Comments on: Fr Stephen Freeman & “An Orthodox Hermeneutic” http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/fr-stephen-freeman-an-orthodox-hermeneutic/ One man's quest for Jesus' life and likeness Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:43:10 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: irishanglican http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/fr-stephen-freeman-an-orthodox-hermeneutic/#comment-459 irishanglican Sun, 04 May 2008 01:58:50 +0000 http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/?p=627#comment-459 As to Orthodoxy, it really depends on what Orthodoxy ya mean? I have met some Greek-Russian Orthodox who feel that they are the real Orthodox! And no one else! If you have not run into these people? Just wait, you will find them, or they you, if you move around in the Orthodox circles enough. This was mainly my meaning, etc. In practice I don't see any difference between their authority of tradition and the level of scipture authority. Wait and see? This is not Fr. Stephen, nor his group however. I am very close to leaving the Anglican Church myself? (And I am an auxiliary bishop) But, I have not resolved some fundamental issues with Orthodoxy, etc. And my mind is still very Western! I am still very much bound by the fact that God really is His own authority - God in His own self-disclosure! In reality, a true evangelical is a person drawn by the mystic of Christ Jesus..very Pauline! I have met NT, he is a good man. As to the Anglican Church, I am not in America. But ECUSA is a mess! In America one would have to go with some group of Continuing Anglicans, I would think? There are no doubt some conservative parishes in ECUSA, but the fight with the liberals is a non-ending battle. And grows wary the soul and spirit! As to Orthodoxy, it really depends on what Orthodoxy ya mean? I have met some Greek-Russian Orthodox who feel that they are the real Orthodox! And no one else! If you have not run into these people? Just wait, you will find them, or they you, if you move around in the Orthodox circles enough. This was mainly my meaning, etc. In practice I don’t see any difference between their authority of tradition and the level of scipture authority. Wait and see? This is not Fr. Stephen, nor his group however. I am very close to leaving the Anglican Church myself? (And I am an auxiliary bishop) But, I have not resolved some fundamental issues with Orthodoxy, etc. And my mind is still very Western! I am still very much bound by the fact that God really is His own authority – God in His own self-disclosure! In reality, a true evangelical is a person drawn by the mystic of Christ Jesus..very Pauline!

I have met NT, he is a good man. As to the Anglican Church, I am not in America. But ECUSA is a mess! In America one would have to go with some group of Continuing Anglicans, I would think? There are no doubt some conservative parishes in ECUSA, but the fight with the liberals is a non-ending battle. And grows wary the soul and spirit!

]]> By: Jason http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/fr-stephen-freeman-an-orthodox-hermeneutic/#comment-457 Jason Sat, 03 May 2008 19:02:07 +0000 http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/?p=627#comment-457 Fr. Robert, Sam & JR, thanks so much for the comments. Sam, good quote by Dallas. JR, I'm hoping to tackle that one sometime in a new series of post I'm planning on beginning today. Fr. Robert, I too remain an evangelical. I have a deep love of Scripture and respect for its authority. And my limited experience of Orthodoxy indicates they do as well. They do not view Tradition as equal as Scripture. Scripture is the central, most prominent part of their Tradition. But it is part of their Tradition, not an abstract disconnect reality apart from their Tradition. Scripture was written by and for the Church and therefore is interpreted by the Church finds its true meaning and authority in that context. Also, while I agree that there is historical ignorance on my part as well as with American Christians in general, I'm not sure what your last comment pertains to. The point of my post was to communicate my agreement with most of Fr Stephen's post as well as my own struggle when my personal biblical interpretations conflict with Orthodoxy's. In the end, I'm just one man with very limited insight and intelligence standing before 2000 years of Life-giving Tradition that has effectively preserved the fullness of Christ's Gospel. One of my favorite theologians, NT Wright, is also Anglican. It was his work that made me seriously consider exploring Anglicanism. And while I respect the Anglican Church, the issues that it is currently dealing with persuaded me to look elsewhere for myself and my family. Fr. Robert, Sam & JR, thanks so much for the comments.

Sam, good quote by Dallas.

JR, I’m hoping to tackle that one sometime in a new series of post I’m planning on beginning today.

Fr. Robert, I too remain an evangelical. I have a deep love of Scripture and respect for its authority. And my limited experience of Orthodoxy indicates they do as well. They do not view Tradition as equal as Scripture. Scripture is the central, most prominent part of their Tradition. But it is part of their Tradition, not an abstract disconnect reality apart from their Tradition. Scripture was written by and for the Church and therefore is interpreted by the Church finds its true meaning and authority in that context.

Also, while I agree that there is historical ignorance on my part as well as with American Christians in general, I’m not sure what your last comment pertains to. The point of my post was to communicate my agreement with most of Fr Stephen’s post as well as my own struggle when my personal biblical interpretations conflict with Orthodoxy’s. In the end, I’m just one man with very limited insight and intelligence standing before 2000 years of Life-giving Tradition that has effectively preserved the fullness of Christ’s Gospel.

One of my favorite theologians, NT Wright, is also Anglican. It was his work that made me seriously consider exploring Anglicanism. And while I respect the Anglican Church, the issues that it is currently dealing with persuaded me to look elsewhere for myself and my family.

]]> By: irishanglican http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/fr-stephen-freeman-an-orthodox-hermeneutic/#comment-455 irishanglican Sat, 03 May 2008 14:54:20 +0000 http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/?p=627#comment-455 I am Anglo-Irish, born in Ireland and educated in England. Your whole argument is again just an American reaction. There are other Christian evangelical experience's (English Anglican - that includes the Irish, Scottish, etc. ) There seems to be great historial ignorance with many American Christians! The Anglican way is via-media, I will let you try and figure that out. Very simple really, i.e. Catholic & Evangelical! I am Anglo-Irish, born in Ireland and educated in England. Your whole argument is again just an American reaction. There are other Christian evangelical experience’s (English Anglican – that includes the Irish, Scottish, etc. ) There seems to be great historial ignorance with many American Christians! The Anglican way is via-media, I will let you try and figure that out. Very simple really, i.e. Catholic & Evangelical!

]]> By: JR Rozko http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/fr-stephen-freeman-an-orthodox-hermeneutic/#comment-453 JR Rozko Sat, 03 May 2008 13:10:29 +0000 http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/?p=627#comment-453 Jason, great post. I was really interested in Orthodoxy when we studied it at Fuller. I think what you are writing about here calls for an insightful post on your part regarding the relationship between Orthodoxy and the missional church! I'll be waiting :) Jason, great post. I was really interested in Orthodoxy when we studied it at Fuller. I think what you are writing about here calls for an insightful post on your part regarding the relationship between Orthodoxy and the missional church! I’ll be waiting :)

]]> By: Sam http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/fr-stephen-freeman-an-orthodox-hermeneutic/#comment-452 Sam Sat, 03 May 2008 00:35:31 +0000 http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/?p=627#comment-452 Great post Jason! Sola Scriptura is a silly notion. I never believed it myself. There always seemed something too "American fundamentalist" or "hyper-Calvinist" about it. I think Dallas' comment to me about fundamentalists ("They distrust experience.") settled it for me. If we think the Bible (which flowed from the lives of those who experienced God) is the only authority and interprets itself. Where did God go in this idea? Great post Jason!

Sola Scriptura is a silly notion. I never believed it myself. There always seemed something too “American fundamentalist” or “hyper-Calvinist” about it. I think Dallas’ comment to me about fundamentalists (“They distrust experience.”) settled it for me. If we think the Bible (which flowed from the lives of those who experienced God) is the only authority and interprets itself. Where did God go in this idea?

]]> By: irishanglican http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/fr-stephen-freeman-an-orthodox-hermeneutic/#comment-451 irishanglican Fri, 02 May 2008 23:26:40 +0000 http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/?p=627#comment-451 I too like some/much of Orthodoxy, but cannot follow everything, especially their tradition being equal to scripture. I am still an evangelical by definition, in heart & mind! I too like some/much of Orthodoxy, but cannot follow everything, especially their tradition being equal to scripture. I am still an evangelical by definition, in heart & mind!

]]> By: irishanglican http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/fr-stephen-freeman-an-orthodox-hermeneutic/#comment-450 irishanglican Fri, 02 May 2008 23:07:18 +0000 http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/?p=627#comment-450 Is not tautology necessary in the case of exegesis? I mean tautologous..analytic. "necessary essentials" I am speaking of the Fr. Stephan's article. Fr. Robert (Anglican) Is not tautology necessary in the case of exegesis? I mean tautologous..analytic. “necessary essentials” I am speaking of the Fr. Stephan’s article.

Fr. Robert (Anglican)

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