself more to the mystical, "awakening to the kingdom of god" approach, with "death" and "immortal life" is interpreted first mystically than we consider that eternal life is achieved through the resurrection of the body at the time of the second coming. The very same bodies that once constituted persons shall rise again, in order to be judged for the reward of immortal or eternal life in the kingdom of God or the second death .

The "mystery" of the scriptures is set up through deliberate, playful conflation of literal with mystical death. there is much more about the kingdom of god, than a future kingdom upon the earth and nothing about the traditional heavenly afterlife in the scriptures.

Mystically or spiritually it is certain that we are to awake to the newness of timeless life in the kingdom of God. This kind of eternal life is certain. Literal eternal life in heaven is an illusion entirely unfounded in the bible

The Mystically Afterlife is timeless rebirth after ego death.

There is also another literal eternal life which is also clearly shown to be a biblical teaching is bodily existence in the kingdom of god after the second coming resurrection and judgement of the dead

The mystical consciousness of the second coming

The first coming is the receiving of Truth into the conscious mind, and the Second Coming is the transforming and the regeneration of the carnal mind into the Christ consciousness".

The stage of mystical consciousness development can correspond to the spiritual reference of the "second coming." It is symbolic of the transforming of the consciousness of sin or the carnal mind into the Christ consciousness.

The world no longer satisfies or holds interest for the disciple. The heart and soul yearns for awareness of the Christ consciousness and turns within to experience this Presence through the accurate knowledge of the higher principles of the Gospel of truth.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Prayer is the foundation and daily bread upon which this stage of enlightenment depends. Without it, the process is indeed a difficult one.

What is Enlightenment Ephesians 1:18

What is Enlightenment?

In this study we will look at the biblical (resembling the language or style of the Bible) understanding of enlightenment using both the Bible and apocryphal gospels

The Savior said, "The lamp of the body is the mind. As long as the things inside you are set in order, that is, the soul, your bodies are enlightened. (The Dialogue of the Savior)

The word Enlightenment is often linked to the Age of Enlightenment (also known as the Age of Reason or simply the Enlightenment) was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 17th to 19th century.

For Enlightenment thinkers themselves, however, the Enlightenment is not an historical period, but a process of social, psychological or spiritual development, unbound to time or place.

There is a natural and spiritual enlightenment. natural enlightenment is to except who you are having good self-esteem.

Spiritual enlightenment is very different it is first self knowledge (self examination) and second a union with the Deity the Great "Uncreated and Eternal Spirit" a gnosis which illuminates us within and shines out to the world. "For Christ is all, and in all, and in Christ we live and move and have our Being"

In Christianity, the word "enlightenment" is rarely used, except to refer to the Age of Enlightenment and its influence on Christianity. Roughly equivalent terms in Christianity may be metanoia, revelation, salvation and conversion.

Perennialists and Universalists view enlightenment and mysticism as equivalent terms for religious or spiritual insight.

The word translated as “repent” is metanoia, which means a transformation of mind. in Young's literal translation the word metanoia is translated ‘Reform, reformation, in Phanerosis Dr John Thomas translates metanoia as enlightenment

"Him hath Theos exalted to His right hand, a Prince and SAVIOUR; to give enlightenment (metanoian) to Israel, and remission of sins" (Acts 5:31). Phanerosis Page 57

Luke 2:32 

a Light of Nations for enlightenment, and a Glory of thy People Israel (Emphatic Diaglott)
A light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. (Webster's Bible Translation) 

In Luke 2:32 the word rendered enlighten or enlightenment is the Greek word for revelation

a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (English Standard Version)

602. ἀποκάλυψις apokalupsis [ap-ok-al’-oop-sis]; from 601; disclosure: —  appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation.

a disclosure of truth, instruction concerning things before unknown

The Greek word photizo (5461 φωτίζω) is used 11 times in the New Testament

AV-give light 2, bring to light 2, lighten 2, enlighten 2, light 1, illuminate 1, make to see 1; 11

5461 φωτίζω photizo fo-tid’-zo

from 5457; v; TDNT-9:310,1293; {See TDNT 839 }

1) to give light, to shine
2) to enlighten, light up, illumine
3) to bring to light, render evident
3a) to cause something to exist and thus come to light and become clear to all
4) to enlighten, spiritually, imbue with saving knowledge

5461. φωτίζω photizo fo-tid’-zo; from 5457; to shed rays, i.e. to shine or (transitively) to brighten up (literally or figuratively): — enlighten, illuminate, (bring to, give) light, make to see.

Another Greek word that can be translated as Enlightenment is φωτισμός photismos

5462. φωτισμός photismos [fo-tis-mos’]; from 5461; illumination (figuratively): — light.

phótismos: illumination
Usage: light, luster, illumination, enlightenment.
1) the act of enlightening, illumination
2) brightness, bright light

light itself, the embodiment of the source (beginning) of the illumination. 

2cor 4:6  because [it is] God who said, Out of darkness light [is] to shine, who did shine in our hearts, for the enlightening of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (Young's)

2cor 4:6 For God is he who said: “Let the light shine out of darkness,” and he has shone on our hearts to illuminate [them] with the glorious knowledge of God by the face of Christ. (NWT)

From these Greek words used in the New Testament we can see that Enlightenment or illumination is a biblical concept.

The Hebrew word for Enlightenment is השׂכּלה Haskalah. The term Haskalah is from the Hebrew word sekhel (שׂכּל) “the intellect.

Daniel 12:3 And the intelligent (07919. שׂכל) shall shine brilliantly like the brilliance of the expanse; and they that bring many to righteousness shall be like the stars, for ever and ever.

The intelligent or “the wise,” the men of wisdom shall shine brilliantly because they have been enlightened

The Hebrew verb sakhal´ means “to look at; to be prudent, circumspect; to act prudently, to be intelligent.”  Thus, sakhal´ is rendered ‘have insight’ (Psa 14:2), ‘act with discretion’ (Prov 10:19), “act prudently” (1Sam 18:5), ‘have success’ (Pr 17:8), ‘cause to show insight’ (Prov 16:23). The noun sekhel is translated “insight” (Psa 111:10) and “discretion.”—1Sam 25:3.

The illuminator of Knowledge

For there to be Enlightenment or illumination there has to be an illuminator of knowledge, a revealer, a teacher of righteousness this person is the Messiah Jesus

John 8:12 Therefore Jesus spoke again to them, saying: “I am the light of the world. He that follows me will by no means walk in darkness, but will possess the light of life.

In Early Christian Documents Jesus is referred to as the Illuminate or illuminator of knowledge

odes of solomon ode 36 1 I rested in the Spirit of the Lord: and the Spirit raised me on high: 2 And made me stand on my feet in the height of the Lord, before His perfection and His glory, while I was praising Him by the composition of His songs. 3 The Spirit brought me forth before the face of the Lord: and, although a son of man, I was named the Illuminate, the Son of God: 4 While I praised amongst the praising ones, and great was I amongst the mighty ones.

For you are not the redeemer nor a helper of strangers.
You are an illuminator and a redeemer of those who are mine,
and now of those who are yours.
You shall reveal (to them); you shall bring good among them all. (The Apocryphon of James)

"Father, Father, Father of the light, who possesses the incorruptions, hear us just as thou hast taken pleasure in thy holy child Jesus Christ. For he became for us an illuminator in the darkness. Yea hear us!"  (The Letter of Peter to Philip)

The Process of Enlightenment 

We must be transformed in mind and enlightened in heart a purification of mind and body

As I have said above the beginning of Enlightenment is self knowledge, to come to know oneself, your world. and place in it

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

the Bible says, we are saved by “the renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). It also says, we are renewed by knowledge” (Col. 3:10). In this, however, it does not contradict its self, but rather makes the one phrase explanatory of the other; as if he had said, “we are renewed by the Holy Spirit through knowledge.” The Holy Spirit renews or regenerates a person intellectually and morally by putting faith in the truth. “Sanctify them by thy truth,” says Jesus; “thy word, O Father, is truth” (John 17:17).

“Ye are clean,” said he to his apostles, “through the word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:3). God’s power is manifested through agencies. His Spirit is His power by which He effects intellectual, moral, and physical results. When He wills to produce intellectual and moral effects, it is by knowledge revealed by His Spirit through the prophets and apostles.

This knowledge becomes power when received into “good and honest hearts”; and because God is the author of it, it is styled “the Knowledge of God” (2 Pet. 1:2), or “the word of truth” (James 1:18), by which He begets sinners to Himself as His sons and daughters. “The word of the truth of the gospel,”" the gospel of the kingdom.” “the incorruptible seed,” “the word,” “the truth as it is in Jesus,”" the word of the kingdom,”" the word of reconciliation,” “the law and the testimony,” “the word of faith,” “the sword of the spirit which is the word of God,” “the word of Christ,” “the perfection of liberty,” etc.-are all phrases richly demonstrating "the power of God” by which He saves His people from their sins, and translates them into the Hope of the kingdom and glory to which He invites them. The truth is the power that makes men free indeed (John 8:32, 36).

Enlightenment a gift of the Spirit

Eph 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give YOU a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the accurate knowledge of him;
Eph 1:18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, for your knowing what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

The enlightening is by the gift of the Spirit (:17); it is an internal mental operation. 

"Enlightenment" is associated with being partakers in the Holy Spirit and tasting the Heavenly gift [i.e. the Spirit] in Heb. 6:4. 

And Heb. 10:32 speaks as if this "enlightenment" was a standard part of the Christian path ("... after you were enlightened...").

The same word for "enlightened" is found in Jn. 1:9- the Lord Jesus is the light of our world and enlightens every man who comes into that world. Once we take the step in faith of entering His world, then the gift of the Spirit enlightens us. He is therefore not passively sitting in Heaven awaiting the time of His return; He is busy enlightening believers, and He does this through the operation of His Spirit. 

God is “the Father of lights.” (Jas 1:17) Not only is he the “Giver of the sun for light by day, the statutes of the moon and the stars for light by night” (Jer 31:35) but he is also the Source of all spiritual enlightenment. (2Co 4:6)

Light is a symbol of intelligence. The understanding faculty in the mind. Light is a symbol of wisdom. When Jesus said, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12), He meant that He was the expresser of Truth in all its aspects.

The love of Christ was shown in His cross; and through the Spirit's enlightenment we can know the height, length, breadth of that love (Eph. 3:18,19).

Our eyes have been enlightened, now we see (Eph. 1:18; 5:8; Col. 1:13; 1 Pet. 2:9).

ode 34 1 No way is hard where there is a simple heart. 2 Nor is there any wound where the thoughts are upright: 3 Nor is there any storm in the depth of the illuminated thought (Mind): 4 Where one is surrounded on every side by beauty, there is nothing that is divided. 5 The likeness of what is below is that which is above; for everything is above: what is below is nothing but the imagination of those that are without knowledge. 6 Grace has been revealed for your salvation. Believe and live and be saved. Hallelujah.

Conscience must be enlightened; if not, it can mislead

Gnosis And Intuition Philippians 1:9

Gnosis And Intuition Philippians 1:9

Intuition is like a tutor that teaches you from within

Philippians 1:9 ¶  And, this, I pray--that, your love, may be, yet more and more, pre-eminent in personal knowledge and all perception, (Rotherham's Emphasized Bible)

The World Book Encyclopedia says: “Some people incorrectly call intuition ‘intuitions are based on experience, particularly the experience of individuals with great sensitivity.” The individual builds up “a storehouse of memories and impressions,” the Encyclopedia argues, from which the mind may draw a “sudden impression [called] an intuition, or ‘hunch.’”

intuition--The natural knowing capacity.

spiritual intuition Inner knowing; the immediate apprehension of spiritual Truth

I would define intuition from a biblical perspective as “being led by Holy Spirit.” the holy spirit leads God’s people today.  Gal 5:16, 18

Being led by the Spirit is only available to those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ as sons and daughters of God (Rom 8:14; Joh 3:5-8; 2Co 1:21, 22).

to know intuitively

Biblical Intuition is linked to the spirit or the mind not the heart

For example, Jesus “knew” or “perceived” the hearts and intentions of others (Matt 22:18). 

18  But Jesus perceived <1097> (5631) their wickedness, and said Why tempt ye me, [ye] hypocrites?

Ro 7:7  What shall we say then? [Is] the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had <1097> not known <1097> sin, but by the law: for I had <1492> not known <1492> lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

intuitive knowledge apart from experience

Many times in the New Testament two Greek words are used together 1097. γινώσκω ginosko and 1492. εἴδω eido

The Greek word 1097 is defined as to know experientially as contrasted to oia or eido 1492 which means to know intuitively to perceive with the outward senses particularly with physical sight

The Greek word 1097 γινώσκω ginosko signifies objective knowledge, what a man has learned or acquired.

oida, which signifies "to know (intuitively) without effort; to understand subjectively" (Bullinger); thus to appreciate as a theory.

The English expression ‘being acquainted with’ perhaps conveys the meaning. Oἶδα/Oida conveys the thought of what is inward, the inward consciousness in the mind, intuitive knowledge not immediately derived from what is external.

Abbott-Smith wrote: γινώσκω, to know by observation and experience is thus prop. distinguished from οἶδα, to know by reflection (a mental process, based on intuition or information)

discernment

.Another word that could be used for intuition is having discernment (Phil 1:9). 

Philippians 1:9 ¶  And, this, I pray--that, your love, may be, yet more and more, pre-eminent in personal knowledge and all perception, (Rotherham's Emphasized Bible)

Philippians 1:9 And this is what I continue praying, that YOUR love may abound yet more and more with accurate knowledge and full discernment (NWT)

discernment Lit., “sense perception.” Greek., aisthesei; Latin., sensu. 

144. αἴσθησις aisthesis [ah’-ee-sthay-sis]; from 143; perception, i.e. (figuratively) discernment: —  judgment. 

143. αἰσθάνομαι aisthanomai [ahee-sthan’-om-ahee]; of uncertain derivation; to apprehend (properly, by the senses): —  perceive.

145 αἰσθητήριον aistheterion [ahee-sthay-tay’-ree-on]  from a derivative of 143; n n; TDNT-1:187,29;  [{See TDNT 36 }] a faculty of the mind for perceiving, understanding, judging

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses <145> exercised to discern both good and evil.

knowledge and Intuition

Proverbs 14:6 The ridiculer has sought to find wisdom, and there is none; but to the understanding one knowledge is an easy thing.

 Jn. 7:17 is relevant here: "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know of this teaching, whether it is of God, or I speak from myself". He who wishes above all things to live God's life, to have His Spirit, to live the life eternal with Him... they will intuitively know whether the Lord's doctrine is right or not. This intuitive element is in fact what leads to faith in the first place. There is a strong tendency to talk this down, and assume that it is by intellectual process that a person decides what is true or otherwise. But all appeal to intellectual process alone to decide 'truth' is flawed. For we are talking of spiritual things and not material. And legitimate intellectual process varies between persons. They may come to different conclusions about the same teaching which they analyze. And some are far more capable of intellectual analysis than others. There has to be something beyond intellectual process to decide truth. Here the Lord expresses this as a willing to do God's will, a heart for God, a desire for eternity. In a word, we must be open to the things of the Spirit. And then, the teachings make sense and there is an intuitive congruence between them and our own spirit. (Proverbs: 

We need to make it clear that we do not think that if people acquire all intellectual knowledge they will have knowledge of God. Knowing God is about having a relationship with Him based upon that knowledge, not just knowing facts about Him. True spiritual knowledge gnosis or acquaintance a knowledge of a realm far superior to intellectual knowledge. However, whilst we agree that we cannot make knowledge of God a function of the intellect, we also have to show our disagreement with the perspective that the intellect can only know about God, it is incapable of knowing God.

And in this consists the Life of the Ages--in knowing Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.

It is possible to know God- you can find many Bible verses that say so. And the issue of that knowledge is in a life lived with Him.

There has to be an element of passion and emotion in our appeal. The doctrines must have meaning in practice; If a man is not emotionally moved by the truth, he is not of the truth”.

It is not enough to be acquainted with the texts and to know how to draw from them quotes and arguments. One must possess the spiritual knowledge of the Father from within.

Intuition is perhaps more important for this than intellectual knowledge, for intuition alone revives their writings and makes them a witness. It is only from within that we can perceive and distinguish what (actually) is the truth


But on the other hand, we have to make the point, that we can’t just let our feelings / intuition guide us alone; or else we will end up believing whatever we ‘feel’ is right. We will have become the authority... and as we must constantly stress, the Bible alone is to be our authority.

Gnosis

Gospel of Thomas Saying (3) Jesus said, "[If] those who lead you [say to you, 'See], the kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky [will precede you. If they say that] it is under the earth, then the fish of the sea [will enter it, preceding] you. And, the [kingdom of God] is inside of you, [and it is outside of you. Whoever] knows [himself] will discover this, (then you will be known). [And when you] come to know yourselves, [you will realise that] you are [sons] of the [living] father. [But if you] will [not] know yourselves, [you dwell] in [poverty] and it is you who are that poverty."

So know yourself, and be not carried away with impulses and desires beyond your power; and let not a desire of unattainable objects carry you away and keep you in suspense. For you shall not lack anything which may be possessed by you." (Philo of Alexandria)

Come, and at once abandoning all other things, learn to know yourselves, and tell us plainly what ye yourselves are in respect of your bodies, in respect of your souls, in respect of your external senses, and in respect of your reason. (Philo of Alexandria)

learn to be acquainted with the country of the external senses; know thyself and thy own parts, and what each is, and for what end it was made, and how it is by nature calculated to energise, and who it is who moves through those marvellous things, and pulls the strings, being himself invisible, in an invisible manner, whether it is the mind that is in thee, or the mind of the universe (Philo of Alexandria)

The Deity is Transcendent The Elohim Handle all the Personal Appearances 1 Timothy 6:14-16

The Deity is Transcendent The Elohim Handle all the Personal Appearances 1 Timothy 6:14-16

The Transcendence of God 

The title of his subject is the "Transcendence of God" but before we look at the meaning of the word transcendent, we will first have an introductory reading from 1 Timothy 6:14-16

1 Timothy 6:14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:14-16)

Meaning of Transcendent

transcend

verb: transcend; 3rd person present: transcends; past tense: transcended; past participle: transcended; gerund or present participle: transcending

be or go beyond the range or limits of (a field of activity or conceptual sphere).

surpass (a person or achievement).

transcendent

beyond or above the range of normal or physical human experience.
"the search for a transcendent level of knowledge"

(of God) existing apart from and not subject to the limitations of the material universe.

God is Transcendent

So the Father is transcendent--that means the Deity exist above and beyond our physical universe.

The Father existed outside of time and space before he created the heavens and the earth:

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The Father is the only truly transcendent Being. Yahweh Elohim created all things on the earth, and in the heavens above, yet He exists above and independent from them

The Deity is far removed from man in fact he is not seen in the bible at all by mortals, man can not see the Deity

John 6:46  Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he that is from God, he hath seen the Father.

The ONE SELF-EXISTENT ETERNAL Deity hath never been seen by any mortal man -- that He is an undivided and invisible unity, pre-existent before the beginning of all things, intelligent and material; He dwells in unapproachable light; and SPIRIT emanates from His substance; (Phanerosis)

God in his nature also transcends that of creation:

Isaiah 57:15 For this is what the High and Lofty One, who is residing forever and whose name is holy, has said: “In the height and in the holy place is where I reside, 

The word translated forever is the Hebrew word Olam עוֹלָם the septuagint has αιωνα

1tim 6:16 the one alone having immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom not one of men has seen or can see. To him be honor and might everlasting. Amen.

3  who being the brightness of the glory, and the impress of His subsistence, bearing up also the all things by the saying of his might — through himself having made a cleansing of our sins, sat down at the right

Heb 12:10  For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.

2Peter 1:4  whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust.

From the bible we learn that God has a substance Hebrews 1:3 and this substance is his divine nature 2Peter 1:4 so God is corporeal and SPIRIT emanates from His substance. Therefore God is both corporeal and incorporeal at the same time

 Omnipresent

God is above in the highest heaven far removed from the earth but he is not inaccessible we can reach him by prayer which is personal communion with God knowledge of him is obtained by the bible and thus the spirit-word engraved on our hearts becomes a manifestation of God within us later allowing the holy spirit to dwell within us which is a manifestation of the father and the son within us

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

God is present everywhere by his spirit power and at the same time God also has unlimited power. However the Deity himself is located in the Highest Heaven.

"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day" (Psalm 139:7-12).

The Elohim Handle all the Personal Appearances

Transcendence

God is called "invisible" in 1Tim 1:17. Much sport has been made of the Bible by shallow men who claim to see a contradiction in this. They read such passages as Exo 33:11 to prove that Moses saw God (Elohim or Angel) face to face, but they neglect other passages like Acts 7:35, which show that the angels were God's messengers to communicate with man: "Behold, I send an Angel before thee... Beware of him, and obey his voice... for My name is in him" (Exo 23:20,21). 

God could direct one of His angels so that the angel became in effect God. Cp, for example, Gen 32:30 with Hos 12:3-5. Abraham was said to have talked to God, but a careful look at Gen 18:1,2; 19:1 shows that he dealt only with angels. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared Him" (John 1:18). 

Elohim

Elohim stands for “powerful ones.” It was often translated by the English non-word “God.” It isn’t that far from being true, though, for it was Elohim who manipulated the planet and placed humans on it. It was Elohim who said 'Let us form the human in our own image.' It was Elohim who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, David, and Josiah, to name a few. EL (the Deity) has never been seen by anyone.

The Elohim handle all the personal appearances. We know this because Scripture clearly teaches that all creation was produced from One Power (out of and through which are all things) but this One Power operates by way of a multitude of agents (Elohim) who are spirit-embodiments of its power. “But what if some poor human sees Elohim going about El’s business and he thinks they are something else ... like men from Mars?” Beg pardon?

If humans become what they eat is it odd to think humans see what they want to see and think what they want to think? A person who eats, sees, and believes things that aren’t true and proper is bound to have problems somewhere along the line. Tough, isn’t it?

Summary

God is transcendent in that he exists outside all that is the physical universe. God is immanent in that he exists within all the physical universe by his spirit.

The Deity himself does not directly interaction with the creation this is done by the Elohim or the angels Hebrews 1:14 Hebrews 2:5

The Consciousness of Sin Hebrews 10:2

The consciousness of sin Hebrews 10:2

Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? (Hebrews 10:2)

The meaning of ‘consciousness

the quality or state of being aware especially of something within oneself

the state of being characterized by sensation, emotion, volition, and thought

Mind
the totality of conscious states of an individual

Gr "suneidesis" has the sense of an independent witness within, examining and passing judgment on a man's own conduct: cp Rom 2:15: "their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them".

4893. συνείδησις suneidesis soon-i’-day-sis; from a prolonged form of 4894; co-perception, i.e. moral consciousness: — conscience.

“conscience” [Strong’s 4893] suneidhsiv suneidesis, ‘knowing oneself, being one’s witness’, moral awareness

(Greek suneidesis - a compound of sun, together, and eideo, to see, or know) means, the power of judging ourselves, which is always in accordance with the knowledge of ourselves, and the relations in which we stand to our Father and fellow brethren.

“Conscience” comes from the Latin word "conscius ", meaning “knowing inwardly.” The Latin word has the prefix “con " meaning “together,” and the root " scire " meaning “to know.” So then conscience is co-knowledge with oneself. There is no Hebrew word for conscience or suneidesis, # <4893>. Instead, “heart” is used in the Old Testament in ways that resemble our understanding of “conscience.” When the Old Testament speaks of a “tender heart,” it refers to a sensitive conscience (2Chron 34:27); the “upright in heart” refers to those with a pure conscience (Psa 7:10), and a “clean heart,” refers to those whose conscience is clean (cf. Psa 51:10).

Translated 32 times in the New Testament as “conscience”

From [Strong’s 4894] suneidon suneidon, ‘to see together, hence to comprehend

4894. συνείδω suneido soon-i’-do; from 4862 and 1492; to see completely; used (like its primary) only in two past tenses, respectively meaning to understand or become aware, and to be conscious or (clandestinely) informed of: — consider, know, be privy, be ware of.

AV-by privy 1, consider 1, be ware of 1, know 1; 4

brain' and the 'mind'

What is the difference between the 'brain' and the 'mind'?

Answer:

It may seem, on the surface, that distinguishing between the brain and the mind is not important but to understand the Scriptures properly we must recognize the difference in the brain versus that which the brain produces.

The difference is seen in considering the two words, “brain” and “mind”. The brain is brain-flesh, the physical source of the impulses of man’s defiled nature. The brain is defined as, “

The dictionary says, Brain: "That part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull". In other words it is the physical member of the body that controls the biological functions of the body in addition to producing thoughts, attitudes &c.

The mind is defined as, “human consciousness that originates in the brain and is manifested especially in thought, perception, emotion, will, memory, and imagination” (Am. Heritage Dictionary).  

Mind: Thinking produced by the brain.

Look, when you get down to it, even mental states are actually only physical states, are they not? I mean, the brain is just a-a chemical supercomputer (Dr. Rodney Mckay) 

The brain creates chemicals which produce feelings and emotions

Like it or not, emotions share some very real biochemical links with your nervous system, immune system and digestive system.

Consciousness is a property of the brain, and the brain is a biochemical engine or its just a chemical super-computer.

Sin originates in the brain-flesh, not in the mind.

The problem is that some false teachers say that sin is a matter of morality and not as a physical law of that nature’s constitution.

The uncleanness is shifted from the physical realm of the brain’s flesh to the mental-moral

realm.

Note: The brain, when functioning, provides consciousness which consists of "thoughts" or "the mind". When we are told "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil 2:5), we are being told to have the same thinking as Christ, not his brain.

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil 2:5)
"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:8)

"Operating upon the brain [physical], it [indwelling sin] excites the 'propensities', and these set the 'intellect' [mental], and 'sentiments' [moral] to work. The propensities are blind, and so are the intellect and sentiments in a purely natural state; when therefore, the latter operate under the sole impulse of the propensities, 'the understanding is darkened through ignorance, because of the blindness of the heart'". (Elpis Israel, p . 127)

Man in his physical constitution is imperfect; and this imperfection is traceable to the physical organization of his flesh, being based on the principle of decay and reproduction from the blood; which, acted upon by the air, becomes the life of his flesh. All the phenomena which pertain to this arrangement of things are summed up in the simple word sin; which is, therefore, not an individual abstraction, but a concretion of relations in all animal bodies; and the source of all their physical infirmities. Now, the apostle says, that the flesh thinks, that is, the brain, as all who think are well assured from their own consciousness. If, then, this thinking organ be commanded not to do what is natural for it to do under blind impulse, will it not naturally disobey?  (Elpis Israel)

Now, the law of God is given, that the thinking of the flesh, instead of being excited by the propensities within and the world without, may be conducted according to its direction. 

Consciousness is not Eternal 

If you talk to anyone who’s used DMT or psilocin/psilocybin (aka magic mushrooms) at one time or another they’ll tell you they experienced some very vivid hallucinations — and an almost completely altered perception of reality. This clearly implies that brain biochemistry is consciousness. If consciousness resided in some kind of soul or spirit as the ancients believed, then taking chemicals would have no effect on your consciousness. If you can alter your consciousness by taking a chemical to interfere with or mimics neurotransmitters, on the other hand, then consciousness must be biochemical in nature.

Psychedelic drugs like Magic mushrooms demonstrate that consciousness is a property of the brain, and the brain is a biochemical engine in the same way that the engine in your car is a mechanical one.

When your car’s engine dies, does another car nearby immediately start up as the “spirit of the car” transfers from one automobile to another? Of course not. You intuitively know that makes no sense. So if consciousness is a property of the brain (which is a biochemical engine), why would it transfer from one vehicle to another when the brain dies? that doesn’t make any sense.

Psalm 146:4 NASB 1995
His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts perish.

Ecclesiastes 3:19 For an event is to the sons of man, and an event is to the beasts, even one event is to them; as the death of this, so is the death of that; and one spirit is to all, and the advantage of man above the beast is nothing, for the whole is vanity.

The Consciousness of Sin

For if it were otherwise, would not these sacrifices have stopped being offered? For the worshipers, having once [for all time] been cleansed, would no longer have a consciousness of sin.

By law comes knowledge of sin and consciousness of guilt and liability to punishment

The TCNT has: "for where there is no consciousness of law, sin shows no sign of life". Unless the law is recognised, sin is dormant, ignored and "dead". But the law of God revives the challenge between flesh and spirit, and shows the evil character of sin that resides in the flesh.

The result of the law in this context is that it had the effect of rousing the innate tendency of man to sin, and so bound the consciousness of the individual to the "old man" (the natural and evil proclivities of the flesh).


The awakening of sin in life by the power of God's law and its display to the spiritual consciousness demonstrates the grotesque ungodliness of sin, and the impossibility of overcoming it without the aid of Almighty God through His Son (Psa. 80:17). It was seen to be absolutely and violently opposed to God and His law.

World English Bible because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

Now, the apostle says, that the flesh thinks — that is, the brain, as all who think are well assured from their own consciousness

Hence, in ch. 8:3 Paul speaks of "sin in the flesh." Notice, particularly, that in both passages the apostle emphasizes the "body" or "the flesh." He does not say "the mind," for it is the "flesh" or "mortal body" which is the source of sin. Evil propensities given free reign, produce the carnal mind; not the other way round.

The Carnal Mind is an expression used by Paul; or rather, it is the translation of words used by him, in his epistle to the Romans. It is not so explicit as the original. The words he wrote are the thinking of the flesh. In this phrase, he intimates to us, that the flesh is the thinking substance, that is, the brain; which, in another place, he terms "the fleshy tablet of the heart"

Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Do not become slaves to a bad conscience. It is easy to defile one’s conscience. A Christian’s aim should be as shown in Acts 23:1: “Brothers, I have behaved before God with a perfectly clear conscience down to this day.”

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

There is therefore no more condemnation in Christ who strengthens me