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
Then said Laban unto him, "If I have found favour in thy sight - for I suppose that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake -
Is that not the cup of which my lord drinketh, and doth he not prophesy therein? Ye have evil done that ye have done.'"
And Joseph said unto them, "What deed is this which ye have done? Wist ye not that such a man as I can prophesy?"
Let there not be found among you that maketh his son or his daughter go through fire, either a bruterer or a maker of dismal days, or that useth witchcraft, or a sorcerer,
I communed with mine own heart, saying, "Lo, I am come to a 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,
patience bringeth experience, experience bringeth hope,
For this cause verily did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye should be obedient in all things.
how that the abundance of their rejoicing is, that they are tried with much tribulation. And thereto, though they were exceeding poor, yet have they given exceeding richly, and that in singleness.
which praise God for the obedience of your professing the gospel of Christ, and for your singleness, in distributing to them, and to all men.
seeing that ye seek experience of Christ which speaketh in me, which among you is not weak, but is mighty in you.
Ye know the proof of him, how that as a son with the father, so with me bestowed he his labour upon the gospel.