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EXPERIENCE.—This word, which plays so large a part in modern philosophy and religion, occurs 4 times (including ‘experiment’) in EV [Note: English Version.] . Of these instances only one survives in RV [Note: Revised Version.] , viz., Ecc_1:16, where ‘hath had great experience of’ = ‘hath seen much of (wisdom),’ etc. In Gen_30:27 ‘I have learnt by experience’ (= ‘experiment’) becomes ‘I have divined,’ the Heb. vb. being the same as in Gen_44:5; Gen_44:15, Deu_18:10. In Rom_5:4 (RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘probation’) ‘experience,’ and in 2Co_9:13 (RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘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 [Note: Authorized Version.] as ‘trial’ (RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘proof’) in 2Co_2:9; 2Co_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.