“Now without knowledge there can be no making like; and knowledge is not got without lessons. The beginning of teaching is speech, and syllables and words are parts of speech. It follows then that to investigate syllables is not to shoot wide of the mark, nor, because the questions raised are what might seem to some insignificant, are they on that account to be held unworthy of heed. Truth is always a quarry hard to hunt, and therefore we must look everywhere for its tracks. The acquisition of true religion is just like that of crafts; both grow bit by bit; apprentices must despise nothing. If a man despise the first elements as small and insignificant, he will never reach the perfection of wisdom.”
-Basil of Caesarea, On the Spirit

“‘Make them holy by the gift of the Spirit and right doctrines.’ As when he says, ‘You are clean through the word that I spoke to you,’ so now he says the same thing, ‘Instruct them, teach them the truth.’ ‘And yet he says that the Spirit does this. Why then does he now ask it from the Father?’ He asks so that you may again learn their equality of honor. For right doctrines concerning God sanctify the soul. And if he says that they are sanctified by the word, do not be amazed. And to show that he speaks of doctrines, he adds, ‘Your word is truth.’”
-Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of John

“He that negotiates between God and man
As God’s ambassador, the grand concerns
Of judgment, and of mercy, should beware
Of lightness in his speech. ‘Tis pitiful
To court a grin, when you should woo a soul:
To break a jest, when pity would inspire
Pathetic exhortation; and to address
The skittish fancy with facetious tales,
When sent with God’s commission to the heart!
So did not Paul…
No, he was serious in a serious cause.”
-William Cowper, The Task

For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. Psalm 33:4, 5

For more insight to this subject, get the book, True Truth, by Art Lindsley, from our online store. Or read the article, “Emerging Confusion,” by Charles Colson.

Chuck Colson's The Faith can be purchased at the Colson Book Store.

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