2 minute read
Tolle lege
There are texts, and then there are texts.
Dear Friends,
These days, mention the word “texts,” and we automatically think of text messages — those short, quick communications we send to friends and associates. “Send me a text,” “I am going to text someone,” “I read your text,” we commonly say.
The university model was founded on a belief that texts were important — primarily Scripture, but also classic texts. Commentaries called glosses were often written on texts. Early university lectures were often based on key texts.
Furthermore, it was believed that human rationality was not an accident but was a gift endowed by God. Our Creator made thought and reason possible. As an extension of human rationality, words and texts were deemed important. Remember, God himself wrote a text message that he himself gave to Moses.
Christians believe that this same God has spoken and given us a very important book — divine revelation, which we call the Holy Bible. According to John 6:68, it contains words of eternal life. In fact, God wants us to keep looking at and reading his book (Dt. 32:47).
Out of a conviction that there is a sacred text, there grew a deep respect for careful reading and study of authoritative texts, often in their original languages. Related to this was the conviction that certain texts were more important than others. Classical authors and the church fathers were deemed very important.
In fact, the rediscovery of great books has often led to renewal movements: think Renaissance and Reformation. When the Book of the Law was rediscovered in Josiah’s day (2 Kings 22), it led to the reawakening of a corrupt nation.
The CCU Review is premised on the belief that texts still matter. Not the tiny kind you send on your phone but the kind with pages. And some texts are still more worth your while than others. Which is why we commend these particular texts in our autumn edition which focus in part on this year’s Symposium theme, The Year of the Self: Finding Our Identity in Christ Alone
So, tolle lege, my friend (take up and read)!
