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The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers
Open accessAbstract
This study aims to capture the dynamics of the recent biblical studies in the Orthodox and Western, especially Protestant, theological areas. Both the Orthodox biblical theology and the Western biblical theology are streamlined by research, which can be inspired by each other´s experience. Thus, the Orthodox biblical studies are recently shaped in receiving and developing an exegetical method, and in this sense may appeal to the Western experience, especially the historical-critical method. On the other hand, the Western biblical scholars are concerned with bringing into the present the meaning of biblical texts or their update, in a direction close to the Orthodox biblical experience. The solution to these concerns can be rediscovered in the mutual completion with ecumenical connotations.
Overview
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TL;DR
This review essay maps the mutual reception between Orthodox biblical theology and the Western historical-critical method, arguing that Orthodox exegesis lacks a developed method while Western Protestant exegesis lacks the updating/patristic dimension. It concludes that each side holds the remedy for the other's deficit, but that no concrete synthesis has yet been formulated.
Key findings
- Orthodox biblical studies do not reject the historical-critical method categorically; its value for clarifying context, original language and pericope is acknowledged, and the main theological justification given for accepting it is "the historicity of revelation" (Oancea).
- There is no official decision of the Orthodox Churches on critical study of Scripture, so reception remains non-unitary and individual; the hermeneutic solution identified by Orthodox Biblicists is a "harmonious synthesis" between modern biblical science and patristic exegesis, but how this synthesis can practically be made "is not explained."
- Western Protestant scholarship shows parallel moves: Ulrich Luz's *Wirkungsgeschichte* and *Rezeptionsästhetik* (which Luz calls "sisters") aim to update the biblical text beyond its archaeological significance, and Luz presents five observations on the Fathers' hermeneutic value while defining his own position as Protestant on three grounds (his "Church Fathers" include authors declared heretical; their interpretation is not for him the correct interpretation of the Bible; their hermeneutic is not normative for him).
- The paper documents a recurring pattern of principle-lists rather than methods: Breck's eight hermeneutic principles, four principles each from Nikolakopoulos and McGuckin, Stylianopoulos's four "principles of honesty," and Karavidopoulos's three recommendations for developing text criticism in Orthodox space.
Methods
- Design: a literature review and argumentative/ecumenical essay, not an empirical study; the author presents the reception of the historical-critical method in Orthodox biblical studies chronologically, then examines the reception of patristic exegesis in Western Protestant scholarship.
- Sources: published works of Orthodox Biblicists (Oikonomos, Kesich, Stylianopoulos, Nikolakopoulos, Karavidopoulos, Oancea) and Western Protestant authors (Luz, Reiser, Crisp, McGuckin), including reports from the 2003 Holy Cross symposium published in *Greek Orthodox Theological Review* and the 1998 Neamţ Monastery meeting of Western and Eastern exegetes.
- Analysis: comparison of hermeneutic principles and methodical steps, with the author's own "preliminary conclusions" sections (a–h for the Orthodox side) and proposals for mutual approach.
Limitations
- Stated by the paper: the presentation of Orthodox reception "remains limited because, for one thing, it expresses a Romanian Orthodox theologian's perspective, and, for another, it is impossible to have access to absolutely all the Orthodox biblical studies, irrespective of the language in which they were written."
- Stated by the paper: the "harmonious synthesis" advocated by Orthodox Biblicists is not practically explained, and the question "What must an Orthodox do in order to interpret a biblical text scientifically?" remains unanswered.
- Evident from the text: the study offers no new method or empirical test of its proposals; its conclusions rest on the author's reading of selected representative authors, and the proposals in section 4 are programmatic rather than demonstrated.
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Claims the paper makes
18 Sources not found · 18 Own interpretation · 10 Own result · 5 No basis given
A result the paper states — it cites no source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Orthodox biblical studies do not reject the historical-critical method categorically.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2.2. Preliminary conclusions
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In the paper
“There is also no clear direction established by Orthodox Biblicists in this respect.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2. The reception of the historical-critical method in the most relevant Orthodox biblical studies at the international level
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In the paper
“There is no official decision of the Orthodox Churches concerning the application and use of scientific exegesis.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2.2. Preliminary conclusions
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In the paper
“How this synthesis can be practically made is not explained, though.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2.2. Preliminary conclusions
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In the paper
“There is no official decision of the Orthodox Churches regarding the critical study of Scripture.10”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2. The reception of the historical-critical method in the most relevant Orthodox biblical studies at the international level
What the sources say
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In the paper
“Its importance related to the elucidation of the context, original language, pericope, etc. is acknowledged.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2.2. Preliminary conclusions
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In the paper
“Facing the historical-critical method, the Orthodox remain at the level of argumentation based on hermeneutic principles, without offering their own method or a specific recommendation for an adequate exegesis.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2.2. Preliminary conclusions
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In the paper
“From this perspective, it was easier for the Roman Catholic Church to develop a unified answer on the indicated theme.13”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2. The reception of the historical-critical method in the most relevant Orthodox biblical studies at the international level
What the sources say
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In the paper
“This reception mainly consists in the Orthodox Biblicists' confrontation both with the hermeneutic principles and repercussions, and with certain methodical steps of biblical criticism.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2.1. Brief history of reception
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“there can be noticed certain attempts of Protestant Biblicists to free biblical research from the domination by criticism and confer a necessary update to the exegetical undertaking.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites Gadamer
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- Not matchedcites Ulrich Luz
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In the paper
“The eventuality of a mutual enrichment of scientific exegesis through its patristic correspondent is also felt in the Western biblical landscape, especially by Marius Reiser.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 4.2.2. The mutual completion of the Western-scientific and Orthodox exegetic approaches, based on a patristic-oriented approach
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites Marius Reiser
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In the paper
“An appreciation postulated in the manner described above is not excluded from the start, as some proposals have already been made, both by Eastern biblical theology and Western biblical theology.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 4. Proposals for approach
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In the paper
“On the other hand, the field of Western biblical studies, especially of Protestant orientation, is transmitting certain signals regarding the intention to overcome the historical-critical exegetic undertaking used until now, not in the sense of eliminating it (which would practically be impossible), but in the sense of completing it.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 5. Final conclusion
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In the paper
“At this point, an observation is necessary: a resemblance is noted between the two groups of exegetes, Orthodox and Protestant, which refers to the fact that each group deals with a research theme specific to the other group: the Orthodox analyse scientific exegesis and the historical-critical method, and the Protestants try an assessment of the importance of patristic exegesis.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 3.2. Preliminary conclusions
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In the paper
“Therefore, its reception in the Orthodox space remains non-unitary.However, an individual reception can be remarked.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2.2. Preliminary conclusions
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In the paper
“For such an initiative, much more time is still needed, as Reiser also notices, showing that neither of the involved partners has an exegetic method or formula of mutual completion in an immediately applicable form.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 4.2.2. The mutual completion of the Western-scientific and Orthodox exegetic approaches, based on a patristic-oriented approach
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites Reiser
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In the paper
“What is stressed by one of the sides is not seen with interest by the other.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 4.2.2. The mutual completion of the Western-scientific and Orthodox exegetic approaches, based on a patristic-oriented approach
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In the paper
“As shown above, the Orthodox acknowledge the value of the results of the newest approaches in biblical criticism, mainly understood as the historical-critical method, and expresses her agreement with the reflected, nuanced reception of its results.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 4.1.1. Reflected reception and application of biblical criticism results in Orthodox biblical theology.
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In the paper
“This lack is suggested as obviously as can be by Orthodox Biblicists of international fame and class, who suggest the total or partial adoption of the methodical system developed in Western Europe, especially in the Protestant space.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 5. Final conclusion
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In the paper
“the personal approach to the biblical text is limited to adopting the patristic interpretations unreflectively and often crudely, thus a positive intention turning into first class Orthodox scholasticism.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
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In the paper
“the historical-critical method introduces patristic-spiritual exegesis 65 , because the former lacks the interest in updating the interpretation for present-day readers or listeners.66”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2.2. Preliminary conclusions
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [65]
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- Not matchedcites [66]
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“This methodological principle is not reduced to the mere function of gathering the patristic interpretations around the biblical text, but aims to follow the significance of a biblical text in history up to the present or until the continuity existing between Scripture and its interpretation is filled.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites Ulrich Luz
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In the paper
“a first step in this direction is represented by the history of the biblical text effects principle (Wirkungsgeschichte), developed by Gadamer 5 and applied to Scriptural text by Ulrich Luz. 6”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
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- Not matchedcites Gadamer
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In the paper
“Orthodox biblical theology needs an exegetic method, and for the development and learning of a method, it can heavily resort (in the future) to the incontestable Western European exegetic experience, while Western biblical theology, seeking a solution to the updating of the exegetic approach, can have the Eastern biblical space as a partner in this dialogue.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 5. Final conclusion
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“Consequently, both themes can be catalogued and valued from an ecumenical perspective, each of them acquiring a significant role in the way of discovering the other.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 3.2. Preliminary conclusions
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“the exegetic Tradition of the Church becomes a sort of sola Scriptura, and the Fathers turn into text distributors, who support various theological concepts.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
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“This mutual approach can only be postulated, from my own perspective, by honestly accepting the reality according to which either of the two approaches needs the support of the other.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 5. Final conclusion
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In the paper
“That adoption is one of the great challenges in the academic Orthodox biblical landscape, because it must be adapted to the Orthodox specific.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 5. Final conclusion
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In the paper
“Luz calls the two approaches, Wirkungsgeschichte and Rezeptionsästhetik, sisters 7 as they equally focus on updating.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites Luz
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“die andere, weil sie historisch-kritische Auslegung so gut wie gar nicht kennt”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites Reiser
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“die eine, weil sie fast nur noch historisch-kritische und damit beschränkte Auslegung betreibt”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites Reiser
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In the paper
“For international Orthodox biblical studies, scientific exegesis is exclusively associated with the historical-critical method.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2.1. Brief history of reception
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In the paper
“the landscape of the Western biblical studies remains dominated by the auspices of the historical-critical method, which gradually acquires symbolic value.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
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- Rests on an assumption: The historical-critical method is a single, well-defined method that can be discussed as a unified approach.
In the paper
“die andere, weil sie von Dogmatik, Patristik und Spiritualität erdrückt wird”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites Reiser
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In the paper
“Based on the two ways of analysis, hermeneutical and methodical, the historical-critical method is valued for the context of Orthodox biblical theology, by pointing out its advantages and disadvantages when adopted by the Orthodox.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2.1. Brief history of reception
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In the paper
“Part of the explanation for this serious lack could be the fact that in the Orthodox biblical theology, a necessary distinction between hermeneutics and exegesis or method has not been made.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
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In the paper
“Within this interpretive experience, the recourse to the Holy Fathers is absolutely necessary.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
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In the paper
“Both the principle of Wirkungsgeschichte developed by Luz, and that of Rezeptionsästhetik evince the Western biblical theologians' preoccupation with the issue of updating biblical text meanings, in the very direction which is so familiar to the Eastern space.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 5. Final conclusion
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- Based: fails — The paper may give no reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
A statement the paper makes itself — it cites no source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“another methodological principle, which stresses the reader's role in receiving and enriching the message of a biblical text -Rezeptionsästhetik.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: fails — The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Orthodox Biblical Theology at the academic level has not yet developed an original method of interpreting Holy Scripture, which can be proposed and applied in a graduate context.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: fails — The paper may give no reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
- The authors state this as an assumption: The absence of an original Orthodox method of biblical interpretation is a serious problem.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“hermeneutics has threatened exegesis, that is, methodology, in the sense that so far the preoc-cupations of the most notable Orthodox biblical theologians of international fame have exclusively focused on developing interpretation principles that unfortunately have not been materialised and continued in the development of a method.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
plainstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: fails — The paper may give no reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
In the paper
“die andere, weil sie, von Aufklärung unberührt, lebendige Tradition immer wieder mit steriler Konservierung verwechselt.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 1. Introduction
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites Reiser
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
plainstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim.
- Not matched
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Orthodox biblical theology needs an exegetic method, and for the development and learning of a method, it can heavily resort (in the future) to the incontestable Western European exegetic experience, while Western biblical theology, seeking a solution to the updating of the exegetic approach, can have the Eastern biblical space as a partner in this dialogue.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 5. Final conclusion
plainstates a possible cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: fails — It may be too vague to check against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.
The paper states this without a source or data behind it here, so there is nothing to check it against. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“the organisational structure of the Orthodox Churches does not allow statements in the name of the whole of Orthodoxy unless preceded by a pan-Orthodox Council.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2. The reception of the historical-critical method in the most relevant Orthodox biblical studies at the international level
plainstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: fails — The paper may give no reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
In the paper
“In the exposition of this chapter, I consider the opinion that “the Holy Bible forms the basis and foundation of faith for all Christian Churches and confessions” 101 to be of vital importance.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 4. Proposals for approach
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites K. Nikolakopoulos, An Orthodox Critique, p. 337
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim.
- Not matched
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Orthodox biblical theology needs an exegetic method, and for the development and learning of a method, it can heavily resort (in the future) to the incontestable Western European exegetic experience, while Western biblical theology, seeking a solution to the updating of the exegetic approach, can have the Eastern biblical space as a partner in this dialogue.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 5. Final conclusion
plainstates a possible cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: fails — It may be too vague to check against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.
The authors state this as an assumption.
The absence of an original Orthodox method of biblical interpretation is a serious problem.
“Part of the explanation for this serious lack could be the fact that in the Orthodox biblical theology, a necessary distinction between hermeneutics and exegesis or method has not been made.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The historical-critical method is a single, well-defined method that can be discussed as a unified approach.
“the landscape of the Western biblical studies remains dominated by the auspices of the historical-critical method, which gradually acquires symbolic value.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The Orthodox space is characterized by a totally different approach to the biblical text, especially at the level of concrete church life.
“It is still an unanswered question whether a concept developed in a space and a tradition differing from the Orthodox one can find the necessary resonance in the Orthodox space, characterized by a totally different approach to the biblical text, especially at the level of concrete church life.”
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.
Rated minor: it would not touch a result — a value no result rests on, a p-value that stays on the same side of the significance level, or a conflict that is clerical, resolved elsewhere in the paper, or outside its own findings.
In the paper
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2.1. Brief history of reception
“During 28th October -1st November 2003, within The Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts (USA), a symposium was held on the theme "Sacred Text and Interpretation: Perspectives in Orthodox Biblical Studies," whose reports were published in the periodical Greek Orthodox Theological Review.”
§ The Historical-Critical Method and the Holy Fathers > 2.1. Brief history of reception
“See: J. A. McGuckin, "Recent Biblical Hermeneutics", in: GOTR 47 (1-4/2002), p. 295.”
Citations
Cites
The publisher hasn’t deposited this paper’s reference list.
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- G. Florovsky, Bible, Church, Tradition, p. 21. 64 See: V. Kesich, The Gospel Image, pp. 11-12.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Constructing Context: Test Case “Orthodox Biblical Scholarship”
Dragutinović, P. (2021) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666573187.445 · Cited by 1
Eastern Orthodox Views on Ancient Jewish Biblical Interpretation
Beck, B. N. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190948658.013.46
Metadata
- Authors
- Pricop, C. D.
- Affiliations
- PhD, Teach. Assist. at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology Justinian the Patriarch in Bucharest. Address: Str. Trifoi, 15, 030698, Sector 3, Bucuresti
- Corresponding author
- Pricop, Cosmin Daniel
- Venue
- Review of Ecumenical Studies Sibiu
- Publisher
- Walter de Gruyter GmbH
- Published
- 2014-12-01
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 354-377
- ISSN
- 2065-5940 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1980553423
- Semantic Scholar
- a5532f5bf0aba681223120ec469f2c6bdc153bc1
- Cited by
- 3
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2022: 2 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Review of Ecumenical Studies (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Biblical Studies and Interpretation
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Karl Barth and Christian Theology
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Classics › Byzantine Studies and History
- Keywords
- historical criticism, biblical exegesis, ecumenism, Church Fathers
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