Paul uses the word "gnosis" to describe how he enters into a knowledgeable relationship with Jesus and that in this "knowing" everything else is worth losing. It is in this gnosis he found salvation in Jesus. At one time he thought a relationship with God was based in the Law, ethnicity, status and his past traditions but not anymore. Knowing these things didn't bring him to being redeemed. It was is knowing Jesus and Him alone that he found redemption.
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ - Philippians 3:8 (NIV)
Now Peter uses an even fuller word then Paul does for knowing Jesus. He use the word "epignosis" which even goes deeper then "gnosis" about Jesus. So Peter is not referring to "head knowledge only believer" in 2 Peter 2:20 but those who have entered into the body of Christ as citizens of God kingdom and know Jesus as Lord and Savior but now have rejected their citizenship and are lost again.
If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” - 2 Peter 2:20-22 (NIV)
Peter was most likely remembering the conversation he had with Jesus we find in Luke.
[40] You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
[41] Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”
[42] The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? [43] It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. [44] I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. [45] But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. [46] The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
[47] “That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. [48] But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.* From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. - Luke 12:40-48 (NIV)
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