Scripture Archives – Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy

Modern Biblical Studies Meets Eastern Orthodoxy: A Personal Defense of Historical Scholarship

July 5, 2021July 5, 2021 · Robin Phillips

If we dismiss this scholarly work as unnecessary—perhaps on the erroneous assumption that the Bible can just “speak for itself” or that we can approach “the plain meaning of Scripture”—then by default we will unconsciously read Scripture in light of our own tradition.

Scripture: Myth or History?

July 4, 2019 · Fr. Stephen De Young

The scriptures call us, rather than attempting to reframe the scriptures and tradition of the church within the context of the things which we as modern people "now know," to reframe our own understanding of our lives, our personal histories, and the world as we encounter it in terms of the fullness of God's creation and the reality of Jesus Christ himself.

Protestants and a Churchless Tradition: “Sola” vs. “Solo” Scriptura

October 4, 2014June 18, 2020 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

One of my ongoing fascinations is what I have come to refer to in my head as “the Evangelical appropriation of tradition.” Charismatics are celebrating Lent. Baptists are talking about the Eucharist. The inscrutable maybe-universalist and now Oprah-darling Rob Bell is even using the phrase the tradition. Maybe this tradition stuff isn’t so bad. I can branch out a little. I can…

Orthodox Theology in Symphonic Harmony

September 9, 2013 · Jamey Bennett

I once jumped off the southernmost point in the United States into the ocean, and the only way I was able to do it was to suck up my fear, hop off the cliff, and face what may. Or, rather, back what may. Ouch. I’ve been behind the scenes here at Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy doing very little but cheerleading for over a…

Should Christians read the Book of Esther?

June 10, 2013March 28, 2017 · Guest Author

The following guest piece by Joel J. Miller originally ran under the title “You’re reading the wrong Book of Esther.” It is republished here with permission. The Book of Esther occupies a controversial place in the Bible. John Calvin did not include the book in his biblical commentaries and only referenced it once in the Institutes (see 4.12.17). Though he included it…

Cyril Jenkins on Forensic Justification in Scripture

November 24, 2012 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

Here’s an interesting post from earlier this week by O&H author Dr. Cyril Jenkins on why all the “righteousness” language in Scripture cannot actually be interpreted in a single way, namely, the Reformed sense of forensic justification. This is from his weblog Lux Christi.

Using the Bible Against Christians: Sola Scriptura Atheism

August 14, 2012July 30, 2018 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

One of the things that struck me during the Chick-Fil-A debacle couple of weeks ago was a curious theme I perceived in the inundation of negative comments I saw on social media regarding the statements made by Chick-Fil-A COO Dan Cathy, who came out (no pun intended… no, really) in favor of “the biblical definition of the family unit.” What was that…