‘Apologia’: An Essay in Verse, by T.M. Moore

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Apologia

“Bring…the books…” —2 Timothy 4.13

John Calvin, writing on this verse, extolled
the benefits that come from reading old
and trusted writers. He agreed with Paul
that there is wisdom to be gained from all
the great minds of the past. And even though
his death was nigh, Paul wanted us to know
that “constant reading”[1] was essential to
his ministry, equipping him to do
God’s work so long as he might live. We see
in his example, years before, that he
was steeped in knowledge, ready with a word
from Scripture or the classics, as the Lord
might lead, or as a situation would
require. For by the Word, Paul understood
that God had given grace to even those
who did not know Him, that He often chose
to lodge His truth in unbelieving pens,
from where it could be mined for His own ends,
as in Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill.[2] There he
appealed to pagan writers easily
to demonstrate God’s ends from sources those
who heard him would affirm. It’s clear Paul chose
the quotes he did to link their pagan views,
along the path of reason, with the news
of Jesus and the resurrection. Paul
would not have had an audience at all
unless he showed them that he understood
their worldview and could recognize some good
in it. His method struck a chord in those
who heard him; and though many mocked, some chose
to talk again about this, while a few
believed in Jesus, and were born anew.

Years later, Paul would write to Titus to
advise and warn him about teachers who,
performing stunts with words and logic tricks,
would introduce false teaching to the mix
of sound instruction the apostle taught
when he was there.[3] A well-trained bishop ought
to recognize such vanity and know
how to respond to and refute it, so
that God’s truth might prevail to keep the Church
from every wind of doctrine’s jerk and lurch.[4]

Paul likewise was familiar with the laws
of Rome, which he could use to serve his cause
when needed.[5] Paul, in short, did not despise
whatever learning that might make him wise
for serving Jesus, whether from the Lord
Himself, within the pages of His Word,
or from great writers of the pagan past.
And this is why we see him, in his last
days, writing to his protégé and friend,
to bring his books and parchments. At the end
of his long ministry, Paul showed us there
is much to learn yet, if we read with care.

And Paul was not alone in this remit.
As Stephen tells us, Moses sought to fit
himself for service in the Pharaoh’s court
by duly undertaking every sort
of learning Egypt had to offer.[6] Thus
did Daniel also; he held on to trust
in God while mastering the literature
and ways of Babylon, remaining sure
in faith as he surpassed all others by
his learning.[7] Solomon had to apply
himself to many themes and subjects to
acquire the breadth of learning running through
his writings. He explained that God had set
to men the task of earnest study; yet
he also knew this task makes great demands
on us.[8] He who accepts it understands
that it is difficult, but what he gains
from learning is worth more than all the pains
he must endure.

And this is what we would
expect, for every age and culture should
have something valuable to teach us, some
discoveries of beauty, something from
the Fountain of all truth, which is the Lord
Himself.[9] And if, well-grounded in His Word,
we open up these treasures and explore
their contents, we might find, right there before
us, insights to support the teaching of
the Scriptures, wisdom pointing us above,
or beauty to provoke and to delight.
For every artist, all who paint or write
or contemplate in depth the questions of
existence, are by God’s eternal love,
created in His image and endowed
with gifts and talent.[10] And although they bowed
their hearts to false gods or no gods at all,
their many contributions, great and small,
contain some germ of truth, some glimmer of
the beauty that is lodged in Christ above,
or insights to morality that can
help us to understand our fellow man.
As Alan Jacobs wrote, to understand
our place and time, we need to step back and
away by reading old books. From them we
can understand the way things ought to be,
and why they aren’t. The many failings of
our predecessors can teach us to love
our neighbors; and their wisdom can shed light
upon our failings, point us in the right
direction, and encourage us to grow
in truth. The more we read, the more we’ll know
how God can use these works to help us see
His image stamped on all humanity.[11]

Great saints throughout our Christian past have been
devoted students of the best that men
have written throughout every age. As we
commit ourselves to reading frequently
from these great works, we can expect the Lord
to use them, in the light cast by His Word,[12]
to nurture, teach, equip, and grow us for
His service and His glory, more and more.

…

For of Him, through Him, and unto Him, Paul
explained with knowing confidence, are all
things we may ever study, read, or learn.[13]
And knowing this should surely make us yearn
to test all kinds of literature and art,
to contemplate the mysteries of the heart,
the powers of the mind, and all the ways
we might improve in giving thanks and praise
to God. For His unfailing common grace
extends to every person, culture, race,
and time.[14] The light of Scripture can reveal
the truth that God has chosen to conceal
in all created things and many of
the works of human culture.[15] If we love
Him Who thus speaks to us in all these ways,
we’ll learn all that we can, and give Him praise
and thanks for every glimpse He offers of
His wondrous beauty, goodness, truth, and love.[16]

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Poet’s Note: “Apologia” is the introduction to an extended verse essay on Homer, available in a free PDF by clicking here.

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Footnotes

[1] “It is evident from this, that the Apostle had not given over reading, though he was already preparing for death. Where are those who think that they have made so great progress that they do not need any more exercise? Which of them will dare to compare himself with Paul? Still more does this expression refute the madness of those men who ― despising books, and condemning all reading ― boast of nothing but their own ἐνθουσιασμοὺς divine inspirations. But let us know that this passage gives to all believers a recommendation of constant reading, that they may profit by it.” John Calvin, Commentary on the Epistles of Paul to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, Rev. William Pringle, tr., (Edinburgh: The Calvin Translation Society, 1863).

[2] Acts 17.19-34

[3] Titus 1.10-13

[4] Ephesians 4.14

[5] cf. Acts 22.25; 25.1-12

[6] Acts 7.20-22

[7] Daniel 1.8-20

[8] Ecclesiastes 1.13

[9] John 14.6

[10] Genesis 1.26-28

[11] Jacobs, Alan, Break Bread with the Dead (Penguin Publishing Group, Kindle Edition), pp. 23, 36, 60.

[12] Psalm 36.9

[13] Romans 11.36

[14] Matthew 5.45

[15] Proverbs 25.2

[16] For a fuller development of the argument of this Apologia, see T. M. Moore, Know, Love, Serve: With Christ in the Circle of Christian Learning (Williston, VT: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2021).

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T. M. Moore is Principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife and editor, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.