Didascalicon, Book V: the senses of Scripture and the three kinds of readers
Chapter X. On the three kinds of readers
It has been shown, I think, plainly enough that for the advanced, and those who promise something more of themselves, the purpose is not the same as for beginners; but as to those something is conceded which these cannot do without fault, so also from these something is required to which those are not yet bound. Now, then, I return to pay what I promised, namely to show how divine Scripture is to be read by those who still seek in it only knowledge. There are some who desire the knowledge of divine Scripture in order to gather riches, or obtain honors, or acquire fame, whose intention is as perverse as it is pitiable. There are again others whom it delights to hear the words of God and to learn his works, not because they are salutary but because they are marvelous. They wish to search into secrets and to know things unheard of; to know many things and do nothing. In vain do they admire power who do not love mercy. What else shall I say these do than turn the divine proclamations into fables? So we are wont to attend to theatrical games and stage songs, namely to feed the ear, not the mind. Yet I think that such ought not so much to be confounded as helped, whose will is not malicious at all but improvident. Others, however, read sacred Scripture so that, according to the precept of the Apostle, they may be ready to satisfy everyone that asketh them a reason of that faith in which they are established (1 Pet. 3), namely to destroy boldly the enemies of the truth; to teach the less learned; to know more perfectly themselves the way of truth, and, understanding more deeply the secrets of God, to love him more closely; whose devotion is surely to be praised and worthy of imitation. There are three kinds, then, of men reading sacred Scripture, of whom the first are to be pitied, the second helped, the third praised; but we, since we intend to counsel all, desire that what is good be increased in all and what is perverse be changed. We wish all to understand what we say, all to do what we urge.