The significance of the apocryphal Greek Additions to Esther for the church today

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-169
Author(s):  
Nancy L deClaissé-Walford
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
World View ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Christian Community ◽  
Religious Traditions ◽  
Protestant Church ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The Church ◽  
Insight Into

Over the centuries, the Protestant church has increasingly ignored the apocryphal books of the Old Testament, including the Additions to the book of Esther. This article first outlines the extent of the apocryphal material; it then discusses its origins, purported theology, and its “canonicity” in various religious traditions; it then provides a detailed examination of the content of the Greek Additions to Esther and comments on how the Additions alter or add to an understanding of the book of Esther; finally, it offers some comments on the significance of the Greek Additions to Esther for the Church today. The study concludes that the Greek Additions to Esther are a rich resource for the Christian community, providing insight into the issues confronting the diaspora Jews as they made their way in a Gentile world and essential background information for understanding the early Christian world view, enhancing an understanding of what it means to be faithful in a world that seems not to be, and showing the evolving and ever-changing status of what is considered “scripture” today.

scholarly journals “Varii errores qui ab origine mundi emerserunt”. The semantic scope of the term “heresy” in Philastrius’ of Brescia Diversarum hereseon liber

Vox Patrum ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 315-325
Author(s):  
Mariusz Szram
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Rule Of Faith ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Or Practice ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Church ◽  
Semantic Scope

The bishop of Brescia, Philastrius, author of the first Latin catalogue of he­resies, written between 380 and 388, presented in his treaty an extremely large number of heterodox movements: 28 within Judaism and 128 in early Christianity. This comes as a result of a wide understanding of the term heresis. For Philastrius this term was synonymous with the term error, recognized as any deviation from the universal truth in the history of the world, inspired by Satan as “the father of lies”, ocurring primarily in Judaism and Christianity. Among the early Christian views defined by the bishop of Brescia as heresy five groups can be distinguished. The first group includes mainly the erroneous views on fundamental theological questions contained in the rule of faith, such as the concept of a creator God and saviour Jesus Christ. The second set of he­resies, closely related with the previous one, contains the erroneous doctrines of anthropology, such as questioning the resurrection of the human body or the view of the materiality of the human soul. The third group includes the views related to the misinterpretation of Scripture, especially exaggerated literal interpretations of the texts of the Old Testament, as well as the cosmological views which do not agree with descriptions contained within the Bible. The fourth group contains the moral issues related to the based on laxism or rigorism way of life, as well as to the attitude of lack of deference to the laws of the Church, but non-threatening the primary truths of the Christian faith. The fifth group of heresies includes the movements defined by the authors of the late patristic period as a schizm, while the term schisma is not at all used by the bishop of Brescia in his work. The semantic scope of the term heresis in Philastrius’ treaty went beyond the noncompliance with the regula fidei. According to the bishop of Brescia each offense – whether in doctrinal teaching or practice of life, as well as with regard to the understanding of the text of Scripture – is a heresy because it offends God and the Church. Therefore, in Philastrius opinion one should not differentiate between superior and minor error, but equally condemn them as attitudes directed against God as the Father of Truth.

EARLY CHRISTIAN REPRESENTATIONS OF MAN BETWEEN THE BIBLE AND GREEK PHILOSOPHY – THE FEATURES OF THE RELATIONSHIP

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-111
Author(s):  
A. V. Laputko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
World View ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Greek Philosophy ◽  
Ancient Greek ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Ancient Greek Philosophy ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
Final Design

The article examines the preconditions for the formation of Christian ideas about man. The emphasis is on the fact that the doctrine of a person has never been a separate problem of theology, and, consequently, was formed in parallel and within the basic tenets of Christianity. The author focuses attention on the contradiction in understanding the origin of representations of a person between the traditional branches of Christianity. On the whole, while remaining in common positions, each denomination identifies its own fundamental source of the origin of anthropological ideas, not taking into account the complex and contradictory path of interpenetration of the ideas of ancient Greek philosophy and Christianity. The author shows the path of formation of the main anthropological representations from the Old Testament notions to the New Testament, which receive their final design only in the works of apologists of Christianity brought up by the logic and culture of thinking of ancient philosophy. Thus, the birth of a new world-view anthropological paradigm, which remains one of the most popular and discursive in the modern world, takes place within the framework of a dialogue between ancient Greek philosophical thought and Old Testament ideas.

Respect for Context in Quotations from The Old Testament

1962 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. Edgar
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Distinctive Character ◽  
Christian Community ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The New Testament

The attempt to get behind the gospel record back to the authentic words and acts of Jesus has occupied many scholars of this generation. This has come about because of a scepticism regarding the historical value of the sayings as recorded, and has often concluded by assuming that the New Testament throws light only on what the early Christian community believed Jesus said rather than on what he did say. It is not the writer's intention to belittle the problem, but to suggest it may be approached from a fresh angle. This article seeks to show that in one respect at least the words of Jesus, as recorded in the gospels, are of a distinctive character, especially when compared with the editorial comments of the evangelists, and hence the form of the first may not be as dependent on the evangelists and the early church as sometimes claimed.

scholarly journals The Iconography of the Sarcophagus in S. Ambrogio. Hope for Salvation through the Word of Christ

1970 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 283-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olaf Steen
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
City Gates ◽  
The City ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Way

The sarcophagus in the church of S. Ambrogio in Milan is dated to about 390. The lid of the sarcophagus shows scenes and symbols connected to the New Testament. On the front and rear sides, we find Christ represented among the Apostles. Figures from the Old Testament are shown on the two short sides. In this way, the narrative scenes are well arranged, and the arrangement differs from other early Christian sarcophagi in which scenes from the Old and New Testament are places together without any apparent connection between the scenes. Rows of city-gates run around all four sides, forming the background for the reliefs. The city-gates invite the beholder to read the images not as isolated scenes, but as parts of a connected whole. In this paper, I will argue that the iconography of the sarcophagus can be interpreted as a complete programme. The programme emphasizes the teaching of Christ and the Apostles’ teaching-mission given by Christ. Taking into consideration the monument’s funerary context, the programme of the sarcophagus focuses on the Word or the teaching of Christ as the way to salvation.

scholarly journals Тајна врлине у Јермином Пастиру и њена улога у изграђивању Цркве и спасењу човека

2021 ◽  
Vol LIV (3) ◽  
pp. 393-410
Author(s):  
Његош Стикић
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Son Of God ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
Unique Identity ◽  
The Church ◽  
Multidimensional Process ◽  
Insight Into

The intention of the author is to provide a more systematic, not exhaustive, insight into the mystical meaning, place, and role of virtue in the economy of salvation, based on the revelation recorded in the early Christian writing of the New Testament prophet and apostle Hermas – The Shepherd. The author locates the place of virtue in the realism of simultaneous and interdependent building of salvation (of man) and building of the Church as a unique (multidimensional) process. Like very few paternal writings, the Shepherd gives us an explicit conclusion that the virtues are the ones that “hold” and build the Church, “dressing” the faithful in the “clothes,” “powers” and Name of the Son of God. By “dressing” in virtues, Christians achieve that “in the likeness,” they are likened to Christ, thus becoming similar and compatible to each other, thus gaining, as a new genus, a one unique identity. That is why the Church, which is being built as the Tower of Salvation, is composed of a multitude, by repentance and virtue shaped and ennobled elects (stones), manifesting itself, thus, in a „monolithic“ building, monochromatic white, as from one carved stone. For this reason, the paper aims to re– evaluate the ontological connection of virtue with the Church (ecclesiology).

scholarly journals Celebrating the feasts of the Old Testament in Christian contexts

2006 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdel Le Roux
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Religious Experience ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Roman Catholic Church ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
Christian Churches ◽  
Protestant Churches ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
The Church

Many early Christian churches incorporated a number of non-biblical, even “pagan” symbols and rituals into their liturgy (e. g. the origin of Christmas). They were contextualized into the church by a brand new Christian content to them. From its first inception Christianity attempted to slander and suppress the pagan myths and rituals in the name of its own message. This, however, does not alter the fact that the church also sought some connections in the sphere of myth. Since the Reformation many Protestant churches have tended to “cleanse” the church from all forms of symbols and rituals that could be reminiscent of its earlier connection with the Roman Catholic Church. The article argues that this left an emptiness, a longing for symbols and rituals which usually form an essential part of a normal religious experience. The Old Testament has both a “deficit” and a “surplus” which might have an abiding significance for Christians. It has become clear from archaeological discoveries that Jewish societies formed an integral part of early Christian societies.

scholarly journals A solidariedade palotina com os migrantes | The pallottine solidarity with migrants

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-121
Author(s):  
Denilson Geraldo
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
Vatican Ii ◽  
Jewish People ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Christian Community ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
Mass Displacement ◽  
The Church

O artigo apresenta o atual carisma palotino no apostolado com os migrantes em conexão com a Sagrada Escritura e o Magistério da Igreja, bem como a história vivida por São Vicente Pallotti. São quatro aspectos que se relacionam entre si, mas sistematicamente estudados: antes de tudo a experiência da migração no Antigo Testamento e o mandamento de Deus ao povo judeu para amar os migrantes, porque também eles foram migrantes no Egito. No Novo Testamento, Jesus Cristo foi identificado como migrante, quando a primeira comunidade cristã foi enviada a anunciar o Evangelho a todos os povos e recomendou a acolhida e a hospitalidade aos estrangeiros. O segundo ponto é a ação apostólica de Pallotti com os migrantes devido ao deslocamento em massa no século XIX e o cuidado necessário aos migrantes italianos, seja pela necessidade espiritual seja pela solidariedade social. Os primeiros Palotinos foram também para os Estados Unidos, Brasil, Argentina, Uruguai, entre outros países. A terceira parte é sobre o ensinamento da Igreja a respeito da migração, começando por Pio XII, passando pelo Vaticano II e alcançando o atual pontificado de Francisco. Em conclusão, há uma proposta para o apostolado universal e sinodal realizado pela família Palotina. The article presents the current Pallottine charism on the apostolate with migrants in connection with Holy Scripture and the Magisterium of the Church, as well as the history lived by St. Vincent Pallotti. There are four aspects that relate to each other but are systematically studied: first of all the experience of migration in the Old Testament and God's commandment to the Jewish people to love the migrant because he too was a migrant in Egypt. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is identified as a migrant, while the first Christian community was sent to proclaim the Gospel to all peoples and recommended welcoming and hospitality to foreigners. The second point is Pallotti's apostolic action with migrants due to the mass displacement in the nineteenth century and the necessary care for Italian migrants both for spiritual necessity and social solidarity. The first Pallottines also went to the United States of America, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, etc. The third part is on the ecclesial teaching on migrations beginning with Pius XII, passing through Vatican II and achieving the current pontificate of Francis. In conclusion there is a proposal for the universal and synodal apostolate carried out by the Pallottine Family.

scholarly journals A pneumatological approach to transformational development: Implication for the church

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick Kakwata
Keyword(s):  
Human Development ◽  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Christian Community ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Transformational Development ◽  
The Church ◽  
Integral Human Development

This article seeks to articulate a biblical pneumatological approach to transformational development. The aim is to explore and examine the work of the Holy Spirit in Grudem’s perspective and how it relates to transformational development. It is argued that the work of the Holy Spirit and the integral human development it brought amongst the early Christian community can function as a paradigm for the contemporary church globally, and particularly in Africa engaging in developmental work as well as for subsequent generations of Christians dealing with issues of transformation development.

scholarly journals Postacie kobiece Starego Testamentu w alegorycznej egzegezie Orygenesa

Vox Patrum ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
pp. 39-56
Author(s):  
Mariusz Szram
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
The Body ◽  
Spiritual Warfare ◽  
Human Soul ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
Intellectual Abilities ◽  
Bodily Feelings ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Mind ◽  
The Church

The article systematises the metaphors ascribed by Origen (185-253/254) to the well-known female characters of the Old Testament utilising the method of allegorical exegesis of the text of Scripture. Females appearing on the pages of the historical books of Bible are – according to the Alexandrian – allegories of hu­man virtues or defects. They embody the spiritual warfare between the spirit and the body, between the mind and the feelings. In the collective sense they symbo­lize the synagogue or the church chosen from the Gentiles, and in the individual sense – the human soul in its relation to God. Origen refers to the telling names of women, translating them and embedding into the spiritual context often giving the several different allegorical meanings to the same biblical person. Despite the often-quoted in his writings beliefs characteristic to the ancient world, procla­iming that the woman is a symbol of bodily feelings and the man – a symbol of the intellectual abilities, majority of allegorical interpretations relating to the Old Testament women indicates a personification of the virtues worthy of imitation. This phenomenon is conditioned with the meaning of the names of those persons and the role attributed to them by the biblical authors, but Origen’s interpretations are original and based on his own concept of spiritual life. They deny opinions of misogyny of Origen and the early Christian writers in general.

Psalms

2019 ◽  
pp. 571-587
Author(s):  
Michael Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Late Antiquity ◽  
First Person ◽  
Inner Life ◽  
Christian Community ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The People ◽  
And Training

Historically speaking it was scarcely predictable that the predominantly Gentile Christian community of Late Antiquity should be drawn to a book of ancient Jewish prayers, much less ascribe to it divine authority. Yet Christians adopted Israel’s book of Psalms in toto as part of the treasury of the people of Christ. The Psalter not only offered prophetic teaching and training in spirituality. For many with a radical Christological perspective, the texts mediated the very voice of Christ speaking in the first person, thus opening a window on the inner life of the redeeming Lord. The Psalms received more comment from early Christian writers than any other Old Testament book. It was a constant presence in liturgy, a training book for prayer, a source of theological instruction, a blueprint for spiritual advancement, and a key that unlocked the whole Bible. The chapter examines different ways the Psalms functioned among the early Christians.

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