--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since it is impossible, without God, to…" description: "\"Since it is impossible, without God, to come to knowledge of God, he teaches men through his Word to know God.\" — Irenaeus of Lyons" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/irenaeus-of-lyons-18423_god_since-it-is-impossible-without-god-to-co_1304259.jpg" --- # Since it is impossible, without God, to come to knowledge… ![“Since it is impossible, without God, to come to knowledge of God, he teaches men through his Word to know God.” quote by Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/irenaeus-of-lyons-18423_god_since-it-is-impossible-without-god-to-co_1304259.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/irenaeus-of-lyons-18423_god_since-it-is-impossible-without-god-to-co_1304259.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/irenaeus-of-lyons-18423_god_since-it-is-impossible-without-god-to-co_1304259.jpg) > “Since it is impossible, without God, to come to knowledge of God, he teaches men through his Word to know God.” [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Without God, knowledge of God is impossible; Scripture reveals Him. **In simple terms:** God is known through Scripture. Key Takeaway Study Scripture for divine knowledge. Themes faith knowledge theology Mood contemplative devout Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - church study - personal devotion - academic theology Key Concepts revelation epistemology Questions to Reflect On - How does Scripture shape your understanding of God? - Can knowledge exist without faith? A Different Perspective May exclude non‑theistic perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Teaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-teaches-631347/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Impossible God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible-god-644078/) [Know God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-god/) [Knowing god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-god/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-god/) [Knowledge of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-of-god/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teaches Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaches-men-984567/) [Without god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without-god/) ## Related quotes > [“since it was impossible, without God, to come to a knowledge of God, He teaches men, through His Word, to know God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/since-it-was-impossible-without-god-to-come-to-a-knowledge-of-god-he/) [The Church Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-church-fathers/) > [The initial step for us all to come to knowledge of God is contemplation of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/the-initial-step-for-us-all-to-come-to-knowledge-of-god-is/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [“True and sound wisdom consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/true-and-sound-wisdom-consists-of-two-parts-the-knowledge-of-god-and/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“Of all knowledge, the knowledge of God is the principal. There is no true knowledge without godliness (cp. Deu 4: 6, 7).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bridges/of-all-knowledge-the-knowledge-of-god-is-the-principal-there-is-no/) [Charles Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bridges/) > [“The knowledge of God is a sacred pursuit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-knowledge-of-god-is-a-sacred-pursuit/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 1o) can he interpreted mystically in such a way that the question of the knowledge of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/the-story-of-the-good-samaritan-luke-1o-can-he-interpreted-mystically/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [Certainly it does make the greatest possible difference what we think about God; the knowledge of God is the very basis of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/certainly-it-does-make-the-greatest-possible-difference-what-we-think/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [“Knowlege of God without knowledge of man's wretchedness leads to pride. Knowledge of man's wretchedness without knowledge of God leads to despair. Knowledge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/knowlege-of-god-without-knowledge-of-man-s-wretchedness-leads-to/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [A little knowledge OF God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge ABOUT him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/a-little-knowledge-of-god-is-worth-more-than-a-great-deal-of/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [The knowledge of God is very far from the love of Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-knowledge-of-god-is-very-far-from-the-love-of-him/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“No matter how hard people work to suppress their knowledge of God, creation itself keeps challenging them. “Human life is a continual wrestling match…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/no-matter-how-hard-people-work-to-suppress-their-knowledge-of-god/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [In all thy actions think God sees thee; and in all His actions labor to see Him; that will make thee fear Him; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/in-all-thy-actions-think-god-sees-thee-and-in-all-his-actions-labor/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [We find the instrument for the Knowledge of God in ourselves But we find God everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/we-find-the-instrument-for-the-knowledge-of-god-in-ourselves-but-we/) [Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/) > [The sum total of all possible knowledge of God is not possible for a human being, not even through a true revelation. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/the-sum-total-of-all-possible-knowledge-of-god-is-not-possible-for-a/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“You do not say someone is holy because he puts forth great ideas concerning the knowledge of God and the attributes of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-molinos/you-do-not-say-someone-is-holy-because-he-puts-forth-great-ideas/) [Michael Molinos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-molinos/) ## More by Irenaeus of Lyons > [Others of them employ outward marks ... They style themselves Gnostics. They also possess images, some of them painted and others formed from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/others-of-them-employ-outward-marks-they-style-themselves-gnostics/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [As long as any one has the means of doing good to his neighbours, and does not do so, he shall be reckoned a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/as-long-as-any-one-has-the-means-of-doing-good-to-his-neighbours-and/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [ \[Peter\] testified to \[the Jews in Acts 2\] that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, the Judge of the living and dead, into… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/peter-testified-to-the-jews-in-acts-2-that-jesus-christ-was-the-son/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [ And when we come to refute them, we shall show in its fitting place that this class of men \[i.e., the gnostics\] has been… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/and-when-we-come-to-refute-them-we-shall-show-in-its-fitting-place/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [ \[Naaman\] dipped himself," it says, "seven times in Jordan." It was not for nothing that Naaman of old, when suffering from leprosy, was purified… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/naaman-dipped-himself-it-says-seven-times-in-jordan-it-was-not-for/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [But following the only true and stedfast Teacher, the Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who did, through His transcendent love, become what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/but-following-the-only-true-and-stedfast-teacher-the-word-of-god-our/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [God became man, that we might be gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/god-became-man-that-we-might-be-gods/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/a-man-that-is-an-heretic-after-the-first-and-second-admonition-reject/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [The church has been planted as a paradise in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/the-church-has-been-planted-as-a-paradise-in-this-world/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [ He \[Jesus\] fought and conquered. On the one hand, he was man who struggled for his fathers and through his obedience cancelled their disobedience.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/he-jesus-fought-and-conquered-on-the-one-hand-he-was-man-who/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [It is not necessary to seek the truth among others which it is easy to obtain from the Church; since the apostles, like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/it-is-not-necessary-to-seek-the-truth-among-others-which-it-is-easy/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [Suppose there arise a dispute relative to some important question among us, should we not have recourse to the most ancient Churches with which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/suppose-there-arise-a-dispute-relative-to-some-important-question/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [Error never shows itself in its naked reality, in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/error-never-shows-itself-in-its-naked-reality-in-order-not-to-be/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [He who was the Son of God became the Son of man, that man ... might become the son of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/he-who-was-the-son-of-god-became-the-son-of-man-that-man-might-become/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [For where the church is, there is the Spirit of God, and where the Spirit of God, there is the church and all grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/for-where-the-church-is-there-is-the-spirit-of-god-and-where-the/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) [Explore all 35 Irenaeus of Lyons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Since it is impossible, without God, to come to knowledge of God, he teaches men through his Word to know God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Irenaeus of Lyons" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/since-it-is-impossible-without-god-to-come-to-knowledge-of-god-he/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/since-it-is-impossible-without-god-to-come-to-knowledge-of-god-he/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/irenaeus-of-lyons-18423_god_since-it-is-impossible-without-god-to-co_1304259.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/irenaeus-of-lyons-18423_god_since-it-is-impossible-without-god-to-co_1304259.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/irenaeus-of-lyons-18423_god_since-it-is-impossible-without-god-to-co_1304259.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Since it is impossible, without God, to come to knowledge of God, he teaches men through his Word to know God.” — Irenaeus of Lyons", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Irenaeus of Lyons", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Since it is impossible, without God,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/since-it-is-impossible-without-god-to-come-to-knowledge-of-god-he/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/since-it-is-impossible-without-god-to-come-to-knowledge-of-god-he/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```