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Leviticus, the New Testament, and New Testament social concern

Father Orthoduck was sent the following e-mail four days ago, and finally has time to begin a reply: I wanted to get your take on possible applications of Lev 19:9-10 to state welfare systems today. A friend and I have a friendly disagreement over whether the passage has application today, and whether it implies that a state should have some sort of meager welfare system, albeit one in which recipients... [Read more]

Fasting, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Jewish Nev’im

I am often surprised at the number of interesting tales that exist with regards to our fasting rules. For instance, there are tales such as the reason for why only olive oil is on the forbidden list during our fasts. Some, of course, will argue that the rule must be extended to all oils because only olive oil was used at the time Christian fasting was established. But, uhm, almond oil is found from... [Read more]

An aside on traditions

This post does not directly follow yesterday’s post on government. Rather, it is an aside on tradition that will help with our understanding of government. I am currently reading a fiction book for relaxation. It is set in old Russia at an indeterminate time. It is sometime after the arrival of Christianity, but far enough away from Kiev to still have a population that also follows the old gods.... [Read more]

On the development of Great Lent

Every year about this time someone asks about Great Lent. When did it develop? How did it start? OK, here is the short story. Though some who read the Bible conclude that people were always baptized immediately after accepting the Lord, it was not necessarily that way for everyone who converted. Mind you, there is little doubt that there are quite a few immediate baptisms. But, you might be surprised... [Read more]

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Paradosis is all Greek to me

On another blog, I have been having a discussion on the use of the word paradosis which is generally translated “tradition.” I posted on that word before. Go here to read that post. I thought I was done with those posts, but the other discussion has prompted me to cross post my answer below. While you do not see the discussion that has gone on before, I think you will still be able to understand... [Read more]

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Paradosis, an important Greek word, part 02

OK, reread the verses from yesterday. What differentiates a good tradition from a bad tradition? Well, just going by the verses from Scripture, the only difference was whether the tradition was taught by the Apostles or whether the tradition was taught by the Pharisees. Yes, I am oversimplifying but not as much as you may think. Look again at the verses. I have heard too many sermons that speak as... [Read more]

Paradosis, an important Greek word, part 01

It is sometimes worthwhile to do a word study, where one sees how a word is used in different contexts in Scripture. One such word is the Greek word paradosis, which the King James always translates as “tradition,” with one exception. And, that one exception was corrected in the New King James. So, why is it important to know how this word is used? Well, precisely because in the discussions... [Read more]

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Not all tradition is Holy Tradition, paradosis ahead

From the movie Fiddler on the Roof (1971) [TEVYE] Tradition, tradition! Tradition! Tradition, tradition! Tradition! [TEVYE & PAPAS] Who, day and night, must scramble for a living, Feed a wife and children, say his daily prayers? And who has the right, as master of the house, To have the final word at home? The Papa, the Papa! Tradition. The Papa, the Papa! Tradition. [GOLDE & MAMAS] Who... [Read more]

Jewish liturgical year, last thoughts

Sometimes, when we discuss theology, we forget to look at the human historical elements of a situation. The funny thing is that centuries later, we will talk about that situation divorced from the humanity of what happened and then wonder why we cannot understand how on earth the situation could have wound up the way it did. Case in point: the “forgetfulness” of the Church with regard to... [Read more]

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Typology or Allegory and the Jewish Liturgical Year, part 04

What important fact has changed our view of history so that it led to a different conception of the Liturgical Year? I am sure I gave it away by that wording. That event is the Incarnation of Jesus Christ Our Lord, and his subsequent Death and Resurrection. History received a violent shock to itself. All human history is now oriented around two central foci. One foci is his Incarnation , and the changing... [Read more]