How Does the Orthodox Approach to Scripture Differ From That of the West? - Fr. Lawrence Farley

[@ProtectingVeil]

📙 FREE eBOOK on the wisdom of modern Orthodox Christian elders: social.protectingveil.com/freebook1

[@gheiberg59]

The very first time I set foot inside an Orthodox Church was at St. Herman of Alaska on the first day of Lent 2017. I felt immediately that I had come home. I was baptized and chrismated by Fr. Lawrence just over a year ago.

[@dakotastrasinger1]

So coincidental that I’m reading this today, because I just stepped foot in Orthodox Church for the first time in a while today, and it was a St. Herman of Alaska church!

[@benjaminmay1539]

I’m not orthodox but I found this really interesting and makes me want to learn more about orthodox Christianity

[@ProtectingVeil]

Glad you found us, Benjamin...hope you'll stick around!

[@sennahoj777]

[@graceoverall]

Amen! I'm in the same boat and started seeking in July 2019. I've noticed a surprising number of comments like yours in the last year or so. It makes me wonder what's happening in the protestant church that is driving people to Orthodoxy? For me, it's the "rock concert" "worship" services and women pastors.

[@sennahoj777]

@@graceoverall I walked from protestantism to orthodoxy. And now it looks like I'm going to end up jew😯

[@graceoverall]

@@sennahoj777 LOL, being a Jew is a birthright, not something you choose. Why leave Orthodoxy?

[@PatrickHutton]

This was a good video of just the right length and depth. I'm Protestant and the issues I have with Protestantism is that there is an unspoken assumption that Christianity ended around a Century after Jesus and started again with the Reformation. And Sola Scriptura tends to a de-contextualized understanding of the Scripture and one that goes to an extent against historical reality.

[@ProtectingVeil]

So glad you enjoyed it, Patrick! Your points get to the heart of things - Protestants definitely take the existence of the Scriptural canon for granted (most have no idea why the books in the Bible were chosen). Also, where did the concept of Sola Scriptura come from? Ironically, it certainly isn't scriptural(!)

[@PatrickHutton]

@@ProtectingVeil Well it (SS and other Sola's) were in reaction to the excesses of the Medieval RCC. The idea being that "we can free ourselves from fallible human tradition and go to the source (Bible), we can free ourselves from human and institutional intermediaries and go straight to God through Christ." But the Church decided on the NT Canon and the OT for that matter. So the Church came before the Bible. Also it's highly selective to accept the Patristic traditions on the Trinity and the nature of Jesus yet arbitrarily reject them on Communion and possibly Mary and Icons. The later being my diagreement too.

[@PatrickHutton]

I've been more interested and leaning more towards Orthodoxy because I evangelism to Muslims at Speakers Corner, London, UK. And due to objections against the Trinity, Deity of Jesus, reliability of Scripture; Church and Theological history are important ("for the Bible tells us so" doesn't cut it in serious debates with ideological opponents who've done their homework).

[@PatrickHutton]

Phew glad I got this off my chest. ;-) now for some serious Puerh Tea.

[@ProtectingVeil]

Very interesting...if/when you're ready, there's a wonderful monastery near Colchester (St. John the Baptist in Tolleshunt Knights) that I highly recommend you visit. They're incredibly hospitable and well versed in pretty much everything(!)

[@zaqwertyfish]

Thanks for posting this. It was the very thing that Fr. Lawrence talked about that led me through the western maze to the Orthodox church. It was not because of the people, many of whom truly love and serve Christ, but my own conscience. I myself became, in my mind, the final arbiter about theology and the Christian faith. Debate and 'heresy hunting' became a big part of my Walk. A second issue was that people either didn't know about the early Fathers, or simply dismissed them as unreliable since the Bible was all that was needed. When I finally became aware of the Orthodox church, and began to learn, I found so many answers and filled in so many holes in my understanding of Christ and His Church that I was amazed and comforted. I am now a few weeks from my Chrismation. Glory to Jesus Christ. May He bless you for the time and effort you give to share these videos.

[@ProtectingVeil]

Thanks to God! Glad that you're finding them helpful!

[@i60-chriscahill44]

I find myself coming out of the hunting you speak of and finding a higher ancient Truth. I am excited to have had my eyes open to the way.

[@louisaccardi6808]

Many types of Protestants, especially Charismatics are very ignorant of church history and the church fathers as well as the major church councils. If we would study what the church in the East and West taught through the centuries we would learn valuable lessons. The spirituality of the Eastern Orthodox have been very meaningful to me because even though the Protestant church did have men who were spiritual through the centuries, they lacked few monastic monks and hermits. I listen a lot to the videos that the Eastern Orthodox put out about many of the ancient saints and have been very blessed by them. Holiness of life and a life of prayer is missing so much in the evangelical churches and denominations. The emphasis of holiness and a life of prayer is what the Orthodox Churches have to offer us.

[@Bh9140]

@@louisaccardi6808 True that.

[@vann342011]

I feel the same. I started out in a pentecostal church. Always felt I was missing something especially regarding "rapture" teachings . Fast forward 15yrs. I switched to baptist church because I thought they made a little more sense. I prayed to God he would show me the truth and he did and it was through Hank Hanagraaff. I know this is what has been missing my entire life. I have a huge issue with somethings they are teaching in the churches that is false. I'm having a hard time with that for a while now. But I know God can help me get through all the devils confusion and hurt I have experienced through today's teachings and preachers thru discernment.

[@MrWinMrWin-qr2bn]

An excellent talk. No one in this world is infallible

[@saldomino1639]

Awesome Talk ! It’s beyond me being a Pentecostal why the Orthodox Church is not mention anywhere when the Orthodox Church started out in the 1st Century which tells me that the Orthodox Church is the True Church that’s why I’m seriously swaying to convert to Orthodoxy ! Who Started Orthodox Church ? The Acts of the Apostles I would say because it was them who started Churches all over Greece ! Thank you so much for this interview!

[@ProtectingVeil]

Thanks to God!

[@Blaisesongs]

As someone converting to Orthodoxy, this made more sense than anything along these lines than I have heard. And thank you, Fr Lawrence, for a kind outlook on those of us who came from Protestant background (Lutheran in my case). That goes a long way as well.

[@CrossingFist]

I’m an LCMS Lutheran who is seriously considering converting to Orthodoxy. It seems like that’s a path a lot of us take.

[@bristolrovers27]

I found this very interesting. I'm not a Christian, but have an interest in all religions and it gave me food for thought.

[@rancantrell]

Father Lawrence is a very wise an insightful man.

[@nate_thenotso_great]

My wife grew up Catholic and I grew up Protestant (mostly nondenominational but still conservative). We are considering Orthodoxy. Thank you for taking the time to post this. Very helpful and insightful. The Bible is a tricky part (the trickiest I would say) of the church in general.

[@mariaelenaferghete9073]

Hristos a Înviat! Foarte bine venit acest material. Eu sunt creștin-ortodoxă din România. Lucrările Sfinților Părinți ne ajută foarte mult la înțelegerea Bibliei, așa cum spunea foarte bine și părintele. Și eu la început, de fapt o perioadă destul de lungă, citeam doar Biblia. De când am început să citesc din Sfinții Părinți, am înțeles lucruri pe care altă dată nu le înțelegeam foarte bine. Mulțumim pentru material! Thank you!

[@kinoian]

I love Fr Lawrence much more now after this interview. Quirks, idiosyncrasies, and all. Your interviews-thus far at least-bring some big names in our Church down to earth and make them more relatable, and for that I'm grateful. Looking forward to the next one!

[@ProtectingVeil]

Good to hear from you brother, always! I really enjoyed my time with Fr. Lawrence...he's a kind and generous person...

[@darkgoth69]

That was really interesting

[@philmonk4159]

This my favorite video from your channel so far, I think. The topic is what I was looking for and Father Lawrence Farley is very clear and logical in his explanation. Thank you.

[@ProtectingVeil]

Thanks to God...glad you found it edifying!

[@lindamaxey3827]

This was clear and concise, I'm anxious to share it with others !

[@joshua_wherley]

I appreciate Father's comment that the Bible is a library. That is an excellent point. Thank you for this video.

[@ProtectingVeil]

Thanks to God...thanks for stopping by, Joshua!

[@ChrisKoineGreekPhys1]

Excellent topic to cover, indeed, and well done by Fr. Lawrence Farley! This topic of Bible interpretation as seen through the lens of the Apostolic Fathers of the Church as the prism through which Orthodox Christianity looks at the Bible is key and hopefully would gain appreciation by non-Orthodox Christians and understood when having dialogue concerning the Holy Scriptures. Thank you for posting this video!

[@ProtectingVeil]

Thanks to God!

[@rickdomina]

These are wonderfully inspiring.

[@newweaponsdc]

That was a really excellent explanation of the different approaches to understanding the scripture. On one side you have unbroken apostolic study of the Bible for over 2000 years in the Orthodox tradition and the other end you have the chaos that comes from attempting to understand the Bible with absolutely no historical context or scholarship which lead to the never-ending split of the Protestant faith into over 16000 denominations.

[@johnsambo9379]

You forgot about the Catholic church changing their mind ever twenty years on what a Christian is.

[@meigacha4283]

Just finding your channel and I love it so far, thanks!

[@stoneflake]

Thank you, that was most helpful.

[@ProtectingVeil]

Very glad that you found it helpful!

[@truBador2]

The first thing that appealed to me about Orthodoxy, before knowing anything, was that you could still be a man and be a priest.

[@antonling5612]

Do you mean that you can still be married and have a relationship with a wife while being a priest?

[@witchf4ce310]

Anton Ling you can in Catholicism too though. You can’t get married after you’ve become a priest in orthodoxy or Catholicism. But you can become a priest even if you’re married in both faiths.

[@witchf4ce310]

somercet1 yes you can. There are several catholic priests who were married and could become priests, but the priests who weren’t married couldn’t then get married AFTER they became priests. Not hard to look up.

[@louisaccardi6808]

truBador2: Hopefully you see more to Orthodoxy than that.

[@ChrisBrown-gu3tp]

You can get married before or after you become a priest.Only the monks don't get married.

[@annekoch2834]

Very clear explanation thank you. I also enjoy Fr Lawrence’s bible study podcasts. But it is even better to see him speaking on a video.

[@ProtectingVeil]

I'm glad to hear it (and so will he, I'm sure!)

[@mannytorrez2138]

Wow this was deep is there a longer version more breaking it down please he was good but to fast i say this with respect

[@scrids]

Good video. One suggestion: perhaps either leave the question they are answering on the screen for just a moment longer or in your introduction, mention what question was asked.

[@ProtectingVeil]

Yes! Helpful...thanks brother!

[@melaniepowell8135]

I am considering converting to Eastern Orthodoxy or Roman Catholic from Protestant. I have recently come to the point where I told a family member that I have rejected all Protestant churches. I am a believer in God and Jesus but disgusted by my experiences in the protestant denominations

[@jonathantillman252]

Melanie Powell I converted to orthodoxy a few years ago from my Protestant upbringing. Take your time, it’s a lot to digest (whether you go east or West) but there’s no rush. Oh and avoid going tooo deep into KZbin/forums, a lot of bad info out there lol. Stick to ancient faith radio and go talk w your local priest:)

[@melaniepowell8135]

@@jonathantillman252 thank you for that! I will!

[@davidroutledge6314]

Hi Melanie, I converted to Orthodoxy from nihilistic atheism when I was in college. I was raised an Evangelical Christian, lost my faith, but then God came to me through a professor (who happened to be an Orthodox priest). One thing I will say about inquiring about Orthodoxy is to take your time, and ideally find an Orthodox parish near you and speak with its priest (or deacon). Also, regularly going to Orthodox services and experiencing our worship is probably more formative in one's journey Home than anything you'll find on the Internet or in books (although there are many stellar books out there that present the Orthodox faith and way of life in immensely helpful and insightful ways). My own experience with visiting various Orthodox churches in my area was that they all have their own "character", and some may not be to your personal liking. But definitely explore your options, and befriend an Orthodox priest (or priests) who can answer any of your questions or concerns that come along your journey. Also, if you're a reader, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware's "The Orthodox Church" and "The Orthodox Way" are easy to read, incredibly informative books that will help shed light on Orthodox Christianity. Good luck on your journey, and Christ be with you.

[@ProtectingVeil]

Godspeed! Thanks for sharing you story...may God continue to guide you on your path Home!

[@katherineclark9483]

Thank you for this interview. Very helpful

[@ProtectingVeil]

Thanks to God...glad you found it edifying!

[@NinoGuariscoJR]

Thank you for sharing this. Suggestion for future video: Can you have your guest explain the differences and/or similarities between orthodox and catholic approach to Scripture?

[@fr.patrickcardine7745]

He said in his opening statement that there is not much difference.

[@NinoGuariscoJR]

Fr. Patrick Cardine Yes, I did take note of this. Yet it would be interesting to contrast the Western scholastic approach to Scripture with the Eastern Orthodox approach. Just a thought. Thanks again.

[@ProtectingVeil]

Duly noted, Nino! I would be glad to hear someone discuss this question, too...

[@carltonpoindexter2034]

@@ProtectingVeil One can see a change in Catholicism when contrasts St. Benedict and his rule citing the practitioners of his Rule to also read John of the Ladder (Climacos) and the church fathers and the desert fathers. Thomas Aquinas helped change the direction of the Western church into a rational interpretation which even impacted Western religious art. Look at how haloes are portrayed in the West, a pie plate atop a head or a wire hoop and no spiritual concept whatsoever as the indwelling light of Christ

[@70AD-user45]

@@ProtectingVeil The Bible DOES interpret itself. Firstly, let the Old Testament interpret what's in the New Testament due to biblical TYPOLOGY. The events in the Old Covenent were just types and shadows of the spiritual reality that was to come in the New Covenant age of the Church. In other words, look back in the Old Testament to discover the meaning of certain New Testament verses. Secondly, you interpret the Bible by audience relevance. The New Testament was written to the 1st century audience in Palestine and the diaspora. Take into account the HISTORICAL context of the Scriptures. What was going on at the time the Scriptures were written? Thirdly, you take into account the HEBRAIC mindset, the Hebraic way of thinking, and the Hebraic symbolic language of the Scriptures. Even though the New Testament was written in Greek, the Hebraic way of thinking is still found throughout the New Testament. Did the Church Fathers really understand Bible hermeneutics (interpretation)? For the most part, they interpreted the Scriptures by the Hellenistic mindset and took certain verses literally, and as a result they missed all that Hebraic symbolic/allegorical language. For example, the second coming of Christ was never meant to be a "physical coming". It was in fact a SPIRITUAL coming, "on the clouds of heaven", in judgement against apostate Jerusalem in 70 AD. To "come with clouds" (Matthew 26, 64) is Hebraic apocalyptic language meaning to come SPIRITUALLY in judgement. No doubt the idea of a physical second coming of the Lord was invented by the Church Fathers who misinterpreted the Hebraic apocalyptic/symbolic language.

[@MarkAStuart]

So good! Thanks

[@rev.j.rogerallen9328]

I also came to Christ through the Jesus movement in 1970.

[@peterandjoycevanbreemen600]

It is amazing how many of us did.

[@jonathanmontgomery519]

Thank you! This was very informative.

[@ProtectingVeil]

Christ is Risen! Thanks to God...glad you found it helpful!

[@beckypierce6602]

The division in Christianity is opposite what the Lord intended. In John 17 the Lord prayed for the believers before he was crucified as if leaving his last will and testament. In this prayer he indicated the oneness of the believers is a testimony to his authenticity. It is devastating seeing all the division and arguments in Christianity today. Everyone claims to be returning to the original Acts church but they are a divided. LORD HAVE MERCY ON US. BE OUR UNITY FOR YOUR TESTIMONY! John 17 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one- 23 I in them and you in me-so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

[@mariogagliardi8491]

JEREMIAH6: 16. Thus says the Lord: “STAND BY the roads, and look, and ASK FOR the ANCIENT PATHS, where the GOOD WAY IS; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’" *History of the world in brief.

[@wardone8991]

Very clear and fair.

[@oceanmachine1906]

Not Christian but this is a fantastic video and he has a strong argument which Protestants have no valid defenses against.

[@baoduong2203]

Beautiful video! I’ve always mentioned St. Ignatius to Protestants concerning the Eucharist. I find that bible studies in the Orthodox Church is more focused on the historical context and what the early church fathers said, with the meaning in the original Greek. Catholic bible studies are in the historical context, not not as much as Orthodoxy. Protestant bible studies are not focused on the historical context, but more focused on what does it mean to me and seem more personal based.

[@ProtectingVeil]

Yes...it's so important to read Scripture in its original context: trying to understand the community that wrote it (the Church), the community that first interpreted it (the Church), and the language that it was written in...

[@70AD-user45]

@@ProtectingVeil By "inspired" the Evangelicals say the Bible was written when the authors were guided by the Holy Spirit. What is the Orthodox view of "inspired Scriptures".

[@achilleuspetreas3828]

@@70AD-user45 As far as I'm concerned, the books of the Bible were guided by the Holy Spirit, but those books in the Bible were not put into into one book, the Bible, until much later. There were many other writings that did not make it in. St. Athanasius was the first one to merely suggest all the books now currently in the Bible. Revelation was not canonical in the East until around the 8th century. But the Councils of the Church, who put the Bible as we know it together, were guided by the Holy Spirit. I hope this helps!

[@70AD-user45]

@@achilleuspetreas3828 👍👍👍

[@Southlander1000]

@Bao Duong I am an ex-Mormon. My family goes back in Mormonism to the 1850s in one branch and the 1830s in another. It gives me a unique edge when dealing with their missionaries. When I am on the campus of my university and I am approached by them, they get a full dose of real Church history. I dive headlong into St. Ignatius' writings to demonstrate to them that what they've been told about early Christianity and the facts of early Christianity don't mix. I also point Protestants to St. Ignatius because he is a great place to demonstrate the sacramentality and the episcopal polity of the Apostolic and sub-Apostolic Church. In seven short letters, St. Ignatius has done more for the Church than some of the greatest Church writers have done in many volumes.

[@StrengthTraining84]

Wow! Well explained.

[@peregrino1655]

So simple.

[@tenorhornplayer6535]

I recently studied carefully the Apostolic Fathers. They confirm what is said here. Evangelicalism is unnecessarily chaotic.

[@johnsambo9379]

You forget about the Catholic church changing their mind ever twenty years on what a Christian is.

[@ksnunema]

As someone who is genuinely interested in understanding what the Orthodox believe, Father Farley’s comments here were not as helpful as I had hoped. Around 2:45, Father Farley says of the Protestants, “…they have taken the Bible out of its historical and ecclesiastical context”. Which I found interesting and would like to understand this point better. But what is the proper historical and ecclesiastical context? If I understand his later comments, he’s saying that the context that he’s talking about is the understanding that the church fathers had. But that leads to a couple of follow-on questions: Which church fathers, and how do you decide who is in that list? How late do you go? And does this list include people like Origen? This statement is confusing, not the least of which because (as Father Farley himself also rightly points out), there was no unanimity amongst the church fathers. There were about as many varied beliefs amongst the early ‘Christians’ as there are today. Another question that comes to mind when watching this video: Do the Orthodox believe in Biblical Inerrancy? If anyone could shed some light on these points for me from an Orthodox perspective, I would be grateful!

[@fisterklister]

I envy the Orthodox their beautiful liturgy, icons and churches. Especially the russian ones.

[@Noticer-in-chief]

Why be envious? It's open to you too.

[@fisterklister]

@@Noticer-in-chief I'm only envious with love. Thanks for your invitation.

[@ProtectingVeil]

Come and see...come and stay!

[@fisterklister]

@@ProtectingVeil Thank you. I will.

[@rtg8point858]

Idols

[@michaelnicodemus5610]

As a Protestant clergyman who sees the Orthodox Church as the true apostolic expression of the faith, I find his synopsis of a Protestant view of scriptures to be offensive. I was never taught, nor do I know any Protestant theologians who teach, that the scriptures were given to us separate from any apostolic tradition. We see the scriptures as being the revelation of Jesus Christ as given to us by the apostles and verified by the apostolic fathers and succeeding councils. The fact that many different denominations place different emphasis upon those scriptures is only because of their own human understanding. Differences of opinion does not negate the Protestants' understanding of apostolic authority.

[@sheikowi]

Great insights, even with twitching and gesticulations. Another example of how Eastern (Orthodox) approaches closest to Talmudic dialectic.

[@celestinehale8801]

In context such as these, the historical perspective recommends the term "Heterodox" instead of Western: there is a uniquely non-Eastern theology from the ancient West that was equally Orthodox before the schism. The word "Western" should not be connoted as synonymous with heterodoxy, just as anything Eastern is not automatically Orthodox.

[@logansweet4190]

I like most of what he said. I only have a small gripe and that is he talked about the "thousands of Protestant denominations". The only primary source for that I have seen is the encyclopedia brittanica, and it also says there are over 200 Roman Catholic denominations. It is waaaaaaayyyyyyy too broad in what it includes as a denomination. Mormons and JW are counted when they openly deny the trinity, and churches that are in fellowship full with one another like the AALC and the LCMS are counted separate even though the can preach in each other's pulpits and commune at each other's alters. It also comsiders churches named differently because they are in a different nation as a different denomination even if they are still organizationally part of a church based in the US. The numbers are so wildly inflated I wish they would just make their point without citing such sources, because the argument doesnt need bad sources to back it up.

[@Southlander1000]

A very good and basic explanation. The videographer got the focus wrong, tough. The St. Basil's model in the back is in focus, but the good Father here isn't. I would suggest a tighter f/stop and get a deeper depth of field or do some test shooting first and look at it on the laptop before the shoot proper.

[@HubertofLiege]

Southlander1000 I have vision in only one eye so its perfect for me

[@ProtectingVeil]

Christ is Risen! Alas...the videographer is also the sound man AND the interviewer(!) Happily, this doesn't happen too often(!) Lorric...I'm sorry for your vision struggles, but glad that, in this case, it works for you(!)

[@Southlander1000]

@@ProtectingVeil Being a semi-professional photographer and having done some videography for a family member who aspires to acting, I can see things others miss. I was just offering a suggestion. No matter the technical specifics of the video, I enjoyed its content and, as I said, I like the monochrome. It was very effective as a style here, IMO (but maybe I am biased because I love monochrome).

[@cuthbertsboots5733]

I thought it was intentional. Kind of like when the Saints in the dome of the Church point upward toward Christ, the lens, though aimed at Fr. Lawrence, was ultimately focused on the Church. jk I didn't think it was intentional but it worked

[@darlenezamora1277]

🙏❤🙌❤🙏

[@brianthompson4480]

I'm an evangelical Christian and I believe in the real presence of Christ in the eucharist. I also respect the apostolic fathers. I believe we could have koinonia together!

[@mariogagliardi8491]

To the question of whether the Holy Scripture explains itself, we could look at what's written in it. 2PETER 3: 15-16. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures." There are SOME THINGS that are HARD TO UNDERSTAND.

[@costa328]

Out of all the Protestants, he could have quoted he names a guy nobody heard of " Winky"

[@thomassolomon5972]

Hes mentioned in Becoming Orthodox, right?

[@phlipp0436]

It's a shame Eastern orthodoxy is a hard denomination to get involved with here in Australia. It's very culturally orientated and introverted. I started off Pentecostal and have moved away from all evangelical denominations over the last 10 years as I moved towards the church fathers and the desert fathers. I am now Anglican because it is sacramental but it's a very divided place, particularly over contemporary issues such as homosexuality.

[@praveenjomy346]

Try Antiochian Orthodox or Coptic Orthodox churches. I know people from other cultures who became their members in Sydney. May God guide you on the path you've to take.

[@TheRealRealOK]

Praveen Jomy Coptic aren’t Eastern Orthodox. They’re not in communion.

I'm not going to waste my breath.

[@sashenkadumerve3017]

On what?

[@sophrapsune]

The Totalitarian Principle: “Everything which is not forbidden is compulsory.”

[@peterandjoycevanbreemen600]

Very informative. Pleasant and concise. Also rather persuasive, though I remain, ultimately, my own interpreter of Scripture.

[@davidroutledge6314]

I'm sad to hear you say that you'll remain your own interpreter of Scripture... do you feel any sense of loneliness and estrangement from Christ's body being your own interpreter of Scripture? I was raised Protestant and felt the same way as you, and that's what ultimately drove me to atheism (that and reading Nietzsche's works where he eviscerates Western Christianity precisely because it collapses corporate human knowledge to individualistic-subjectivism). When I became Orthodox, I was happy to say I don't need to interpret Scripture according to my own image (what arrogance!), but was content on knowing holy men and women from Apostolic tradition (preserved in Orthodoxy), the Body of Christ, interprets Scripture for me. Relinquishing my own selfish interpretation of Scripture and placing confidence in Christ and His Church (i.e. apostles, bishops, Church Fathers and Mothers, etc.) was a beautiful movement in my soul - to be able to say, I'm not doing this alone (i.e. interpreting Scripture), nor do I have the ability to do it alone, but I have an extensive family of brothers and sisters in Christ (the Church) who have already provided the interpretation of Scripture for me.

[@cuthbertsboots5733]

@@davidroutledge6314 You have said beautifully what ultimately was key in my conversion to Orthodoxy. I was so tired of my stupid theories and borrowing what I liked from other traditions like I was some sort of great arbiter of Scriptural interpretation, and then getting up and preaching them on Sundays to a reception of compliments. I was finally ready to surrender myself to the Church, to the Apostolic Tradition, and if I didn't agree with something, I would figure out a way to accept it. The Church helps you to grow by forcing you to believe things that are difficult to accept. Evangelicalism only makes you feel comfortable. And that leads to spiritual stagnation.

[@graceoverall]

11:03 I'm sorry, but I really struggle with that one. I'm not Orthodox yet, but I've not heard anyone describe the bread as squishy and chewy like human flesh or the wine as salty as is blood. How then could it LITERALLY be the body and blood of Christ. If it was His resurrected body, ok, I don't know the physical properties of his resurrected body, so maybe, BUT the first Eucharist (if you call it that) was *before* his crucifixion, so that couldn't be it right? In the liturgy we recite that we believe that it truly is His body and blood, but I don't know that I can truly say that and believe it. It's just not logical. "Lord Jesus help my unbelief, and reveal to me the truth."

[@jbell0243]

It’s not empirical which does not mean it isn’t logical.

[@eighty_more_or_less]

You are disregarding the fact that as stated by Himself that God - the Son of the Father described the action as His Body and His Blood. "logic" does not enter the equation. He is setting forth the parameters for the future worship by His Church - which has continued for two thousand years.

[@rocketman1090]

What major revival came out of the Orthodox church? Not the Welsch revival. Not the Jesus movement. Just wondering why Orthodox has not had similar revival movements as Protestant Evangelicals?

[@mathiasniemeier4359]

do you celebrate the SABBATH, on SATURDAY, OR SUNDAY?

[@Mike-gz4xn]

Are you Jewish?

[@toomanymarys7355]

The Sabbath is always Saturday. Now we have the Rest of God in us always with the Holy Spirit.

[@cherihickman8065]

All Sabbath means is "a rest". The Sabbath was only given to the Jews in the Old Testament. We no longer live under the old law. We are under the perfect law of liberty which is in Jesus Christ. The New Testament is the law we live under now. This guy talks about our "interpretation of the Bible", which in 2 Peter 1:20 - knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, He also says the Bible does not interpret itself which is a bunch of bull crap on his part. The Bible says what it says and means what it says. This guy is a heretic!!

[@mavisemberson8737]

the Resurrection happened after the Sabbath. The bodies were taken from the 3 crosses before the Sabbath began in the evening.. The Church began to meet on the day after the Sabbath was over when the tomb was found to be empty,

[@zzzaaayyynnn]

Saw this question online: "Did God or Jesus write the Bible?"

[@ianalan4367]

I believe it is an error to lump all Protestants together. A Wesleyan Christian for example may use the Wesleyan Quadrilateral or Anglicans would use the Anglican Triad when interpreting Scripture both of which include Oral Tradition to some extent. With understanding comes wisdom right?

[@sashenkadumerve3017]

I agree, but they are usually right.

[@nuchdee2987]

It says in the bible you must be ‘Born Again’ to enter the kingdom of God. Where does orthodoxy stand on this subject which I guess includes the rapture. Please do a video on this. I am interested what is to be said.

[@ssam9981]

It means you have to get baptized in holywater in order to be born again.

[@nuchdee2987]

s sam yes I understand that but what if the person is christened/baptised in Holy water but as they’re growing up they stop believing, I have a nephew in this predicament,that’s when repentance comes in which is metanoia which means change of mind and that’s when you’re born again the way I understand it baptising only is not always an option. I could be wrong.

[@frankherbert6476]

It can be complex....what is being born again, and what does it "do"? I have a wonderful uncle who is a non-denom pastor on the fundamentalist side and says if you have been "born again" you won't sin anymore, and if you sin, the you aren't really saved. It's a very legalistic twist....For Orthodox, it's about relationship and growing in relationship with Christ. Just like getting married, you don't stay stagnant. Sin is a wounding, a "missing the mark" in Greek. A turning away from God. AS far as the Rapture as theology, the Orthodox don't recognize this. 1st, the "rapture theology" first came about in the early 1800s by splitting hairs on taking scripture out of context. Next The Orthodox would first ask "what do the early Church fathers say about this?" In other words, the people who put the bible together, worshipped, read and believed. What did they think? This would be the first test.

[@eighty_more_or_less]

@@nuchdee2987 Having been baptized, all that is necessary for your nephew to do to 'return' to the Church is to make a Confession and receive Absolution. The fact of returning constitutes indication of Repentance. He may be asked to read some passage[s] from the Bible - that would be the decision of the Priest/Minister.

[@eighty_more_or_less]

@@frankherbert6476 Try reading Bishop Kallistos Ware's discussion on 'being saved' . It's on the 'net, lasts about 5~10 min.

[@davidford694]

Anglicanism is a form of Protestantism, and is not nearly so hung up on the Bible. The traditional way of saying this is that its system of belief rests on a tripod; faith, reason, and tradition.

[@davidford694]

@@eliegbert8121 Not sure this is relevant.

[@louisaccardi6808]

Reverend Farley's explanation of the Orthodox idea of the inspiration of Scripture seems untenable. There was no switch that turned on the inspiration of Holy Scripture; that is obvious. We do know this, that according to the early church and apostolic doctrine, "...no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Ghost." (II Peter 1: 21, Revised Version 1888). However, the Ekklesia recognized the inspiration of the letters of the apostle Paul and the other writings. That was part of how they were decidedly gathered. There were different traditions as to what books should be included, but there was some type of agreement of most of the cannon except the book of Hebrews and the Revelation of John and a few others. Of course the church had to come together as a representative whole at some point to recognize and finalize what the the cannon was and is; thus a major church council. So really the church was instrumental in recognizing what was Holy Scripture. Father Lawrence seems to denigrate the inspiration of Scripture in his explanation. Let's remember what our Lord Jesus said about His word, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew24: 35, ASV, 1905). Also, John 6: 63 "It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life." (ASV).

[@puddntane8364]

The problem with the ancient sacramental churches is *not* that they reject sola scriptura, which is clearly unworkable ahistorical nonsense. The problem is that all the ancient churches have adopted 19th century liberal Protestantism's historical criticism of the Bible. They do this while condemning their own YEC's for using Protestant literature while historical criticism is also 100% Protestant in origin! Apparently liberal Protestants are okay, and after all, the ancient churches weren't smart enough to think up historical criticism on their own! Even in my most hardline "Protestant" days I always respected the ancient churches (including all those really weird ones like the Ethiopian). We were ultimately on the same side, after all. But this respect was not mutual. I found the ancient churches held Fundamentalist Protestants (especially Americans) in absolute contempt. In a world gone mad, Catholics, Orthodox, etc., were spending all their time attacking those awful Fundamentalists. Obviously they want to fit in to liberal Protestant America. After all, the Orthodox and Miaphysite churches are all members of the liberal Protestant ecumenical movement which no Fundamentalist Protestant would touch with a ten foot pole! Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas. While loudly proclaiming themselves to be absolutely timeless and unchanging they have rejected the historicity of Genesis 1-11 even though their ancient fathers plainly accepted it. Their answer? The fathers didn't know any better. They were limited by the "science" of their day. Just who said that cosmogony is in the realm of empirical science instead of Divine revelation and theology? After all, teh same science that says Genesis is mythology also says there was no seedless conception, no virgin birth, no resurrection, etc. A consistent belief in the uniformity of nature destroys ALL miracles, not merely the ones in the Old Testament! But the ancient churches have utterly rejected the ancient fathers on Genesis (and Daniel, and Jonah, and on no telling what else) while ignoring that same science on their own miracles! No wonder all the churches are going down the drain.

[@costa328]

Hearing this is just aggravating 🙄.

[@elizabethshaw734]

I was born and raised UCC which is not Evangelical.

[@sherrir2531]

Orthodox priests all speak very short, fast, choppy sentences. This is not a dig, just an observation. Literally every one I've listened to. What is that about I wonder? It's almost as though they are attempting to sound slightly foreign.

[@ChrisBrown-gu3tp]

Look for Father Nikon.

[@panokostouros7609]

So many low key roasts sprinkled throughout this against Reformed theology, haha

[@nancycoyle7708]

He has twisted what Western Christian believe and practice. Apparently if one doesn't worship in the way he feels led to,they are wrong. Sounds allot like the Sadduccees and Pharisees. I worship in Orthodox as well "Western" as he talks about. Very sad.

[@dougbrown479]

That Orthodox treat the scriptures in a cavalier and offhanded manner? Who can legitimately disagree with that?

[@Southlander1000]

Anyone with a genuine experience of Orthodoxy will know that isn't true.

[@TheRealRealOK]

Doug Brown Who can legitimately agree? Orthodox understand the context, other groups do not. It’s almost like a Quran to Protestants.

[@khealer]

Any Eastern Orthodox agrees! In life, those who beat around the bush or sweet-talk too much usually want to deceive you...

[@andrewbailey695]

In many respects this video is helpful, but man this fellow does not do a good of representing what Protestants believe, he says Protestants believe xyz as though all believe that, but I found his comments were typically strawmen and represented quite a degree of naivety. He needs to go and do some proper research, because he clearly doesn't have a very good idea of what Protestants actually believe.

[@ianalan4367]

I've noticed many Orthodox make blanket statements toward Protestants. Converts and cradle Orthodox alike. I am only guessing in many cases it is just ignorance as one denomination may have been all they were exposed to before converting. In other cases if you are a cradle Orthodox you simply may not have much knowledge as many of our Orthodox brethren prefer high walls and limited to no exposure to other denominations of Christianity. Peace to all!

[@elietsagkas6278]

A born again ChrisTian does not need to be orthodox or Catholic Just make Jesus your Saviour and Read your BIBLE and pray daily Trust no man only Christ your only SAVIOUR NOT manomade relegion and menmade traditions

[@johnnyd2383]

Can't get baptized without The Church tho...

[@sashenkadumerve3017]

I agree 😌

[@frankherbert6476]

NOt to be rude, but this means you are effectively your own pope and get to decide on your own...fairly convenient.

[@cherihickman8065]

Why would anyone listen to this guy over Jesus and His Apostles? Everything we need to know that relates to life and godliness is contained within the Bible. The Bible is God-breathed and is 100% accurate and infallible. This guy has NO IDEA what the gospel is, what the church is or how to teach the Word of God.

[@joonie8103]

Even if you think that the west theology is lacking ...you were in communion for 1000 year ...both theology should complete the other ..this is polarizing and wrong and say nothing but wrong things about you so STOP

[@eighty_more_or_less]

The Great Schism, of 1054 took place when the Western Church adopted its own theology which ran counter to the accepted doctrines of the Church. These included an addition to the Nicene Creed, agreed upon by a Council of the [whole] Church in 451 AD, the monarchical power of the Bishop of Rome [the 'Pope']contrary to the collegial powers of the other 4 Patriarchs and among other things, the use of unleavened bread for the Eucharist. Our theologies do not complement each others' and we cannot return to a deficient doctrine. And as an aside, in the past ten years, or so, there have been several tentative agreements - not full communion, but substantial on both sides.

[@dougbrown479]

Winnie Pratney had integrity, although this fellow seems biblically illiterate.

[@pilgrimtim936]

Good ad hominem attack definitely clarifies his errors or examples of illiteracy.

[@dougbrown479]

Was rather the cavalier manner the Orthodox treat the bible. Entirely unacceptable. Preening peacocks come immediately to mind.

[@TheRealRealOK]

Doug Brown We gave you the Bible.

[@eighty_more_or_less]

@@TheRealRealOK The Bible was derived in the Church, by the Church and for the Church.

[@TheRealRealOK]

@@eighty_more_or_less Yes, by the Orthodox Church.

[@jasonwarren9279]

Unfortunately he's such a poor and breathless speaker that I need to take breaks. I'm feeling a sympathetic shortness of breath and feeling anxious. Farley, calm down.