The Nature of Scripture and How to Read It

For God’s word offers different facts according to the capacity of the listener, and the Lord has portrayed his message in many colors, so that whoever gazes upon it can see in it what suits. Within it he has buried manifold treasures, so that each of us might grow rich in seeking them out.

And so whenever you discover some part of the treasure [in Scripture], you should not think that you have exhausted God’s word. Instead you should feel that this is all that you were able to find of the wealth contained in it. Nor should you say that the word is weak and sterile or look down on it simply because this portion was all that you happened to find. But precisely because you could not capture it all you should give thanks for its riches.

Be glad then that you are overwhelmed, and do not be saddened because the word of God has overcome you. Let this spring [of truth contained in Scripture] quench your thirst, and not your thirst the spring. For if you can satisfy your thirst without exhausting the spring, then when you thirst again you can drink from it once more.

What you have received and attained is your present share, while what is left will be your heritage. For what you could not take at one time because of your weakness, you will be able to grasp at another if you only persevere. So do not foolishly try to drain in one draught what cannot be consumed all at once, and do not cease out of faintheartedness from what you will be able to absorb as time goes on.

—Ephrem of Edessa (4th Century), Commentary on the Diatessaron 1, 18-19

5 thoughts on “The Nature of Scripture and How to Read It

  1. Well, as I look him up, it doesn’t say specifically that he was a musician. However, he wrote words for many hymns, of which over 400 still exist. One would think he was thinking of musical setting for them; but one never knows. The hymn in our hymnal is No. 443.

  2. Yes, he was both. When I went to church in SC, it was his saints day. The priest spoke of him in her sermon. There is one hymn in our hymnal that he wrote the tune for.

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