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In the early years
of the Christian Church, those
most important books of Holy
Scripture that we call the
Gospels did not exist.
Several decades passed after
Pentecost before the first
Gospel was written. It was
the end of the first century by
the time all four Gospels were
written. Three hundred
more years passed before a
decision was made in the Church
that there would be only four
Gospels.
The books that are in the Holy
Scriptures, both Old and New
Testaments, are there because
God's people, through those who
were set aside as having the
authority to make the decision,
decided that these books would
be part of the Bible, and other
books would not. The
Church, as God's people inspired
by God, wrote the Bible.
The Church produced the Bible,
The Bible did not produce the
Church.
The Holy Scriptures are the
principal and most honored
written record of God's
revelation to His people.
But it is the understanding of
the Orthodox that the Holy
Scriptures cannot be completely,
truthfully understood unless
they are understood within the
context of the Church that
produced them, that declared
them to be what they are.
So the Bible is the Book of the
Church, the first source of the
Christian Tradition.
The articles and commentaries
presented on this web site are
from the
Orthodox Study Bible which
was prepared under the direction
of canonical Orthodox
theologians and Hierarchs.
The
Orthodox Study Bible
presents a remarkable
combination of historic
theological insights and
practical instruction in
Christian living. If you are
looking for authoritative
guidance in interpreting
Scripture, understanding the
early church, and learning how
to apply the Word of God to your
spiritual life -- The
Orthodox Study Bible will be
a treasured resource for you.
Orthodox Answers to Evangelical
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