Old Testament

Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you. Deut. 4: 2

See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." Deut. 4: 5-6

The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. Deut. 26: 16

"Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord's anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us." 2 Kings 22: 13

Comment: Spoken by King Josiah to Secretary Shaphan. The high priest is Hilkiah. While the temple was being repaired, the Book of the Law was found and read by Shaphan to Hezekiah. Hezekiah has concluded that even though the Book was lost, the Israelites were still responsible for following the Law. Also same as 2 Chron. 34: 19-21

I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. Psalm 119: 59-60

He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. Prov. 10: 17

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Prov. 16: 25

It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. Prov. 19: 2

A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways. Prov. 21: 29

"Woe to the obstinate children," declares the Lord, "to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin..." Isaiah 30: 1

For the fool speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil: He practices ungodliness and spreads error concerning the Lord...Isaiah 32: 6

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Lam. 3: 40

" 'Because they [the false prophets] lead my people astray, saying, "Peace," when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, "Where is the whitewash you covered it with?" ' " Ezek. 13: 10-12

Comment: The false prophets deceive the people by not exposing their sin and the coming punishment, and instead say "Peace." The flimsy wall may be a poor pursuit, and the whitewash may be support for the poor pursuit.

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." Haggai 1: 5-6

New Testament

"Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?" Luke 6: 39 = Matt. 15: 14

"You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are." Matt. 23: 15

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they had received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17: 11

"I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciple after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears." Acts 20: 29-31

You may learn from us the meaning us the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." 1 Cor. 4: 6

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God. 1 Cor. 8: 1-3

Comment: False certainty may lead to pride. Better to assume that pursuit and knowledge are imperfect so that fear may dominate and humility result.

So if you think that you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 1 Cor. 10: 12

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I praise you...for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you. 1 Cor. 11: 1-2

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 1 Cor. 15: 2

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, and let us strive for perfection out of reverence for God. 2 Cor. 7: 1

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 2 Cor. 13: 5-6

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned. Gal. 1: 8

Comment: The individual is always accountable for verifying the truth of the gospel that he hears. Even if angels or apostles or respected theologians preach something that the individual cannot verify as righteous, then the individual should not receive it or practice it. Always rely on the basics that can be verified.

If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each man should test his own actions. Gal. 6: 3-4

Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most out of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Eph. 5: 17

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Tim. 4: 16

Comment: The hearers must also watch out.

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 1: 13

He [an elder] must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Titus 1: 9

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. Heb. 12: 28-29

Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 2 John v. 8

The Living Talmud

MAKE A HEDGE ABOUT THE TORAH: A vineyard surrounded by a fence is not like a vineyard without a fence; but no man ought to make the fence more important than the thing fenced in. For if then the fence falls, he will tear down everything (ARNB).

(GAMALIEL SAYS) PROVIDE THYSELF WITH A TEACHER, AND ESCHEW DOUBTFUL MATTERS, AND TITHE NOT OVERMUCH BY GUESSWORK: I asked my teacher, of blessed memory: Where there is a controversy between the codifiers, what shall a person do?...He answered: If one has a tradition from his teacher, let him follow and practice what he has learned from his teacher; otherwise, let him select one of the great codes and follow the one that seems best to him (Nahmias).

RABBI JUDAH SAYS: STUDY WITH CARE, FOR ERROR IN THE COURSE OF STUDY IS ACCOUNTED DELIBERATE SIN. A man must keep reviewing his study so that he will never forget, so that he may understand things thoroughly. For by nature man's understanding is limited, and forgetfulness is common to all human beings. Moreover, a person ought not to rely on the first thoughts that come to him....Now, where the Torah and commandments are concerned, since error is a common thing, if a person has not taken this to heart and makes a mistake, he is not innocent but guilty, for he ought to have kept in mind that every man is prone to error, and he should have been careful not to make a mistake (Rabbi Jonah).

[TWO OF SEVEN QUALITIES OF A WISE MAN:] OF WHAT HE HAS NOT HEARD HE SAYS: "I HAVE NOT HEARD"; AND HE ACKNOWLEDGES WHAT IS TRUE. ...[a]nd not sounding off on subjects he knows nothing about: and this is what the Mishna is referring to by the statement "of what he has not heard he says, 'I have not heard,' " and not being perverse in argument, but acknowledging what is true when he hears it; even if it is possible for him to contradict and persist in his own arguments and to triumph over his fellow--this does not seem right to him. It is to this the Mishna refers in the statement "and he acknowledges what is true" (Maimonides). We have been taught in the Talmud (Berakot 4a), "Teach your tongue to say, 'I don't know' lest you be caught in error" (Vitry). When a person has not heard something from his teacher, let him say, "The following view I have not heard from my teacher." If he has an opinion of his own in the matter, let him give it, but let him add, "So it seems to me" (Rabbi Jonah).

Comment: I think this is one of the best quotes on the whole page. The ability to say "I don't know" in theological matters demonstrates great wisdom, control, and spiritual growth because human nature drives individuals to pass judgment on theological or philosophical matters (because there is no immediate accountability for being wrong). In my opinion, if Christian theologians practiced the security practiced by the rabbis, we would have a lot less variation in doctrine among the Christian denominations.

IS EXACT IN WHAT HE HAS LEARNED: That is, he is most meticulous not to add to the statement he has received nor to subtract from it (Vitry).

The Desert Fathers

One day some old men came to see Abba Anthony. In the midst of them was Abba Joseph. Wanting to test them, the old man suggested a text from the Scriptures, and, beginning with the youngest, he asked them what it meant. Each gave his opinion as he was able. But to each one the old man said, "You have not understood it." Last of all he said to Abba Joseph, "How would you explain this saying?" and he replied, "I do not know." Then Abba Anthony said, "Indeed, Abba Joseph has found the way, for he has said: 'I do not know.' " Anthony the Great, No. 17

[Abba Anthony] also said, "Nine monks fell away after many labors and were obsessed with spiritual pride, for they put their trust in their own works and being deceived they did not give due heed to the commandment that says, 'Ask your father and he will tell you.' " (Deut. 32.7) Anthony the Great, No. 37

Comment: I interpret this to relate to some theological dispute. The works of the monks were spiritual discernments. Their pride in their reasonings kept them from asking God for the truthful perception.

"The old man said to them, 'As long as I have not been persuaded by the thing itself, I shall not be fully convinced.' So they said, 'Let us pray God about this mystery throughout the whole of this week and we believe that God will reveal it to us.' The old man received this saying with joy and he prayed in these words, 'Lord, you know that it is not through malice that I do not believe and so that I may not err through ignorance, reveal this mystery to me, Lord Jesus Christ.' The old men returned to their cells and they also prayed God, saying, 'Lord Jesus Christ, reveal this mystery to the old man, that he may believe and not lose his reward.' " Daniel, No. 7

Abba Theodore of Enaton said, "If God reproaches us for carelessness in our prayers and infidelities in our psalmody, we cannot be saved." Theodore of Enaton, No. 3

(Abba Isidore of Pelusia) also said, "Vice takes men away from God and separates them from one another. So we must turn from it quickly and pursue virtue, which leads to God and unites us with one another. Now the definition of virtue and of philosophy is: simplicity with prudence." Isidore of Pelusia, No. 4

Comment: "Simplicity with prudence" is a good summary for the concept I'm trying to get across with this page.

(Abba Poemen) also said, "The beginning of evil is heedlessness." Poemen, No. 43

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