Letter 831: A teacher must live what he teaches.
What does not possess the dignity of the divine, but rather produces singular effects from our own devising — that wisdom which is able to comprehend and unravel the things that are truly difficult to discern — unless all things are known to the divine mind (for this is the prerogative of divine knowledge alone), the hearts of the faithful will not be troubled. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God, and the knowledge that puffs up is not the knowledge that saves. True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, and understanding comes from keeping his commandments. I therefore counsel you not to be consumed with curiosity about things that are beyond your grasp, but to attend to what has been plainly revealed for your salvation. For what has been revealed is sufficient for a godly life, and what has been hidden has been hidden for good reason. The one who seeks to penetrate the mysteries that God has veiled may find not light but darkness, not wisdom but confusion. Be content therefore with what is given, and give thanks for what you have received, rather than murmuring about what has been withheld.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
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