Bk 1, Ch 3, Para 2: The Eternal Word Gives Us The Truth, Everything Else is Quibbling

"2. And why do we need to concern ourselves with terms of philosophy"

Good Thomas asks this question as his second pass through Chapter 3, Book I, The Doctrine of Truth. Referring back to the first paragraph, we know that such quibbling doesn't really matter when the Truth is presented.

Thomas' answer to his question is:

"He to whom the Eternal Word speaks is set at liberty from a multitude of opinions."

Kind of like Jesus does in Luke 4:16 and following:

" He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him."

Interestingly, the word liberty has multiple definitions that philosophers quibble over constantly.  Sort of like Thomas says in the lead quote.  But Jesus simply states the Truth.  Every captive knows what liberty is and what liberty is not.  And when we hear liberty proclaimed by Him, we know we can follow our free will.

Then a short litany follows, which reminds me quite a bit of the Prologue to The Gospel of John.  Have a read of both and let me know if you agree.

The end of this reading closes with an exasperated plea - not quite a prayer, but followed by a meditation on being quiet and listening for the Lord:

"I am wearied with often reading and hearing many things; in Thee is all that I will or desire.
  Let all teachers hold their peace; let all creatures be silent in Thy sight; speak Thou alone to me."

In the next paragraph, Thomas arrives at an internal conclusion of profound truth....

'Til next time.
tim

p.s.  The passage above, from Luke 4, is one of my favorites in Scripture.  What's yours?