Close of Book 1: six requirements of the theology student; theodidaktos close

And so that I may seal this first book of our theology with some closing mark, I will here show under the image of a well-born disciple the divine craft and the short way by which the sacred scriptures, as the tables of the Christian kingdom and the roots of true theology, may be read with fruit.

Six things especially are required in a disciple who is to advance far and happily by great daily journeys: (1) age, (2) talent, (3) a faithful teacher, (4) study and labor faithfully to be devoted to the instructor, (5) continual exercise by which he can recite the lesson exactly when the teacher demands it, (6) reverence toward the instructor.

The same things are asked of the student of sacred theology who desires to turn the sacred letters and God's Word to the good of his own soul.

For (1) let him have a firm resolve to put off the old man, that in Christ he may become a new man, indeed a man of God, for whom Sacred Scripture is uniquely destined (Second Timothy 3:16–17).

(2) From God our LORD let him humbly ask with earnest and frequent groans for spiritual understanding and spiritual judgment (James 1:5; Luke 11:9–13).

(3) To JESUS CHRIST, the Master whose chair is in the heavens, let him look with unturned eyes and rightly acknowledge him.

(4) In this divine school let him be assiduous, and not only read but reread what he has read, and with eyes and heart lifted together to heaven meditate and ruminate on what he reads.

(5) Let him weigh one reading against another, render it to the heavenly Master, seek the foundation of truth in him alone, practice by day and by night the doctrine received from him, often remember it, and anxiously ask that he himself may daily become better from himself.

(6) Let him endure under the discipline and correction of Christ and of his Spirit, the heavenly teacher; let him revere and love him, and in his studies seek nothing outside God's glory and his own soul's salvation.

Such a one in Sacred Scripture and theology, or the mysteries of God's kingdom, as θεοδίδακτος — taught by God — will advance most excellently and be blessed forever in heaven.

For this is properly necessary: that whoever desires to understand the sacred letters inwardly and savingly, still more to interpret them for others and apply them with fruit, must first repent, revere God, be willing to acknowledge Christ in his kingdom according to the Spirit and to press his footsteps in the crowd of this world, and ardently ask the spirit of faith and of divine wisdom from him who opened his disciples' mind that they might understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45).