Thomas A’ Kempis and Starting Seminary

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Seminary students will be introduced to a pile of books on a host of subjects when they soon start the new Fall semester. And some will be more helpful than others.
 
Surprisingly, one book that is often overlooked for book lists is one that has been read and endorsed by such giants as St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Terese of Avila, John Wesley, C.S. Lewis, St. Mother Teresa, and Pope Benedict XVI.[1] Not to mention hundreds of millions of others whose names will never make it into the history books.[2]
 
My suggestion for seminary students is to purchase this book whether or not it is on your required reading list – and to make reading a portion of it a daily part of your seminary experience.

The book is The Imitation of Christ (c.1418-27) by Thomas A’ Kempis (1380-1471).
 
I have often stated to my students that “some of my best friends are dead people.” My point is a simple one – many of those who are my mentors are good and godly people from the past that continue to this day to shape who I am and what I aspire to be. They are “dead though still speak” (Hebrews 11:4). Thomas A’ Kempis is one of those friends.
 
Surprisingly I was only introduced to him when I entered into doctoral studies. However, once I started reading I knew that I had found a mentor to help keep me on track. And I read him daily for years. Recently I have picked up my old and marked up copy and have started over again. 
 
Upon reading you will quickly note that his work remains a distinctly Roman Catholic work. While some of my Protestant friends find that a problem,[3] I do not. Despite theological differences rooted in the Reformation, there is much in The Imitation of Christ that is compelling for those of all Christian traditions. 
 
Why do I think this book is so essential? There are a host of reasons, but since I try to keep my blogs to under 800 words I will state what I think is the most important reason.
 
There are many hazards in seminary life, and one of the most dangerous ones is the academic study of the Christian faith replacing heartfelt piety with a heartless pride. Knowledge of scripture and theology is a wonderful and necessary thing, especially for those aspiring to leadership. Yet studies of such lofty subjects can easily lead to a shift from knowledge for following Jesus to knowledge for gaining status. Stated differently, the imitation of Christ’s humility and holiness can be usurped by an acquisition of facts and status.
 
Thomas A’ Kempis was convinced that much the medieval church of his day was marred by such a missing of the mark. As a result, he joined a reform society and wrote The Imitation of Christ as a way to bring renewal to the church.
 
Perhaps the best way to entice you to get your own copy is to provide a few quotes from the opening sections. And if getting a hard copy is not possible (in my opinion the best way to read it is a hard copy), there are many online pdfs (try to get one a modern language).
 

• “In is often seen that those who hear the gospels find little sweetness in them; the reason is that they do not have the spirit of Christ. So, if we desire to have a true understanding of his gospels, we must study to conform our life as nearly as we can to his. What avail is it to a man to reason about the high, secret mysteries of the Trinity if he lack humility and so displeases the Holy Trinity? Truly, it avails nothing. Deeply inquisitive reasoning does not make a man holy or righteous, but a good life makes him be loved by God. I would rather feel compunction of heart for my sins than merely know the definition of compunction. If you know all the books of the Bible merely by rote and all the sayings of the philosophers by heart, what will it profit you without grace and charity? All that is in the world is vanity except to love God and to serve him only.” Book 1.1

 

• “The more knowledge you have, the more grievously will you be judged for its misuse, if you do not live according to it. Therefore, do not lift yourself up unto pride, because of any skill or knowledge that is given you, but have the more fear and dread in your heart for it is certain that, hereafter, you must yield to stricter accounting. If you think that you know many things and have great learning, then know for certain that there are many more things you do not know. So with true wisdom you may not think yourself learned, but ought rather to confess your ignorance and folly. Why will you prefer yourself in knowledge before another, since there are many others more excellent and more wise than you and better learned in the Law? If you would learn anything, and know it profitably to the health of your soul, learn to be unknown and to be glad to be considered despicable and as nothing.” Book 1.2

 

• “Well-ordered learning is not to be belittled, for it is good and comes from God, but a clean conscience and a virtuous life are much better and more to be desired. Because some men studied have learning rather than to live well, they err many times, and bring forth little good fruit or none. Oh, if they would be as busy to avoid sin and plant virtues in their souls as they are to dispute questions, there would not be so many evil things seen in the world, or so much evil example given to the people, or so much dissolute living in religion. On the day of judgment we will not be asked what we have read, but what we have done, not how well we have discoursed, but how religiously we have lived.” Book 1.3

 

• “Tell me, where now are all the great students in famous scholars whom you have known? When alive, they flourished greatly in their learning, but now, others have succeeded to their posts and promotions, and I cannot tell whether their successors give them a thought. In their lifetime they were considered great in the world; Now, little is spoken of them. Oh, how swiftly the glory of this world, with all its falls, deceitful pleasures, passes away. Would to God their life had accorded well with their learning, for then would they have studied and read well. How many perish daily in this world by vain learning who care little for a good life and for the service of God. And because they desire to be great in the world rather than to be humble, they vanish away in their learning as smoke in the air.” Book 1.3

​[1] https://aleteia.org/2020/11/30/12-historical-figures-who-read-the-imitation-of-christ/;
[2] https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/KD-2005-Summer-Profiles-in-Faith-The-Imitation-of-Christ_W.Elwell.pdf
[3] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/reflect-becoming-yourself-by-mirroring-greatest-person-history/