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Those Whom He Justified He Glorified: Paul’s Argument in Romans 1:17–3:31

In contemporary evangelicalism, the writings of the Apostle Paul are conventionally interpreted in terms of a strictly forensic doctrine of justification. According to this reading, mankind has, in sinning, incurred the just wrath of God. The sins of mankind were counted (imputed to) as if they were Christ’s, and when one exercises faith in Christ, one’s sins are recognized as punished in his…

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Laurus' Orthodoxy

Laurus’ Orthodoxy

“Time is a flat circle.” So says Russ Cohle in True Detective, season one. For him, as for Nietzsche before him, this observation is a nihilistic conclusion about the the ultimately meaningless repetitiveness of life. In the novel Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin, which follows the life of a Russian Holy fool and healer in the fifteenth century, the main character – who goes by different names at…

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The Intercession of Saints in God's Divine Council

The Intercession of Saints in God’s Divine Council

According to the Old Testament, the heavenly or divine council is the host of angels surrounding God, “advising” Him. You see this theme in Job 1–2, 1 Kings 22, and so on. But the theme begins all the way back in the first chapter of Genesis. In the Beginning In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth—but only the earth was without form, void, and dark. God spends six days forming,…

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Blessed Is the God of Our Fathers

For much of popular Christianity today, faith is an entirely personal matter. We are all individuals on our own personal journey to heaven, and the trappings of a “corporate” experience are altogether optional. The Church is not a kingdom of Saints, but rather one of many ways to get to God. But throughout Orthodox prayer books and services, God is referred to as “the God of our Fathers.” This…

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Introducing New Orthodox Base Packages from Logos Bible Software

I have been working at Faithlife for over two and a half years and on a number of different projects. Now I’m excited to announce the release of new Orthodox base packages from Logos Bible Software, the latest in a series of packages for our incredible Logos 6 platform. What is Logos 6? Logos 6 is the smartest way to study the Scriptures. With easy‐to‐use tools and a massive reference library,…

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Why Orthodox Christians Celebrate the New Year on the First of September

The first day of September is celebrated as the Ecclesiastical or Church New Year by Orthodox Christians. It is also a day marked by prayers for the environment, reminding us to be good stewards of the world around us. So This is the New Year? The old Roman term for this day is Indictio, meaning “definition” or “order.” This was a day established as the beginning of a fifteen year cycle, marking…

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Orthodoxy on the Internet: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

It’s always a good thing to be interested in learning more about the Orthodox faith. There are many ways to do this. For some people, it means buying and reading lots of books. For others, it simply means attending services or asking their priests lots of questions. Still others will make friends in their local parish, finding those at a similar place in their own spiritual journeys, sharing…

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Old Testament as Icon

When I was in seminary, I focused for my STM on the study of the Old Testament (OT). My thesis was on understanding the census numbers in the book of Numbers, so that they could be read as Christian Scripture (and not mere ‘history’). Passages such as those are often ignored in preaching and catechesis, as they seem like good history (maybe), but not much else. My answer, after surveying all…

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The Modern Myth of Rights and How to Best Love Our Neighbors

When it comes to politicized, controversial, and otherwise binary issues in our world today, should Orthodox Christians pick sides? Or should we look deeper and live in a way that transcends the political divide? Global Warming and Voting Obama For example, whenever I share an interesting article about the climate on social media (whether in favor or opposed to an anthropogenic influence), the…

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Seeing the Virgin Mary through Biblical Eyes

In order to understand the role that the Virgin Mary plays in Scripture, one first needs to understand the symbolism of Bride and Groom that runs through the pages of the Bible. If one understands the role that Bride and Groom plays, then one will understand why the Virgin Mary is central to the Bible. She is fundamental to the story of redemption, just as fundamental as Eve is to the story of…

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Been There, Done That — Homosexuality and Church Tradition

In the wake of recent Supreme Court ruling Obergefell v. Hodges—legalizing same-sex “marriage” in all fifty states—a conversation among Christians regarding both potential consequences and the appropriate response has ensued. There are also conversations taking place between Christians and non-Christians as to the role of faith in the public square as it relates to marriage. Opposition, Not…

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The Official Orthodox Christian Position on Marriage Equality

The following statement was released by the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) on August 13, 2003. For the sake of anyone unaware of the official, Orthodox stance on same-sex “marriage,” this news release describes the clear and unchanging position. SCOBA Statement on Moral Crisis in Our Nation Wednesday, August 13, 2003 As members of the Standing…

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Orthodoxy Is Not Found through Archaeology

Many Orthodox Christians speak of a search for the early Church; of a search for the “ancient faith.” As such, it can be all too easy to conflate Orthodoxy with that which is “old.” But Orthodoxy is not true because it is old; it is true because it is orthodox. Even though many people confuse references to the ancient faith or the faith of the apostles with a call to the past, what we are…

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Building Community in Orthodox Parishes

The latest Pew research has shown no abatement in the decline of American church affiliation. This, together with the continuing growth of the “nones,” is inspiring much discussion across the Internet. Catholic family therapist Dr. Greg Popcak has tied this together with further research in a recent blog post, showing that this decline is closely linked to the breakdown of family structure, and…

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The Good News and the Life of the Kingdom

What is the difference between the life of the Church and the Gospel message? Between the Mysteries of our faith and the good news of Jesus Christ? Are they identical, or should distinctions be made? The King and the Kingdom As Orthodox Christians, we are blessed with an immense heritage. From the central tenets of holy tradition to the various customs of nations that have over the centuries been…

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How to Read the Bible and Divide the Church

How can we know the original context of the Bible? For many Christians today, this is a question at the heart of what it means to even be a follower of Christ. Discerning the correct interpretations of scripture from the incorrect; the exegesis from the eisegesis; the quality commentaries from the rubbish. But are these the right questions to be asking? And can we even know the answers? Context…

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In Search of a Mother

The following is a reflection written ca. 2005 during my journey to Orthodoxy. He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his mother. —St. Cyprian of Carthage Am I all so childish, so very naive and co-dependent, to feel as though knowing my Father is incomplete without being held in the nurture of my mother? My Father is the one whose voice I hear, in whom I have both…

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