1462. These things seem to refer to the educated, who are superficial people, and who grasp and teach only outward matters and thus insist on the literal [meaning of the Word], explaining it according to their own mind. They now take it literally, now inwardly, thus distorting, and using both meanings to support their opinions.
Such people seem to be meant here, who pursue the inward and very inward meaning of the Word, especially those who consider themselves more educated than the rest, despising others in comparison with themselves, and who are likewise arrogant, coveting things of the body and the world. It appears to mean that these pursued him who portrays the inward meaning.
Whether something of this kind will redound on the doctrine, I do not yet know. At least I know that the uneducated do not do this. 1748, 16, 17 March.
1462. These things seem to signify that the learned who are exterior men apprehend and teach nothing but exterior things. Thus they insist upon the literal expressions which they explain according to their own bias, at one time taking exterior, at another interior things, and thus distorting and making use of either sense so as to bend it to their own opinions. The persons who seem to be understood here are they who persecute the interior and more interior sense of the Word, especially they who consider themselves more learned than others. They despise others in comparison with themselves and at the same time are proud, and they desire the things of the body and the world. That such spirits persecuted him who represented the interior sense is what seems to be signified. Whether any such thing will again flow into the doctrine, I do not as yet know; at least the unlearned do not act in this way. 1748, Mar. 16, 17.
1462. Haec significare videntur, quod docti, qui exteriores homines sunt, nec nisi quam exteriora capiunt 1
et docent, sicque premunt literas, explicantque secundum suum animum, nunc exteriora nunc interiora sumendo, et sic torquendo, ita utroque sensu usi, ut declinent ad suas opiniones-tales 2
hic intelligi videntur, qui persequuntur interiorem et intimiorem sensum Verbi, cumprimis qui docti 3
prae aliis 4
se putant esse, aliosque prae se contemnunt, et fastuosi simul sunt, cupiuntque quae corporis et mundi sunt, quod tales persecuti eum [1460], qui interiorem sensum repraesentat, significari videtur; num tale quid redundabit in doctrinam, nondum scio, minimum quod indocti id non faciant. 1748, 16, 17 Martius.
Footnotes:
1. nisi legeris cupiunt
2. The Manuscript has opiniones, tales
3. sic manuscript; vide praefationem hujus editionis sub capite "Idiosyncrasies"
4. The Manuscript has alii