This talk serves as an introduction, a point of view and questions. The answer is not given directly, and time answers, the Church answers, science answers. what is the Question? The question arises, especially for our Orthodox Church, which relies on Holy Tradition? This tradition, which includes the Holy Bible with the basic doctrines approved by the Ecumenical Councils... Quoted from Orthodox Heritage Magazine
Scientific studies, literary criticism, archeology, and historical-sociological studies and research have reconsidered the “traditional” interpretations and even the basic doctrines of the Church, such as the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, the virginity of Mary, the resurrection... For example, it was said that embryology excludes the occurrence of a virgin birth. The literary and historical study of Paul’s letters and their comparison with the Gospels reveals to some the importance of Paul in relation to the other apostles and even to Jesus?…
The Holy Bible is the fruit of tradition. The Apostle Paul says: “I delivered to you first of all what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. I delivered to you what I received...I preached and you taught” (1 Corinthians 15:1-11).
The question, or rather the questions, are the following: Does scientific criticism contradict tradition, complement it, correct it, or does it not accept it at all? The main question and problem, in my view, is not between scientific criticism and tradition, but rather between science and faith, between the mind and the heart. The following questions are asked: Are the basic beliefs established, are the scientific conclusions themselves correct, an absolute and established truth? What is the function of science, what is the function of reason, where are their limits? What is faith and what is its function? This reminds us of Pascal’s saying: “Science sans conscience n'est que ruine de l'âme.” Knowledge without conscience is nothing but the destruction of the soul.”
How then do we reconcile scientific criticism with tradition? Studies have their importance, the mind has its role and function, and God created it for that.
Comparing the Epistles to the Gospels could lead to Paul being considered the true founder of the church. As for faith, it also has its function and it complements knowledge just as the heart perfects the mind. Reason is necessary, faith does not cancel it. Man is one with his mind and his heart. But the final truth of faith is to be seen after rational inspection.
The Holy Bible is an integrated unit, in which the Old Testament is understood in the light of the New Testament. For example, let us take the phrase: “Behold, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 4:7) in comparison with the phrase of Matthew the Evangelist: “Behold, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call his name Immanuel, which is interpreted, ‘God with us’.”
Also: Every appearance of God in the Old Testament is an appearance of God the Son and not of God the Father
Also: The suffering servant in Isaiah 52-53 refers to the Son of God, the incarnate Christ.
The Holy Book is a testimony of the Holy Trinity for the life and salvation of the world. It is the story of salvation: creation - fall... redemption.
The faith interpretation is based on vision
Faith is through reason and is completed through sight. In the Divine Liturgy, we say, “Since we have seen the resurrection of Christ...” and we do not say, “Since we have believed in the resurrection of Christ...” Seeing is in the spirit and is true knowledge (see John 14:16 and 26). The liturgy and the sacraments are nothing but a recollection of the saving evangelical events: “O Savior, yesterday we were buried with you, so today we will rise with you through your resurrection.” Yesterday we were crucified with you, and you glorified us with you in your kingdom” (The Magic of Easter, the Third Valleys).
The phrase “the Word of God” in patristic interpretation is a person and a testimony
It is an uncreated divine experience written in created human terms. The Bible is the Word of God in human expression. Therefore, it is necessary to re-explain the Word of God to every generation in church life, provided that this complete and clear interpretation, or rather a modern translation, comes from church people who have lived the same spiritual experience.
The Word of God cannot be understood except from a Trinitarian perspective. Revelation proceeds from the Father through the Son and is revealed through the Holy Spirit.
Salvation is achieved by grace, not by reason
Because grace is divine and not created. Modern critical interpretation first addresses the mind, which must participate in the process of salvation, but it is not sufficient.
Personal interpretation is only correct in harmony with the community of believers in the church. Teachings and beliefs (even biblical ones) are nothing but the fruit of the life of believers in Christ under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
The modern critic (in historical literary criticism and archaeology) cannot fail to take into account the basic faith doctrines of the Church, otherwise there is a danger of falling into doubt about the Trinity, about virginity, about the divinity of Christ... and that is because of personal intellectual conclusions and not because of scientific discoveries themselves, especially since Faith is not subject to scientific investigation.
Moving from the literal meaning to the spiritual meaning, from promise to fulfillment, Sensus plenior, meaning the complete meaning. There is no way to know the truth without the work of the Holy Spirit, without humility. This reminds us of the Islamic saying that the Holy Book should only be touched by those who have been purified. Father Florevsky says: “No one can understand the book if he does not repent, if he does not change his mind. How can we explain it if we add the original explanation, which is the faith that was delivered once to the saints” (Jude 3).
Conclusion :
The Holy Book was created in the community and its purpose is to edify the community. Revelation is God's way in history. The Law and the Prophets are all woven into the fabric of history. It reached its peak when God Himself entered history when He incarnated the Word of God and became a human being.
The Old Testament is distinguished from the New Testament and they are linked through the person of Jesus Christ. He is the focus of the book. He completed the Old Testament (the Law and the Prophets).
The Bible is the Word of God, but it is based on the testimony of the Church. The testimony of the Spirit revives the written words. Those who wrote the book were teachers and witnesses.
We want to baptize scientific criticism with Christ, to graft it to become a tool for salvation, so that it does not remain sterile, but rather so that it does not become a tool for what is the Antichrist. This, I believe, is the message of us Orthodox Christians, this remaining remnant that has not yet completely sunk into the secularism of the West, nor has it become frozen in the law of Judaism and Islam.
This is a research and life project proposed in the Church, and indeed in the entire world, to all believers and especially to modern Christian scholars.
Written by Archimandrite Avram Kiryaos
Currently the Metropolitan of Tripoli
Quoted from Orthodox Heritage Magazine
