The Limits of Learning

This is the Celsus Library one of the most famous libraries of the ancient world. It was located in the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the most significant cities in all of the Roman Empire. Across the street, however, archaeologists have discovered a large brothel. It seems that having the collected wisdom of the day did not help the Ephesians live lives of real wisdom. Outside the city gates was the city dump. This dump did not house old tires or televisions; rather it was the site for infants to be dropped off to die fom exposure. As many as 500 infants might be left here at one time in this very educated prospreous city. Some, no doubt, born out of unions just across from the library. By the way, church tradition records that early Christians often came to the dump to rescue these babies. They also pooled their funds and bought slaves sold at the same gate to give them their freedom! I wonder if the the difference between the Ephesian pagans and their Christian counterparts may have been due in part to the reading material of the Christians. They were people of the Bible and their study led to actions that valued life and honored God.
DMac