Bible Reading for Orthodox Christians Part I
Explore the significance of Bible reading for Orthodox Christians in this insightful series, covering topics such as the basics of biblical interpretation, common issues in Bible study, and a proposed approach for effective study. Discover why the lack of Bible knowledge poses a challenge for both Orthodox and Protestant believers, leading to diverse interpretations and doctrinal variations. Enhance your understanding of hermeneutics and the importance of engaging with the Bible within the Orthodox faith tradition.
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Presentation Transcript
Bible Reading for Orthodox Christians It s Good for You! Part I
Overview of the Series Try to do this in four parts Today: What is the Bible? Next: Basic Avenues of Biblical Interpretation Then: Issues That We Bring to Bible Study Finally: How Then Should We Proceed A Modest Proposal for Bible Study
Hyfalutin Term Hermeneutics: the science and methodology of interpretation, esp. the Bible American Heritage Dictionary
Presuppositions to this Study I m a Layman No formal theological study Advantages and disadvantages There is a problem today with Bible Study Two-fold Problem We Orthodox don t know much/enough about the Bible And neither do most other Christians
Why a problem? For Protestants Sola Scriptura: central unifying principle Luther s three sola Sola gratia Sola fide Sola Scriptura Everything based on Bible Bible-believing Christians
Why is this a Problem? Luther insisted Bible is essentially transparent Any sincere Christian can understand/explain And would come up with same interpretation Result Emphasis on Bible Study 33,000 different Christians sects (at last count) Teaching opposing doctrines Nature of salvation; Church; sacraments; ministries; Mary; saints; Eschatology;
Why is this a Problem? For Orthodox Ill-equipped To understand Orthodox dogma To explain Orthodox dogma To appreciate our Faith To serve as missionaries That outreach thing
Why dont we read the Bible Historic (part of our tradition--- little t ) Levels of literacy Availability of Bibles Concerns of the hierarchy Sense of Church = Scriptures Liturgy Icons
How Serious is the Problem? Here s one solution: No task is more important than for the church to take the Bible out of the hands of individual Christians in North America. Stanley Hauerwas, Methodist theologian & professor, Duke University.
Centrality of Scripture For Catholics Scripture & Oral Tradition For the Orthodox Centerpiece of Holy Tradition For Protestants Only Authority (sola Scriptura) For the World Book by which Christianity is evaluated/critiqued
So To understand our own Faith To outreach to other Christians To evangelize among the non-believers To defend the Faith from the heathen WE NEED TO READ THE BIBLE!
What is the Bible? Book of Science? Book of history? Book of Mythology? Book of ethics/morality? Book of God s inerrant word (cf. Quran)? As a vicar of God? Context for Hauerwas s comment
What is the Bible? Greek Term: = record; document; book Greek speaking Jews: applied to Hebrew Scriptures Holy Scriptures: used by (all?) Christians From Latin scribo---to write
What is the Bible? Old Testament Testamentum: will; (Vulgate mistranslates Greek) Covenant best translation? O.T. Law (Torah); Prophets; Writings Also includes history books (Joshua/Judges/Kings, etc.) N.T. Synoptic Gospels; Gospel of John; Acts; Epistles; Revelation
Where did bible Come From? O.T. Septuagint: Greek trans. of earlier texts The Bible for the early Church Masoretic Text (M.T.) Hebrew trans of 1st-2ndc. A.D. Fewer books Different trans. Spurred in part by Church use of Septuagint
W. d. Bible c. f.? N.T. No writings by Our Lord An oral society Lord s imminent return Apostles provided living, oral witness No need for a new religion Does Paul know he s starting the Bible?
The N.T. Paul begins his written work in the 50s Letters of encouragement/reproof/instruction to various communities Gospels begin to appear in 60s Apostles were dying Church under persecution In it for the long haul Growing separateness from Jewish origins
The N.T. By around A.D. 100: all books of N.T. written But so were a bunch of other allegedly Christian texts Histories/Doctrines/Prophecies/Apocalypses Many purported to be written by authorities Gospels of Mary; Philip; Thomas Acts of Peter and Mary; of Pilate Apocalypse of Peter Some were mainstream; others taught weird stuff Abhorrent Gospel of Basilides
An Authorized New Testament Quasi-Gnostic heretic: Marcion of Rome (2nd c.) Dualist God of love vs. Jehovah So Rejects entire O.T. Severely edits Luke; adds 10 Pauline epistles In essence: starts the process Was this authoritative Scripture?
An Authoritative N. T. St. Irenaeus of Lyons (177-200) 4 canonical Gospels Muratorian Canon (c. 180) Named for its discoverer (18thc. Fr. Muratori) Churches around Rome? Lists 4 Gospels; 13 Pauline epistles (no Hebrews); Jude; 1-2 John; and the Revelation. Hebrews; 1-2 Peter; 3 John missing Includes Wisdom of Solomon; Apocalypse of Peter
An Authoritative N.T. By early 300s: Eusebius s History of the Church Provides status update Recognized: Today s N.T. minus Disputed: James; Jude; 2 Peter; 2-3 John Spurious (doubtful): Acts of Paul; Shepherd of Hermas; Revelation of Peter; Epistle of Barnabas; Didache; and Revelation of John Clearly heretical: Gospels of Peter; Thomas; Matthias; Acts of Andrew; John; other apostles.
An Authoritative N.T. St. Athanasius the Great (367) Custom to write all his churches to announce Pascha (same date) Includes list of books to be read in the churches in these [27 writings] alone the teaching of godliness is proclaimed. No one may add to them, and nothing may be taken away from them.
An Authoritative N.T. Within 50 years near universal acceptance 382: Council in Rome 397: Council in Carthage A New Testament Canon Where did it come from? Simplest answer: From the Church; from the scholarship and debate and mistakes and prayer of the Church
The Christian Bible Of course---Church did not attribute this prodigious, four centuries long work of scholarship to its own efforts alone. But this leads us to the interpretation of these writings, which we will consider next time.
