– It’s done the human way. Therefore, everything we say of God is by analogy, by resemblance to the attributes of his creatures, therefore limited and full of imperfections:
1Cor 13,8-12 : The prophecies will disappear, the gift of tongues will cease, the gift of knowledge will end.
2Cor 3,14-18 : As a result, their intelligence remained obscured.
– Moses exhorts the Israelites to meditate on the gestures practiced by Yahweh on their behalf, to glimpse the goodness of God and begin to understand that salvation is freely offered by him to all peoples:
Dt 11,2-3 : Who did not know and were not eyewitnesses of the lessons that the Lord gave us.
Pr 9:10 : The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Is 41,20 : By observation understand, that it was the hand of the Lord that made these things.
Is 55,6-9 : Seek the Lord, since he lets himself be found; call upon him, since he is near.
– God’s tireless love will prevail:
Hos 11,3-4 : I […] taught Ephraim to walk, I took him in my arms, but they did not understand that I was taking care of them.
Mic 6,1-8 : Because the Lord entered into judgment with his people, he will plead with Israel.
– In the NT, the only one who knows the Father is Jesus, his Son and whoever he wants to reveal, because he and the Father are one:
Mt 11,25-26 : Father […] you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to little ones.
Lk 10,21-24 : Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I thank you for hiding these things from the wise.
Jn 1:18 : No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has revealed it.
Jo 7,29–8,55 : I know him, because I come from him and he sent me.
Jo 10,34-38 : Believe in my works, so that you may know and recognize that the Father is in me and I in the Father.
Jn 14,8-11 : I have been with you for so long and you did not know me, Philip! He who has seen me has also seen the Father.
Jn 17:20-22 : So that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you.
Jn 17:25 : Righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these know that you sent me.
– This revelation leads to thanksgiving and doing good:
Ef 1,17 : Give you a spirit of wisdom that reveals to you his knowledge.
Rm 2,18-20 : You, who know his will, and instructed by the Law, know how to assess the difference of things.
Titus 1:16 : They proclaim that they know God, but in practice they deny him, detestable as they are.
– The knowledge – although imperfect – of God is divine grace, through faith and love:
Jn 6,37,39,44,66 : No one can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him.
1Cor 8,3 : But if anyone loves God, he is known by him.
Gal 4:9 : Now, however, knowing God, or rather being known by God.
Jn 6:69 : And we believe and know that you are the Holy One of God!
Jn 14:21 : And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.
Jn 16:30 : Now we know that you know all things and that you don’t need anyone to ask you.
Ef 1,17 : Give you a spirit of wisdom that reveals to you his knowledge.
1Jn 2,3-4 : This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:20 : We know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding so that we might know the true One.
