--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By studying the Bible one can at best…" description: "\"By studying the Bible one can at best know about God. There is a vast difference between knowing God and knowing about God. Knowing God comes through d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/tommy-tenney-24002_bible_by-studying-the-bible-one-can-at-best-kn_1397825.png" --- # By studying the Bible one can at best know about God… ![“By studying the Bible one can at best know about God. There is a vast difference between knowing God and knowing about God. Knowing God comes through direct power encounters and through biblical study. These power encounters are usually of a variety which cannot be found within the context of the…” quote by Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/tommy-tenney-24002_bible_by-studying-the-bible-one-can-at-best-kn_1397825.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/tommy-tenney-24002_bible_by-studying-the-bible-one-can-at-best-kn_1397825.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/tommy-tenney-24002_bible_by-studying-the-bible-one-can-at-best-kn_1397825.png) > “By studying the Bible one can at best know about God. There is a vast difference between knowing God and knowing about God. Knowing God comes through direct power encounters and through biblical study. These power encounters are usually of a variety which cannot be found within the context of the dusty moldy pages of God's past tracks.” [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowing God personally differs from academic knowledge; true understanding comes from experiential encounters, not just reading. **In simple terms:** Experience > reading for divine knowledge. Key Takeaway Seek personal encounters, not just study. Themes faith spirituality knowledge experience Mood reflective contemplative Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - prayer - retreats - study groups - spiritual mentorship Key Concepts theology mysticism personal revelation Questions to Reflect On - What does a personal encounter with God feel like? - How can study complement experience? A Different Perspective Personal experience can be subjective and hard to verify. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Biblical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biblical/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Encounters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encounters/) [Knowing god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-god/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Studying The Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studying-the-bible/) [Variety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variety/) ## Related quotes > [There's a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. Knowing about God is all of the stuff we've been told and all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/there-s-a-difference-between-knowing-god-and-knowing-about-god/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [There is a world of difference between knowing the Word of God and knowing the God of the Word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/there-is-a-world-of-difference-between-knowing-the-word-of-god-and/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [So we can only know God well by knowing our iniquities. Therefore those who have known God, without knowing their wretchedness, have not glorified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/so-we-can-only-know-god-well-by-knowing-our-iniquities-therefore/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [There's a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve Him, boldness to share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/there-s-a-difference-between-knowing-god-and-knowing-about-god-when/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [We can only know God well when we know our own sin. And those who have known God without knowing their wretchedness have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/we-can-only-know-god-well-when-we-know-our-own-sin-and-those-who-have/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [What a vast difference there is between knowing God and loving Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/what-a-vast-difference-there-is-between-knowing-god-and-loving-him/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/faith-is-not-believing-that-god-can-it-is-knowing-that-god-will/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [We may have created this projection of what God should be, as this judge or test, but the fact is, the only way we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-blair/we-may-have-created-this-projection-of-what-god-should-be-as-this/) [Selma Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-blair/) > [“If you assign ten new believers the task of studying the Bible to find God’s heart for this generation, not one of them would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/if-you-assign-ten-new-believers-the-task-of-studying-the-bible-to/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [“I wish you may profit by my experience. Alas, how much time have I lost and wasted, which, had I been wise—I would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/i-wish-you-may-profit-by-my-experience-alas-how-much-time-have-i-lost/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [Don't fall into the trap of studying the Bible without doing what it says.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/don-t-fall-into-the-trap-of-studying-the-bible-without-doing-what-it/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“Not that the study is not important. A Jewish rabbi I once studies with would often say, 'For us Jews studying the bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/not-that-the-study-is-not-important-a-jewish-rabbi-i-once-studies/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [I don't go to church in England - although that's down to the language barrier - and I don't spend all my time studying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-almiron/i-don-t-go-to-church-in-england-although-that-s-down-to-the-language/) [Miguel Almiron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-almiron/) > [Someone has said that there are four things necessary in studying the Bible: Admit, submit, commit and transmit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-has-said-that-there-are-four-things-necessary-in-studying-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've been studying the Bible for a long time. I remember that after the first five years or so of diligently studying the Word,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-ve-been-studying-the-bible-for-a-long-time-i-remember-that-after/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) ## More by Tommy Tenney > [But a man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with only an argument. ... If we can lead people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/but-a-man-with-an-experience-is-never-at-the-mercy-of-a-man-with-only/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) > [If you want the fire of God, you must become the fuel of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/if-you-want-the-fire-of-god-you-must-become-the-fuel-of-god/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) > [God Chasers are people whose passion for being in His presence press them to chase the impossible in hopes that the uncatchable might catch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/god-chasers-are-people-whose-passion-for-being-in-his-presence-press/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) > [There have always been dreamers. Men and women who catch a glimpse of something beyond themselves who dare to reach for goals and visions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/there-have-always-been-dreamers-men-and-women-who-catch-a-glimpse-of/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) > [A true God chaser is not happy with just past truth; he must have present truth. God chasers don't want to just study from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/a-true-god-chaser-is-not-happy-with-just-past-truth-he-must-have/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) > [Whatever impresses you attracts you. Whatever you pursue becomes your purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/whatever-impresses-you-attracts-you-whatever-you-pursue-becomes-your/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) > [We need Jesus every moment of every day. To say anything else is ludicrous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/we-need-jesus-every-moment-of-every-day-to-say-anything-else-is/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) > [We think revival means a silver-tongued preacher, some good music, and a few folks who decide they're going to join the church. No! Real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/we-think-revival-means-a-silver-tongued-preacher-some-good-music-and/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) > [The difference between the truth of God and revelation is very simple. Truth is where God's been. Revelation is where God is. Truth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/the-difference-between-the-truth-of-god-and-revelation-is-very-simple/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) > [Fire doesn't fall on empty alters. There has to be a sacrifice on the alter for the fire to fall. If you want the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/fire-doesn-t-fall-on-empty-alters-there-has-to-be-a-sacrifice-on-the/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) > [God is more interested in developing your character than keeping you comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/god-is-more-interested-in-developing-your-character-than-keeping-you/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) > [Being a servant will take you places where your talent will never take you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/being-a-servant-will-take-you-places-where-your-talent-will-never/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) > [With relationship comes access, and with intimacy comes influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/with-relationship-comes-access-and-with-intimacy-comes-influence/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) > [Your problems aren't too big -- perhaps your worship is too small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/your-problems-aren-t-too-big-perhaps-your-worship-is-too-small/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) > [Ironically, it was the father's blessing that actually "financed" the prodigal son's trip away from the Father's face! and it was the son's new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tenney/ironically-it-was-the-father-s-blessing-that-actually-financed-the/) [Tommy Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) [Explore all 25 Tommy Tenney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tenney/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“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/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) Robert A. Peterson > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) Stephen Taylor > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) Walsham How > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By studying the Bible one can at best know about God. There is a vast difference between knowing God and knowing about God. Knowing God comes through direct power encounters and through biblical study. 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