Occasion and Background
• This article was written by John Whiteford in 1995 in order to explain the theological reasons behind his conversion to the Orthodox Faith. John Whiteford is a Caucasian male who grew up in the Church of the Nazarene and received his B.A. in Theology at Southern Nazarene University in 1990. Shortly thereafter, as a result of his encounters with the Orthodox Faith during his time at school, he converted to the Orthodox Faith.
• This article was originally published in the now-defunct journal, The Christian Activist, which was a publication put out by the Orthodox Church. It now exists as a monograph published by Conciliar Press (now Ancient Faith Publishing), a publishing company that serves the ministry of the Evangelical …show more content…
• Key Citations: 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 11:2, 23; Jude 3; 1 Timothy 3:15, Matthew 6:18; Galatians.
• References to Church Fathers: Irenaeus, Patriarch Jeremias II, St. Vincent of Lerins, Augustine.
Key Terms
• The Church: There is only one, true Church, undivided in its beliefs, that thus preserves the tradition and teachings handed down from the Apostles. The Church is the body of Christ and is the means by which Scripture is to be interpreted.
• Tradition: “…is in essence unchanging and is known by its universality or catholicity.” “The historic consensus of Church teaching.” (9)
• Sola Scriptura: Defined as the belief that the Church has no authority in regards to the interpretation of scripture; that interpretation should be done by the individual apart from Church Tradition.
Thesis: The interpretation and understanding of Scripture can only be discovered by entering into the life of the one, true Church.
Reactions
• Accordance with Scripture: This depends heavily on the approach one takes to how Scripture is to be interpreted. What gives Scripture its
• This article was written by John Whiteford in 1995 in order to explain the theological reasons behind his conversion to the Orthodox Faith. John Whiteford is a Caucasian male who grew up in the Church of the Nazarene and received his B.A. in Theology at Southern Nazarene University in 1990. Shortly thereafter, as a result of his encounters with the Orthodox Faith during his time at school, he converted to the Orthodox Faith.
• This article was originally published in the now-defunct journal, The Christian Activist, which was a publication put out by the Orthodox Church. It now exists as a monograph published by Conciliar Press (now Ancient Faith Publishing), a publishing company that serves the ministry of the Evangelical …show more content…
• Key Citations: 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 11:2, 23; Jude 3; 1 Timothy 3:15, Matthew 6:18; Galatians.
• References to Church Fathers: Irenaeus, Patriarch Jeremias II, St. Vincent of Lerins, Augustine.
Key Terms
• The Church: There is only one, true Church, undivided in its beliefs, that thus preserves the tradition and teachings handed down from the Apostles. The Church is the body of Christ and is the means by which Scripture is to be interpreted.
• Tradition: “…is in essence unchanging and is known by its universality or catholicity.” “The historic consensus of Church teaching.” (9)
• Sola Scriptura: Defined as the belief that the Church has no authority in regards to the interpretation of scripture; that interpretation should be done by the individual apart from Church Tradition.
Thesis: The interpretation and understanding of Scripture can only be discovered by entering into the life of the one, true Church.
Reactions
• Accordance with Scripture: This depends heavily on the approach one takes to how Scripture is to be interpreted. What gives Scripture its