The Amphitheatrum opens with an Isagoge — a general pro-theoria, a preliminary contemplation — that frames the whole work as an ascent. The title cascade names the programme entire:

AMPHITHEATRVM SAPIENTIÆ ÆTERNÆ, SOLIVS VERÆ, CHRISTIANO-KABALISTICVM, DIVINO-MAGICVM, nec non PHYSICO-CHYMICVM, TERTRIVNVM, CATHOLICON.

The Amphitheatre of Eternal Wisdom — of the One True alone — Christiano-Kabbalistic, Divino-Magical, and also Physico-Chemical: a Three-in-One, universal, directed to all human beings, all, each and every one severally.

The Ladder of Seven Grades

Prologvs hic præsens SCALÆ cuidam, Studii Sapientiæ veræ, rectæque philosophandi rationis, GRADVVM orthodoxorum SEPTEM mysticè assimilatur, qua (DEO vocante & ducente, Genio stimulante, Ingenio cooperante, Labore debito ac sedulo absoluente) ½ ascensus fit THEOSOPHICVS ad Amphitheatri præfati Portam.

This present Prologue is likened to a certain Ladder — of the study of true Wisdom and of the right way of philosophizing — of seven mystical orthodox Grades, by which (God calling and leading, the Genius spurring, the natural Wit co-working, due and diligent Labour completing it) a Theosophic ascent is made to the Gate of the aforesaid Amphitheatre — narrow, slight and despised though it be, yet august enough and majestic: through which every faithful son of the Doctrine, constantly persevering to the very end, enters gladly.

The ascent attains the Threefold Highest Good: (1) the recognition of God, of Jesus Christ whom He sent, and of the true sense of Holy Scripture; (2) the knowledge of one's own self; (3) the knowledge of the greater World and of its Son — the Magnesia of the Philosophers, the universal, more-than-perfect Stone, attained by physical regeneration with the help of the Chemical Art — and finally one enjoys it theosophically.

The Prologue is built, the text adds, of as many verses as the year has days — three hundred and sixty-five: the work of wisdom measured to the turning of the sun.

The seven grades are the rungs; the nine plates that follow are the Amphitheatre seen. Ora et Labora — pray and work — and read the engravings as the book reads itself.

Henricus Khunrath — Amphitheatrum Sapientiæ Æternæ