Topics
in Holy Scripture
The Holy Eucharist
|
Holy Confession
|
Holy Baptism
|
The Liturgy
|
The Church
|
Holy Matrimony
|
Theosis
|
Recapitulation
|
The Passions
|
Fasts & Feasts
|
Holy Traditions
|
Holy Scripture
|
The Theotokos
|
The Hours
|
The Anathemas
|
In our culture, it is with a certain ease
that Protestantism claims a kind of hegemony over the Scriptures, so that a
fundamentally fundamentalist understanding of them is sort of the status quo and
we are expected to quote proof texts on particularly Protestant ground in an
ongoing cultural debate. But the Holy Scriptures were never the property of
Protestantism but are rather the special possession and blessing of those who
wrote them – the Church, which had to exist first in order to write out of its
understanding and experience.
It is necessary then to cast off the
Protestant hermeneutic to see the truly Orthodox mind that the Scriptures
express. This cannot be reduced to arguments over proof texts, nor need the Church which wrote the Scriptures need to make
such argument. Our tradition is richer and more full
than that. But it is helpful, in this cultural milieu, to reconsider the depth
of our heritage in the Holy Texts. While that is a monumental and ultimately
lifelong undertaking for each of us, a topical survey may perhaps inspire in
the beginner some of the necessary confidence to turn to the work of our
Fathers, be it clothed with a Protestant binding, red-letters, Hebrew numbers,
and Anglican translation, and find in it the instruction concerning our Faith
that is necessary to life. This brief survey is a small encouragement to that
end.
Holy Eucharist
- [28] For this is my
blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the
remission of sins.
- [20] Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
- [53] Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto
you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man,
and drink his blood, ye
have no life in you.
- [54] Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood,
hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
- [55] For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
- [56] He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my
blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
- [16] The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the
communion of the blood of
Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of
Christ?
- [7] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace;
- [13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are
made nigh by the blood of
Christ.
- [19]
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
- [4] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened,
and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
- [17] For we being many are one bread,
and one body: for we are all
partakers of that one bread.
- [21]
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
Holy Confession as a Baptism
- [3] And he came into all the country about Jordan,
preaching the baptism of
repentance for the remission of sins;
Holy Baptism
(saving us as both figure and reality at once)
- [21] The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the
filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ:
- [19] Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from
the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
- [5] One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
- [16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned.
- [38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost.
- [41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there
were added unto them about three thousand souls.
- [12] But when they believed Philip preaching the things
concerning the kingdom of God,
and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
- [13] Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with
Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
- [16] And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
- [3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
- [13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one
Spirit.
- [27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
The Liturgy
(and the singing of psalms)
- [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in
your hearts to the Lord.
- [19] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody
in your heart to the Lord;
- [12] Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the
midst of the church will I sing
praise unto thee.
- [13] Is any among you afflicted? let
him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
- [19] Thy dead men shall live,
together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for
thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
- [5] Sing unto
the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the
earth.
- [2] While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I
have any being.
The Church
- [38] This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount
Sina,
and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
- [22] Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem:
and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go
as far as Antioch.
- [26] And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch.
And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.
And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
- [16]
Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
- [10] To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers
in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
- [21] Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
- [27]
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but
that it should be holy and without blemish.
- [18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the
preeminence.
- [24] Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that
which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's
sake, which is the church:
- [15]
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how
thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of
God, which is the church of
the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
- [12] Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the
midst of the church will I
sing praise unto thee.
- [23] To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to
God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
- [14] Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over
him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
- [20]
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest
in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are
the angels of the seven churches:
and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are
the seven churches.
Holy Matrimony
- [31] For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother,
and shall be joined unto
his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Theosis
- [4] Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises: that by these ye might be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that
is in the world through lust.
- [14]
For we are made partakers
of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast
unto the end;
- [6] Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath
begun a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Recapitulation
- [10] That in the
dispensation of the fulness of times he
might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in
heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
The Passions
- [15] And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men
of like passions with you,
and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the
living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that
are therein:
- [17] Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might
not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and
six months.
Fasts/Feasts
- [2] Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover,
and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
- [17]
Now the first day of the feast
of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where
wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
- [13] But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the
maimed, the lame, the blind:
- [2] Now the Jews'
feast of tabernacles was at hand.
- [8] Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet
full come.
- [10] But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto
the feast, not openly, but
as it were in secret.
- [11] Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
- [14] Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
- [37] In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried,
saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me,
and drink.
- [21] But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep
this feast that cometh in Jerusalem:
but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
- [8] Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of
malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and
truth.
- [2] And when he had
fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
- [16] Moreover when ye
fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad
countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men
to fast. Verily I say unto
you, They have their reward.
- [17] But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and
wash thy face;
- [18] That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy
Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee
openly.
- [14] Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
- [15] And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with
them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom
shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
- [21] Howbeit this kind goeth not out
but by prayer and fasting.
- [2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul
for the work whereunto I have called them.
- [3] And when they had
fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them
away.
- [23] And when they had ordained them elders in every church,
and had prayed with fasting,
they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
- [9] Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now
dangerous, because the fast
was now already past, Paul admonished
them,
- [33] And while the day was coming on, Paul
besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day
that ye have tarried and continued
fasting, having taken nothing
- [5] Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent
for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan
tempt you not for your incontinency.
- [5] In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
- [27] In weariness and painfulness, in watchings
often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings
often, in cold and nakedness.
Holy
Tradition
- [15] Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught,
whether by word, or our epistle.
- [6] Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from
every brother that walketh disorderly, and not
after the tradition which
he received of us.
Holy
Scripture
- [39] Search the
scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are
they which testify of me.
- [4] For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written
for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
- [15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to
make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- [16] All scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
- [20] Knowing this first, that no
prophecy of the scripture
is of any private interpretation.
- [16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these
things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that
are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own
destruction.
- [18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven
and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till
all be fulfilled.
- [17] And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle
of the law to fail.
The Theotokos
- [28] And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that
art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women.
- [42] And she spake out with a loud
voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb.
- [46] And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
- [47] And my spirit
hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
- [48] For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden:
for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
- [49] For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
The Hours
- [25] And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
- [33] And when the sixth
hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the
ninth hour.
- [34] And at the ninth
hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi,
Eloi, lama sabachthani?
which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me?
- [6] Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied
with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
- [14] And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith
unto the Jews, Behold your King!
- [27] Then saith he to the disciple,
Behold thy mother! And from that
hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
- [15] For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is
but the third hour of the
day.
- [3] He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God
coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
- [9] On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew
nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the
sixth hour:
- [30] And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until
this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and,
behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
The
Anathemas
- [22] If any man love not the Lord
Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema
Maranatha.