EXCURSUS - RECENT DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING

THE ROLE OF SCRIPTURE IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

The year 1993 has surprised the publishing world with an unexpected title: The Orthodox Study Bible: The New Testament, prepared by a group of prestigious Orthodox scholars and published by Thomas Nelson. This study tool marks the new interest in Biblical studies in the Orthodox academic world and in the regular Bible study in the Orthodox parishes.

            Until recently, as a reaction against the destructive influence of Biblical criticism, Orthodox theologians have sought `refuge in a kind of crypto-fundamentalism' as Veselin Kesich calls it.[1] This could not continue for long. Already in the first part of this century Orthodox theologians like Sergius Bulgakov and Georges Florovsky were pleading for a change of attitude. They were conscious that, as Kallistos Ware says, `Orthodox Christians neglect to our own peril the results of independent scholarly research into the origin, dates and authorship of the Bible, although we shall always want to test these results in the light of Holy Tradition.'[2]

            One of the convincing arguments brought by Kesich in favor of a renewal of interest in Biblical studies was that a repudiation of the historical examination of written revelation would undermine the importance of the historical incarnation and would encourage Docetic tendencies.[3] He believes that there is a middle way between Biblicist fundamentalism and radical liberalism,[4] and that Orthodox Biblical studies would not have to fall into either error. Biblical studies based upon the insistence on the "spirit" of Scripture as opposed to the "letter" and a strong belief in the inspiration could protect the Orthodox from both extremes, and, through this revival of interest in the Bible, could bring "theological awakening" in the Orthodox environment. As a result of this renewed interest, writes Kesich,

We may expect soon the emergence of a group of young Orthodox Biblical scholars in America, grounded in Orthodox historical and theological tradition and with first-hand experience of doing research in Scripture. This will mark the intellectual and spiritual growth of our churches everywhere.[5]