The Orthodox Way: Scripture, Tradition, and the Call to Theosis
Exploring the original Christian faith and how Orthodoxy continues to reveal Christ today
The Orthodox Church—One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic—pulses with history and spirit, carrying the Gospel worldwide. Heeding Christ’s call to disciple all nations, Orthodoxy’s unique character shapes our engagement with Scripture and live out our faith faith in action.
Understanding Orthodox History
At its heart, Orthodoxy transcends mere institution or doctrine—it’s where we encounter God, the living body of Christ. Archimandrite Vasileios captures it best: “The Orthodox Church isn’t a religious system; it’s a theophany, a divine revelation.” This vision shapes how we worship and engage with our faith.
Rooted in the early Christian communities of Acts—ecclesial communities such as Corinth, Philippi, and Thessalonica were founded by the Apostles themselves—the Orthodox Church carries forward an unbroken legacy. Through Apostolic Succession—a continuous thread of teaching and ordination from those first disciples to today’s bishops—Orthodoxy guards our sacred tradition. As Bishop Danilo and Hieromonk Amfilohije write in their catechism, “The Apostles handed down what they received from the Lord,” keeping us tethered to Christ and His Gospel.
Core Beliefs of Orthodoxy
Orthodox Christianity hinges on the Holy Trinity—one God, three persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. This mystery of divine love mirrors how we’re called to live in community. The Nicene Creed, shaped by the Holy Fathers and affirmed through ancient councils, anchors our faith in this truth.
We confess Jesus Christ as both fully God and fully human, two natures united in one Person. His incarnation embodies God’s mission to restore us to Himself. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, death is defeated, opening salvation to all. The Church’s hymns capture this: “Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; for the Lord has trampled down death by death, becoming the firstborn of the dead.”
Theosis: A Distinctive Teaching
Orthodoxy’s teaching of theosis shines as a unique call—salvation as a transformative union with God. St. Athanasius put it boldly: He became man so we might become divine. Theosis isn’t just escaping sin, or even about being a good person, per se; it’s a journey to grow ever closer to Christ, sharing in His divine nature through grace. We’re invited to become more like Him, transformed by His love.
The Afterlife and Sacraments
Orthodox Christians see life beyond death as a journey toward eternal communion with God. The Church, both on earth and in heaven, awaits Christ’s Second Coming and the Final Judgment. We offer prayers and memorials for the departed, trusting our intercessions may bring mercy to those in the mystery beyond death. While we may hope and pray for the salvation of all, we believe that repentance is required of us and the future reality of Heaven and Hell are real.
The sacraments, or Holy Mysteries, are central to Orthodox life—Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist, Confession, Marriage, Unction, and Ordination. The Eucharist, which could be described as the “heart and hub of all the Mysteries,” unites believers with Christ and aids in our healing. As the Church teaches, when we partake of Communion, we truly receive the body and blood of Christ.
The Importance of Tradition
For Orthodox Christians, Tradition isn’t just a collection of customs—it’s the Holy Spirit’s living guidance, steering the Church through time. As Professor Harry Boosalis puts it, the Church and Tradition are inseparable, weaving together God’s revelation with the mystical fellowship of believers.
This Tradition includes Holy Scripture—and is not a separate source—along with our received liturgical practices, the decisions of Ecumenical Councils, and the writings of the Church Fathers, all harmoniously brought together to illumine the Holy Scriptures.
Holy Scripture to the Orthodox—with the Septuagint Old Testament and the New Testament—forms a foundation of doctrine and practice, but understood properly within “the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).
The Orthodox Approach to Scripture Study
For Orthodox Christians, the Bible is God’s revealed word, woven tightly into the Church’s liturgical and sacramental life. Unlike traditions that lean on private interpretation, we read Scripture communally, guided by the Church’s teachings, the wisdom of the Church Fathers, and sacred Tradition. The New Testament and the Church are inseparable—born together under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, with the Church giving us the New Testament itself.
Bible study is a vital spiritual practice, deepening our faith and drawing us into God’s wisdom. Key practices for Orthodox believers include:
Prayer: Framing study with prayers, inviting the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Contextual Reading: Encountering Scripture through liturgy, where its words come alive.
Community Involvement: Joining parish Bible study groups for shared learning, led by a knowledgeable priest or teacher.
Seeking Guidance: Turning to clergy for clarity on challenging passages.
Personal Devotion: Integrating regular reading, reflection, and prayer into daily life for spiritual growth.
Festivals and Feasts of Orthodoxy
The Orthodox liturgical calendar shapes our Church’s life, starting September 1 with a mix of fixed and movable feasts. Fixed feasts, like Nativity (Christmas) and Theophany (Epiphany), fall on set dates, while movable feasts like Pascha (Easter) shift yearly.
A few of our most important celebrations include:
Pascha (Easter): The heart of the faith, celebrating Christ’s resurrection and victory over sin and death!
Nativity (Christmas): A season of fasting and preparation for Christ’s birth.
Theophany (Epiphany): Honoring Christ’s baptism and the revelation of the Trinity.
Pentecost: Marking the Holy Spirit’s descent and the Church’s mission to spread the Gospel.
These feasts aren’t just annual commemorations—they invite believers to participate in the mystery of faith, to be participants in the reality signified by the celebration.
Prominent Figures in Orthodoxy
The heart of Orthodoxy beats in the lives of its saints and Church Fathers, their wisdom guiding us through the ages. Here are a few who light my path:
St. Ignatius of Antioch: An early bishop who stressed Church unity and Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist. A disciple of the Apostle John, St. Ignatius’s epistles are must-reads.
St. Athanasius the Great: A defender of Christ’s divinity, whose work On the Incarnation remains a cornerstone to a proper understanding of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
St. John Maximovitch: A modern saint whose quiet humility and love for the needy lifted up Orthodoxy in the Russian diaspora.
These giants link our past to today, spurring us to live our faith with grit and heart. More than that, we call on their prayers, trusting their intercessions give us strength for the road.
Conclusion
Orthodoxy offers a living, breathing way to engaging Scripture, rooted in a Tradition that’s both steadfast and alive with community, liturgy, and personal transformation through theosis. We don’t read the Bible alone but together, leaning on the Church Fathers’ insights and the richness of our ancient worship.
Believers are called to foster a living relationship with God through both personal devotion at home and within the Church’s communal life. Through Scripture and Holy Tradition, Orthodoxy honors its roots while shining in the now, beckoning all to encounter the Holy Trinity in a way that transforms everything.
Embracing Modern Tools
While rooted in Tradition, Orthodoxy is not afraid of modern tools. I personally really like the Logos Bible study platform. Logos gives me Google-like access to commentaries and Church Fathers’ writings, making Scripture and the Fathers more accessible, literally at my fingertips. Disclaimer: This article is adapted from one I wrote for their website.
To learn more about Logos, visit our affiliate link: http://www.logos.com/badbooks
Thanks to Logos for the opportunity to contribute to their site. This post was adapted from “What Is Orthodoxy? Understanding Orthodox Interpretation of Scripture” (Logos Software, July 9, 2024).
We recommend reading the longer article from Logos, where a detailed list of citations can be found.
Excellent article Sir Bennet. The construct of your article proves out, that you spend a lot of time to producing it. Thank you for that time.