Reference: Experience
Hastings
This word, which plays so large a part in modern philosophy and religion, occurs 4 times (including 'experiment') in English Version. Of these instances only one survives in RV, viz., Ec 1:16, where 'hath had great experience of' = 'hath seen much of (wisdom),' etc. In Ge 30:27 'I have learnt by experience' (= 'experiment') becomes 'I have divined,' the Heb. vb. being the same as in Ge 44:5,15; De 18:10. In Ro 5:4 (RV 'probation') 'experience,' and in 2Co 9:13 (RV 'proving') 'experiment.' was the rendering of a Gr. word borrowed from the assaying of metal, which signified the testing, or test, of personal worth; the same noun appears in AV as 'trial' (RV 'proof') in 2Co 2:9; 8:2, and 'proof' in 2Co 13:3 and Php 2:22. 'Christian experience,' in modern phraseology, covers what is spoken of in Scripture as the knowledge of God, of Christ, etc., and as 'the seal' or 'witness (testimony) of the Holy Spirit,' 'of our conscience,' etc., or as peace, assurance, salvation, and the like. Cf. next article.
G. G. Findlay.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.
Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.