Knowledge and Friendship with God

I came across this passage in Wisdom of Solomon 7:13-14, and it made me think about knowledge of Scripture and God’s wisdom. The passage reads:

I learned without guile and I impart without grudging; I do not hide her wealth, for it is an unfailing treasure for men; those who get it obtain friendship with God, commended for the gifts that come from instruction.

Wisdom 7:13-14 (RSV-2CE)

It made me think about how reading Scripture and even the Early Church Fathers has enabled me to better understand and appreciate the Christian tradition. I can see, for example, how homilies have a different impact on me now that I have spent more time reading Scripture.

Context has also become increasingly important to me. Before I started studying Scripture more deeply, I sometimes made assumptions about God based on individual passages, especially those where He becomes angry with Israel or punishes them. But the more I read and understand the wider story, the more I see everything surrounding those moments: God’s patience, His repeated warnings, His mercy, and His continued faithfulness to His people despite their repeated failures. Those difficult passages haven’t disappeared, but they no longer define my picture of God by themselves.

The more I learn and grow in my faith and knowledge of God, the more I realise how much I still have to learn — but also how good, loving and merciful God is. This passage also made me realise that the goal is not simply to understand Scripture better. It’s knowing the One that Scripture reveals better.