One day some of the brethren came to see Abba Antony, and among them was Abba Joseph. Wishing to test them, the old man mentioned a text from Scripture, and starting with the youngest he asked them what it meant.
Each explained it the best he could. But to each one the old man said, ‘You have not yet found the answer.’
Last of all he said to Abba Joseph, ‘And what do you think the text means?’
He replied, ‘I do not know.’
Then Abba Antony said, ‘Truly, Abba Joseph has found the way, for he said: I do not know.’”
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We as Christians in the 21st century would do well to go back and reread the wisdom of Church fathers throughout the first 1000 years of the church. From my extremely limited reading they had a way of reflecting on life in such a way that their advice and responses were often timeless….
But we can know if we ask God to explain what it means. I've learned a lot about the Bible simply by asking God to help me understand it. True, sometimes understanding takes patience and hard work, but God did say that the time was coming when all will know Him (Hebrews 8).
I like the idea of reading Christians from other centuries. We desperately need it. I also the like the idea of a mysterious aspect to Christian faith at times. We hold the tension of mystery. But, certainly God has communicated to us through Scripture, and He intends to be understood. The Psalmist said, "Open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from your law." Jesus opened the minds of two disciples on the road to Emmaus so that they would understand the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit has come to illuminate truth to us, take of what is Christ's and disclose it to us, and even show us things to come (Gospel of John).