Augustine of Hippo : If anyone wanted to take everything that was said according to the letter … and could avoid blasphemies and explain everything in harmony with the Catholic faith, we should not only bear him no hostility but also regard him as a leading and highly praiseworthy interpreter. But if there is no way in which we can understand what has been written in a manner that is pious and worthy of God without believing that these things have been set before us in figures and in enigmas, we have the apostolic authority by which so many enigmas from the books of the Old Testament are solved. So let us hold on to the manner of exposition that we have taken up, with the help of him who urges us to ask, to seek and to knock, in order to explain all those figures of things according to the Catholic faith, both those that pertain to history and those that pertain to prophecy. We do this without prejudice to a better and more careful treatment, whether God should deign to make it known through us or through others. — ON GENESIS, AGAINST THE MANICHEANS 2.2.3 Clement of Alexandria : Philosophers, then, are children, unless they have been made men by Christ. "For if the son of the bond woman shall not be heir with the son of the free," at least he is the seed of Abraham, though not of promise, receiving what belongs to him by free gift. "But strong meat belongeth to those that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." "For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe," and not yet acquainted with the word, according to which he has believed and works, and not able to give a reason in himself. "Prove all things," the apostle says, "and hold fast that which is good," speaking to spiritual men, who judge what is said according to truth, whether it seems or truly holds by the truth. "He who is not corrected by discipline errs, and stripes and reproofs give the discipline of wisdom," the reproofs manifestly that are with love. "For the right heart seeketh knowledge." "For he that seeketh the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness; and they who have sought it rightly have found peace." — The Stromata Book 1 Clement of Alexandria : Just as we say that it is possible to have faith without being literate, so we assert that it is not possible to understand the statements contained in the faith without study. To assimilate the right affirmations and reject the rest is not the product of simple faith but of faith engaged in learning. Ignorance involves a lack of education and learning. It is teaching that implants in us the scientific knowledge of things divine and human. It is possible to live uprightly in poverty. It is also possible in wealth. We admit that it is easier and quicker to track down virtue if we have a preliminary education. It can be hunted down without these aids, although even then those with learning, "with their faculties trained by practice," have an advantage. — The Stromata Book 1 Clement of Alexandria : It is, then, our purpose to prove that the Gnostic alone is holy and pious, and worships the true God in a manner worthy of Him; and that worship meet for God is followed by loving and being loved by God. He accordingly judges all excellence to be honourable according to its worth; and judges that among the objects perceived by our senses, we are to esteem rulers, and parents, and every one advanced in years; and among subjects of instruction, the most ancient philosophy and primeval prophecy; and among intellectual ideas, what is oldest in origin, the timeless and unoriginated First Principle, and Beginning of existence-the Son-from whom we are to learn the remoter Cause, the Father, of the universe, the most ancient and the most beneficent of all; not capable of expression by the voice, but to be reverenced with reverence, and silence, and holy wonder, and supremely venerated; declared by the Lord, as far as those who learned were capable of comprehending, and understood by those chosen by the Lord to acknowledge; "whose senses," says the apostle, "were exercised." — The Stromata Book 7 Ephrem the Syrian : "Solid food is for the mature," that is, the passion written in the new gospel, and about them it was written, "make ready for the Lord a people prepared." In their own taste, thanks to the right measure of their faith, "they have been trained to distinguish good from evil," that is, by themselves and not by the law. — COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS John Chrysostom : "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even them who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Those had not "their senses exercised," nor did they "know good and evil." He is not speaking now concerning life and conduct, when he says "to discern good and evil," for this is possible and easy for every man to know, but concerning doctrines that are wholesome and sublime, and those that are corrupted and low. The babe knows not how to distinguish bad and good food. Oftentimes at least it even puts dirt into its mouth, and takes what is hurtful; and it does all things without judgment; but not so the full grown man. Such babes are they who lightly listen to everything, and give up their ears indiscriminately: which seems to me to blame these Hebrews also, as being lightly "carried about," and now giving themselves to these, now to those. Which he also hinted near the end of the Epistle, saying, "Be not carried aside by divers and strange doctrines." This is the meaning of "to discern good and evil." "For the mouth tasteth meat, but the soul trieth words." Let us then learn this lesson. Do not, when thou hearest that a man is not a Heathen nor a Jew, straightway believe him to be a Christian; but examine also into all the other points; for even Manichaeans, and all the heresies, have put on this mask, in order thus to deceive the more simple. But if we "have the senses" of the soul "exercised to discern both good and evil," we are able to discern such teachers. But how do our "senses" become "exercised"? By continual hearing; by experience of the Scriptures. For when we set forth the error of those Heretics, and thou hearest today and to-morrow; and provest that it is not right, thou hast learnt the whole, thou hast known the whole: and even if thou shouldest not comprehend to-day, thou wilt comprehend to-morrow. "That have," he says, their "senses exercised." Thou seest that it is needful to exercise our hearing by divine studies, so that they may not sound strangely. "Exercised," saith he, "for discerning," that is, to be skilled. — Homily on Hebrews 8 Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius : This is the doctrine of the holy prophets which we Christians follow; this is our wisdom, which they who worship frail objects, or maintain an empty philosophy, deride as folly and vanity, because we are not accustomed to defend and assert it in public, since God orders us in quietness and silence to hide His secret, and to keep it within our own conscience; and not to strive with obstinate contention against those who are ignorant of the truth, and who rigorously assail God and His religion not for the sake of learning, but of censuring and jeering. For a mystery ought to be most faithfully concealed and covered, especially by us, who bear the name of faith. — The Divine Institutes Book 7, Chapter XXVI Oecumenius : And he speaks of the word of righteousness, which concerns the divinity of the Lord. "solid food." The lofty word, and the high doctrines concerning Christ. "by constant practice." He refers to habit, perfection, the well-trained, having their senses exercised, such as hearing, tongue, eyes. Indeed, he speaks of the senses of the soul. To distinguish, he says, what is good, and high doctrines, and what are the spurious and corrupt. He hints at those who teach anything to everyone, giving themselves and being persuaded. For he who receives everything simply, has indiscriminately both good and evil. — The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews Origen of Alexandria : For in the words of the Song of Songs there is that food of which the Apostle speaks: "But solid food belongs to the perfect" … And indeed the little ones whom we have mentioned, if they should come to these passages, it may be that they will gain nothing from this Scripture, yet neither will they be greatly harmed … For, not knowing how to hear the names of love with pure and chaste ears … For this reason, therefore, I give warning and counsel to everyone who is not yet free from the troubles of flesh and blood … that he abstain wholly from the reading of this little book … For they say that among the Hebrews this too is observed: that unless a man has arrived at a perfect and mature age, he is not even permitted to hold this little book in his hands … together with those which they call deuteroseis, these four things are reserved to the last — that is, the beginning of Genesis … and the beginnings of the prophet Ezekiel … and the end, in which the building of the temple is contained; and this book of the Song of Songs. — COMMENTARY ON THE SONG OF SONGS, PROLOGUE Shepherd of Hermas : If you serve good desire, and be subject to it, you will gain the mastery over evil desire, and make it subject to you even as you wish. — Shepherd of Hermas, Commandment 12 Symeon the New Theologian : We ought to evaluate well all the thoughts that come upon us and compare and contrast them to the testimonies from the divinely inspired Scriptures and from the teaching of the spiritual and holy fathers. If we find that our thoughts are in tune with these testimonies and have an equivalent meaning, then we ought to hold fast to them with all our might and confidently carry them out in action. But if they are not in harmony with "the word of truth," then we ought to put them away from ourselves with great anger, just as it is written, "Be angry and do not sin." For we must flee the attack which springs up from passionate thoughts, as something defiled and bearing the sting of death. Accordingly, we have need of great sober-mindedness, great zeal, much searching of the divine Scriptures. For the Savior used to say, "Search the Scriptures," indicating to us their usefulness. Search and hold fast with great precision and faith the things that are said, so that, understanding the will of God accurately from the divine Scriptures, you may be able without stumbling to distinguish the noble from the inferior, and not obey every spirit, nor be carried about by harmful thoughts. Be fully convinced, my brothers, that there is nothing so prone to save us as closely following the divine commands of our Savior. All the same, we need many tears, much fear, much perseverance and continual prayer, that the force of even one of the Master's sayings might be revealed to us, so that we may know the great mystery hidden in little words and lay down our lives unto death even for a single stroke of a letter of the commandments of God. For the word of God is "like a two-edged sword," cutting off and separating the soul from every bodily craving and sensation. And not only that, it also becomes like a burning fire, arousing our soul's eagerness and causing us to despise all of life's painful experiences, and to consider all joy trial when it comes upon us, and to desire and greet death, which is fearful to other people, as life and that which produces life. — DISCOURSE 3.8