What is Agnosticism?

Quick answer

Agnosticism is the belief that God's existence is unknown or unknowable. The Bible, however, affirms that God has made Himself known through creation, Scripture, and ultimately, through Jesus Christ.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Agnosticism, a term coined by Thomas Henry Huxley in the 19th century, asserts that the existence of God is unknown or unknowable. The Bible, however, presents a different perspective. Throughout Scripture, we see God actively revealing Himself to humanity, first through creation (Romans 1:20), then through His interactions with Israel in the Old Testament, and ultimately, through Jesus Christ in the New Testament (Hebrews 1:1–2). While the Bible acknowledges that finite humans cannot fully comprehend an infinite God (Isaiah 55:8–9), it consistently affirms that God can be known and has made Himself knowable (Jeremiah 29:13; John 17:3). The apostle Paul, addressing the philosophers in Athens, even states that God arranged human history so that people "would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him" (Acts 17:27 [NIV]). Today, Christians can engage with agnostics by pointing to the evidence for God's existence in creation, the historical reliability of Scripture, and personal experiences of God's work in their lives, while also acknowledging the journey of faith and the reality of doubt.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The biblical perspective on agnosticism challenges our modern approach to faith, doubt, and the search for truth. It encourages an active pursuit of knowing God, rather than passive uncertainty. We are invited to seek God earnestly, with the promise that He will be found (Jeremiah 29:13) and that His presence is not just relevant, but essential to our contemporary lives.

The Bible's assertion that God has revealed Himself through creation (Romans 1:20) promotes a union between faith and science, with scientific discovery as a way to understand God's handiwork. And the incarnation of Jesus Christ, "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15), grounds our search for God in tangible history and human experience.

This can shape how we engage with those holding agnostic views without dismissing or condemning them. Instead, we are called to show patience and humility, recognizing that faith is often a journey. It reflects God's own patience, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

Ultimately, if God is truly knowable and desires relationship with us, this means we must go beyond intellectual assent and trust Him to transform our entire way of life, offering purpose, meaning, and hope across all spheres of existence.

UNDERSTAND

REFLECT

ENGAGE