Creeds of = Christendom,=20 with a History and Critical notes. Volume II. The History of=20 Creeds.

=C2=AB Prev

Introduction to the Orthodox=20 Catechism.

Next =C2=BB

INTRODUCTION TO THE ORTHODOX = CATECHISM.

Preliminary=20 Instruction.

1.=20 What is an Orthodox Catechism?

An Orthodox Catechism is an = instruction=20 in the orthodox Christian faith, to be taught to every Christian, = to=20 enable him to please God and save his own soul.

2.=20 What is the meaning of the word Catechism?

It is a Greek word, = signifying=20 instruction, or oral teaching, and has been used ever since = the=20 Apostles' times to denote that primary instruction in the = orthodox=20 faith which is needful for every Christian. Luke i. 4; Acts xviii. 25.

3.=20 What is necessary in order to please God and to save one's own = soul?

In the first place, a = knowledge of the=20 true God, and a right faith in him; in the second place, a life = according=20 to faith, and good works.

4.=20 Why is faith necessary in the first place?

Because, as the Word of God = testifies,=20 Without faith it is impossible to please God. Heb. xi. 6.

5.=20 Why must a life according to faith, and good works, be inseparable = from=20 this faith?

Because, as the Word of God = testifies,=20 Faith without works is dead. James ii. 20.

446

6.=20 What is faith?

According to the definition = of St. Paul,=20 Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of = things not=20 seen (Heb. xi. 1); that is, a trust in the = unseen as=20 though it were seen, in that which is hoped and waited for as if = it were=20 present.

7.=20 What is the difference between knowledge and faith?

Knowledge has for its object = things=20 visible and comprehensible; faith, things which are invisible, and = even=20 incomprehensible. Knowledge is founded on experience, on = examination of=20 its object; but faith on belief of testimony to truth. Knowledge = belongs=20 properly to the intellect, although it may also act on the heart; = faith=20 belongs principally to the heart, although it is imparted through = the=20 intellect.

8.=20 Why is faith, and not knowledge only, necessary in religious=20 instruction?

Because the chief object of = this=20 instruction is God invisible and incomprehensible, and the wisdom = of God=20 hidden in a mystery; consequently, many parts of this learning can = not be=20 embraced by knowledge, but may be received by faith.

Faith, says St. Cyril = of=20 Jerusalem, is the eye which enlighteneth every man's = conscience; it=20 giveth man knowledge. For, as the prophet says, If ye will = not=20 believe, ye shall not understand. Isa. vii. 9; Cyr. Cat. v.

9.=20 Can you illustrate further the necessity of faith?

St. Cyril thus illustrates = it: It is=20 not only amongst us, who hear the name of Christ, that faith is = made so=20 great a thing; but every thing which is done in the world, even by = men who=20 are unconnected with the Church, is done by faith. Agriculture is = founded=20 on faith; for no one who did not believe that he should gather in = the=20 increase of the fruits of the earth would undertake the labor of=20 husbandry. Mariners are guided by faith when they intrust their = fate to a=20 slight plank, and prefer the agitation of the unstable waters to = the more=20 stable element of the earth. They give themselves up to uncertain=20 expectations, and retain for themselves nothing but faith, to = which they=20 trust more than to any anchors. Cyr. Cat. v.

On=20 Divine Revelation.

10.=20 Whence is the doctrine of the orthodox faith derived?

From divine revelation.

11.=20 What is meant by the words divine revelation?

That which God himself has = revealed to=20 men, in order that they 447might=20 rightly and savingly believe in him, and worthily honor him.

12.=20 Has God given such a revelation to all men?

He has given it for all, as = being=20 necessary for all alike, and capable of bringing salvation to all; = but,=20 since not all men are capable of receiving a revelation = immediately from=20 God, he has employed special persons as heralds of his revelation, = to=20 deliver it to all who are desirous of receiving it.

13.=20 Why are not all men capable of receiving a revelation immediately = from=20 God?

Owing to their sinful = impurity, and=20 weakness both in soul and body.

14.=20 Who were the heralds of divine revelation?

Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, = and other=20 Prophets, received and preached the beginnings of divine = revelation; but=20 it was the incarnate Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who = brought it to=20 earth, in its fullness and perfection, and spread it over all the = world by=20 his Disciples and Apostles.

The Apostle Paul says, in = the beginning=20 of his Epistle to the Hebrews: God, who at sundry times, and in = divers=20 manners, spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets, = hath in=20 these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed = heir of=20 all things, by whom also he made the worlds.

The same Apostle writes as = follows to=20 the Corinthians: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, = even the=20 hidden things which God ordained before the world unto our glory, = which=20 none of the princes of this world knew. But God hath revealed them = unto us=20 by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep = things=20 of God. 1 Cor. ii. 7, 8, = 10.

The Evangelist John writes = in his=20 Gospel: No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten = Son, which=20 is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John i. 18.

Jesus Christ himself says: = No man=20 knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father = save=20 the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Matt. xi. 27.

15.=20 Can not man, then, have any knowledge of God without a special = revelation=20 from him?

Man may have some knowledge = of God by=20 contemplation of those things which he has created; but this = knowledge is=20 imperfect and 448insufficient,=20 and can serve only as a preparation for faith, or as a help = towards the=20 knowledge of God from his revelation.

For the invisible things = of him, from=20 the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by = the=20 things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead. Rom. i. 20.

And he hath made of one = blood all=20 nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth; and = hath=20 determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their = habitation;=20 that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after = him, and=20 find him, though he be not far from every one of us. For in him we = live,=20 and move, and have our being. Acts xvii. 26-28.

With regard to faith in = God, it is=20 preceded by the idea that God is, which idea we get from the = things which=20 have been created. Attentively examining the creation of the = world, we=20 perceive that God is wise, powerful, and good; we perceive, also, = his=20 invisible properties. By these means we are led to acknowledge him = as the=20 Supreme Ruler. Seeing that God is the Creator of the whole world, = and we=20 form a part of the world, it follows that God is also our Creator. = On this=20 knowledge follows faith, and on faith adoration. (Basil. Magn. = Epist.=20 232.)

On=20 Holy Tradition and Holy Scripture.

16.=20 How is divine revelation spread among men and preserved in the = true=20 Church?

By two channels=E2=80=94holy = tradition and holy=20 Scripture.

17.=20 What is meant by the name holy tradition?

By the name holy tradition = is meant the=20 doctrine of the faith, the law of God, the sacraments, and the = ritual as=20 handed down by the true believers and worshipers of God by word = and=20 example from one to another, and from generation to = generation.

18.=20 Is there any sure repository of holy tradition?

All true believers united by = the holy=20 tradition of the faith, collectively and successively, by the will = of God,=20 compose the Church; and she is the sure repository of holy = tradition, or,=20 as St. Paul expresses it, The Church of the living God, the = pillar and=20 ground of the truth. 1 Tim. iii. 15.

St. Iren=C3=A6us writes = thus: We ought not=20 to seek among others the truth, which we may have for asking from = the=20 Church; for in her, as in a 449rich=20 treasure-house, the Apostles have laid up in its fullness all that = pertains to the truth, so that whosoever seeketh may receive from = her the=20 food of life. She is the door of life. (Adv. H=C3=A6res. lib. = iii. c.=20 4.)

19.=20 What is that which you call holy Scripture?

Certain books written by the = Spirit of=20 God through men sanctified by God, called Prophets and Apostles. = These=20 books are commonly termed the Bible.

20.=20 What does the word Bible mean?

It is Greek, and means = the books.=20 The name signifies that the sacred books deserve attention before = all=20 others.

21.=20 Which is the more ancient, holy tradition or holy Scripture?

The most ancient and = original instrument=20 for spreading divine revelation is holy tradition. From Adam to = Moses=20 there were no sacred books. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself = delivered his=20 divine doctrine and ordinances to his Disciples by word and = example, but=20 not by writing. The same method was followed by the Apostles also = at=20 first, when they spread abroad the faith and established the = Church of=20 Christ. The necessity of tradition is further evident from this, = that=20 books can be available only to a small part of mankind, but = tradition to=20 all.

22.=20 Why, then, was holy Scripture given?

To this end, that divine = revelation=20 might be preserved more exactly and unchangeably. In holy = Scripture we=20 read the words of the Prophets and Apostles precisely as if we = were living=20 with them and listening to them, although the latest of the sacred = books=20 were written a thousand and some hundred years before our = time.

23.=20 Must we follow holy tradition, even when we possess holy = Scripture?

We must follow that = tradition which=20 agrees with the divine revelation and with holy Scripture, as is = taught us=20 by holy Scripture itself. The Apostle Paul writes: Therefore, = brethren,=20 stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, = whether by=20 word or our epistle. 2 Thess. ii. 15.

24.=20 Why is tradition necessary even now?

As a guide to the right = understanding of=20 holy Scripture, for the right ministration of the sacraments, and = the=20 preservation of sacred rites and ceremonies in the purity of their = original institution.

St. Basil the Great says of = this as=20 follows: Of the doctrines and injunctions kept by the Church, = some we=20 have from written instruction. 450but=20 some we have received from, apostolical tradition, by succession = in=20 private. Both the former and the latter have one and the same = force for=20 piety, and this will be contradicted by no one who has ever so = little=20 knowledge in the ordinances of the Church; for were we to dare to = reject=20 unwritten customs, as if they had no great importance, we should=20 insensibly mutilate the Gospel, even in the most essential points, = or,=20 rather, for the teaching of the Apostles leave but an empty name. = For=20 instance, let us mention before all else the very first and = commonest act=20 of Christians, that they who trust in the name of our Lord Jesus = Christ=20 should sign themselves with the sign of the cross=E2=80=94who hath = taught this by=20 writing? To turn to the east in prayer=E2=80=94what Scripture have = we for this?=20 The words of invocation in the change of the Eucharistic bread and = of the=20 Cup of blessing=E2=80=94by which of the Saints have they been left = us in writing?=20 for we are not content with those words which the Apostle or the = Gospel=20 records, but both before them and after them, we pronounce others = also,=20 which we hold to be of great force for the sacrament, though we = have=20 received them from unwritten teaching. By what Scripture is it, in = like=20 manner, that we bless the water of baptism, the oil of unction, = and the=20 person himself who is baptized? Is it not by a silent and secret=20 tradition? What more? The very practice itself of anointing with = oil=E2=80=94what=20 written word have we for it? Whence is the rule of trine = immersion? and=20 the rest of the ceremonies at baptism, the renunciation of Satan = and his=20 angels?=E2=80=94from what Scripture are they taken? Are they not = all from this=20 unpublished and private teaching, which our Fathers kept under a = reserve=20 inaccessible to curiosity and profane disquisition, having been = taught as=20 a first principle to guard by silence the sanctity of the = mysteries? for=20 how were it fit to publish in writing the doctrine of those = things, on=20 which the unbaptized may not so much as look? (Can. xcvii. De = Spir.=20 Sanct. c. xxvii.)

On=20 Holy Scripture in Particular.

25.=20 When were the sacred books written?

At different times: some = before the=20 birth of Christ, others after.

26.=20 Have not these two divisions of the sacred books each their own = names?

They have. Those written = before the=20 birth of Christ are called the books of the Old Testament, = while=20 those written after are called the books of the New=20 Testament.

451

27.=20 What are the Old and New Testaments?

In other words, the old and = new=20 Covenants of God with men.

28.=20 In what consisted the Old Testament?

In this, that God promised = men a divine=20 Saviour, and prepared them to receive him.

29.=20 How did God prepare men to receive the Saviour?

Through gradual revelations, = by=20 prophecies and types.

30.=20 In what consists the New Testament?

In this, that God has = actually given men=20 a divine Saviour, his own only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

31.=20 How many are the books of the Old Testament?

St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. = Athanasius=20 the Great, and St. John Damascene reckon them at = twenty-two,=20 agreeing therein with the Jews, who so reckon them in the original = Hebrew=20 tongue. (Athanas. Ep. xxxix. De Test.; J. Damasc. Theol. = lib. iv. c.=20 17.)

32.=20 Why should we attend to the reckoning of the Hebrews?

Because, as the Apostle Paul = says,=20 unto them were committed the oracles of God; and the sacred = books=20 of the Old Testament have been received from the Hebrew Church of = that=20 Testament by the Christian Church of the New. Rom. iii. 2.

33.=20 How do St. Cyril and St. Athanasius enumerate the books of the Old = Testament?

As follows: 1, The book of = Genesis; 2,=20 Exodus; 3, Leviticus; 4, the book of Numbers; 5, Deuteronomy; 6, = the book=20 of Jesus the son of Nun; 7, the book of Judges, and with it, as an = appendix, the book of Ruth; 8, the first and second books of = Kings, as two=20 parts of one book; 9, the third and fourth books of Kings; 10, the = first=20 and second books of Paralipomena; 11, the first book of Esdras, = and the=20 second, or, as it is entitled in Greek, the book of Nehemiah; 12, = the book=20 of Esther; 13, the book of Job; 14, the Psalms; 15, the Proverbs = of=20 Solomon; 16, Ecclesiastes, also by Solomon; 17, the Song of Songs, = also by=20 Solomon; 18, the book of the Prophet Isaiah; 19, of Jeremiah; 20, = of=20 Ezekiel; 21, of Daniel; 22, of the Twelve Prophets.

34.=20 Why is there no notice taken in this enumeration of the books of = the Old=20 Testament of the book of the Wisdom of the son of Sirach, and of = certain=20 others?

Because they do not exist in = the=20 Hebrew.

35.=20 How are we to regard these last-named books?

Athanasius the Great says = that they have=20 been appointed of the 452Fathers=20 to be read by proselytes who are preparing for admission into the=20 Church.

36.=20 Is there any division of the books of the Old Testament by which = you can=20 give a more distinct account of their contents?

They may be divided into the = four=20 following classes:

Books=20 of the Law, which form the basis of the Old Testament.

Historical=20 books, which contain principally the history of religion.

Doctrinal,=20 which contain the doctrine of religion.

Prophetical,=20 which contain prophecies, or predictions of things future, and = especially of Jesus Christ.

37.=20 Which are the books of the Law?

The five books written by = Moses=E2=80=94Genesis,=20 Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Jesus Christ himself gives = to these=20 books the general name of the law of Moses. Luke xxiv. 44.

38.=20 What in particular is contained in the book of Genesis?

The account of the creation = of the world=20 and of man and afterwards the history and ordinances of religion = in the=20 first ages of mankind.

39.=20 What is contained in the other four books of Moses?

The history of religion in = the time of=20 the Prophet Moses, and the Law given through him from God.

40.=20 Which are the historical books of the Old Testament?

The books of Jesus the son = of Nun,=20 Judges, Ruth, Kings, Paralipomena, the book of Esdras, and the = books of=20 Nehemiah and Esther.

41.=20 Which are the doctrinal?

The book of Job, the = Psalms, and the=20 books of Solomon.

42.=20 What should we remark in particular of the book of Psalms?

This book, together with = the doctrine=20 of religion, contains also allusions to its history, and many = prophecies=20 of our Saviour Christ. It is a perfect manual of prayer and = praise, and on=20 this account is in continual use in the divine service of the = Church.

43.=20 Which books are prophetical?

Those of the = Prophets=E2=80=94Isaiah, Jeremiah,=20 Ezekiel, Daniel, and the twelve others.

44.=20 How many are the books of the New Testament?

Twenty-seven.

453

45.=20 Are there among these any which answer to the books of the = Law, or=20 form the basis of the New Testament?

Yes. The Gospel, = which consists=20 of the four books of the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and = John.

46.=20 What means the word Gospel?

It is the same as the Greek = work=20 Evangely, and means good or joyful tidings.

47.=20 Of what have we good tidings in the books called the Gospel?

Of the Divinity of our Lord = Jesus=20 Christ, of his advent and life on earth, of his miracles and = saving=20 doctrine, and, finally, of his death upon the cross, his glorious=20 resurrection, and ascension into heaven.

48.=20 Why are these books called the Gospel?

Because man can have no = better nor more=20 joyful tidings than these, of a Divine Saviour and everlasting = salvation.=20 For the same cause, whenever the Gospel is read in the church, it = is=20 prefaced and accompanied by the joyful exclamation, Glory be to = thee, O=20 Lord, glory be to thee.

49.=20 Are any of the books of the New Testament historical?

Yes. One: the book of the = Acts of=20 the holy Apostles.

50.=20 Of what does it give an account?

Of the descent of the Holy = Ghost on the=20 Apostles, and of the extension through them of Christ's = Church.

51.=20 What is an Apostle?

The word means a = messenger. It=20 is the name given to those disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ whom = he sent=20 to preach the Gospel.

52.=20 Which books of the New Testament are doctrinal?

The seven general Epistles: = namely, one=20 of the Apostle James, two of Peter, three of John, and one of = Jude; and=20 fourteen Epistles of the Apostle Paul: namely, one to the Romans, = two to=20 the Corinthians, one to the Galatians, one to the Ephesians, one = to the=20 Philippians, one to the Colossians, two to the Thessalonians, two = to=20 Timothy, one to Titus, one to Philemon, and one to the = Hebrews.

53.=20 Are there also among the books of the New Testament any=20 prophetical?

Such is the book of the=20 Apocalypse.

54.=20 What means this word Apocalypse?

It is Greek, and means=20 revelation.

454

55.=20 What are the contents of this book?

A mystical representation = of the future=20 destinies of the Christian Church; and of the whole world.

56.=20 What rules must we observe in reading holy Scripture?

First, we must read it = devoutly, as the=20 Word of God, and with prayer to understand it aright; secondly, we = must=20 read it with a pure desire of instruction in faith, and incitement = to good=20 works; thirdly, we must take and understand it in such sense as = agrees=20 with the interpretation of the orthodox Church and the holy = Fathers.

57.=20 When the Church proposes the doctrine of Divine Revelation and of = holy=20 Scripture to people for the first time, what signs does she offer = that it=20 is really the Word of God?

Signs of this are the = following:

1. The=20 sublimity of this doctrine, which witnesses that it can not be any = invention of man's reason.

2. The=20 purity of this doctrine, which shows that it is from the all-pure = mind of=20 God.

3.=20 Prophecies.

4.=20 Miracles.

5. The=20 mighty effect of this doctrine upon the hearts of men, beyond all = but=20 divine power.

58.=20 In what way are prophecies signs of a true revelation from = God?

This may be shown by an = example. When=20 the Prophet Isaiah foretold the birth of the Saviour Christ from a = virgin,=20 a thing which the natural reason of man could not have so much as=20 imagined, and when, some hundred years after this prophecy, our = Lord Jesus=20 Christ was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, it was impossible = not to see=20 that the prophecy was the word of the Omniscient, and its = fulfillment the=20 work of the Almighty God. Wherefore also the holy Evangelist = Matthew, when=20 relating the birth of Christ, brings forward the prophecy of = Isaiah:=20 But all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was = spoken of=20 the Lord by the Prophet, saying: Behold a Virgin shall be with = child, and=20 shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, = which,=20 being interpreted, is, God with us. Matt. i. 22, 23.

59.=20 What are miracles?

Acts which can be done by = no power or=20 art of man, but only by the almighty power of God: for example, to = raise=20 the dead.

455

60.=20 How do miracles serve for a sign that the word spoken is from = God?

He who does true miracles = works by the=20 power of God; consequently he is in favor with God, and partaker = of the=20 divine Spirit; but to such it must belong to speak only the pure = truth;=20 and so, when such a man speaks in God's name, we are sure that by = his=20 mouth there speaketh really the Word of God.

On this account our Lord = Jesus Christ=20 himself owns miracles as a powerful testimony to his divine = mission:=20 The works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same = works that=20 I do, bear witness of me, that the father hath sent me. John v. 36.

61.=20 Whence may we more particularly see the mighty effect of = the=20 doctrine of Christ?

From this: that twelve = Apostles, taken=20 from among poor and unlearned people, of the lowest class, by this = doctrine overcame and subdued to Christ the mighty, the wise, and = the=20 rich, kings and their kingdoms.

The=20 Composition of the Catechism.

62.=20 What may be a good order for setting forth a catechetical = instruction in=20 religion?

For this we may follow the = book of the=20 Orthodox Confession, approved by the Eastern Patriarchs, and take = as our=20 basis the saying of the Apostle Paul, that the whole energies of a = Christian, during this present life, consist in these three: = faith, hope,=20 charity. And now abideth faith, hope, charity; these three. = 1 Cor. xiii. 13.

And so the Christian needs: = First,=20 Doctrine on faith in God, and on the Sacraments which he = reveals;=20 Secondly, Doctrine on hope towards God, and on the means of = being=20 grounded in it; Thirdly, Doctrine on love to God, and all = that he=20 commands us to love.

63.=20 What does the Church use as her instrument to introduce us to the = doctrine=20 of faith?

The Creed.

64.=20 What may we take as a guide for the doctrine of hope?

Our Lord's = Beatitudes and the=20 Lord's Prayer.

65.=20 Where may we find the elements of the doctrine of charity?

In the Ten = Commandments of the=20 Law of God.

=C2=AB = Prev

Introduction to the Orthodox=20 Catechism.

Next = ;=C2=BB

This book has been accessed more than = 89239=20 times since July 13, 2005.

Creeds of = Christendom,=20 with a History and Critical notes. Volume II. The History of=20 Creeds.

INTRODUCTION TO THE ORTHODOX = CATECHISM.

User Account