Back to Bible Basics for Orthodox Christians Session 10

Back to Bible Basics for Orthodox Christians

Session 10 – The Bible as Salvation – The Word of God

Patristic Reference – Saint John Chrysostom Homily 87 On the Gospel of John

Patristic Reference – Saint John Chrysostom Homily 5 on 2nd Thessalonians

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.

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples which are not written in this book: but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20.30-31

  1. Belief SJC Whence it is clear, that What they have mentioned they wrote not for display, but only for the sake of what was useful. For how could they who omitted the greater part, write these others for display? But why went they not through them all? Chiefly on account of their number; besides, they also considered, that he who believed not those they had mentioned, would not give heed to a greater number; while he who received these, would have no need of another in order to believe.
    1. We become children of God – 1 Corinthians 11,2 OSB 1563
    2. Belief comes from seeing God in the Scriptures – Luke 24.25 OSB 1415
    3. Belief is ONLY possible when God opens our eyes – Luke 24.31-32
  2. Life in His NameSJC Speaking generally to mankind, and showing that not on Him who is believed on, but on ourselves, he bestows a very great favor. In His Name, that is, through Him; for He is the Life.
    1. Knowing God is life – John 17.3 OSB 1458
    2. Communion God is life – John 6.54 OSB 1436
    3. Sin is death – Romans 6.23 OSB 1533
    4. Seeking righteousness leads to life – 1 Timothy 6.11-13 OSB 1639
    5. Good works lead to life – 1 Timothy 6.18-19 OSB 1639
    6. Life is promised by God through Communion – 1 John 2.24-25 OSB 1700
  3. Traditions of the Church are given for our salvation SJC Hence it is manifest, that they did not deliver all things by Epistle, but many things also unwritten, and in like manner both the one and the other are worthy of credit. Therefore let us think the tradition of the Church also worthy of credit. It is a tradition, seek no farther. Here he shows that there were many who were shaken.
    1. 1 Corinthians 11.2 – OSB 1563
    2. 2 Thessalonians 2.15 – OSB 1631