On the value of theological works devotionally

[Jake]

Perhaps a bit meta for this category, but I think this quote will resonate with many here.

"Now the layman or amateur needs to be instructed as well as to be exhorted. In this age his need for knowledge is particularly pressing. Nor would I admit any sharp division between the two kinds of book. For my own part I tend to find the doctrinal books often more helpful in devotion than the devotional books, and I rather suspect that the same experience may await many others. I believe that many who find that "nothing happens" when they sit down, or kneel down, to a book of devotion, would find that the heart sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hand."

-C.S. Lewis, from his introduction to Athanasius' On The Incarnation (found here: https://www.theologynetwork.org/stu...oduction-to-athanasius-on-the-incarnation.htm )

 

[JimmyH]

For me the "pipe in their teeth" is the key

 

[jwithnell]

Someone who used to be active here, put the term "doxological" into my mind. When a meaty book causes me to sing with praise, it's worthy of time I set aside for that purpose. At this phase of my life, I don't have much time to ready primarily for academic purposes.

Quite frankly, many devotional books come across as sappy to me.

 

[Poimen]

If by devotional one means (in part), reading and understanding scripture, I have found Turretin's Elenctic Theology to be quite devotional as his exposition of scripture and defense of orthodoxy from the same has enriched my knowledge and appreciation of God's Word.

 

[ZackF]

Perhaps a bit meta for this category, but I think this quote will resonate with many here.

"Now the layman or amateur needs to be instructed as well as to be exhorted. In this age his need for knowledge is particularly pressing. Nor would I admit any sharp division between the two kinds of book. For my own part I tend to find the doctrinal books often more helpful in devotion than the devotional books, and I rather suspect that the same experience may await many others. I believe that many who find that "nothing happens" when they sit down, or kneel down, to a book of devotion, would find that the heart sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hand."

-C.S. Lewis, from his introduction to Athanasius' On The Incarnation (found here: https://www.theologynetwork.org/stu...oduction-to-athanasius-on-the-incarnation.htm )

I read that introduction over twenty years ago and had forgotten this. Thank you for publishing it here today.