How to read the Bible: An Orthodox perspective

[Veladio]

I don't think you can really tell people how to read a holy book. That would be like me trying to tell someone how to read the Eddas, or The Book of Shadows.

[Nordengrund]

I don't think you can really tell people how to read a holy book. That would be like me trying to tell someone how to read the Eddas, or The Book of Shadows.

^This. I just say read it in the way that you feel the most comfortable with. If you regard the Bible as the error free and literal Word of God, read it like that. If you think it is heresy to take the Bible literally and prefer to follow what the translators said, read it that way. Whatever way you prefer.

[Distruzio]

Read this, Nord: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=174780&p=9725734&hilit=sola#p9725734

I am not a sola scripturist, because I do not regard the Bible as a getting you saved, but as a way for finding out the truth.

That is sola scriptura.

Doesn't the pastor serve the same role as the pope except he is not a physical embodiment of God?

No. A pastor is quite different.

The pope is Catholic, yet you are Orthodox, meaning your loyalty is to the patriarch and not the pope, who you say is the ruler of the true church.

I've yet claim anyone but Christ as the head of the Church. My loyalty is to the Patriarch, who is a bishop of equal primacy of the Pope... which the Catholics deny.

[The Realm of God]

I don't think you can really tell people how to read a holy book. That would be like me trying to tell someone how to read the Eddas, or The Book of Shadows.

I thought Wiccans made there own book of shadows.

[The Merchant Republics]

Ironically, I'm beginning to believe non-denominational protestantism is perhaps the worst kind you can be regarding the dangers of sola scriptura interpretation.

The purpose of the Church, indeed even the division within the church is reforming the canon to stay in line with the intent and purpose of God. A protestant who follows or at least rebukes himself with the canon of his church is staying true that purpose and avoiding the dangers of sola scriptura, even if he disagrees as I do often with my church. I should not avoid seeking their opinion or the opinion of other Christians on my interpretations, I admit I have in many cases but then I prefer to reproach myself in the doctrines of other sects.

That was a bit rambled, I mean to say, a non-denominational believer can cause problems for himself because the Christian Church demands quite strongly that we act as a body. By refusing to hold the canon of anyone protestant church and instead picking and choosing what he likes say from Baptists and Presbyterians but not actively rebuking himself through the church. He is actually dwelling deeper into sola scriptura, by trusting only his own interpretation.

Do not misunderstand Distruzio as saying you don't believe in God or Christ, instead realize that he is correct to say that we protestants do in fact allow for and encourage personal interpretations of scripture.

Things which have led to, as an example the writhing mass of simultaneous hatred, ignorance, and heresy that is the Westboro Baptist Church.

Its not that he's saying that the Orthodox are right and Protestants wrong in their specific interpretations, (though I'm certain he would in certain areas) its that protestants by emphasizing personal interaction with scripture over the canon the church itself presents have created a situation which lets many false Christians triumph bigotries and trumperies that should have been rightly corrected if they had, as the Orthodox do, emphasized that the Bible is a vastly difficult thing to fully understand and that the church as a body is tasked with making it understandable. It should not be done alone without rebuke or debate.

[TriStates]

Step 1. Pick up bible.
Step 2. Open bible to first page.
Step 3. Move your eyes down the page.
Step 4. Turn to next page.
Repeat steps 3-4 until book is finished. Congratulations, your now reading the the bible like a pro.

And just because you tell a six-grader to pick up & read The Wealth of Nations doesn't mean he will comprehend it. The Bibles not exactly light reading of itself.

[Farnhamia]

Step 1. Pick up bible.
Step 2. Open bible to first page.
Step 3. Move your eyes down the page.
Step 4. Turn to next page.
Repeat steps 3-4 until book is finished. Congratulations, your now reading the the bible like a pro.

And just because you tell a six-grader to pick up & read The Wealth of Nations doesn't mean he will comprehend it. The Bibles not exactly light reading of itself.

Please don't go digging up threads that have been quietly mouldering in the grave for almost two years. Thank you.