HOW TO READ THE BIBLE

St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, writing in the 18th century, speaks of the attitude of the Orthodox to the Holy Scriptures: "If you received a letter from an earthly king, would you not read it with joy? Of course, with great joy and reverent attention. You have received a letter, not from an earthly king, but from the King of Heaven. And yet you almost neglect this gift, such a priceless treasure." And then he says: "Every time you read the Holy Gospel, you hear the words of Christ Himself addressed to you. Each person should perceive the reading of the Holy Scriptures as a direct personal conversation with Christ.

200 years after the words of St. Tikhon, the Moscow Conference of Orthodox and Anglicans in 1976 defined the correct attitude to the Holy Scriptures in other words, also fully elucidating this issue: the Moscow Statement, also signed by the delegates of the Anglican Church, worthily sums up the essence of the Orthodox view of the Bible: "The books of the Holy Scriptures are one indissoluble whole. They are both divinely inspired and humanly expressed. They powerfully testify to God's revelation to men, in Creation, the incarnation of the Word, and the history of mankind's path to salvation. In this way, they express the word of God through human language We know, receive and receive the Holy Scriptures through the Church and in the Church Our approach to the Bible is based on obedience."

Comparing the words of St. Tikhon and the Moscow statement, we can single out four main qualities that distinguish the Orthodox reading of the Holy Scriptures. Firstly, we must read in a spirit of obedience, secondly, we must read conciliarly, as members of the Orthodox Church, thirdly, our reading must be completely focused on Christ, and fourthly, our reading must be personal.

READING THE BIBLE WITH OBEDIENCE

So, first of all, when we read the Holy Scriptures, we must listen in a spirit of obedience. Both St. Tikhon and the Moscow Conference of 1976 emphasize the divine origin of the Bible: Holy Scripture is a letter to man from God, Christ Himself addresses you as Sacred.

Scripture is God's testimony about Himself. It expresses the Word of God in our human language It is inspired by God Since God Himself speaks to you through the Bible, your response must be a response of obedience and receptive attention When we read, we must be open to the Holy Spirit.

But, being inspired by God, the Bible is at the same time humanly expressed. This is a whole library of various books written at different times and by different people. Each book of the Bible reflects the appearance of the era in which it was written, and the features of the author's views. For God does not deign to do anything apart from people: the grace of God acts in harmony with human freedom. So it is with the writing of the God-inspired books of the Old and New Testaments. Their authors were not just a passive tool, a stenographic device that recorded someone's words. Each author of the Holy Scripture brings his own human talent to his work. We must value both.

Each of the Gospels, for example, has its own characteristics. The Holy Evangelist Matthew emphasizes the importance of Christ for the Jews, while paying special attention to the Kingdom of Heaven The Holy Evangelist Mark gives vivid details of Christ's ministry, His care for people, which others do not have. The Holy Evangelist Luke expresses the all-encompassing side of Christ's love, His infinite compassion, which extends equally to both Jew and Gentile. In the writings of the holy Evangelist John there is a more inward-turned attitude towards Christ; at the same time, the divine light and the indwelling of God in believers are especially emphasized. One should fully enjoy and study this life-giving multiplicity of the Bible.

Since the Holy Scriptures are thus the word of God transmitted in human language, a conscientious study of the Bible is permitted in the study of the Bible. By mastering the human aspect of the Bible, we can make full use of the reason given to us by the Lord God.

However, along with these human details, we dare not lose sight of the divinity of the Holy Scriptures. We hear in the Holy Scriptures not just ordinary human words, distinguished by a greater or lesser degree of skill and insight, but the eternal, miraculous Word of God Himself, the divine Word of salvation. We turn to the Bible with a specific question, each with a personal question about himself: "How can I be saved?"

The Holy Scriptures, being God's word of salvation in human language, should awaken in us a sense of awe. Do you sometimes think, reading or listening, that all this has become too familiar? Has the Bible become boring to you in some way? We should constantly purify our souls, so that our perception does not become dull, and in amazement, with new eyes, we should look at what the Lord reveals to us.

Some time ago I had a dream which I remember distinctly. I was back in the house where I had lived for three years in a boarding school as a child. In the dream, I first passed through rooms that were already familiar to me. Then the companion who had guided me through the building led me to others that I had never seen before—spacious, beautiful, full of light. Finally, we entered a small chapel with flickering candles and dark golden mosaics.