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Holy Tradition and The Bible Where did it come from and How do we use it Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Holy Tradition and The Bible
Where did it come from and How do we use it
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Bible
Most important book in Christianity.
What do we Know about it?
Revelation of God.
Written by Human authors inspired by Holy Spirit.Uses human language to describe things that are indescribable.
Like a verbal icon- Not full truth, but points to whole truth.
Synergy of what is divine and what is human.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Bible
What is difference between Bible and Science book?
About why of things, meaning of life and purpose.
Science and the Bible are not in competition.
What is difference between Bible and History Book?
Humans have different views of the same event.
Cant be distracted by small differences.
Bible more than history - about spiritual truths
Book of faith by people of faith.About relationship with God based on Love.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Bible
True or False?“The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.”
(Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminaries Abstract of Principles)
Sola Scriptura - Foundation of Protestantism 16th Century InventionOrthodox do believe that Scripture is “Truth” inspired by God.But not “only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule.”Most common way Orthodox Christians are attacked by Non-Orthodox.“Where does it say in the Scripture that .........?”
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sola Scriptura
Why is this a direct attack on the Church?Leads to a rejection of the Sacramental life of the Church. How?
Denies the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church.Limits religion to what is recorded in a book.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sola Scriptura
Problems with this idea
1. Presupposes Scripture is self-authenticatingForgets that the Church is Body and life of Christ. Rejects authority of Church which is rejecting Christ.
Forgets Apostolic beginning of the ChurchPermits a break from fullness of Apostolic Tradition.True authority is the Church established by Apostles.
Forgets that Church determined the canon of the Bible which took centuries.Bible supports Church Tradition.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sola Scriptura
2. Presupposes Scripture is self-interpreting.Not even true in science - theory of relativity.
Texts do not exist in abstract. Interpretation comes from tradition. Question is whose tradition.
Greek word used in scripture for tradition is Paradosis. Used thirteen times.
NIV translates as tradition in all cases except where it is used to command persons to adhere to tradition.
Therefore brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. (KJV)So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. (NIV)
NIV an explicitly Protestant translation. Not one Catholic or Orthodox on committeeDeuterocanonical books are not included in the translation. Preserves traditional Evangelical theology.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sola Scriptura
Now over 30,000 denominations due to different interpretations of Scripture with new traditions.
Without context, Scripture is just another set of ancient texts.
Bible must be interpreted in context of Church and its Holy Tradition.Tradition of Apostles is only tradition that gives authority to Scripture.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Philip’s encounter with Ethiopian
Ethopian reading Prophecy of Isaiah and Philip asks if he understands it.
Eunuch replies saying, “How can I unless someone guides me”
What did Philip say?
Philip did not tell him to pray on it for enlightenment. He instead to this scripture told him about Jesus and His salvific mission.
The proper meaning came from the Apostle.
Acts 8:26-40
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sola Scriptura
3. Presupposition that Scripture were intended to be an all sufficient guide
OT gives detailed instructions about worshipNT provides no details about the eucharistDo this in remembrance of Me.(Luke 22:19)
Early Church came together on the first day of the week to break Bread, but most evangelicals only celebrate once a month or less. (Acts 20:7)
If Paul’s letters were intended to be self-sufficient wouldn’t he have provided more details?
Protestants don’t agree on the method of BaptismThe Didache (1st cent) gives us the details. 14th Cent. get exact same instruc. from St. Nicholas Cabasilas.
W/o tradition Bible can be used to create any doctrine Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sola Scriptura
The Gospel of John is concluded with:
But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.John 21:25
Westminster Confession of Faith 1.6 (17th
century)"not expressly set down in scripture". However, it is claimed that it passes the second test of being part of "the whole counsel of God" because it is "deduced from scripture" "by good and necessary consequence."
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
ONE HOLY CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH The Eastern Orthodox Church
The Roman Catholic Church
33Pentecost
69
Bishop
Ignatius
consecrated
in Antioch
150
Justin Martyr
describes liturgy
325
1st
Ecumenical
Council and
the Nicene
Creed
397
Synod of
Carthage
ratifies Biblical
Canon
451
Council of
Chalcedon
589
Filioque added
to Nicene creed
by Synod in
Spain and later
adopted by Ro-
man Church
787
Icons approved
at seventh Ecu-
menical council
880
The Photian
Schism
988
Conversion
of Russia
begins
1054
Great Schism
CRUSADES
1204
Sack of
Constantinople
by Crusaders
1333
Gregory Palamas
defends Ortho-
dox spirituality
1453
Turks overrun
Constantinople
1768
Arrival of
the first Greeks in
US.
1794
Rusian
Mis-
sionaries
arrive at
Kodiak
Island
Alaska
1864
1st Greek
Orthodox
church es-
tablished in
New Orleans
Luther’s
95 Theses.
Reforma-
tion begins
1517
Church of
England
1529
1854
Dogma of
Immaculate
conception
1870
Dogma of
Papal Infal-
ibility
A Time Line of Church History
1095
1291
Apostalic Age Byzantine Empire
1921
Greek
Orthodox
archdiocese
established
in US.
1993
Con-
struction
begins on
Cathedral
in Green-
ville.
1832
Greece
recognized
a Free
Country -
Treaty of
Constanti-
nople
REFORMATION
LIBERATIONGREAT
SCHISM
Where did this false idea come from?
Began with Martin Luther’s Break with the Roman Church over doctrines that were not apostolic.Part of effort to discredit Roman ChurchOrthodox Church was not a party to this unfortunate split
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Corruption Luther Challenged
The Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, thousands of holy relics collected by Frederick III of Saxony. pious veneration to reduce their time in purgatory.
fund-raising campaign Pope Leo X to finance renovation of St. Peter's A Dominican priest, began selling indulgences in the German lands.
Archbishop Albert of Mainz in Germany borrowed heavily for church rank.Allowed sale of indulgences in his territory in exchange for a cut.
People came to Luther confession, presented their purchased indulgences claiming they no longer had to repent of their sins.
Luther outraged that they paid money for what was Godʼs free gift.
Arranged for a public scholarly debate at Univ. of Wittenberg. The Ninety-five Theses outlined the items to be discussed.
Luther is excommunicated
Uprisings ensue and the Protestant reformation is underway
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Where did this innovative doctrine come from?
Luther said: "a simple layman armed with Scripture is greater than the mightiest pope without it".
"The true rule is this: God's Word shall establish articles of faith, and no one else, not even an angel can do so."
Sola Scriptura is one of the five solas, considered by some Protestant groups to be the theological pillars of the Reformation.
John Wesley stated (18th century): "In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the Church."
1 Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone")2 Sola fide ("by faith alone")3 Sola gratia ("by grace alone")4 Solus Christus ("Christ alone")5 Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone")
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sola Scriptura
If you strip away Tradition from the Church what do you have?An ideology with a written set of words.Faith not based on a Book, but on relationship with God.
Says anyone can pick up a book and with self-interpretation get everything one needs to be a Christian.
For Orthodoxy Christianity is a way life to be lived in relationship with Christ.
We seek union with Christ in His Body, the Church.We get help through the sacramental life within the ChurchFor Orthodox, Christianity is not a set of doctrines or moral precepts.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Apostolic Tradition
Orthodox adhere to & defend Apostolic Tradition.Scripture supports Holy Tradition.Holy Tradition does not violate Scripture
Holy Tradition includes the Liturgy of the Church, its iconography, the rulings of the Ecumenical Councils, and the writings of the Church Fathers.
40%60%
Holy Tradition100%
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Saint Paul’s Epistles
Corinthians,"I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you" (1 Cor. 11:2),
Thessalonians, "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter" (2 Thess. 2:15).
He even gives an order, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us" (2 Thess. 3:6).
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Apostolic Tradition
Saint Basil the Great - 375AD"Of the dogmas and messages preserved in the Church, some we possess from written teaching and others we receive from the tradition of the apostles, handed on to us in mystery.... Indeed, were we to try to reject unwritten customs as having no great authority, we would unwittingly injure the gospel in its vitals; or rather, we would reduce [Christian] message to a mere term" The Holy Spirit 27:66
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Apostolic Tradition
What are implications if you reject Apostolic Tradition?
Bible has to be complete to handle everything and be perfect.Hard to accept that Bible is a synergy of human and divine action.
Hard to accept that writings may be culturally or situation conditioned.
Who’s interpretation is the Truth?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Apostolic Tradition
Orthodox not scandalized by discovery that something has been added or there may be a different author. Why?
What is important is accepted by the Church represents what the Apostles taught.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Biblical Manuscripts
Bible is the most copied book in antiquity5,700 complete or fragmented Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin manuscripts and 9,300 manuscripts in various other ancient languages 60000 Greek manuscripts of which written by 2100 authors. 1500 of these were Christian authors.Copies of the Bible exist in 380 libraries.For most ancient works there are only 1 - 10 copies. For Homers Iliad there are only 190 copies.86,000 quotations from the early church fathers and several thousand Lectionaries.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Biblical Manuscripts
Manuscripts dated close to original
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
New Testament Canon
History
What were Christian in 1st and 2nd Century referring to when they said Scripture?
Septuagint or OT Bible.
Writings of Apostles were not referred to as Holy Scripture until 2nd century.
What happened in 2nd century to change this?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tampering
2nd century some people tried to change the Gospels.
Tatian (c. 120–180) - made one book integrating all the Gospels into one story.Diatessaron, a harmony of the four gospels that became the standard text of the four gospels in the Syriac-speaking churches
Marcion (ca. 85-160) - Jewish Scripture should be rejected and eliminated all references to them from the Gospels creating his own version.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
NT Apocrypha
False books created to support their teachings and ascribed to Apostles Called apocrypha. Never considered as part of NT Canon
Main culprit were Gnostics. humans are divine souls trapped in a material world created by an imperfect godunknowable Supreme Being that embodies goodto free oneself from the inferior material world, one needs gnosis, or esoteric spiritual knowledge through direct experience (gnosis) of God.
Gnostic books. Gospel of Mary, Peter, Thomas, Judas, Pilot
Written much later than the Gospels - beyond time of eyewitnesses.
Why would Church reject such documents?
Nag Hammad
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
What books were in dispute?
All accepted 4 Gospels, 13 epistles of Paul (not Hebrews), 1st John, 1st Peter,
2 & 3rd John, 2 Peter, James, Hebrews and Revelation not universally accepted.
Others included: Didache (Teachings of Apostles), Epistles of Ignatius of Antioch, Epistles of Barnabas, Epistles of 1st and 2nd Clement, Shepherd of Hermas
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
New Testament Canon
4th century church leaders publish list of books to make a canon.
Not all the same - not an issue for the Church. Why?Antioch 22 books, Alexandria 35 books
The Church relied on Apostolic Tradition
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
New Testament Canon
Standardization came early in West. Why?
Need to translate the Bible into Latin. Vulgate by Jerome - 5th century.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
When was Canon Fixed?
Emperor Constantine commissioned 50 bibles
1st Ecumenical Council 325
367 when Athanasius issued the first canon that totally agrees with the one we accept today.
7th Ecumenical Council - affirmed the previous canons but did not specify a list.
Lectionary was fixed w/o RevelationRevelation was still disputed.
Not any of Following:
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
New Testament Canon
Commentary by Andrew of Caesarea on the Book of Revelation - 7th Century
Translated into many languages.
Muslim persecutions.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
New Testament Canon
How was NT canon standardized?The printing press.Protestants developed a Greek version and tried to convert the Greeks. Contained the universally accepted Canon.
Never was official Ecumenical Council decision.
Council of Trent 1545 officially fixed canon West.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Criteria for Acceptance
Books that were in existence in 1st Century based on eyewitness testimony.
Apostolic - written by apostles or someone closely associated with one.
Orthodox in doctrine - no fairy tales.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Translations
Jerome (c. 347 – 420) - Vulgate
John Wycliffe - 1300 translation directly from the Vulgate into common English in the year 1382, now known as the Wycliffe Bible
William Tinedale - (c. 1494 – 1536)first English translation to draw directly from Hebrew and Greek textsBurned at stake as heretic
Martin Luther 1500In his translation of the Bible from Greek into German, Luther removed 4 N.T. books (Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation) and placed them in an appendix saying they were less than canonical. Protestants omit Apocrypha from their Bibles -in part because the Roman Catholic Church used apocryphal works to justify doctrines rejected by the Protestants
King James I - 1611 (New King James 1980)
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Translations
All Translations have their limitations -
Viewpoint of Translator
Literal vs. dynamic
Rained like cats and dogsRained very hard
Something is always lost
Never rely on an English Translation
Book Chrysostom read from in 4th century was all in caps with no spaces.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Translations
King James New King JamesRevised Standard VersionJerusalemNew AmericanNew International
Use NKJ in Church and Orthodox Study Bible
Never use Good News Living BibleNew World Translation
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Septuagint - LXX
Greek Version of OT - Why is this significant?
333BC Alexander the Great captured Palestine.Aim to civilize world with Greek language and culture.Hellenization.Left in each city soldiers who married. Way of life copied by common folks.Greek became the common language
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Septuagint
Jewish diaspora - 8th-6th century BC
By 3rd century BC, most Jewish communities located outside of Judea - needed Greek version use in their synagogs.
250 BC the Hebrew Bible was translated into the common language of the time.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Septuagint
Bible used by the Apostles
Bible used today in the Orthodox Church.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Old Testament Canon
When was the Hebrew Bible Canon established?At time of Christ the Jews decided that Hebrew was to be only language of Scripture. Why?The Septuagint was associated with the Christians.200 years after the death of Christ the Hebrew canon was finalized.
Septuagint has more books included
Oldest texts of Hebrew Bible date to 1000 ADSeptuagint whole manuscripts - 3d and 4th Cent.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Dead Sea Scrolls
Discovered 1948 -1960s Caves above Dead Sea
1 BC - 1 AD a Qumran Monastic Community
960 different documents in various languages (150 B.C. to 70 CAD)
Oldest Hebrew Texts
Shows that the Septuagint is more reliable that the Hebrew Bible.
Psalms
Septuagint Fragments of Ecclesiastes from the Qumran caves
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Protestant Old Testament Canon
How and Why is the Protestant Old Testament different from the Septuagint?
Martin Luther responsible.
Only Bible available in Germany was Latin
He translated it into German using the Jewish Canon of the Old Testament. (1534)
Could not initially eliminate the additional books in the Septuagint.Put in separate section and then later removed them.
Called the Apocrypha.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Catholic Old Testament Canon
Catholics responded to the Reformation in the Council of Trent. (1545 -1563)• Confirmed deuterocanonical books were on a par with the other books of the canon• Vulgate translation affirmed to be authoritative for the text
Pope Paul III
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Old Testament Canon
Greek Orthodox Canon
Protestant Apocrypha Roman Catholic Canon
1 Esdras
Tobit Judith Additions to Esther Wisdom of Solomon Ecclesiasticus Baruch Epistle of Jeremiah Song of the Three Children Story of Susanna Bel and the Dragon Prayer of Manasseh 1 Maccabees 2 Maccabees 3 Maccabees 4 Maccabees Psalm 151
1 Esdras 2 Esdras Tobit Judith Additions to Esther Wisdom of Solomon Ecclesiasticus Baruch Epistle of Jeremiah Song of the Three Children Story of Susanna Bel and the Dragon Prayer of Manasseh 1 Maccabees 2 Maccabees
Tobit Judith Additions to Esther Wisdom of Solomon Ecclesiasticus Baruch Epistle of Jeremiah Song of the Three Children Story of Susanna Bel and the Dragon
1 Maccabees 2 Maccabees
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Old Testament Canon
Septuagint is official Bible of Orthodox Church.
Its accuracy and completeness verified by Dead Sea Scrolls.
Used by the Jews at the time of Christ therefore by the 1st Christians.
References in NT and early Church Fathers are from LXX
Orthodox Church remains the Church of the Apostles without innovation.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Studying the Bible
How to study the Bible daily.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Read the Bible
Read with Obedience Inspired by God Christ speaking to you
Maintain a sense of wonder and awe Prepare just like prayer Be open to listen
Don’t make up your own interpretation
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Read the Bible
Scripture not always self-explanatory
With Spiritual growth there is more to learn
Use your own inspiration but turn to Church for answers to questions.
How about Bible study groups?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Read the Bible
Study should always be Christ Centered.
Scripture is a whole - a unity based on Christ
Can not take an analytical approach
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Read the Bible
Read for personal application
Saint Mark the monk (5th-6th century) says, “He who is humble in his thoughts and engaged in spiritual work, when he reads Holy scriptures, will apply everything to himself and not to his neighbor.”
Do not ask, “What does this mean?” but instead “What does the mean for me?”
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Read the Bible
1. Reflect that Scripture is a sacred history of the world.
2. Observe the details of this history where we find God intervening at specific times and places and entering into dialogue with specific individuals.
3. Apply it to yourself. Bring these distant places and times into your own place and time - make it your story
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Can not read it like a text book or novel
Let it challenge you
A sacred book
Read with faith and love.
Read a little each day
Read the Bible
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
http://www.goarch.org/listserv
Readings for today: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 8:1-6 Luke 12:8-12Feasts and Saints celebrated today: Paul the Confessor, Patriarch of ConstantinopleEpistle ReadingThe reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 8:1-6BRETHREN, we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right handof the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuaryand the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord. Forevery high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; hence itis necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. Now ifhe were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there arepriests who offer gifts according to the law. They serve a copy andshadow of the heavenly sanctuary; for when Moses was about to erect thetent, he was instructed by God, saying, "See that you make everythingaccording to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain." But as itis, Christ has obtained a ministry which is as much more excellentthan the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it isenacted on better promises.
Gospel ReadingThe reading is from Luke 12:8-12The Lord said to His disciples, "Every one who acknowledges me beforemen, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God;but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels ofGod. And every one who speaks a word against the Son of Man will beforgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not beforgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers andthe authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer orwhat you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that veryhour what you ought to say
Paul the Confessor, Patriarch of ConstantinopleReading from the Synaxarion:Saint Paul was from Thessalonica. He became the secretary of Alexander,Patriarch of Constantinople (see Aug. 30), a deacon, and then the successorof Saint Alexander in about 337. Because of his virtue, hiseloquence in teaching, and his zeal for Orthodoxy, the Arians hated andfeared him. When the Arian Emperor Constantius, who was in Antioch,learned of Paul's election, he exiled Paul and proclaimed the ArianEusebius Patriarch. Saint Paul went to Rome, where he found Saint
Athanasius the Great also in exile. Provided with letters by Pope Julius,Paul returned to Constantinople, and after the death of Eusebius in342, ascended again his rightful throne; the Arians meanwhile electedMacedonius, because he rejected the Son's con-substantiality with the Father(and the divinity of the Holy Spirit besides). When Constantius, yetat Antioch, learned of Paul's return, he sent troops toConstantinople to drive Paul out. The Saint returned to Rome, where SaintAthanasius also was again in exile. Constans, Emperor of the West,Constantius' brother, but Orthodox, wrote to Constantius that if Athanasiusand Paul were not allowed to return to their sees, he would come withtroops to restore them him-self. So Paul again returned to his throne.After the death of Constans, however, Constantius had Paul deposed.Because of the love of the people for Saint Paul, Philip the Prefect, whowas sent for him, was compelled to arrest him secretly to avoid asedition. Paul was banished to Cucusus, on the borders of Cilicia andArmenia; a town through which his most illustrious successor, Saint JohnChrysostom would also pass on his way to Comana in his last exile. InCucusus, about the year 350, as Saint Paul was celebrating the DivineLiturgy in the little house where he was a prisoner, the Arians strangledhim with his own omophorion, so much did they fear him even in exile.His holy relics were brought back to Constantinople with honour bythe Emperor Theodosius the Great.
Apolytikion in the Third ToneThy confession of the one divine Faith showed thee to the Church tobe a new Paul and a zealot among priests, O holy one. The righteousblood both of Abel and Zachary with thee doth cry out together unto theLord. Righteous Father, intercede with Christ God in our behalf thatHis great mercy may be granted unto us.
Kontakion in the Second ToneThou shonest on earth, a star bright with celestial light, and nowthou dost shine enlightenment on all the Church, in behalf of whichthou didst struggle, laying down thine own life, O Paul, and like Abeland Zachary, thy blood doth cry out most clearly to the Lord.
You may also read the prayer of the hour, listen to the weekly audio meditation and search for saints and feasts online by visiting the Online Chapel at: http://www.onlinechapel.goarch.org
Visit the online feast day and fasting calendar to view the prescribed fasting schedule for today at: http://www.calendar.goarch.org
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Podcast
Search the ScripturesInteresting and accessible Bible study for busy people
Presvytera and Dr. Jeannie Constantinou guides us through Holy Scripture with the eyes of the Church Fathers.
http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/searchthescripturesIntroduction to the Bible - Lesson 1: OverviewJune 07, 2008
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
