Reason for unclear language of the Scriptures

Purpose of symbolic terms and abstruse allusions is to test and prove the peoples of the world

“Know verily that the purpose underlying all these symbolic terms and abstruse allusions, which emanate from the Revealers of God’s holy cause, hath been to test and prove the peoples of the world; that thereby the earth of the pure and illuminated hearts may be known from the perishable and barren soil. From time immemorial such hath been the way of God amidst His creatures, and to this testify the records of the sacred books.”

(Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán, p. 49)

No comfort is greater or happiness sweeter than spiritual comprehension of the divine teachings

"All the texts and teachings of the holy Testaments have intrinsic spiritual meanings. They are not to be taken literally. I, therefore, pray in your behalf that you may be given the power of understanding these inner real meanings of the Holy Scriptures and may become informed of the mysteries deposited in the words of the Bible so that you may attain eternal life and that your hearts may be attracted to the Kingdom of God. May your souls be illumined by the light of the Words of God, and may you become repositories of the mysteries of God, for no comfort is greater and no happiness is sweeter than spiritual comprehension of the divine teachings. If a man understands the real meaning of a poet's verses such as those of Shakespeare, he is pleased and rejoiced. How much greater his joy and pleasure when he perceives the reality of the Holy Scriptures and becomes informed of the mysteries of the Kingdom!"

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 459-460)

See also

• Suffering of the innocent#For our development
• Twofold nature of the Manifestation of God
• Adult youth-study IV.1.A-B

To-dos for this page

• Quote on "Divine charmer" in the Íqán