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Saint Augustine has a mixed reputation among the Orthodox, but undoubtedly he is one of the leading figures of Church history. We will take an unbiased look at his fascinating life and accomplishments, triumphs, and errors, and his method of biblical interpretation. Music attribution: "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Latin Fathers also contributed insights and expertise to the interpretation of the Scriptures. The story of St. Ambrose of Milan is unusual and captivating. He was instrumental in the conversion of St. Augustine, because of his interpretation of Scripture. Music attribution: "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

PARENTAL ADVISORY: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS CONTENT THAT MAY BE UPSETTING FOR CHILDREN. Orthodox Christians admire St. John Chrysostom, but many others view him negatively and accuse him of harboring hatred toward Jews and women. Are those fair accusations? We will discuss this, his relationship with his congregation and his life as a bishop in his own words. Music attribution: "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

We have all heard of St John Chrysostom but few know details about his extraordinary life. His tremendous impact on the Church is immeasurable, especially in spirituality and biblical interpretation. His complicated life revealed his holiness in his extreme circumstances. Music attribution: "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Despite the mystique of allegory, many Christians disagreed with the arbitrary character of Alexandrian biblical interpretation. A different style arose and became popular in Antioch. It eventually prevailed, largely due to its most famous proponent: St. John Chrysostom. Music attribution: "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Among the luminaries of the early Church were two brothers: Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa. Both were bishops, wrote theological treatises and made important contributions to the Church. And yet their style of biblical interpretation was very different. How and why? Music attribution: "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Origen was the shining star of the 3rd century, the pride of the Church of Alexandria. Brilliant and celebrated, he authored thousands of books and influenced countless Fathers. So why was he eventually condemned? Music attribution: "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

The earliest Christian biblical interpretations outside the NT are found in the second century Fathers. We will look at the lives, key writings and important contributions of Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, then discuss the first great "School" of interpretation: Alexandria. Music attribution: "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

All the Old Testament is interpreted in the light of Christ. He fulfilled the Law, both rejecting extreme legalism but also expanding it, showing that he expected us to go beyond the Law. The Ten Commandments are NOT the standard for Christians. Why not? What does it mean? Music attribution: "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

We have often read about Jesus in the Scriptures but how did he himself interpret them? Christ's own interpretations of Jewish Scriptures along with his methodology and attitude toward them laid the foundation of how the Christian Church would apply them. Music attribution: "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

The roots of Orthodox biblical interpretation are found in Christ himself, followed by the apostles. How did Jesus interpret the Scriptures? How did other rabbis interpret them? Why does the Bible even require interpretation if we are all using the same New Testament? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

After following up with questions about some apocryphal historical errors that appear in Church hymns, we will turn our attention to early Jewish and pagan interpretation and how that impacted Christian biblical interpretation. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

False books, "apocrypha," were written by heretics who signed the names of apostles to give them credibility. But some apocrypha were not heretical. They contained stories about the youth of Jesus or the Virgin Mary. Is there anything wrong with reading those stories? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Who created the apocrypha and why? Why did the Fathers oppose Christians reading them? In this lesson, we will look at the rise of apocryphal writings and discuss why they were created. We will read excerpts from them to illustrate why they were rejected by the Church. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Although general consensus for the NT canon was reached around AD 400, many surprising variations continued. Complete uniformity did not exist for hundreds of years. Revelation was in, then out, then in. Why? Ethiopia has a unique canonical tradition we will also explore. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What were the main factors considered for including books in the Christian canon, which books were easily accepted, and which books faced opposition? Who decided ultimately which books the New Testament would contain? The answer is not what you think! "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Certain controversies arose during the second century that created problems for the writings of the Apostle John. Some actively lobbied to keep the Gospel out of the New Testament. What was their motivation, what accusations did they raise and who came to John's defense? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Developments occurred in the second century that impacted the Church, and eventually, controversies and crises created the need for a Christian collection of Scripture. But which books would be included? Apostolic writings were not immediately considered "Scripture." Why not? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

How did the Jewish Scriptures function for the early Church? What was the Jewish canon for the Jews and for the first Christians? When and why did Christians begin to compose and collect their own writings? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Is there a "best" English translation? What does a translator consider when choosing between words? Which popular Bibles are actually not translations but distortions? Dr Jeannie share her experiences as a translator and compares various versions for efficacy and accuracy. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The number of English Versions has exploded in recent years. Why? How are they different? What should you consider and what should you avoid? We'll look at the history of the English Bible, and Dr Jeannie will share some of her personal experiences in doing translation work. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Accurate and effective translation of the Bible requires language knowledge but also other skills. What considerations must translators weigh and how does their approach affect the final version? What should readers bear in mind? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Certain translations of the Bible have played an important role in Christian and Jewish history, especially the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text. Why were they created and why are they important? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Critics of Christianity claim that the birth of Jesus is simply copied from pagan mythologies. We'll examine those claims and make a true comparison of the "other accounts" of Virgin Births in antiquity. Are they in fact similar or not? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In the first of two special lessons on the Nativity of Christ, we will look at lesser discussed details about the birth of Christ, such as how the devil was deceived and why the name of David is mentioned often in the genealogy of Christ, with the Fathers as our guides! "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

No two manuscripts of any biblical book are exactly alike. Why not? Does this affect the reliability of the Scriptures, and should we be concerned? What do ancient manuscripts look like? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Your neatly printed Bible is based on thousands of handwritten manuscripts. Where are they? How old are they? How were manuscripts produced in the past, and how are they analyzed today? What happens when manuscripts don't agree? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Early Christians relied on oral tradition since that was the norm in education, not only for them but for all ancient people. There were also many times when Christians intentionally did not write important things down. Is there any evidence that oral tradition is reliable? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The Bible relies heavily on oral tradition, even though it is written. Why is that the case? How did early Christians learn about Jesus? How did they interact with Scriptures, and what role did oral tradition play in the Church? Is oral tradition reliable, and if so, how? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The concept that God actually gets angry and has similar human emotions and traits is not only theologically incorrect but spiritually damaging. This week, we hear from both listeners and the Fathers as we continue to discuss biblical language when it must not be taken literally. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As we continue our discussion of why God does not get angry, jealous, or otherwise behave as a human being, we will look at some of the most famous passages of the Bible and how the Fathers explain the "behavior" of God, especially in Genesis. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Reorienting ourselves to think differently about God is a challenge, but necessary if we are to have a correct understanding of God and the Bible. Even the ancient Fathers understood that God does not get angry or jealous. Can we raise our minds to understand why? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The human language of the Bible is entirely inadequate to express truths about God. Many descriptive words cannot be understood literally, such as God becoming angry. We must accept this limitation to have correct concepts about God and a deeper understanding of the Bible. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The Fathers shared certain basic assumptions about the Bible, including the belief that every detail in the Bible had a useful spiritual purpose. Even the most ordinary passage can convey deep insights if properly interpreted. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Did God dictate the Bible word for word? That idea makes inspiration easy to understand, but is very problematic, not to mention simplistic and naive. The ancient Christian view of the Fathers was deep, sophisticated, and reflected the highest regard for the human person. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Our connection to the early Church is clearly evident in our interpretation of the Bible. Why is the Orthodox method of biblical interpretation so important? Why does it work, and how does it work? We will compare Chrysostom and Augustine as bishops and biblical interpreters. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Many methods of modern biblical interpretation have distorted the Bible, and this trend has only worsened. How did these perspectives gain a foothold in universities and society? How has Orthodoxy preserved the correct interpretation of the Bible from the early Church? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The modern era has led to advancements in biblical studies, but also to numerous controversies resulting from modern biblical criticism. What is "biblical criticism" and does it have any benefits? How does the Orthodox Church understand the Bible and its interpretation? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What makes a religious book "Scripture"? Why is the Bible sometimes hard to understand? Why is it called the "New Testament"? Why did the Fathers of the Church encourage reading of the Bible? Did people follow their advice, or did they just make excuses like we do? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Dr. Constantinou begins a new series, Introduction to the New Testament. She explains why the Bible must be seriously studied, where the word "Bible" came from, and why, according to St. John Chrysostom, it is unfortunate that the Bible even exists. So why does it exist? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Matthew's gospel concludes with "the Great Commission," when the Lord sent his disciples to preach and baptize. The passage raises questions about faith and doubt, the mission of the Church to evangelize, the Trinity, baptism, and more. As always, the Fathers will guide us. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Christ appeared to many people after the Resurrection, but only to his followers. Why didn't he appear to those who crucified him - to Pilate, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin? Wouldn't that be logical? Non-Orthodox sometimes say "God raised Jesus," but Orthodox never do. Why not? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What are the parameters of an Orthodox Christian funeral? What is allowed, what is disallowed, and why? Should Orthodox parishes create burial societies? What is the purpose and benefit of that ministry? Fr. John Reimann will join us to discuss this! "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Tollhouses," the belief that after death a soul is subject to a series of questions or examinations about its life, is an area of disagreement in Orthodoxy. Where does the idea come from? Is it a firmly settled teaching expected of all Orthodox? Fr. Costas will join us! "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What is the body, and why does it matter what we do to it or with it after someone dies? Will you or someone else control your final destiny? The Church does not give cremation as an option. Why not? Why does the choice made for you by others at the end of your life matter? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We give little thought to the contribution of our body toward our salvation, but we will be raised for judgment in the body, through which and by which we either lived a godly life or not. Then we will experience heaven or hell with the body. The Holy Fathers will explain. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What can we learn from Christ’s resurrected body about our future life in the Kingdom of Heaven, and why should we care? If we misuse the body on earth in this life, what consequences will we face in the next life after our death? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The oldest written account of the Resurrection predates the gospels by decades and contains astonishing details. Most surprisingly, this compelling proof came from the worst enemy of the Church. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Atheists and doubters accused Christians of inventing the Resurrection, copying ancient mythologies of dead heroes or gods. But the Resurrection of Jesus is a historical event so dramatically different that is cannot be compared to anything that came before or since. "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Some arguments raised against the Resurrection of Christ seem plausible at first, but actually they are illogical. Meanwhile, the followers of a modern rabbi insist that he is the promised Messiah, not Jesus. But how well does he compare to Jesus of Nazareth? "Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/