February 08, 2023

IC.25-The Imitation of Christ, 25—Reading the Holy Scriptures

12 minutes

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Podcast 25 (12 minutes) is "On the Reading of the Holy Scriptures" (Book 1, Chapter 5).

Scriptures: 2 Tim 3:16; Heb 13:9; Psalm 117:2; Heb 1:1; Rom 2:11

Ten thoughts:* We shouldn't seek novelty for novelty's sake. The gospel is seldom advanced through curious, shocking, or novel ideas.* When we study Scripture, we must avoid reading into it our own opinions, or circumstances, or culture. Have we taken for granted that we already know how to read Scripture -- or even that we know how to read? (Mortimer Adler: How to Read a Book)* Begin with ourselves, before we prepare to teach others. (Yet reading to help others isn't necessarily misguided -- it's what à Kempis is doing in The Imitation of Christ.)

Our extrabiblical reading should include a range of light and deep, simple and more complicated, intellectually easy and mentally challenging. What is the level of our reading?

Don't skip the process of thinking things through, out of respect for the authority of the writer. After all, he or she will sometimes be incorrect. No human writer is perfectly biblical or theologically balanced. Thomas charges us to love the truth. Do we? Or do we easily tire in the search for truth? -- or, worse, feel that we have found all the truth we will ever need?* It's always easier to speculate and debate than it is to engage with the Bible. Although sometimes these discussions just happen, they are not particularly productive. Remember that "We are called to endure and to work hard, not to live a life of ease and careless talk" (from Book 1, Chapter 17).

Don't try to impress others with your knowledge. Besides, there are always plenty of people way more knowledgable than us!

Learn to ask questions. Lack of questions may not be so much an indication of understanding as of apathy or mental dullness.

Learn to listen, to weigh the answers -- embracing the silence required to digest -- not impulsively coming back with objections before we have fully understood.

Accept input from older Christians..Next: ""On No Security in this Life" (Book 3, Chapter 35), "On Resisting Temptation" (Book 1, Chapter 13), and "On Having a Sensitive Heart" (Book 1, Chapter 21)

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By Douglas Jacoby

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