Gerhard and Walther

God’s Word sanctifies everything and apart from God’s Word nothing can be sanctified (1 Tim 4:5). That is why true and proper God-pleasing obedience is connected to God’s Word.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:256.

God does not desire that His children remain children in knowledge, being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. Instead, if the Church is to remain unified each member must diligently and daily, with prayer and great earnestness, seek to grow in God’s Word by studying the writings of enlightened teachers, listening attentively to public sermons, and using all means at their disposal to grow in the knowledge of salvation.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 565.