8
And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
1 Samuel 15:8
Sacred Scripture #50
50. The Church’s Body of Teaching Is to Be Drawn from the Literal Meaning of the Word and Is to Be Supported by It
THE preceding chapter was devoted to showing that in its literal meaning the Word is in its fullness, holiness, and power; and since the Lord is the Word (because he is everything in the Word), it follows that the Lord is most present in that meaning and that he teaches and enlightens us through it.
I need to present this, though, in the following sequence.
1. The Word is not understandable without a body of teaching.
2. A body of teaching must be drawn from the literal meaning of the Word.
3. However, the divine truth that a body of teaching should have can be seen only when we are being enlightened by the Lord.
