Miscellanies 5.10.63

But Barnabas too, who himself preached the word together with the apostle in the ministry to the Gentiles, says: “I write to you more simply, so that you may understand.” Then, going on, and now setting out more clearly a trace of the tradition of knowledge, he says: “What does the other prophet, Moses, say to them? ‘Behold, thus says the Lord God: Enter into the good land which the Lord God swore, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and inherit it, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ What does knowledge say? Learn. Hope, it says, in Jesus, who is to be manifested to you in the flesh. For a human being is earth that suffers; for the forming of Adam came from the face of the earth. What then does it mean, ‘into the good land, a land flowing with milk and honey’? Blessed be our Lord, brothers, who has put in us wisdom and understanding of his secrets. For the prophet says: ‘Who will understand the parable of the Lord, except one who is wise and knowing and loves his Lord?’” For it belongs to few to grasp these things. For it was not out of jealousy, it says, that the Lord commanded in a certain gospel: “My mystery is for me and for the sons of my house,” making the election in safety and freedom from care, so that the election, receiving what belongs to those whom he chose, might be beyond envy. For the one who does not have knowledge of the good is evil, since one is good, the Father; and not to know the Father is death, as to know him is eternal life, by sharing in the power of the incorruptible. And not to be corrupted is to share in divinity, while departure from the knowledge of God brings corruption.