Negrov A.I. Biblical interpretation in the Russian Orthodox Church: a historical and hermeneutical perspective

Dissertation submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament Studies. — University of Pretoria, 2001. — 354 p.This study attempts to identify the issues that are specifically important for an understanding of biblical interpretation within the Russian Oithodox Church. Its purpose is not to advocate pm or contra Russian biblical scholarship, but to place the emphasis on the history of biblical interpretation in the Russian Orthodox Church and on Orthodox biblical hermeneutics. Two considerations are specifically pertinent to our study of this topic. First, the history of biblical interpretation is surveyed from a sole and specific perspective — from within a historical-dogmatic development of the Russian Orthodox Church {tot the Kiev period ofits history (IX-XIII cc.) till the Synodal period (1721-1917). Second, it is true that once originated, the Biblical Study in Russian Orthodoxy formed its way and developed its fundamental principles of interpretation. Although many principles correlated and corresponded with general principles of biblical interpretation, in essence they form "Russian Orthodox Hermeneutics". Chapter 1 considers the problematic character of the subject and indicates the specific target group of readers, namely the biblical experts outside the Russian Orthodox confessional boarders, both in the East and in the West. Chapter 2 addresses the methodological issues. We considered general ideas as applicable in the historiography and we defined our position with regard to the leading opinions that motivates a discipline of historical research. Chapter 3 focuses on characteristics and factors that played the main role in determining the inquiry of bible interpretation in the Russian Orthodox Church during the Kiev period (x-xiii cc.) up to the Synoda] petiod (1721-1917). Chapter 4 examines selected anthropological aspects relevant to the Russian Orthodox Church that exercised both a direct and indirect impact upon the Orthodox biblical hermeneutics. This chapter presents a general overview of some key Orthodox anthropological beliefs, followed by an account of several specific features of Orthodox anthropology as examined, such as: (1) the nature of Russian man, (2) the wholeness of man; and (3) the concept of themgy which proved to be particularly helpful in understanding of how the Church’s anthropological ideas are not only linked with Orthodox hermeneutics, but actually determine it. Chapter 5 gives an account of Bogdashevskii’s life and scholarship, emphasizing his hermeneutics. A performed case study which focuses on the analysis of the Russian. Orthodox hermeneutics according to the work of one particular scholar, is reflected in this chapter and it serves as an example 0fthe hermeneutical trends as observed in the Russian Orthodox Church. Chapter 6 summarizes and interprets the fundamental principles and main features peculiar to Russian Orthodox biblical interpretation, using the attestation to these principles in the foregoing study as a basis. The chapter demonstrates that the main hermeneutical features ofthe Russian Orthodox Church: (1) are deeply influenced by patristic exegesis; (2) show that the Orthodox Church is apriori in reading the Bible; (3) place an entire dogmatic premise as a quintessential criterion for the Bible interpretation: (4) exalt the Church tradition as the indispensable guide to the understanding ofScripture; (5) consider Christ as the begnmmg-cemre «and end ofbiblical interpretation; (6) base Orthodox exegesis upon cooperation between the Holy Spirit and the human intetpreter; (7) demands a critical reading of the Scn'ptures guided by the Church dogmatics, and a multidisciplined approach to the text which includes proper attention 10 questions of grammar, logic, history of the text, translations, criticism of editions: and exegesis proper. Chapter 7 summarizes our discussions, outlines the results of this study and indicates the possible directions for further studies.Abstract
AcknowledgmentsAbbreviations
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER II: THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF HISTORY: METHODOLOGICAL STRATEGY
CHAPTER III: BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION IN THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
CHAPTER IV: THE ORTHODOX VIEW OF A MAN AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS
CHAPTER V: DMITRII IVANOVICH BOGDASHEVSKII (1861-1:933) HIS HERMENEUTICAL APPROACH TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
CHAPTER VI: BIBLICAL INTEREPRETATION IN THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH: A HERMENEUTICAL PERSPECTIVE
CHAPTER VII: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
APPENDIX 1: Transliteration Table for the Russian Characters
APPENDIX 2: Nine Rules of Bible Interpretation by the Metropolhan of Moscow Platon (1737-1812)