52. We can tell from all this that people who read the Word without a body of teaching or who do not get themselves a body of teaching from the Word are in complete darkness about truth. Their minds are wandering and unstable, prone to error and liable to heresies. Such people will in fact embrace heresies if those heresies have gained any popularity or authority and their own reputation is therefore not in danger. For them the Word is like a lampstand without a lamp, and while they seem to be seeing a great many things in their darkness, they actually see practically nothing because a body of teaching is the only lamp. I have seen people like this examined by angels, and it was found that they can use the Word to justify whatever they choose; and the things they justify are those that appeal to their self-centeredness and their love for people who are on their side. I have also seen them stripped of their clothing, a sign of their lack of truths. In that world, truths are clothing.

2497. The chapter deals with the Lord's state when He first received instruction in matters of doctrine regarding charity and faith. The state itself is meant by Kadesh and Shur; the doctrine of faith by Abimelech the king of Gerar, verses 1-2. To begin with He thought regarding the rational, that it should be consulted, verse 2, but it was not in fact consulted, verses 3-4, 8-9. The reasons why He thought in this way, verses 5-6, 10-12, 13. The doctrine of charity and faith is spiritual deriving from a celestial origin, verse 7. Such was the manner of His instruction, during which all rational concepts, and factual knowledge as well, served Him like a garment or clothing, verses 14-16. And in this way the doctrine was perfect, verse 17, which it would not have been if it had derived from the rational, verse 18.