“This is the cause of all evils: the ignorance of the Scriptures. We go into battle without arms, and how ought we to come off safe?” –St. John Chrysostom, Homily IX on Colossians
Please join us in our study of Holy Scripture in the Orthodox Christian Tradition at St. John’s, through the videos, articles, and prayers, linked below, and at our online and in-person discussions (check out the St. John’s website for details). Please also feel free to be in touch with any questions or to talk.
May the Lord give us good strength and wisdom,
Rev. Prof. Paul Siewers, Ph.D., priestpauls@pm.me, 570-863-9039
BIBLE STUDY VIDEOS
Bible Study on Genesis and Job, with an overall introduction to our Orthodox Bible Study.
Exodus and Isaiah.
On Eagle’s Wings: Inspiration in Difficult Times from the Gospel of John and the Books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
Daniel and the 12 “Minor” Prophets
HELPFUL ESSAYS ON ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN APPROACHES TO BIBLE STUDY
Fr. Michael Pomazansky, “The Old Testament and Rationalistic Bible Criticism”
Fr. John Whiteford, the Orthodox Critique of “Sola Scriptura”
Constantine Siamakis, “Transmission of the Text of the Holy Bible”
Michael Asser, “The Septuagint“
Fr. Michael Pomazansky, “The Old Testament in the New Testament Church”
Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky), “The Bible and Tradition”
Fr. John Romanides, “Orthodox Christianity and the Bible”
Fr. John Whiteford, “An Orthodox Look at English Translations of the Bible”
Fr. John Whiteford, “Beginning to Read and Understand the Bible,” a 3-Part Guide
BACKGROUND TOPICS
Aspects of the Holy Scriptures as Books
Names for God in Holy Scripture and Translations
King James Version Biblical English
Numbering of the Books of Esdra(s) and the presence of 4 Maccabees
Old Testament
Grounded in the Beginning: Blessed Seraphim Rose and the Patristic View of Creation
The Chiasmus of Creation
Christian Panentheism? Scriptural Aspects and Orthodox Apologetics
Parallelism in the Psalms: A talk by Fr./Prof. John Boddecker
Created Wisdom in the Wisdom of Sirach?
Noah’s Curse on Ham’s Son Canaan
Jeremiah and the Ark of the Covenant
Dating of the Exiles of the People of Israel in the Old Testament, and Ezekiel’s “190 days”
The Prophet Daniel’s Seventy Weeks
New Testament
The Apocalypse Study Guides
Structure of the Apocalypse and Particular Meanings
The Seven Churches and the Seven Ages
The Twelve Tribes in Revelation
The Millennium and the Heresy of Chiliasm
The Beatitudes and the Ten Commandments: An Orthodox Christian Parallel
On Not Saying “You Fool” and “Father”: The Gift of Words and Orthodox Christian Apologetics
“Super-Substantiation” vs. Transubstantiation and the Mystery of the Eucharist
Seven Graces or Virtues of the Holy Ghost
Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit as Virtues
Genealogy of Jesus Christ in the Gospels
Holy Ghost as English Translation
The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus and the “Missing” Scriptural Phrase
The Church’s Medicine for the World’s Spiritual Usury
Translation of the Biblical word for “Church”
CALENDAR AND CHRONOLOGY
Sacred Time: The Orthodox Christian Calendar and Its Roots in Holy Scripture and Church Tradition
The Sabbath and the Lord’s Day
ICONOGRAPHY AND THE BIBLE
God the Father in Orthodox Iconography
MISCELLANEOUS REFERENCES
Welsh reading for Orthodox Christian Agape Vespers Gospel
An outline for daily prayers including Scripture readings
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ORTHODOX PRAYERS BEFORE AND AFTER READING HOLY SCRIPTURE
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:
Illumine my heart, O Master who lovest mankind, with the pure light of Thy divine knowledge. Open Thou the eyes of my mind to the understanding of Thy Gospel teachings. Implant also in me a love for Thy blessed commandments. Grant me the grace to overcome all my carnal desires, so that I may enter more completely into a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well pleasing to Thee; For Thou art the illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory, together with Thine all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit; now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ, open Thou the eyes of my heart, that I may hear Thy word and understand and do Thy will, for I am a sojourner upon the earth. Hide not Thy commandments from me, but open mine eyes, that I may perceive the wonders of Thy law. Speak unto me the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom. On Thee do I set my hope, O my God, that Thou shalt enlighten my mind and understanding with the light of Thy knowledge, not only to cherish those things which are written, but to do them, that in reading the lives and sayings of the Saints I may not sin, but that such may serve for my restoration, enlightenment and sanctification, for the salvation of my soul, and the inheritance of life everlasting; For Thou art the enlightenment of those who lie in darkness, and from Thee cometh every good deed and every gift. Amen.
After Reading:
I thank You, Lord our God, that again on this occasion You have opened my eyes to the light of Your wisdom. You have gladdened my heart with the knowledge of truth. I entreat You, Lord, help me always to do Your will. Bless my soul and body, my words and deeds. Enable me to grow in grace, virtue and good habits, that Your name may be glorified, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
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About Scripture from An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, by St. John of Damascus, and his Defense Against Those Who Oppose Holy Images, c. 700
“Wherefore, let us knock at that very fair garden of the Scriptures, so fragrant and sweet and blooming, with its varied sounds of spiritual and divinely-inspired birds ringing all round our ears, laying hold of our hearts, comforting the mourner, pacifying the angry and filling him with joy everlasting, bearing us up to the Only-begotten Son and bringing us through Him to the Father of Lights. But let us not knock carelessly at the door of the Scriptures but rather zealously and constantly, lest knocking we grow weary. For thus it will be opened to us. If we read once or twice and do not understand what we read, let us not grow weary, but let us persist, let us talk much, let us inquire. ‘For ask your Father and He will tell you, and your elders and they will tell you.’ Let us draw from the fountain of the garden continual and pure waters springing up to eternal life. Here let us be in luxury, let us revel to the full, for the Scriptures possess inexhaustible grace. But if we are able to pluck anything profitable from outside sources, there is nothing to forbid that.”
–St. John of Damascus, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, 4.17
“I do not venerate matter, but the Creator of matter, Who became matter for my sake and deigned to live in matter and bring about my salvation through matter…. But I do not venerate it in absolute terms as God! How could that which, from non-existence, has been given existence, be God?…But I also venerate and respect all the rest of matter which has brought me salvation, since it is full of energy and Holy graces. Is not the wood of the Cross, three times blessed, matter?… And the ink, and the most Holy Book of the Gospels, are they not matter? The redeeming altar which dispenses the Bread of life, is it not matter?… And, before all else, are not the flesh and blood of Our Lord matter?. … It was necessary for nature to be strengthened and renewed, and for the path of virtue to be indicated and effectively taught, the path that leads away from corruption and toward eternal life…So there appeared on the horizon of history the great sea of love that God bears toward man.”
–St. John of Damascus, Defense Against Those Who Oppose Holy Images