Back to Bible Basics for Orthodox Christians Session 4

Session 4 – Denominations VS The Church

A Discussion about proper biblical interpretation and Church Identity

Patristic Reference:

  • SJC Saint John Chrysostom Homilies
  • Maximos the Confessor Four Hundred Texts on Love
  • Irenaeus of Lyons – Against Heresies

Prayer before reading of the Holy Scriptures: Shine within our hearts, loving Master, the pure light of Your divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our minds that we may comprehend the message of Your Gospel. Instill in us also reverence for Your blessed commandments so that, having conquered sinful desires, we may pursue a spiritual life, thinking and doing all those things which are pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the light of our souls and bodies, and to You we give glory, together with Your Father who is without beginning and Your all holy, good and life giving Spirit, always now and forever and to the ages of ages.

  1. Biblical Examples of Ancient Church Unity of Theology
    1. Acts 2.42-47 (Unity) SJC Here are two virtues, perseverance and concord, ‘In the Apostles doctrine,’ he says: for they again taught them, ‘and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer.’ All in common, all with perseverance.
    2. Ephesians 4.1-6 (Unity of body and belief) SJC Now what is this one body? The faithful throughout the whole world, both which are, and which have been, and which shall be. And again, they that before Christ’s coming pleased God, are one body.
    3. Ephesians 4.25-26 (Our Baptism unites us) SJC Observe ministration, and interchange of service; observe a provident care arising from truth, and, as one might say, spontaneously from the heart. So surely should it be with us also; let us not lie, since we are members one of another. This is a sure token of friendship; whereas the contrary is of enmity. What then, you will ask, if a man shall use treachery against you? Hearken to the truth. If he use treachery, he is not a member; whereas he says, lie not towards the members.
    4. 1st John 4.1-3 (Proper Beliefs) Irenaeus – There is nothing less than shameful blasphemy against their Maker. What it comes down to is that they will not agree with either Scripture or Tradition…Polycarp, who not only was taught by the apostles, and associated with may who had seen Christ – I saw him myself in my early youth – departed this life in a ripe old age by a magnificent martyrdom. He always taught what he learned from the apostles, which the Church continues to hand on and which are the only truths.
  2. Biblical Examples of Ancient Intra-Church Participation
    1. 1st Corinthians 16.1-4 (Collections for other churches) SJC But having spoken about the collection, he did not say immediately, Let every one of you lay up in store with himself; although this of course was the natural consequence; but having first said, As I gave order to the Churches of Galatia, he added this, kindling their emulation by the account of the well-doings of others, and putting it in the form of a narration. And this also he did when writing to the Romans; for to them also while appearing to narrate the reason why he was going away to Jerusalem, he introduces thereupon his discourse about alms; But now I go unto Jerusalem, ministering unto the saints: for it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints. Romans 15:25 Only those he stimulates by mention of Macedonians and Corinthians; these of Galatians. For he says, As I gave order to the Churches of Galatia, so also do ye: for they would surely feel ashamed ever afterwards to be found inferior to Galatians. And he says not, I advised, and, I counselled; but, I gave order, which is more authoritative. And he does not bring forward a single city, or two, or three, but an entire nation: which also he does in his doctrinal instructions, saying, Even as also in all the Churches of the saints. For if this be potent for conviction of doctrines, much more for imitation of actions.
  3. Biblical Examples of Ancient Church Credentials and Vetting Process
    1. 2nd Corinthians 8.16-24 (Vetting church representatives) SJC Perhaps they did not know them; wherefore he does not dwell upon their praises because as yet they had had no experience of them, but only says so much as was sufficient for their commendation unto them (i.e. the Corinthians,) and to their escaping all evil suspicion.
  4. Biblical Examples of Ancient Church Structure
    1. Titus 1.5-9 (Authority of appointed leaders) SJC As if the whole world had been one house, they divided it among themselves, administering its affairs everywhere, each taking care of his several portions of it.
  5. Proper Biblical Interpretation
    1. Acts 8.34-35 (Ethiopian Eunuch) SJC For indeed the Prophet had the whole, Incarnation, Passion, Resurrection, Ascension, Judgment to come.
    2. Titus 2.1 (Sound doctrine) SJC But it is not so now. For we ought not to be confined to figures, and shadows, but to adhere to the truth, and to uphold it: sin is the unclean thing. From that let us flee, from that let us abstain.
    3. Matthew 7.7 VS James 4.3 (Proper Prayer) SJC For inasmuch as He had enjoined things great and marvellous, and had commanded men to be superior to all their passions, and had led them up to Heaven itself, and had enjoined them to strive after the resemblance, not of angels and archangels, but (as far as was possible) of the very Lord of all… Despond not therefore, O man, nor show less of zeal about virtue, than they do of desire for wealth. For things of that kind you have often sought and not found, but nevertheless, though thou know this, that you are not sure to find them, you put in motion every mode of search; but here, although having a promise that you will surely receive, thou dost not show even the smallest part of that earnestness. And if you dost not receive straightway, do not even thus despair. For to this end He said, knock, to signify that even if He should not straightway open the door, we are to continue there. VS MaxCon The rewards for the toils of virtue are dispassion and spiritual knowledge. For these are mediators of the kingdom of heaven, just as passions and ignorance are mediators of eternal punishment. It is because of this that he who seeks these rewards for the sake of human glory and not for their intrinsic goodness is rebuked by the words of Scripture, ‘You ask, and do not receive, because you ask wrongly’

Matthew 23.8-10 VS 1 Cor 4.15-16 (Spiritual Fathers)SJC For what says He? But be not ye called Rabbi. Then follows the cause also; For one is your master, and all you are brethren; Matthew 23:8 and one has nothing more than another, in respect of his knowing nothing from himself. Wherefore Paul also says, For who is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers? 1 Corinthians 3:5 He said not masters. And again, Call not, father, Matthew 23:9 not that they should not call, but they may know whom they ought to call Father, in the highest sense. For like as the master is not a master principally; so neither is the father. For He is cause of all, both of the masters, and of the fathers. VS And he says not merely, No one loves you so much; a statement which admitted not of being called in question; but he also brings forward a real fact. What then is this? For in Christ Jesus I begot you through the Gospel. In Christ Jesus. Not unto myself do I impute this. Again, he strikes at those who gave their own names to their teaching. For you, says he, are the seal of mine Apostleship. And again, I planted: and in this place, I begot. He said not, I preached the word, but, I begot; using the words of natural relationship. (τοῖς τῆς φύσεως ὀνόμασι) For his one care at the moment was, to show forth the love which he had for them. For they indeed received you from me, and led you on; but that you are believers at all came to pass through me. Thus, because he had said, as children; lest you should suppose that the expression was flattery he produces also the matter of fact.