Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 647

OF PROPEDEUTICS

Chap. IV]

Hebrew

Semitic trunk, and though for this,

of

higher civilization,

offers special

advantages

of its forms as well as

by the simplicity

on account most potent monument of our

significance to the

its

623

nevertheless, probably be the rule,

it will,

that theologians almost exclusively will apply themselves to

Hebrew, not

as a linguistic

phenomenon, but as an auxiliary Old Testament. At the

to the right understanding of the

gymnasium

it

is

generally a secondary matter, falling out-

and at the academy few any great extent. Yet an imperative necessity that an improvement shall be

side the lines of a general training;

are willing to train the it is

made

to

In our pulpits the fundamental texts

in this direction.

of the

memory

Old Testament are spoken of by men who

able to translate the simplest passage at sight, retranslate into

Hebrew.

study of Hebrew

is

And

much

are not less to

in this condition of things the

but a waste of time.

In this connection, however, this question cannot be treated

more of

fully.

Only under the heads

studies

And

and what other

of general training

special studies can Encyclopedia indicate to

and languages theology stands organically

it is

related.

clearly seen that especially in the study of lan-

guages, entirely different

claims are

made, both

by the

schedule of the general scientific training and by custom,

from what theology must demand of these languages within her pale. The very propaedeutics for Theology demand such natural talents and persevering application to study, that the false notion must be abandoned that all those who are educated for the practical ministry of the Word, can be

theologians in the real sense of the word.

majority, the needed

With

the

requirements for this are altogether

The effort to have so high an aim realized by all would not develop, but stultify, many persons. Hence the old difference between pastors and doctors must be maintained. Pastors should be sufficiently advanced to be able

lacking.

to take their stand intelligently at the scientific view-point,

and

to follow scientific development but apart from the study of theology as a side issue or as a favorite recreation, the profounder study of theology as a science Avill ;

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