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Instant Voodoo death spells, I need instant death spells, 916366024005

<br>If you desperately need an honest and real death spell caster who can help you cast a perfect death spell on anyone then contact this great death spell caster called Dr Mudi. He saved my marriage when he helped me cast a death spell on the lady that almost took my husband completely away from me and the kids. just within 24hours after the casting the bitch died in her sleeping bed.You too can try this man also;<br>Breaking a relationship or destroying someone's causing to separate or divorce u00b7 <br>Controlling WhatsApp: 916366024005<br>Email: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com<br>

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Instant Voodoo death spells, I need instant death spells, 916366024005

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  1. Welcome to the great temple of wealth and power, WhatsApp: +2348169224726 i am DR MUDI and I was born in August 1965. I am a degree holder in Agricultural science. I inherited this temple from my father. Since then, i have been a spell caster, and i have helped series of people all over the continent, and my spells has really worked out for different people, and it has been 100% accurate. And It’s been more than 37 years that I have been working hard to satisfy my clients all over the world. What i need here are real people who really know what they want, and people who are ready to make their wish come through, no matter what it takes. But if I feel that you’re serious and really need my help, then I will make my possible means and effort to make your dreams come true and will help you in priority. I compiled a list of spells which i am specialized with, and which I have amazing results also. I get information from all over the world with the spirits and the ancestors. Wherever you live, I can help you with any trouble or circumstances you find yourself on. My beliefs is: To any problem there is always a solution to it. My spells are tremendously influential and a positive answer from them will immediately solve your problem with 100% Guaranteed. Call / WhatsApp: +2349052617210 Email: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com Website: http://mudispellhome.blogspot.com/http://fortune-spell.over-blog.com website; https://drmudispelltemple.com,https://mudispellhomes.wordpress.co m Bring Back Ex Lover, Lost Love Spell Caster, Voodoo love spell in UK, Belfast, Lord Howe Island, Victoria, Sydney, Brisbane, Botswana , Alabama WhatsApp:+2348169224726 Are you looking for the best help? Have you been searching all over to find a professional and real African traditional herbalist/spell caster? If your answer to these questions is “YES”, then you have come to the right place! We are determined to offer exactly what you’ re seeking: Fast and everlasting results! From love spells to money spells, we provide the most authentic spells you’ve ever encountered.WhatsApp:+2348169224726 Email: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com Website: http://mudispellhome.blogspot.com/http://fortune-spell.over-blog.com website;https://drmudispelltemple.com https://mudispellhomes.wordpress.com Instantly Need A Real Love Spell Caster To Help Me Bring Back My Ex Lover WhatsApp: +2348169224726 My Husband broke up with me after 9years of relationship. It started from small misunderstandings after which he told me that it would be good to take a break, which I think turned into a breakup. He no longer looks for me, he blocked my number and people said they saw him with another woman, this brought tears to my eyes because we are about to marry, I searched for help when I came across this spiritual man called Dr Mudi who have helped many people having relationship problem, I talked with him about my situation and he described to me the process to get back with my lover, I followed his instructions and today I’m happy because my man came back after 5 months of breakup and we are happily married now. If you need the help of a spell caster for any kind of relationship problem contact Dr Mudi for a lasting solution.CONTACT Call /WhatsApp: +2348169224726 Email: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com Website: http://mudispellhome.blogspot.com/http://fortune-spell.over-blog.com, website; https://drmudispelltemple.com,https://mudispellhomes.wordpress.co m LOVE SPELLS WHAT ARE LOVE SPELLS? WhatsApp: +2348169224726 Love spells and return ex actions are being practice for as long as documented history exists. All actions if by what Practical kabbalah calls the secret of sound, such as spells , prayers and voodoo casters or by the secret of matter (potions, kabbalah remedies ,amulets) must be perform according to the proper mapping of both lovers, better done in an early state when the emotional factor is still unstable and can be adjusted to our will. A love spell or return ex action that is perform after long periods of time is significantly more complicated, hence to the time factor that weakens the emotional communication tube (Native), that is critical for the transferring of the emotions, thoughts and information we wish to form in our lover. Attract the love, desire & affection of the opposite sex using love attraction. Love spells that will make you be desired by any person of your choice. Call / WhatsApp: +2348169224726 Email: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com Website: http://mudispellhome.blogspot.com/http://fortune-spell.over-blog.com website; https://drmudispelltemple.com,https://mudispellhomes.wordpress.co m HAVE YOUR WIFE BACK TO YOU IN 48HOURS CONTACT DR MUDI EMAIL: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com,call and whatsApp him on this +2348169224726 Good news. my testimony is about the powerful spell caster called Dr Mudi who helped me to restored me to bring back my wife after she saw me hugging a lady, and she took it hard that i am having affair with the lady and she left home. i tried all my best to get her back but all to no avail. and it so frustrating but i head on getting back no matter what. did all i could but i was still couldn't until i saw a so much comment on how Dr Mudi has restored Ex back and many broken home. i mail him and he told me to relax that my wife will come back to me after he has cast the love spell in 48hours. my wife will call and first apologize and then come back home and apologize again. so i gave in and he did the spell and after 48hours my wife did as he has said. today my family is back as an happy family. All to Dr Mudi: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com,call and whatsApp him on this +2348169224726 or drmudispellhomeblogspot.com, website; https://drmudispelltemple.com HE IS SPECIALIZE IN THE FOLLOWING SPELL.; drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com,call and whatsApp him on this +2348169224726 (1) If you want your ex back.(2) if you always have bad dreams.(3) If you want to be promoted in your office.(4) If you want women/men to run after you.(5) If you want a child.(6) If you want to be rich.(7) If you want to have your husband/wife to be yours forever.(8) l If you need financial assistance from a stranger(9) How you been scammed and you want to recover your lost money.(10) if you want to stop your divorce.(11) if you want to divorce your husband.(12) if you want your wishes to be granted.(13) Pregnancy spell to conceive a baby(14) Guarantee you win the troubling court cases & divorce no matter how what stage (15) Stop your marriage or relationship from breaking apart.(16) if you have any sickness like ( H I V ), (CANCER) or any sickness.(17) if you need prayers for deliverance for your child or yourself.Once again i want you contact him if you have any problem relating to the list above,he will help you... and your problems will be solvedhe is indeed a great man! drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com,call and whatsApp him on this +2348169224726 or drmudispellhomeblogspot.com, website; https://drmudispelltemple.com My Happiness is Mine; drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com,call and whatsApp him on this +2348169224726 Oh! Don't look further. Wait and read my opinion on your search for a spell caster. Know Doctor Mudi. He helped me got pregnant with spell casting. My name is Peggy Rothschild from United States. My husband and I have been together now for 23 years and i could not be pregnant for him because the doctors have confirmed that i was a barren woman. My stay with him was not comfortable without a child so i resorted to herbal medicine and none of the herbal drugs worked for me and my problem never went away. I read a testimony on facebook about this spell caster Doctor Mudi how he has been helping people and i was skeptical about contacting because i don't know this spell caster from anywhere. But i did contact him. After a week of conversation, i received my help from whom i didn't know and still put faith. Months passed, and i became visibly pregnant and i was very happy. What I see in this is that it is one day you will use to get to know someone before you judge. The truth is i never knew spell casting can help me with this problem that i have been having for over 23 years and now, I and my husband is living happily. This is why i said "Know Doctor Mudi Try to contact this spell caster and he will give you help; drmudispellhome@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com,call and whatsApp him on this +2348169224726 or drmudispellhomeblogspot.com, website; https://drmudispelltemple.com Instantly Need A Real Love Spell Caster To Help Me Bring Back My Ex Lover WhatsApp: +2348169224726 My Husband broke up with me after 9years of relationship. It started from small misunderstandings after which he told me that it would be good to take a break, which I think turned into a breakup. He no longer looks for me, he blocked my number and people said they saw him with another woman, this brought tears to my eyes because we are about to marry, I searched for help when I came across this spiritual man called Dr Mudi who have helped many people having relationship problem, I talked with him about my situation and he described to me the process to get back with my lover, I followed his instructions and today I’m happy because my man came back after 5 months of breakup and we are happily married now. If you need the help of a spell caster for any kind of relationship problem contact Dr Mudi for a lasting solution.CONTACT Call /WhatsApp: +2348169224726 Email: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com Website: http://mudispellhome.blogspot.com/http://fortune-spell.over-blog.com, website;https://drmudispelltemple.com https://mudispellhomes.wordpress.com NEED INSTANT DEATH SPELLS - VOODOO REVENGE DEATH SPELLS CASTER CONTACT DR MUDI,WhatsApp +2348169224726 Hello everyone, I want to use this medium to appreciate Dr Mudi for his help, my problems started last year December when I have little misunderstanding with my in-law and she wanted me out of her house which my husband couldn't stop, I did everything possible to make peace with her but nothing work out, after a long time I watch on YouTube on how Africa black magic works, I did a research on the internet when I saw this article of Dr Mudi and some testimony about his work with different people, I contact Dr Mudi and explained my problems to him and he promise to help, today am here with so much joy because Dr Mudi have cast his death spell on my in-law and she's gone for good, I advice anyone reading this who have any problem or need a death Spellcasters to contact Dr Mudi, he's real and powerful death spell caster from ile ife . Contact him via WhatsApp:+2348169224726 Email: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com website;https://drmudispelltemple.com Husband & Wife Problem Solution. Solve Marriage Divorce Problem Spells:WhatsApp: +2348169224726 No two person are the same. Even in the best couples, circumstances and situations play villains. If you want to resolve your marriage divorce problems with your husband/wife and lead a happy family life, you can turn to astrology voodoo spellcaster for the answers. Many times, the problems are within us or near us but, we fail to see them. With Dr Mudi guidance you can see the missing piece and start the healing process. Identifying the problem is the first step to resolution.The ancient knowledge of astrology voodoo spellcaster can change your family life forever. Call Dr Mudi for an appointment today.WhatsApp: +2348169224726 Email: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com Website: http://mudispellhome.blogspot.com/http://fortune-spell.over-blog.com website;https://drmudispelltemple.com https://mudispellhomes.wordpress.com Lucky Charms To Open Up Your Luck (+2348169224726) Remove Back Luck In Norway London,New Jersey-USA Everything is Going My Way Helps everything work out to your advantage!If nothings been going right, if it seems like too many things or people are working against you, or if you have several different areas of life that all need help at the same time, this might be just the good luck spell you’ve been looking for! This good luck spell is one of my personal favorites, because it takes every situation, no matter what it might be and manages to turn everything into a situation that somehow benefits you in some way. Within a day or two of casting this spell most people notice a growing feeling of being extremely lucky, like no matter what happens, it will somehow work to their benefit, and it does! A person who lost their job, finds a better one making more money. A person who broke their leg meets their future spouse at the hospital and on and on the list goes so that no matter what’s going on in your life, it helps you come out the winner!Your own special, unique lucky charm that is yours and yours alone!If you’re looking for an all-around good luck spell, this one’s for you. The great thing about this good luck charm spell is that it will draw to you a special good luck charm that is uniquely yours, and yours alone. It may only take a day or two to find it, but never more than a week. Within one week of having this spell cast, Universal Forces will draw to you an object that possesses unusually lucky energy. This object is your lucky charm amulet to carry with you as often as possible. The longer, and more often you carry it with you, the stronger its energies become. The object is usually quite small, something you can easily carry in your pocket or purse, or make into a necklace, ring or other piece of jewelry. You will know when you have found your special lucky amulet because you will feel drawn to it like a magnet. It could be almost anything. A few examples of objects clients have found are: a piece of jewelry such as a ring, bracelet, necklace etc, a coin, a rock, a seashell, a business card, a feather, a playing card, a key ring, a safety pin, etc. Find your special lucky charm today! WhatsApp: +2348169224726 Email: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com Website: http://mudispellhome.blogspot.com/http://fortune-spell.over-blog.com website; https://drmudispelltemple.com,https://mudispellhomes.wordpress.co m Family Reunion Spells In Usa, Norway Dr Mudi Voodoo Spell Homes.WhatsApp: +2348169224726 Family Reunion Spells. Are you here to make sure that your wife or husband comes back to you no matter what happened? Are you the reason why your partner walked away from you and now you want him or her to sincerely forgive you for whatever happened? Cast this family reunion spells to make your partner return back to you and also make the past never to influence his or her decisions in the future because my love spells compel the past to remain in the past.Reunion love spells are very important spells when it comes to reunifying lost love and souls in the real world. Casting these love spells to reunite two souls will break your lover from any relationship that they are currently involved in and bring him or her directly to you. Immediately once your partner is back then a permanent protection spell and the binding spell will be cast to make sure that you keep your partner for as long as you wish. Therefore if love is there and you want to experience it again then you must request these family reunion love spells.Return Husband / Wife to Reunite a Family Are you here to make sure that your wife or husband comes back to you no matter what happened? Are you the reason why your partner walked away from you and now you want him or her to sincerely forgive you for whatever happened? Cast this family reunion love spells that work. I guarantee you that immediately I cast these family reunion love spells that work you will have your husband or wife back to you and the past will also never influence his or her decisions in the future because my spells compel the past to remain in the past. Are you always bothered about getting home because you never have peace there? Do you want to create a mutual understanding between the two of you because you probably think it will bring peace and happiness to the family? Cast these family reunion love spells that work they are the perfect solution to bring love, peace, and happiness to your family. From long ago we describe the family as the only place where we find peace and honesty in life so if yours doesn’t have peace then you must create it today.WhatsApp: +2348169224726 Email: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com +2348169224726 Website: http://mudispellhome.blogspot.com/http://fortune-spell.over-blog.com website; https://drmudispelltemple.com,https://mudispellhomes.wordpress.co m +2348169224726 Same Day Lost Love Spell Caster Astrology Psychic in Gloucester-Cheltenham Torbay Lincoln Sheffield. Mudi Spell is famous all over the world as best magic spell caster. He can solve each and every problems of life through his powerful services.He have proved himself through his work, He have helped many people all around the world through spells. He is also famous as black magic specialist. He solves every problem in the easiest way and gives his 100% and bring out the desired result to satisfy the person who comes to him for help.And if you are searching for a spell caster to solve your problems then you are on the right place. He provides various services like Lost love spell, Love spell, Lottery spell, Black Magic spells, Revenge spells, Love spell chants, Lottery spell that work immediately, Lottery money spell, Voodoo love spell, Real Love spell that work, etc.So if you are having any problem and want to solve it through magic spells then fee free contact Dr Mudi. Even you can free call him through.Call /WhatsApp: +2348169224726 Email: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com Website: http://mudispellhome.blogspot.com/http://fortune-spell.over-blog.com website;https://drmudispelltemple.com CANCEL A DIVORCE OR BREAK UP SPELL. WhatsApp: +2348169224726 If your partner wants to divorce you, and everything is going wrong in your Marriage, you need to Order this spell that will save your marriage and cancel every on going divorce. no matter how long you have been away with your partner..This spell renew love, passion and it restore back feelings. Once this spell is been cast, your husband or your wife is going to love you, just as the love at first sight. Thanks to this spell, and its very powerful and very fast in action. Call / WhatsApp: +2348169224726 Email: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com Website: http://mudispellhome.blogspot.com/http://fortune-spell.over-blog.com website;https://drmudispelltemple.com MOST FAMOUS VOODOO DEATH REVENGE SPELL CASTER THAT WORK FAST NO SIDE EFFECT AND IT DOESN’T BACKFIRES WhatsApp: +2348169224726 Voodoo Revenge spells for revenge, job revenge spells ,business revenge spells, enemy revenge spells, friends revenge spells,political revenge spells, relatives revenge spells & health revenge spells Cast powerful revenge spells with Voodoo: Normally, Voodoo revenge spells are to be cast with care. To avoid backfires, it is important that your revenge spell is motivated by a previous harm that has been done to you. If you want to target a person who has not caused damages to you before, the effects of the spell will more likely backfire at you within a few weeks. On the contrary, if you have been hurt by a special someone, and want to get an equal revenge from that person, I guarantee my spell will not bounce back at you. Classic revenge spell:This spell is the most popular Voodoo revenge spell that I cast. I have excellent results without backfire. If someone harmed you, this spell will block the negative influence this person has. As for the effects of this spell, the second step is that this someone who hurt you will receive the negativity back at him or her. This is a very good way to reestablish equilibrium between two individuals with no backfire. Loss of hairs:Targeted on someone, this revenge spell provokes an important and definitive loss of hairs. Very powerful, this spell has to be used only against someone who harmed you before.WhatsApp: +2348169224726 Email: drmudispellhomes@yahoo.com,drmudispellhomes@gmail.com Website: http://mudispellhome.blogspot.com/http://fortune-spell.over-blog.com website;https://drmudispelltemple.com https://mudispellhomes.wordpress.com

  2. 1570_FM 9/15/09 9:08 AM Page xi I N T R O D U C T I O N T O T H E O R T H O D O X S T U D Y B I B L E The last decade of the twentieth century saw an historic event. In 1993, The Orthodox Study Bible: New Testament and Psalms was released as the first English Bible with study material reflecting the ancient faith of the Eastern Orthodox Church. St. Athanasius Academy, which had organized this effort, began receiving requests for the completion of the Old Testament—a monumental task which involved not only preparation of the study notes and outlines, but also the presentation of an acceptable Old Testament text. Though the Orthodox Church has never officially committed itself to a single text and list of Old Testament books, it has traditionally used the Greek Old Testament of the Septuagint (LXX). However, in Orthodoxy’s 200-year history in North America, no English translation of the LXX has ever been produced by the Church. The contributors used the Alfred Rahlfs edition of the Greek text as the basis for the English translation. To this base they brought two additional major sources. The first is the Brenton text, a British translation of the Greek Old Testament, published in 1851. The avail- ability of this work, and the respect accorded it, made it an obvious choice as a source document. Secondly, Thomas Nelson Publishers granted use of the Old Testament text of the New King James Version in the places where the English translation of the LXX would match that of the Masoretic (Hebrew) text. The development team at St. Athanasius Academy care- fully studied these sources, along with other documents, to produce an English Old Testament text suitable for the project. The organization of the Old Testament books, that is, their canonical order, was taken from The Old Testament According to the Seventy, published with the approval of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece. The first edition was released in June, 1928. The Old Testament text presented in this volume does not claim to be a new or superior translation. The goal was to pro- duce a text to meet the Bible-reading needs of English-speaking Orthodox Christians. In some Old Testament books, including the Psalms, the numbering of chapters, and sometimes individual verses is different in the LXX version from the English translation of the Hebrew text (such as the New King James Version and New Revised Standard Version). To help the reader, the LXX psalm number appears first, followed by the alternate number in parentheses, such as Psalm 50 (51). In addition to the difference in the numbering of the Psalms, the books of Jeremiah and Malachi show differences in the chapter and verse numbering when comparing The Orthodox Study Bible alongside English translations based on the Hebrew Old Testament text. The fol- lowing shows how the Hebrew and LXX texts compare in the books of Jeremiah and Malachi. Jeremiah Hebrew 1:1—25:13 25:14 25:15–38 26:1—43:13 44:1–30 45:1–5 46:1 46:2–25 46:26 46:27, 28 47:1–7 48:1–44 49:1–5 49:6 49:7–22 49:23–27 49:28–33 49:34a, 35–39 LXX 1:1—25:13 —— 32:1–25 33:1—50:13 51:1–30 51:31–35 —— 26:1–24 —— 26:25, 26 29:1–7 31:1–44 30:17–21 —— 30:1–16 30:28–32 30:22–27 25:14–19 Hebrew 49:34b 50:1—51:44 51:45–49 51:50–64 52:1 52:2, 3 52:4–14 52:15 52:16–27 52:28–30 52:31–34 LXX 25:20 27:1—28:45 —— 28:46–60 52:1 —— 52:2–12 —— 52:13–24 —— 52:25–28 Malachi 1:1—3:18 4:1–3 4:4 4:5, 6 1:1—3:18 3:19–21 3:24 3:22, 23 xi

  3. 1570_FM 8/28/08 12:50 PM Page xii xii INTRODUCTION The New Testament of The Orthodox Study Bible is taken from the New King James Ver- sion of the Bible. It is a translation of the Received Text of the Greek New Testament, with notes showing major variants in the Majority Text and the critical text of Nestle-Aland and the United Bible Societies. The introductory material, commentary and notes accompanying the Old and New Tes- tament books are presented in a vocabulary understandable to a high school graduate. This is not a book of scholars addressing other scholars, but rather scholars clearly communicating the treasures of the Orthodox biblical tradition with clergy and laypeople desirous of under- standing their Christian beliefs and making them accessible to others. A cross symbol (b) in the text of the Bible indicates a study note at the foot of the page. Further, the decision was made that the notes and commentary which clarify the biblical text would emphasize the major themes of the Christian faith. Thus, the notes give primary attention to: 1. The Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit 2. The Incarnation: The Divine Son of God becoming Man 3. The Centrality of the Church, the “dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph 2:22) 4. The Virtues: God’s call to His people to live righteous and holy lives in Christ To attain these goals, specific attention was given to the biblical interpretations of the fathers of the ancient and undivided Church, and to the consensus of the Seven Ecumenical or Church-wide Councils of Christendom, held from the fourth to eighth centuries. The Holy Scriptures have always been integral to the life of the Church. The liturgical cycle of the year and the days of feasting and fasting are accompanied by Scripture readings from throughout the Bible. The lectionary in the back of The Orthodox Study Bible guides the reader along this biblical path through the Church year. Further, liturgical notes at the foot of the pages of The Orthodox Study Bible relate specific readings to the yearly cycle of prayer and worship. These notes are designated with the symbol ?. The prayer of the editors and contributors of The Orthodox Study Bible is that it presents an understandable Bible text and commentary to (1) English-speaking Orthodox Christians the world over and to (2) non-Orthodox readers interested in learning more about the faith of the historic Orthodox Church. Lent, 2008

  4. 1570_FM 2/1/08 4:55 PM Page xiii T H E O L D T E S T A M E N T B O O K S L I S T E D A N D C O M P A R E D Orthodox Old Testament Old Testament Protestant Old Testament Roman Catholic Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther* Job Psalms (150 in number) Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel** Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Kings 2 Kings 3 Kings 4 Kings 1 Chronicles (1 Paraleipomenon) 2 Chronicles (2 Paraleipomenon) 1 Esdras 2 Esdras (Nehemiah) Tobit Judith Esther 1 Maccabees 2 Maccabees Psalms (150 in number) Job Proverbs of Solomon Ecclesiastes Canticle of Canticles Wisdom of Solomon Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) Hosea Amos Micah Joel Obadiah Jonah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Isaiah Jeremiah Baruch* Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel) 3 Kingdoms (1 Kings) 4 Kingdoms (2 Kings) 1 Chronicles (1 Paraleipomenon) 2 Chronicles (2 Paraleipomenon)* 1 Ezra** 2 Ezra** (Ezra) Nehemiah Tobit Judith Esther 1 Maccabees 2 Maccabees 3 Maccabees Psalms (151 in number) Job Proverbs of Solomon Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Wisdom of Solomon Wisdom of Sirach Hosea Amos Micah Joel Obadiah Jonah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Isaiah Jeremiah Baruch Lamentation of Jeremiah Epistle of Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel *** *Esther does not include those sections called “Additions to Esther.” **Daniel here does not include those sections separately labeled as the “Hymn of the Three Young Men,” “Susanna,” “Bel and the Serpent.” * Includes the Prayer of Manasseh **Also known as 1 & 2 Esdras ***“Susanna” is at the beginning of Daniel, “Bel and the Serpent” at the end. Also includes the “Hymn of the Three Young Men.” *Includes Epistle of Jeremiah xiii

  5. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xiv S O U R C E A B B R E V I A T I O N S Source Abbreviation Source Abbreviation Ambrose of Milan Antony of Egypt Aphrahat the Persian Athanasius the Great Augustine of Hippo Aurelius Basil the Great Caesarius of Arles Cassiodorus Clement of Alexandria Cyprian of Alexandria Cyprian of Carthage Cyprian of Jerusalem Cyril of Alexandria Cyril of Jerusalem Dionysius Elias the Presbyter Ephraim the Syrian Epistle of Barnabas Eusebius Eustathius of Antioch Gregory of Nazianzus Gregory of Nyssa Gregory Palamas Gregory the Great (Pope) Gregory the Theologian Hesychius AmbM AntEg AphP AthanG Aug Aur BasilG Caes Cass ClemA CypA CypC CypJ CyrAl CyrJer Dion ElPres EphS Barn Eusb Eust GrgNa GrgNy GrgPal GrgGt GrgTheo Hesych Hilary of Poitiers Hippolytus Ignatius of Antioch Irenaeus Isaac the Syrian Jerome John Cassian John Chrysostom John Climacus John of Damascus Justin Martyr Leo the Great Mark the Ascetic Maximos the Confessor Methodius Neilos the Ascetic Nicetas Seraphim of Sarov Symeon the New Theologian Theodore of Mopsuestia Theodoret Theophylact of Bulgaria Vincent of Lerins HilryP Hippol IgnAnt Iren IsaacS Jerome JohnCas JohnChr JohnCli JohnDm Justin LeoG MkAsc MaxCon Meth Neilos Nic SerSar SymNew TheoMop Theod Theoph VincLer Nicene Creed Canon of St. Andrew Akathist Service Creed CanonAnd Akath xiv

  6. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xv O V E R V I E W O F T H E B O O K S O F T H E B I B L E By The Right Reverend BASIL, Bishop of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America 1 THE OLD TESTAMENT 2 This introduction is a brief description of each of the forty-nine books of the Old Testament. It is helpful to keep in mind that, like the earliest Chris- tian community, the Orthodox Church of today continues using the Greek version of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint (LXX). The Septuagint—referencing the seventy finest Jewish scholars, from all twelve Jew- ish tribes, who made the translation from the Hebrew into Greek—became the universally accepted version of the Old Testament since the time of its appear- ance some three centuries before the birth of Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ, together with His apostles and evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and also Peter and Paul, used this Greek version when quoting the Old Testa- ment in their gospels and epistles. These inspired Old Testament books tell the story of God’s dealings with ancient Israel, from approximately 2000 BC until the time of Jesus. A study of the Old Testament in the light of the authentic apostolic tradi- tion will lead the reader to Him Who fulfilled the Law and the Prophets as He promised: Our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ. This collection of forty-nine Old Testament books is traditionally subdivided into four sections: 1) the five books of the Law; 2) the books of history; 3) the books of wisdom and; 4) the books of prophecy. The Five Books of the Law First there are the books of the Law: Genesis, meaning “beginning,” since it recounts the beginning of God’s creation; Exodus, which means “exit” or “departure,” referring to the journey of the Hebrews from out of slavery in Egypt; Leviticus, a book detailing worship as led by the priests ordained from the tribe of Levi; Numbers, whose title is derived from the book’s opening ac- count of the census or numbering of the people of Israel; Deuteronomy, meaning “second law,” since it gives a detailed listing of the additional laws given by God through Moses. These first five books of the Old Testament, known jointly as the Penta- teuch (penta means “five” in Greek) describe God’s creation of the world, the rebellion of Adam and Eve and the fall of man, and the history of God’s peo- ple from the days of Abraham, about 2000 BC, through the days of Moses, dated by many scholars at approximately 1250 BC. The Books of History The second section of the LXX Old Testament is known as the historical books. This group begins with the book of Joshua, the leader of the children xv

  7. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xvi xvi OVERVIEW OF THE BOOKS of Israel following the death of Moses, who brings God’s people into the promised land after their forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Judges re- lates to the traditions of the various Hebrew tribes and the exploits of their own particular heroes, the Judges of whom the title speaks, who ruled the na- tion. The book of Ruth is the charming and heroic account of a Gentile woman who placed herself under the protection of the one true God, and in the process became an ancestor of King David, and of his descendent, Jesus Christ the Messiah of Israel. First and Second Kingdoms (First and Second Samuel), whose principle characters are Samuel the faithful prophet, Saul the first king to rule over God’s people, and David, Saul’s successor and the first king of Judah in the south of Palestine, and Israel to the north. The books of Third and Fourth Kingdoms (First and Second Kings) opens with the enthronement of David’s son Solomon and ends with the fall of the kingdom, including the destruction of its capital city of Jerusalem, and the exile of God’s people from Palestine to Babylon. First and Second Chronicles (First and Second Paraleipomenon) expand on the history recorded in Third and Fourth Kingdoms. The word Paraleipomenon is transliterated from the Greek and means “that which is omitted” in the two preceding books. The books of First and Second Ezra and Nehemiah continue this chronicle of divine history, focusing on the Jewish re- ligious community after its return to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. The final books in the historical section of the Old Testament reveal the stories of people who lived heroic and God-directed lives under foreign domi- nation and during the exile: Tobit, who was taken into captivity by the Assyrians; Judith, the pious and beautiful widow who saved her people from massacre by the invading Assyrian general; Esther, the Jewish queen of Persia who achieved the revocation of Haman’s decree that would have allowed the persecution and mass murder of God’s people; and the Maccabees, the family of the Hasmoneans and their followers, the faithful people who began the re- volt and fought the wars of independence against foreign armies occupying their land. The Books of Wisdom The third section of the Old Testament is known as the books of Wisdom. The magnificent Psalms is the hymnal of both ancient Israel and of the Church. The book of Job, which in the canonical Greek LXX comes between Psalms and Proverbs, probes the depths of a man’s unshakable faith in the face of tragedy and innocent suffering. Proverbs is a collection of moral and religious instruction taught to young people after their return from exile in Babylon. Ecclesiastes tells of the preacher who philosophically seeks to under- stand the meaning of human existence that the good man can find in this life. The moving Song of Songs by Solomon is a collection of lyric poems, written

  8. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xvii xvii OVERVIEW OF THE BOOKS in the language of human love and courtship, which also speaks prophetically of God’s love for His beloved Bride, His Church. The Wisdom of Solomon promises reward and immortality to the righteous, praises wisdom and condemns the folly of idolatry. The Wisdom of Sirach consists of lectures to young people on ethical and religious themes. These seven books of Wisdom literature—The Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Eccle- siastes, the Song of Songs, the Wisdom of Solomon, and the Wisdom of Sirach—proclaim that happiness (or “blessedness,” in the language of the Bible) is possible only through faith in and obedience to the one true God. The Books of Prophecy The fourth and final section of the LXX Old Testament includes the books of prophecy, which appear in an order different from the Hebrew and Vulgate collections. Hosea gives a message of God’s own redeeming love for His chosen peo- ple, even when they spurn Him and prostitute themselves to false gods. Amos is the simple shepherd called by God to denounce a self-satisfied nation for its grave social injustice, abhorrent immorality and its shallow and meaningless piety. Micah foretells the day when nations shall beat their swords into plow- shares and their spears into pruning hooks. He speaks of peace reigning over all who do justice, who love kindness, and who walk humbly with God. Joel is the prophet who foretells the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh. Obadiah prophesies the return of the exiles from Babylon. Jonah unwillingly accepts God’s command to preach His mercy and forgiveness to a foreign nation. Nahum prophesies the defeat of the powerful Assyrian enemy. Habakkuk deals with the perennial question, “How long, O Lord, shall I cry out to You, and You will not hear me?” (Hab 1:2). Zephaniah prophesies the dark days of Judah’s destruction, but promises comfort and conciliation to those who wait patiently for the Lord and serve Him. Haggai, following the return of the ex- iles, exhorts them to rebuild the destroyed temple in order to unify their disrupted religious life and, more importantly, to prepare for the coming of the long awaited Messiah. Zechariah prophesies the image of the messianic Prince of Peace, the Good Shepherd who would lay down His life for the flock. Malachi exhorts God’s people to faithfulness and asserts the fatherhood of God over all nations. He foretells that God will appoint a forerunner, similar to the ancient prophet Elijah (or Elias) who will appear before the Messiah and prepare the world for the coming Day of the Lord. Isaiah exhorts the people of God to place their confidence in the Lord, and to lead private and public lives which manifest this reliance. From Isaiah, we hear the prophecies of a Son to be born of a virgin, and of the Suffering

  9. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xviii xviii OVERVIEW OF THE BOOKS Servant—the Messiah—who would be led as an innocent sheep to the slaugh- ter, and by whose stripes we would be healed. Jeremiah severely criticizes God’s people for abandoning the one true God and turning instead to the worship of idols. Baruch was appointed to be read on feast days as a confes- sion of sins. In Lamentations, the author Jeremiah mourns the destruction of the holy city of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. The Epistle of Jeremiah is addressed to those about to be carried off into exile in Babylon. Ezekiel, the prophet of the exiles, assures his hearers of the abiding pres- ence of God amongst them, even in exile and servitude. Finally, Daniel writes an apocalyptic or mystical end-time prophecy which is filled with difficult and often obscure signs and symbols. In the Greek LXX, Daniel begins with the heroic story of Susanna and ends with the fascinating account of Bel and the Serpent. These forty-nine God-inspired Old Testament books divided into four sec- tions—books of the Law, of History, of Wisdom, and of Prophecy—which serve as an introduction to John the Baptist’s preparation of the world for the coming of the Messiah, who is Isaiah’s Suffering Servant, Zechariah’s Prince of Peace, and the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the flock. 1 THE NEW TESTAMENT 2 The Four Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John recall the events in the life of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man. The first three are called the Synoptic Gospels, in that they set forth a “common viewpoint” of the chronology of events and the message of Christ in His life and ministry. Matthew addresses his gospel primarily to fellow Jews. Mark is likely the first gospel to be written, and speaks of Christ as servant of all (Mk 10:45). Luke, himself a physician, reveals the Incarnate Christ and His earthly ancestry. This Son of Man saves and heals the fallen race. John, the last of the four gospels to be written, emphasizes the divinity of Christ, the eternal Son and Word of God, who became Man. John’s gospel further reveals seven miracles of Christ, not all of them in chronological order. Acts Written by St. Luke, these are the Acts (or accomplishments) of the Apos- tles, but mainly of Peter (chapters 1—12) and Paul (chapters 13—28). Acts chronicles the earliest history of the Church from Pentecost through approxi- mately AD 65. The Letters (or Epistles) of St. Paul The first nine of Paul’s letters are written to churches. Romans, which be- gins this section, was the only letter Paul wrote to a community he had not

  10. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xix xix OVERVIEW OF THE BOOKS previously visited. Thus, the implication is that much of what he wrote to the church at Rome he preached in other places. Most prominent of the cities of first century Greece was Corinth, a center of commerce, immorality and false religion. Predictably, this fledgling church would have to deal with these same matters. First Corinthians is therefore a corrective epistle calling for unity, virtue, forbearance, Eucharistic order and proper use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In contrast Second Corinthians rec- ognizes the repentance within the church on the part of many, and St. Paul defends his apostolic authority. In Galatians, Paul addresses several churches in Asia Minor, defending his apostleship and calling the faithful to live their lives in the strength of the Holy Spirit instead of in submission to the laws of the old covenant. Ephesians is a marvelous discourse on how the Church should conduct itself. This com- munity is rich in dedication to Christ. Yet just a few decades later the Lord tells them, “you have left your first love” (Rev 2:4). Philippians is the epistle of joy. Paul writes from a Roman prison, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Php 4:4). Colossians presents Christ as “the head of the body, the church . . .” (Col 1:18), preeminent in all things. First Thessalonians, the first letter St. Paul penned, was written to the be- lievers at Thessalonica, a beautiful coastal city of Greece in about AD 51, shortly after Paul planted that Church. This is a letter of encouragement. Second Thessalonians acknowledges persecution and warns of lawlessness, urg- ing the Christians to “stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught . . .” (2Th 2:15). Next, Paul addresses the following letters to individuals. In First Timothy, the aging apostle speaks to his youthful understudy about effective oversight of the church. In Second Timothy, the last letter St. Paul wrote (see 2Ti 4:6–8), he encourages Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2Ti 2:1). Paul is already in prison in Rome (1:8) awaiting martyrdom. Titus is sent by Paul to Crete to set the church “in order,” and “appoint elders in every city” (Tts 1:5). If this sounds like the work of a bishop, it is (Tts 1:7, 8), and Titus is consistently named in early Church records as the first bishop of Crete. Philemon is a Christian slave-holder, and Paul writes him to receive back Onesimus (Phm 10—16), his runaway slave, who has become a Christian with Paul in Rome. Hebrews is the last of the epistles attributed to St. Paul, but with little evi- dence it was actually written by Paul. It is a general letter to Jewish believers in Christ to continue on in the Faith. It assures them that Christ, the great High Priest in the heavenlies (Heb 8:1), is their once for all sacrifice for sin (Heb 10:10) and victor over death (Heb 12:1, 2).

  11. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xx xx OVERVIEW OF THE BOOKS The General Epistles James, the brother of the Lord and first bishop of Jerusalem, writes to fel- low Jews, “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (Jam 1:1). His message? “Faith without works is dead” (Jam 1:20). Christianity is a belief that behaves. First Peter, written by the first among the apostles, urges obedience to God and man, willingness to suffer for Christ’s sake, and effective pastoring of the flock. In Second Peter, the apostle discusses divine power for the faithful (deification), divine judgment for false teachers and the Day of the Lord. Next, John the Theologian offers three general epistles. First John is a stir- ring personal testimonial to God’s forgiveness, His love for His children and His gift of eternal life. In Second John, he addresses an “elect lady and her chil- dren” (v. 1), urging them to obey the Lord’s commands and beware of deceivers. Third John commends Gaius and Demetrius, and warns against Diotrephes. Finally, Jude, the Lord’s brother, writes a short letter exhorting the faithful to contend for the truth and to beware of the devil’s servants. He finishes with a stunning benediction. Revelation Written by St. John the Theologian, he entitles his book “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:1). What the book of Daniel is to the Old Testament, Revelation is to the New Testament. Another title is the Apocalypse, which is a transliteration of the Greek word for “revelation” or “unveiling.” The book speaks prophetically both to current and future events, to judgment and salva- tion, and ends with the glorious New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven “as a bride adorned for her husband” (21:2).

  12. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xxi I N T R O D U C I N G T H E O R T H O D O X C H U R C H The publication of The Orthodox Study Bible begs a question: exactly what is the Orthodox Church? Many people have heard of the Russian Orthodox Church which celebrated its 1000th birthday in 1988, or the Greek Orthodox Church which was born centuries earlier. But Orthodoxy itself—what is it, and what are its historic roots? 1 THE CHURCH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 2 To answer the question, let us go back to the pages of the New Testament, specifically to the Book of Acts and the birth of the Church at Pentecost. For on that day the Holy Spirit descended on the twelve apostles in the Upper Room, and by afternoon some 3000 souls be- lieved in Christ and were baptized. The Scriptures record that when the first Christian community began, “they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). From Jerusalem, the faith in Christ spread throughout Judea, to Samaria (Acts 8:5–39), to Antioch and the Gentiles (Acts 11:19–26). We find new converts and new Churches throughout Asia Minor and the Roman Empire as recorded in Acts and the Epistles. The Church, of course, was not simply another organization in Roman society. The Lord Jesus Christ had given the promise of the Holy Spirit “to lead you into all truth” (Jn 16:13). With the fulfillment of that promise beginning with Pentecost, the Church was born far be- yond mere institutional status. She was not an organization with mystery, but a mystery with organization. St. Paul called the Church “a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph 2:22). The Church was a dynamic organism, the living Body of Jesus Christ. She made an indelible impact in the world, and those who lived in her life and faith were personally transformed. But we also discover in the New Testament itself that the Church had her share of prob- lems. All was not perfection. Some individuals even within the Church sought to lead her off the path the apostles established, and they had to be dealt with along with the errors they in- vented. Even whole local communities lapsed on occasion and were called to repentance. The Church in Laodicea is a vivid example (Rev 3:14–22). Discipline was administered for the sake of purity in the Church. But there was growth and maturation, even as the Church was attacked from within and without. The same Spirit who gave her birth gave her power for purity and correction, and she stood strong and grew, eventually invading the whole of the Roman Empire. 1 THE EARLY CENTURIES 2 As the Church moves from the pages of the New Testament and on into the succeeding centuries of her history, it is helpful to trace her growth and development in terms of specific categories. We shall look first at a category important for all Christian people: doctrine. Did she maintain the truth of God as given by Christ and His apostles? Second, what about wor- ship? Is there a discernible way in which the people of God have offered a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to Him? Third, we will consider Church government. What sort of polity did the Church practice? 1. Doctrine: Not only did the Church begin under the teaching of the apostles, but she was also instructed to “stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle” (2Th 2:15). The apostle Paul insisted that those matters delivered by him and his fellow apostles, both in person and in the writings that would come to be called the New Testament, be adhered to carefully. Thus, followed such appropriate warnings as “in the name of Jesus Christ . . . withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us” (2Th 3:6). The doctrines taught by Christ and His disciples are to be safeguarded by “the Church, the pillar and support of the truth” (1Ti 3:15) and are not open for renegotiation. xxi

  13. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xxii xxii INTRODUCING THE CHURCH Midway through the first century, a dispute had arisen in Antioch over adherence to Old Testament laws. The matter could not be settled there; outside help was needed. The leaders of the Antiochian Church, the community which had earlier dispatched Paul and Barnabas as missionaries, brought the matter to Jerusalem for consideration by the apostles and elders there. The matter was discussed, debated, and a written decision was forthcoming. It was James, the brother of the Lord and the first bishop of Jerusalem, who put forth the solution to the problem. This settlement, agreed to by all concerned at what is known as the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1–35), set the pattern for the use of Church councils in the centuries ahead to settle doctrinal and moral issues that arose. Thus, throughout the history of the Church we find scores of such councils, and on various levels, to settle matters of dispute and to deal with those who do not adhere to the Apostolic faith. The first three hundred years of Christian history were marked by the appearance of cer- tain heresies or false teachings such as secret philosophic schemes for the elite (Gnosticism), dazzling prophetic aberrations (Montanism), and grave errors regarding the three Persons of the Trinity (Sabellianism). Then, in the early fourth century, a heresy with potential for Church-wide disruption appeared, propagated by one Arius, a presbyter in Alexandria, Egypt. He denied the eternal- ity of the Son of God, claiming contrary to the apostles’ doctrine that the Son was a created being who came into existence at a point in time and thus was not truly God. This deadly error struck the Church like a cancer. Turmoil spread almost everywhere. The first Church- wide, or Ecumenical, Council met in Nicea in AD 325 to address this issue. Some 318 bishops, along with many priests, deacons and laymen rejected the new teaching of Arius and his associates, upholding the apostles’ doctrine of Christ, affirming the eternality of the Son and His consubstantiality with the Father. Their proclamation of the Apostolic teaching concerning Christ included a creed, which, with the additions concerning the Holy Spirit made in 381 at the Council of Constantinople, forms the document we today call the Nicene Creed. Between the years 325 and 787, seven such Church-wide conclaves were held, all dealing first and foremost with some specific challenge to the Apostolic teaching about Jesus Christ. These councils, meeting in the cities of Nicea, Ephesus, Chalcedon, and Constantinople, are known as the Seven Ecumenical Councils. For the first thousand years of Christian history, the entire Church, save for the heretics, embraced and defended the New Testament Apostolic faith. There was no consequential divi- sion. And this one faith, preserved through all trials, attacks and tests, this Apostolic doctrine, was called “the Orthodox faith.” 2. Worship: Doctrinal purity was tenaciously maintained. But true Christianity is far more than adherence to a set of correct beliefs alone. The life of the Church is centrally expressed in her worship, adoration of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It was Jesus Himself Who told the woman at the well, “the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will wor- ship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (Jn 4:23). At the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Eucharist, the communion service, when He took bread and wine, gave a blessing, and said to His disciples, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” and “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you” (Lk 22:19, 21). From the New Testament we know the Church participated in communion at least each Lord’s Day (Acts 20:7, 11). From such first and second century sources as the Didache, the letters of St. Ignatius of Antioch, and St. Justin Martyr, we are as- sured the Eucharist is the very center of Christian worship from the Apostolic era on. And just as the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets were read in the Temple worship and the synagogue in Israel, so the Church also immediately gave high priority to the public read- ing of Scripture and to preaching in her worship, along with the Eucharistic meal.

  14. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xxiii xxiii INTRODUCING THE CHURCH Even before the middle of the first century, Christian worship was known by the term liturgy which literally means “the common work” or “the work of the people.” The early liturgy of the Church’s worship was composed of two essential parts, (1) the liturgy of the word, including hymns, Scripture reading, and preaching and (2) the liturgy of the faithful, composed of intercessory prayers, the kiss of peace, and the Eucharist. From virtually the be- ginning, Christian worship has had a definable shape or form which continues to this day. Modern Christians advocating freedom from liturgy in worship are usually shocked to learn that spontaneity was never the practice in the ancient Church! A basic pattern or shape of Christian worship was observed from the start. And as the Church grew and matured, liturgy matured as well. Hymns, Scripture readings, and prayers were intertwined in the basic founda- tion. A clear, purposeful procession through the year, marking and joining in word, song, and praise the birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sancitfying crucial aspects of Christian life and experience, was forthcoming. The Christian life was lived in reality in the worship of the Church. Far from being routine, the worship of the historic Church participated in the unfolding drama of the richness and mystery of the Gospel itself! Further, specific landmarks in our salvation and walk with Christ were celebrated and sanctified. Baptism and the anointing with oil, or chrismation, were there from the start. Mar- riage, healing, confession of sin, and ordination to the ministry of the Gospel are other early rites in the Church. On each of these occasions Christians understood, in a great mystery, grace and power from God were being given according to the individual need of each person. The Church saw these events as holy moments in her life and called them mysteries or sacra- ments. 3. Government: No one seriously questions whether the apostles of Christ led the Church at her beginning. They had been given the commission to preach the Gospel (Mt 28:19, 20) and the authority to forgive or retain sins (Jn 20:23). Theirs was by no means a preaching-only mission! They built the Church itself under Christ’s headship. To govern it, three definite and permanent offices, as taught in the New Testament, were in evidence. a. The office of bishop. The apostles themselves were the first bishops in the Church. Even before Pentecost, after Judas had turned traitor, Peter declared in applying Psalm 108:8, “Let his bishopric another take” (Acts 1:20). The word “bishopric” refers, of course, to the office of bishop and its use indicates the apostles themselves are bishops. Some have mistakenly argued the office of bishop was a later invention. Quite to the contrary, the apostles were themselves bishops, and they appointed bishops to succeed them to oversee the Church in each locality. Occasionally, the objection is still heard that the office of bishop and presbyter were originally identical. The terms are used interchangeably in the New Testament while the apos- tles were present, the bishop being the presiding elder in a local church. But after the apostles’ deaths, the offices of bishop and presbyter soon became distinct throughout the Church. Ignatius of Antioch, consecrated bishop by AD 70 in the Church from which Paul and Barnabas had been sent out, writes just after the turn of the century that bishops appointed by the apostles, surrounded by their presbyters, were everywhere in the Church. b. The office of presbyter. Elders or presbyters are mentioned very early in the life of the Church in Acts and the Epistles. It is evident that in each place a Christian community devel- oped, elders were appointed by the apostles to pastor the people. As time passed, presbyters were referred to in the short form of the word as “prests,” then as “priests,” in full view of the fact that the Old Covenant priesthood had been fulfilled in Christ and that the Church is corporately a priesthood of believers. The priest was not under- stood as an intermediary between God and the people nor as a dispenser of grace. It was the role of the priest to be the presence of Christ in the Christian community. And in the very

  15. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xxiv xxiv INTRODUCING THE CHURCH capacity of being the presence of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, the priest was to safeguard the flock of God. c. The office of deacon. The third order or office in the government of the New Testament Church was the deacon. At first the apostles fulfilled this office themselves. But with the rapid growth of the Church, seven initial deacons were selected (Acts 6:1–7) to help carry the responsibility of service to those in need. It was one of these deacons, Stephen, who became the first martyr of the Church. Through the centuries, the deacons have not only served the material needs of the Church, but have held a key role in the liturgical life of the Church as well. Often called “the eyes and ears of the bishop,” many deacons have become priests and ultimately entered the episcopal office. The authority of the bishop, presbyter, and deacon was not anciently understood as being apart from the people, but always from among the people. In turn the people of God were called to submit to those who ruled over them (Heb 13:17), and they were also called to give their agreement to the direction of the leaders for the Church. On a number of occasions in history, that “Amen” was not forthcoming, and the bishops of the Church took note and changed course. Later in history, many Church leaders departed from the ancient model and usurped authority for themselves. In the minds of some this brought the ancient model into question. But the problem was not in the model but in the deviation from it. It should also be mentioned that it was out of the ministry and life of the apostles that the people of God, the laity, were established in the Church. Far from being a herd of observers, the laity are vital in the effectiveness of the Church. They are the recipients and active users of the gifts and grace of the Spirit. Each of the laity has a role in the life and function of the Church. Each is to supply something to the whole (1Co 12:7). And it is the responsibility of the bishops, the priests, and the deacons to be sure that this is a reality for the laity. The worship of the Church at the close of its first 1000 years had substantially the same shape from place to place. The doctrine was the same. The whole Church confessed one creed, the same in every place, and had weathered many attacks. The government of the Church was recognizably one everywhere. And this One Church was the Orthodox Church. 1 DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN WEST AND EAST 2 Tensions began to mount as the first millennium was drawing to a close. While numerous doctrinal, political, economic, and cultural factors were working to separate the Church in an East-West division, two giant divisive issues ultimately emerged above others: (1) that one man, the Pope of Rome, considered himself the universal bishop of the Church and (2) the addition of a novel clause to the Church’s creed. 1. The Papacy: Among the Twelve, Saint Peter was early acknowledged as the leader. He was spokesman for the Twelve before and after Pentecost. He was the first bishop of Antioch and later bishop of Rome. No one challenged his role. After the death of the apostles, as leadership in the Church developed, the bishop of Rome came to be recognized as first in honor, even though all bishops were equals. But after nearly 300 years, the bishop of Rome slowly began to assume to himself a role of superiority over the others, ultimately claiming to be the only true successor to Peter. The vast majority of the other bishops of the Church never questioned Rome’s primacy of honor, but they patently rejected the Roman bishop’s claim as the universal head of the Church on earth. This assump- tion of papal power became one major factor in rending the Roman Church, and all those it could gather with it, from the historic Orthodox Church. 2. The Addition to the Creed: A disagreement concerning the Holy Spirit also began to develop in the Church. Does the Holy Spirit proceed from the Father? Or, does He proceed from the Father and the Son?

  16. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xxv xxv INTRODUCING THE CHURCH Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches, “But when the Helper comes, Whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth Who proceeds from the Father, he will testify of Me” (Jn 15:26). This is the basic statement in all the New Testament about the Holy Spirit “pro- ceeding,” and it is clear: He “proceeds from the Father.” Thus, when the ancient council at Constantinople in AD 381 reaffirmed the Creed of Nicea (AD 325), it expanded that Creed to proclaim these familiar words: “And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Life-Giver, Who proceeds from the Father, Who is worshipped and glori- fied together with the Father and the Son. . . .” But two hundred years later, at a local council in Toledo, Spain (AD 589), King Reccared declared, “the Holy Spirit also should be confessed by us and taught to proceed from the Fa- ther and the Son.” The King may have meant well, but he was contradicting Jesus’ teaching, confessed by the entire Church, concerning the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, that local Spanish council agreed with his error. Because of the teaching of the Holy Scriptures, believed by the Church at Nicea and at Constantinople and for centuries beyond, there is no reason to believe anything other than that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father. But centuries later, in what was at least partially a politically motivated move, the Pope of Rome unilaterally changed the universal creed of the Church without an ecumenical council. Though this change was initially rejected in both East and West, even by some of Rome’s clos- est neighboring bishops, the Pope managed to eventually get the West to capitulate. The consequence, of course, in the Western Church has been the tendency to relegate the Holy Spirit to a lesser place than God the Father and God the Son. The change may appear small, but the consequences have proven disastrously immense. This issue, with the Pope departing from the Orthodox doctrine of the Church, became another instrumental cause separating the Roman Church from the historic Orthodox Church, the New Testament Church. 1 THE GREAT SCHISM 2 Conflict between the Roman Pope and the East mounted—especially in the Pope’s dealings with the bishop, or patriarch, of Constantinople. The Pope even went so far as to claim the authority to decide who should be the bishop of Constantinople, in marked violation of historical precedent. No longer operating within the government of the New Testament Church, the Pope appeared to be seeking by political means to bring the whole Church under his domination. Bizarre intrigues followed, one upon the other, as a series of Roman popes pursued this unswerving goal of attempting to control all Christendom. Perhaps the most incredible inci- dent of these political, religious, and even military schemes occurred in the year 1054. A Cardinal, sent by the Pope, slapped a document on the altar of the Church of Holy Wisdom in Constantinople during the Sunday worship, excommunicating the Patriarch of Constantinople from the Church! The Pope, of course, had no legitimate right to do this. But the repercussions were stag- gering. Some dismal chapters of Church history were written during the next decades. The ultimate consequence of the Pope’s action was that the whole Roman Catholic Church ended up dividing itself from the New Testament faith of Orthodox Christianity. The schism has never been healed. As the centuries passed conflict continued. Attempts at union failed and the Roman Church drifted farther and farther from its historic roots. There are inevitable consequences in deviating from the Church. The breaking away of Rome from the historic Orthodox Church would prove no exception. 1 FURTHER DIVISIONS IN THE WEST 2 During the centuries after AD 1054, the growing distinction between East and West was becoming indelibly marked in history. The East maintained the full stream of New Testament

  17. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xxvi xxvi INTRODUCING THE CHURCH faith, worship, and practice—all the while enduring great persecution. The Western or Roman Church, crippled because of its schism from the Orthodox Church, bogged down in many complex problems. Then, less than five centuries after Rome committed itself to its unilateral alteration of doctrine and practice, another upheaval was festering—this time not next door to the East, but inside the Western gates themselves. Though many in the West had spoken out against Roman domination and practice in ear- lier years, now a little-known German monk named Martin Luther inadvertently launched an attack against certain Roman Catholic practices which ended up affecting world history. His famous Ninety-Five Theses were nailed to the Church door at Wittenburg in 1517. In a short time those theses were signalling the start of what came to be called in the West the Protestant Reformation. Luther sought an audience with the Pope but was denied, and in 1521 he was excommunicated from the Roman Church. He had intended no break with Rome. Its papal system of government, heavy with authority, refused conciliation. The door to future unity in the West slammed shut with a resounding crash. The protests of Luther were not unnoticed. The reforms he sought in Germany were soon accompanied by demands of Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich, John Calvin in Geneva, and hun- dreds of others all over Western Europe. Fueled by complex political, social, and economic factors, in addition to religious problems, the Reformation spread like a raging fire into virtu- ally every nook and cranny of the Roman Church. The ecclesiastical monopoly to which it had grown accustomed was greatly diminished, and massive division replaced its artificial unity. The ripple effect of that division impacts even our own day as the Protestant movement itself con- tinues to split and shatter. If trouble on the continent were not trouble enough, the Church of England was in the process of going its own way as well. Henry VIII, amidst his marital problems, replaced the Pope of Rome with himself as head of the Church of England. For only a few short years would the Pope ever again have ascendency in England. And the English Church itself would soon experience great division. As decade followed decade in the West, the many branches of Protestantism took various forms. There were even divisions that insisted they were neither Protestant nor Roman Catholic. All seemed to share a mutual dislike for the Bishop of Rome and the practice of his Church, and most wanted far less centralized forms of leadership. While some, such as the Lutherans and Anglicans, held on to certain forms of liturgy and sacrament, others, such as the Reformed Churches and the even more radical Anabaptists and their descendants, questioned and rejected many biblical ideas of hierarchy, sacrament, historic tradition, and other elements of Christian practice, no matter when and where they appeared in history, thinking they were freeing themselves of Roman Catholicism. To this day, many sincere, modern, professing Christians will reject even the biblical data which speaks of historic Christian practice, simply because they think such historic practices are “Roman Catholic.” To use the old adage, they threw the baby out with the bathwater without even being aware of it. Thus, while retaining, in varying degrees, portions of foundational Christianity, neither Protestantism nor Catholicism can lay historic claim to being the true New Testament Church. In dividing from the Orthodox Christianity, Rome forfeited its place in the Church of the New Testament. In the divisions of the Reformation, the Protestants—as well-meaning as they might have been—failed to return to the New Testament Church. 1 THE ORTHODOX CHURCH TODAY 2 But that original Church, the Church of Peter and Paul and the apostles—despite persecu- tion, political oppression, and desertion on certain of its flanks—miraculously carries on today the same faith and life of the Church of the New Testament. Admittedly, the style of Ortho- doxy looks complicated to the modern Protestant eye, and understandably so. But given an historical understanding of how the Church has progressed, it may be seen that the simple

  18. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xxvii xxvii INTRODUCING THE CHURCH Christ-centered faith of the apostles is fully preserved in its doctrines, practices, services, and even in its architecture. In Orthodoxy today, as in years gone by, the basics of Christian doctrine, worship, and government are never up for alteration. One cannot be an Orthodox priest, for example, and reject the divinity of Christ, His virgin birth, resurrection, ascension into heaven, and second coming. The Church simply has not left its course in nearly 2000 years. It is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. It is the New Testament Church. The gates of hell have not prevailed against it. But Orthodoxy is also, in the words of one of her bishops, “the best kept secret in Amer- ica.” Though there are more than 225 million Orthodox Christians in the world today, many in the West are not familiar with the Church. In North America, for example, the Orthodox Church has, until recently, been largely restricted to ethnic boundaries, not spreading much beyond the parishes of the committed immigrants that brought the Church to the shores of this continent. Still, the Holy Spirit has continued His work, causing new people to discover this Church of the New Testament. People have begun to find Orthodox Christianity both through the writings of the early Church Fathers, and through the humble witness of contemporary Or- thodox Christians. Significant numbers of evangelicals, Episcopalians and mainline Protestants are becoming Orthodox. And Orthodox student groups are springing up on campuses world- wide. The word is getting out. What, then, is the Orthodox Church? It is the first Christian Church in history, the Church founded by the Lord Jesus Christ, described in the pages of the New Testament. Her history can be traced in unbroken continuity all the way back to Christ and His Twelve apos- tles. And what is it that’s missing in the non-Orthodox Churches—even the best of them? Fullness. For the fullness of the New Testament faith is to be found only in the New Testament Church. Being in the Church does not guarantee all those in it will take advantage of the fullness of the faith. But the fullness of the faith is there for those who do. For persons who seriously desire the fullness of Orthodox Christianity, action must be taken. There must be a return to this Church of the New Testament. Being aware of this an- cient Church is not enough. In our time people have had ample opportunity to investigate and decide about the Roman Catholic faith, the Baptist, the Lutheran, and so on. But relatively few have taken a serious look at the Orthodox Church. Three specific suggestions will provide those interested with a tangible means of becoming acquainted with Orthodox Christianity on a personal basis. 1. Visit: Look up “Orthodox” or “Eastern Orthodox” in the “Church” section of your Yellow Pages. Ask the whereabouts of the nearest Orthodox parish. Pay a visit—several visits. Meet the priest, and ask him to help you study and learn. And be prepared to exercise patience—some- times a portion of the Liturgy is not in English! But the Service Book in the pew will help. 2. Read: There are a number of books and periodicals immensely helpful to people seeking to learn about the Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church by Kallistos Ware (Penguin); For the Life of the World by Alexander Schmemann (St. Vladimir Seminary Press); The Apostolic Fathers edited by Jack N. Sparks (Light and Life Publishers), and Becoming Orthodox by Peter E. Gillquist, Divine Energy by Jon E. Braun, and AGAIN Magazine (all by Conciliar Press). 3. Write: The people at Conciliar Press (P.O. Box 76, Ben Lomond, CA 95005-0076) have volunteered to answer questions regarding the Orthodox Church from Orthodox Study Bible readers, and to suggest further reading. Send your name and address, with a request for infor- mation. In a day when Christians are realizing anew the centrality and importance of worship, of the Church as the body of Christ, and the need to preserve true Christian faith, the doors of

  19. 1570_FM 11/9/07 4:47 PM Page xxviii xxviii INTRODUCING THE CHURCH Orthodoxy are open wide. The invitation is extended to “come and see.” Examine her faith, her worship, her history, her commitment to Christ, her love for God the Father, her communion with the Holy Spirit. For two thousand years the Orthodox Church has by God’s mercy kept the faith delivered once for all to the saints. Within her walls is the fullness of the salvation which was realized when “God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16).

  20. 1570_69_James 10/26/07 3:20 PM Page 1673 THE BOOK OF JAMES Author—The author identifies himself as “James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:1). Early Church tradition ascribes this letter to James, the “brother” or kinsman of our Lord and first bishop of Jerusalem, known as James the Just. ? and the dispersion of Christians from Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). ? by works, but he does teach that a dead faith, one without works, does not save.This is an early polemic against invisible religion, wherein salvation by faith has no visible works, and against antinomianism, the teaching that moral behavior is irrelevant to salvation. James is clear: the human will is not bypassed in salvation; grace does not nullify personal responsibility. ? which are scattered abroad” (1:1).Though James was a Jewish Christian and assumes the recipients are familiar with the Old Testament, the letter is written in elegant Greek.There is no indication that it addresses only Jewish Christians.The people James addresses are experiencing various trials: persecution, deception, economic injustice and poverty, apostasy and personal fragmentations in the Church. James uses his authority as bishop to rekindle true living faith and encourage repentance, patience, and self-control. ? II.Trials and Endurance: Love God! (1:2–27) III.Faith and Works: Love Your Neighbor! (2:1–26) ? Date—AD 55–60. James the Just was martyred about AD 62. Some consider his letter the first New Testament book, written after the martyrdom of Stephen Major Theme—The harmony of faith and works.The letter has many direct parallels with the Sermon on the Mount. James does not teach we are saved Background—Unlike most New Testament letters, James does not address a particular church, or even a geographical region, but “the twelve tribes Outline I.Greeting (1:1) IV.The Power of the Tongue (3:1–18) V.Quarreling and Humility (4:1–12) VI.Greed Versus Contentedness (4:13—5:12) VII.Healing and Restoration (5:13–20)

  21. 1570_69_James 10/26/07 3:20 PM Page 1674 1674 JAMES 1:1 9Let the lowly brother glory in his exalta- tion,b 10but the rich in his humiliation, be- cause as a flower of the field he will pass away.11For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful ap- pearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. 1 Temptations 2 12Blessed is the man who endures temp- tation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.b 13Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.b 14But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.b ceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.17Every good gift and every per- fect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there 1 Greeting 2 1 James,a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.b 1 The Purpose of Trials 2 2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,b 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 1 Wisdom for Trials 2 5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and with- out reproach, and it will be given to him.b 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.b 7For let not that man suppose that he will receive any- thing from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 15Then, when desire has con- 1:1 James establishes his authority—not as a brother of Christ or bishop of Jerusalem—but as a bond- servant (self-indentured slave) of God. For the Jews, God is the only ruler, and true honor comes from Him. God refers to the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ to the Son of God incarnate. Scattered abroad (Gr. diaspora) refers to Jews in exile, but James applies it to the Church—Jewish and Gentile Christians alike—on pilgrimage. 1:2 Trials, the world’s oppression, take place by God’s permission. The issue is not trials but our response to them. Properly received, trials reveal where our hearts are. They are food for faith, which must grow or die. The godly reaction to trials is joy and perseverance (Mt 5:11, 12; Acts 5:41; Rom 5:2, 3; 8:18; Heb 12:11; 1Pt 2:19). Though unkind circumstances are from the evil one, to get angry at circumstances is to get angry at God, who permits them. 1:5 Wisdom, the practical and spiritual knowledge required for skilled living, comes to those who ask of God, who pray to Him. While James loves God’s law, for him faith is not found in rules, as with the Pharisees, but in a relationship with God. 1:6–8 Prayer as petition is effective when it is done in faith, with no doubting (v. 6). We need an un- questioning loyalty to God along with the confidence that comes from a life stable in all its ways (v. 8). While James teaches the necessity of works, for him works demonstrate a living faith. By contrast, doubting (v. 6) means questioning God. Double-mindedness (v. 8) speaks of one who has two loyalties, love of the world competing with love for God (see Mt 6:24). Such unstable life deadens our conscience and turns us aside from the truth. 1:9–11 Note the reversal of the order of the world. The lowly (v. 9), those who have the least here, will have the most in the Kingdom of heaven (see 2:5; Mt 5:3; Lk 1:52), but they are tempted to be bitter and envious. The rich (v. 10) may perceive their goods as passing, but they are tempted to be greedy and arrogant and may thereby lose true wealth (see 5:1–12). 1:12 We are to rejoice even in temptations. They reveal whether or not we are prepared for heaven (see 1Co 9:25). 1:13 James has discussed outward trials (vv. 1–11). He now turns to inward temptations, which deceive us and lead us into sin. God tries us, but He never tempts us. 1:14, 15 The immediate origin of a temptation is our own sinful passions, which the devil energizes. Temptation begins with desires or lusts, then progresses to being conceived, a fixation on or delight in sinful desires, and ends as birth to sin, a consent to or acting out of sinful desires. We fall to temptation because we allow ourselves to do so. Neither God nor circumstances force us to yield.

  22. 1570_69_James 10/26/07 3:20 PM Page 1675 1675 JAMES 2:5 is no variation or shadow of turning.b 18Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.b 1 The Corrective: Hear and Do 2 19So then,amy beloved brethren,let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;b 20for the wrath of man does not pro- duce the righteousness of God. 21Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.b 22But be doers of the word, and not hear- ers only, deceiving yourselves.23For if any- one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.25But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.b 26If anyone among youathinks he is reli- gious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.b 27Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. 1 The Law of Love 2 2 glory, with partiality.b 2For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,3and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my foot- stool,” 4have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of 1:19aNU-Text reads Know this or This you know. 1:26aNU-Text omits among you. 1:17 As Father of lights, God reigns over both the visible and invisible creation. He is Creator of all and the giver of spiritual gifts. The first part of this verse is used in the Divine Liturgy, in the prayer before Christ’s icon. 1:18 God provides our salvation of His own will, not of necessity. Brought us forth: He “begot” us, a reference to baptism, by which we become children of God by grace. The word of truth is the Gospel, the precious, unchanging doctrines of the faith. We are the firstfruits of His creatures: In salvation we benefit not by taking on the essence or nature of God, but by putting on a new humanity consecrated to God (as with firstfruits in the OT). Humanity is preeminent over all creation, and through our salva- tion all creation is likewise being changed. The first half of this verse appears in the Divine Liturgy in the prayer of thanksgiving after the faithful receive Communion. 1:19, 20 The wrath of man is unjust, ungracious, and severe. It proceeds from uncontrolled anger, not from God’s judgment. For us to discern the righteousness of God requires patience, graciousness, and controlled passions. 1:21 While the word was implanted in baptism, Christians continue to receive Him throughout their lives. 1:25 James takes the Jewish notion of freedom—obedience to the Law—and applies it to Christ’s law, His commandment to love others as He loved us. James uses the OT form in 2:8. 1:26, 27 Here are three examples of the relationship between faith and works. (1) Mastery over speech: What proceeds out of the mouth flows from the heart, for sooner or later our tongue will re- veal the quality of our faith in God. (2) Ministry to the needy: Faithful Christians must be the guardians of the poor, especially of those orphans and widows who have lost their natural guardians. “Do not let the widows be neglected; after the Lord, you must be their guardian” (IgnAnt). (3) Moral purity in thought and deed: A traditional indicator of a working faith. “Let us make haste to wash away through fasting the filth of our transgressions, and through acts of mercy and compassion to the needy let us enter into the bridal chamber of the Bridegroom Christ, who grants to us great mercy” (Vespers, week before Lent). 2:1–4 Unjustly judging others is an example of fainthearted faith being manifested in unjust works. Favoring the rich over the poor is contrary to true faith. A person’s dignity and worth come from God, not from fellow humans. So we must not judge others by the earthly standards of rank, wealth, attain- ments, and appearance.

  23. 1570_69_James 10/26/07 3:20 PM Page 1676 1676 JAMES 2:6 which He promised to those who love Him?b 6But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7Do they not blas- pheme that noble name by which you are called? 8If you really fulfill the royal law accord- ing to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”ayou do well;b 9but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. adultery,”aalso said, “Do not murder.”b Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder,you have become a transgressor of the law.12So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. 1 Faith that Works 2 14What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?b 15If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,16and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without youraworks, and I will show you my faith by mybworks.19You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!b 20But do you want to know, O foolish man, that 11For He who said, “Do not commit 2:8aLeviticus 19:18 Deuteronomy 5:18 bExodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17 bNU-Text omits my. 2:11aExodus 20:14; 2:18aNU-Text omits your. 2:5–7 God is not partial to anyone. The poor are more likely to repent and renounce this world for the sake of the kingdom, for they more easily see the emptiness of earthly things. The rich (v. 6), on the other hand, tend to prize earthly things, desire material things, and even hurt others to gain them (see Lk 6:21–25; 1Co 1:26–28). They may mock Christians for the name by which (v. 7) they are called, the name invoked at baptism. 2:8–13 The corrective standard of judgment is perfect faith manifested in perfect works. The royal law (v. 8), the law of liberty (v. 12; 1:25), is the second great commandment of Christ: love for neighbor (Jn 13:34). The standard by which we judge is that by which we will be judged; the mercy we give will be the mercy we receive. “God has shown mercy to us. Let us in our turn show mercy: let us feed the poor, and with the divine water of fasting let us wash the defilement from our souls. . . . O heavenly angels, entreat the Giver of good to accept in His infinite mercy our poor and mean repentance” (Matins, Friday before Lent). 2:14–19 The faith that saves is a complete faith, not just the mind and the tongue but the whole man trusting in the living God. This means our faith and our relationship with God—our justification—are dynamic and living. Our faith grows and affects our actions, or it dies. “Faith alone” (by itself, v. 17), static faith, does not save. We must nurture our faith in God and love for Him through our works. “Do not say you are the temple of the Lord, writes Jeremiah [see Jer 7:3]; nor should you say that faith alone in our Lord Jesus Christ can save you, for this is impossible unless you acquire love for Him through your works. As for faith by itself, ‘the devils also believe, and tremble’” (MaxCon). 2:20–24 The faith of Abraham is living and active. (1) In Gn 12:1–3, when Abraham is 75 years old, he receives a call to forsake all and follow God. (2) In Gn 15:6, when Abraham is almost 85, after he has proven his faith through years of renouncing his land, family, property, and privileges, God promises him that he will ultimately regain everything he has given up. Abraham’s faith in God’s promise is “accounted to him for righteousness.” God fulfills Abraham’s faith by making a covenant with him, an OT liturgical and sacramental act. (3) In Gn 22:1–19, Abraham is at least 110. He has been tested for years concerning God’s promise of a son. Now, after the covenant sacrament of initiation (circumcision) has been given in Gn 17, comes Abraham’s supreme test: the sacrifice of Isaac, his son of promise (Gn 15:6). James reveals that Gn 15:6 is fulfilled in Gn 22. This is a crucial lesson for us in our understanding of justification by faith. Neither Abraham’s faith nor his justification is merely momentary, static, or once- and-for-all. It is dynamic, a growth process that finds its natural and normal realization in good works. Far from being just point-in-time, Abraham’s justification covered at least 25 years after God first de- clared him just. It is living and active faith that saves!

  24. 1570_69_James 10/26/07 3:20 PM Page 1677 1677 JAMES 4:1 faith without works is dead?a 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was ac- counted to him for righteousness.”aAnd he was called the friend of God.24You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25Likewise,was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.b mankind. tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.11Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.a 1 Godly Counsel 2 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wis- dom.b 14But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.15This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.17But the wis- dom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 1 Lack of Faith and Works: Quarrels in the Church 2 4 your desires for pleasure that war in your 8But no man can tame the 9With it we bless our God and 23And the 1 The Work of Faith: Controlling What We Say 2 3 receive a stricter judgment.b 2For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3Indeed,awe put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.4Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.5Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kin- dles! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by My brethren, let not many of you be- come teachers, knowing that we shall 16For where Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from 2:20aNU-Text reads useless. 2:23aGenesis 15:6 3:12aNU-Text reads Neither can a salty spring produce fresh water. 3:3aNU-Text reads Now if. 2:26 This summary of the organic relationship of faith and works (see Mt 7:21; 25:31–46; Jn 14:15; Gal 5:6) shows that only God can save. 3:1–12 What we say reveals what we are. If we can control what we say, we can control what we do (vv. 2–8). For James, this is a prime example of the relationship between faith and works, and a major locus of spiritual warfare. James even warns against becoming a Christian teacher (v. 1) and expresses astonishment at how hypocritical and contradictory our speech can be (vv. 9–12). 3:13–18 James is also leery about us counseling others, for what is offered as wisdom can be based on pride and other sinful passions. Self-centered faith will manifest itself in self-centered works, in this case “helping” others. True wisdom comes from God and proves itself by action (v. 13). Sensual (v. 15; Gr. psychike) means unspiritual, not possessing the spirit of God.

  25. 1570_69_James 10/26/07 3:20 PM Page 1678 1678 JAMES 4:2 members?b 2You lust and do not have.You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war.Yetayou do not have because you do not ask.3You ask and do not re- ceive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. andaadulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.5Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 6But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.b 12There is one Lawgiver,awho is able to save and to destroy.Whobare you to judge another?c 1 Being Overly Confident 2 13Come now, you who say, “Today or to- morrow we willago to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;b 14whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a lit- tle time and then vanishes away.15Instead you ought to say,“If the Lord wills,we shall live and do this or that.” 16But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. 1 Warning to Rich Oppressors 2 5 you!b 2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.3Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up 4Adulterers “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”a 7Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and pu- rify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. 1 Criticizing Others 2 11Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon 4:2aNU-Text and M-Text omit Yet. Text omits Adulterers and. 4:12aNU-Text adds and Judge.bNU-Text and M-Text read But who.cNU-Text reads a neigh- bor. 4:13aM-Text reads let us. 4:4aNU- 4:6aProverbs 3:34 4:1–10 Wars and fights in the Church are another example of the result of faith without works. Such disputes come from desires for pleasure that war in our members, passions that bring disruption in the body of Christ. These passions are fragmenting (v. 1), self-centered (v. 3), of this world (v. 4), energized by Satan (v. 7), and therefore at enmity with God (v. 4). God does not answer prayers for our selfish desires (v. 3). Adulterers and adulteresses: The image of unfaithfulness in marriage is common through- out the OT for the faithlessness of God’s people. How do we conquer arrogant pleasure-seeking? (1) Stop praying for self-centered pleasures (vv. 2, 3). (2) Renounce the world and build a friendship with God (v. 4). (3) Yield to the Holy Spirit who dwells in us through chrismation (v. 5). In seeking the Holy Spirit we gain the Holy Trinity! (4) Be humble, recognizing that God resists the proud (v. 6). (5) Resist (be insubordinate to) Satan and submit to God (v. 7). (6) Approach God in worship (draw near). Take special care to cleanse your hands and purify your hearts through repentance in preparation for worship (vv. 8, 9). Never laugh off God’s call to mourn for sin. “The rewards for the toils of virtue are dispassion and spiritual knowledge. For these are the media- tors of the kingdom of heaven, just as passions and ignorance are the mediators of eternal punishment. It is because of this that he who seeks these rewards for the sake of human glory and not for their in- trinsic goodness is rebuked by the words of Scripture: ‘You ask, and do not receive, because you ask wrongly’” (MaxCon). 4:11, 12 Belittling criticism of others is another case of pride coming out in what we say. It is a lack of faith united with evil works, an offense both to the person criticized and to God. God’s will is to love others (2:8) with humility and mercy, even if they are in the wrong (see 3:13–18). 4:13–16 True faith depends completely on God and seeks ways to do good works. But to plan as if we knew exactly what will happen is arrogance. 5:1–6 The terrible fate of the unjust rich is that their wealth will condemn them.

  26. 1570_69_James 10/26/07 3:20 PM Page 1679 H E A L I N G “Is anyone among you sick? 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. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be for- given” (5:14, 15). One of the great prophetic themes of the Old Testament concerning the promised Messiah is that the Father would send His Son “to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind” (Lk 4:18; see also Is 49:8; 61:1). The min- istry of Christ was one of numerous healings of “all kinds of sicknesses and all kinds of disease” (Mt 4:23). In addition, Jesus healed darkened hearts and minds as He released people from demonic oppression. Like their Master before them, the early apostles participated in God’s work of healing as well, attributing their miracles to the risen and ascended Christ. “Jesus the Christ heals you,” Peter told a newly restored man who had been bedridden for eight years (Acts 9:34). St. Paul identified healing as a gift of the Holy Spirit (1Co 12:9). Thus, the New Testament founda- tion was established for the healing ministry to be a part of the sacramental life of the Church (Jam 5:14, 15). Healings throughout history. The Orthodox Church has never believed or behaved as though the gifts of the Spirit or the healing miracles of Christ have somehow passed away. Did not Jesus promise, “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (Jn 14:12)? St. Ireneaus, writing at the close of the second century, speaks of miracles in his day: “Some drive out devils . . . some have foreknowledge of the future . . . others heal the sick through the laying on of hands . . . and even the dead have been raised up before now and have remained with us for many years.” The writings of other Church Fathers speak often of miracles within the Church. Quite widely known are the supernatural healings Christ performs through St. Seraphim of Sarov, an eighteenth-century Russian monk. He was blessed with the gift of healing during his lifetime, and even after his departure many people have been restored to wholeness at his graveside. The practice of the Church today. To this day, the Orthodox practice of prayer for the sick follows the New Testament instruction of St. James. The Orthodox Church has a special ser- vice of healing, which may be performed at any time. The presbyter prays for the ill person, anointing him with oil and saying, “O Lord Almighty, Healer of our souls and bodies, who put down and raise up, who chastise and heal also, visit now in Your mercy our brother or sis- ter, N., who is ill. Stretch forth Your arm, which is full of healing and health, and raise (him/her) up from this bed, and cure this illness. Put away the spirit of disease and every malady and pain and fever. And if (he/she) has committed sins and transgressions, grant remission and forgiveness, because You love mankind.” As Orthodox Christians we pray, neither commanding God to heal nor doubting His ability to heal, but pleading for His promised mercy on all who are ill.

  27. 1570_69_James 10/26/07 3:20 PM Page 1680 1680 JAMES 5:4 intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. 12But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.ab 1 The Work of Faith: Healing 2 13Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.b 14Is anyone among you sick? 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.15And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.16Confess your tres- passesato one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effec- tive, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.b 17Elijah was a man with a na- ture like ours, and he prayed earnestly that treasure in the last days.4Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.a 5You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts asain a day of slaughter.6You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. 1 Encouragement to the Oppressed 2 7Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.b 8You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.aBehold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suf- fering and patience.b? 11Indeed we count them blessed who endure.You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end 5:4aLiterally, in Hebrew, Hosts 5:5aNU-Text omits as. M-Text read judged. hypocrisy. 5:16aNU-Text reads Therefore con- fess your sins. 5:9aNU-Text and 5:12aM-Text reads 5:7–12 The early and latter rain (v. 7) refers to the pattern of rainfall—at planting time and just before harvest—in Palestine. We are to put away grumbling at each other, and we must not demand that life be “fair.” Patience, forbearance, and a right vision of the ultimate Judge are true works of living faith. 5:10, 11 The faithful prophets, true saints of God, are models or examples to us in how to practice suf- fering and patience. Consequently, Christians from the NT era even till today have honored or vener- ated the prophets—indeed, all the saints—counting them blessed. 5:12 A polemic against a bad custom stemming from bad faith: the common practice of swearing by God or something that signifies God (as if swearing were a proof of truthfulness). We may swear when required to, but the solution to lack of trust is good faith—our integrity, truthfulness between a person and God. See Mt 5:33–37. 5:13–15 The sick person is to call for the elders (presbyters) for prayer. Salvation deals with the whole person, for each human being is a unity, body and soul. Hence, this sacrament has a double purpose: not only for healing but for forgiveness also. The presbyter (shortened form: priest) is given certain gifts of the ministry at ordination, the laying on of hands (see 1Ti 4:14). Prayer is combined with olive oil— not only the primary medicine of ancient times, but also a symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Church—in a single sacrament that effects a healing for the whole person. Thus, the elements of the sacrament of healing include (1) the presbyter or priest (v. 13); (2) the prayer of (the) faith that will save (v. 15), connected with (3) the work of Christ Himself, for the Lord will raise us up, and (4) the Holy Spirit, manifested in the oil; and (5) confession of sins just prior to the anointing with oil, which explains why James writes if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven (v. 15). In the Orthodox Church, this sacra- ment is granted anyone who is sick, whether in danger of dying or not. 5:16–18 Some allege that confessing sins to God before a priest is not biblical. The ancient Christian custom was to confess your trespasses to one another (v. 16). When a Christian was guilty of sin, the matter was confessed before the whole Church as an act of repentance. As the Church grew, and those not part of the community came to observe, the pressure in such public confession became so great that the priest, instead of the entire community, heard the confession, representing the people. What is not taught in Scripture is a private confession only to God, which refuses to acknowledge sin to the community (1Jn 1:8, 10). Thus, the Church has effected healing through such works of faith as confes- sion of sins and the power of intercessory prayer. 5:10–20 This passage is read on days commemorating prophets.

  28. 1570_69_James 10/26/07 3:20 PM Page 1681 1681 JAMES 5:20 it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 1 Restoration 2 19Brethren, if anyone among you wan- ders from the truth,and someone turns him back,b 20let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soulafrom death and cover a multitude of sins. 5:20aNU-Text reads his soul. 5:19, 20 The work of faith in restoring the apostate.

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