The Bible, Hank Hanegraaff & Eastern Orthodoxy

Introduction

•  OnApril9,2017,HankHanegraaffandhiswifewerechrismatedinaGreekOrthodoxChurch.

•  Hanegraaffhasbeenknownsince1989asthe“BibleAnswerMan,”andthepresidentoftheChrisIanResearchInsItute.

•  Hanegraaff’sconversioncausedasignificantsIramongBible-believingevangelicals.

The Byzantine Empire ca. 1180

The East-West Schism of

1054

Divided Roman Catholicism from

Eastern Orthodoxy

EasternOrthodoxy

RomanCatholicism

Orthodoxy vs. Catholicsm

SimilariIes:-  Sevensacraments-  Realpresenceof

ChristinEucharist-  VeneraIonofsaints-  FastslikeLent-  ElevatestradiIon

Differences:-  Rejectspapalauthority-  Allowsprieststomarry-  Rejectsthefilioque

clause-  Emphasizesmysteryin

theologymorethaninRomanCatholicism

Key Question

WhatshouldevangelicalsthinkaboutEastern

Orthodoxy?

Three Biblical Criteria

NT Warnings

Jesus:Bewareofthefalseprophets,whocometoyouinsheep’sclothing,butinwardlyareravenouswolves.(Ma].7:15)

Paul:A`ermydeparturesavagewolveswillcomeinamongyou,notsparingtheflock.(Acts20:29)

Peter:Butfalseprophetsalsoaroseamongthepeople,justastherewillalsobefalseteachersamongyou.(2Pet.2:1)

NT Warnings

John:Manydeceivershavegoneoutintotheworld,thosewhodonotacknowledgeJesusChristascomingintheflesh.ThisisthedeceiverandtheanIchrist.(2John7)

Jude:CertainpersonshavecreptinunnoIced,thosewhowerelongbeforehandmarkedoutforthiscondemnaIon.(Jude4)

Biblical Criteria

1.   TheWordofGod(inScripture):ThetruechurchviewsScripturealoneasitsfinalauthority.

2.   TheworkofGod(insalvaGon):ThetruechurchunderstandsthatsinnersarejusIfiedsolelybyGod’sgracethroughfaithaloneonaccountofJesusChrist.

3.   TheworshipofGod(inspiritandtruth):ThetruechurchworshipstheTriuneGodinpurityofdevoIonandpurityofdoctrine.

The Word of God (the Scriptures)

The Word of God

ThetruechurchsubmitstotheWordofGodasthefinalauthority.

The Word of God

ThetruechurchsubmitstotheWordofGodasthefinalauthority.

2Tim.3:16–17–AllScriptureisinspiredbyGodandprofitableforteaching,forreproof,forcorrecIon,fortraininginrighteousness;sothatthemanofGodmaybeadequate,equippedforeverygoodwork.

The Word of God

Mark7:5–13–ThePhariseesandthescribesaskedHim,“WhydoYourdisciplesnotwalkaccordingtothetradiIonoftheelders,buteattheirbreadwithimpurehands?”AndHesaidtothem,“RightlydidIsaiahprophesyofyouhypocrites,asitiswri]en:

The Word of God

‘ThispeoplehonorsMewiththeirlips,ButtheirheartisfarawayfromMe.ButinvaindotheyworshipMe,Teachingasdoctrinesthepreceptsofmen.’NeglecIngthecommandmentofGod,youholdtothetradiIonofmen.”

The Word of God

Hewasalsosayingtothem,“YouareexpertsatselngasidethecommandmentofGodinordertokeepyourtradiIon...thusinvalidaIngthewordofGodbyyourtradiIonwhichyouhavehandeddown;andyoudomanythingssuchasthat.”

The Word of God

WhataboutthemenIonofapostolic“tradiIon”intheNewTestament?

•  1Corinthians11:2•  2Thessalonians2:15•  2Thessalonians3:6

The Word of God

1.Theword“tradiIon”simplymeans“thingshandeddown.”

ApostolictradiIonreferstoapostolicinstrucIongiventothechurcheither“bywordofmouthorbyle]er”(2Thess.2:15).

ItdoesnotincludeelaborateliturgicalcustomsorpracIcesthatdevelopedinlatercenturies.

The Word of God

2.ApostolictradiIon(instrucIon)ispreservedforusinthewriIngsoftheNewTestament.

Wedon’thavetowonderaboutthecontentofapostolictradiIon,becauseitisrecordedforusonthepagesofScripture.

The Word of God

3.BelieversarecalledtoevaluateallteachingsandtradiIonsinlightofGod’sWord.

1Thess.5:21–Examineallthingscarefully.

Col.2:8–SeetoitthatnoonetakesyoucapIvethroughphilosophyandemptydecepIon,accordingtothetradiIonofmen.

The Word of God

3.BelieversarecalledtoevaluateteachingsandtradiIonsinlightofGod’sWord.

Acts17:11–TheBereanswere“morenoble-mindedthanthoseinThessalonica,fortheyreceivedthewordwithgreateagerness,examiningtheScripturesdailytoseewhetherthesethingswereso.”

The Word of God

4.TheearlychurchunderstoodthattheteachingoftheapostleswasfoundintheNewTestamentScriptures.

Theysawwri]enrevelaIonasthefinalauthorityovercustomsandtradiIons.

The Word of God

Irenaeus(c.130–202)–WehavelearnedfromnoneotherstheplanofoursalvaIon,thanfromthosethroughwhomtheGospelhascomedowntous,whichtheydidatoneImeproclaiminpublic,and,atalaterperiod,bythewillofGod,handeddowntousintheScriptures,tobethegroundandpillarofourfaith.

The Word of God

Basil(c.330–379)–Idonotconsideritfairthatthecustom[tradiIon]whichobtainsamongthem[theArians]shouldberegardedasalawandruleoforthodoxy.Ifcustomistobetakeninproofofwhatisright,thenitiscertainlycompetentformetoputforwardonmysidethecustomwhichobtainshere.Iftheyrejectthis,weareclearlynotboundtofollowthem.ThereforeletGod-inspiredScripturedecidebetweenus;andonwhicheversidebefounddoctrinesinharmonywiththewordofGod,infavorofthatsidewillbecastthevoteoftruth.

The Work of God (in Salvation)

The Work of God

ThetruechurchrestssolelyinthegraciousworkofGodforsalvaIon.SinnersarejusIfiedbeforeGodonaccountofHisgracealone.SalvaIonisthegi`ofGodreceivedthroughfaithalonebecauseofthefinishedworkofChristalone.

The Work of God

Luke18:14–Itellyou,thismanwenttohishousejusIfiedratherthantheother;foreveryonewhoexaltshimselfwillbehumbled,buthewhohumbleshimselfwillbeexalted.

The Work of God

Gal.1:6–8–IamamazedthatyouaresoquicklydeserIngHimwhocalledyoubythegraceofChrist,foradifferentgospel;whichisreallynotanother;onlytherearesomewhoaredisturbingyouandwanttodistortthegospelofChrist.Butevenifwe,oranangelfromheaven,shouldpreachtoyouagospelcontrarytowhatwehavepreachedtoyou,heistobeaccursed!

The Work of God

Acts13:38–39–Thereforeletitbeknowntoyou,brethren,thatthroughthisManispreachedtoyoutheforgivenessofsins;andbyHimeveryonewhobelievesisjusIfiedfromallthingsfromwhichyoucouldnotbejusIfiedbythelawofMoses.

The Work of God

Acts16:31–BelieveintheLordJesusChrist,andyoushallbesaved.

Rom.3:28–AmanisjusIfiedbyfaithapartfromtheworksofthelaw.

Rom.5:1–HavingbeenjusIfiedbyfaith,wehavepeacewithGodthroughourLordJesusChrist.

The Work of God

Rom.11:6–Ifitisbygrace,itisnolongeronthebasisofworks,otherwisegraceisnolongergrace.

Eph.2:8–9–Forbygraceyouhavebeensavedthroughfaith;andthatnotofyourselves,itisthegi`ofGod;notasaresultofworks,sothatnoonemayboast.

The Work of God

Phil.3:8–9–[Believersdonotreston]arighteousnessof[their]ownderivedfromtheLaw,butthatwhichisthroughfaithinChrist,therighteousnesswhichcomesfromGodonthebasisoffaith.

The Work of God

Titus3:5–7–[God]savedus,notonthebasisofdeedswhichwehavedoneinrighteousness,butaccordingtoHismercy,bythewashingofregeneraIonandrenewingbytheHolySpirit,whomHepouredoutuponus.

The Worship of God (in Spirit and Truth)

The Worship of God

ThetruechurchapproachestheworshipofGodinspirit(purityofdevoIon)andintruth(purityofdoctrine).

John4:23–Anhouriscoming,andnowis,whenthetrueworshiperswillworshiptheFatherinspiritandtruth;forsuchpeopletheFatherseekstobeHisworshipers.

The Worship of God

PurityofDevoGon:UndefiledworshipisreservedforGodalone.

TrueworshipremovesanydistracIonsandrejectsallcompeItors.

SeeExodus20:4andIsaiah42:8.

The Worship of God

2Kings18:4–HeremovedthehighplacesandbrokedownthesacredpillarsandcutdowntheAsherah.HealsobrokeinpiecesthebronzeserpentthatMoseshadmade,forunIlthosedaysthesonsofIsraelburnedincensetoit;anditwascalledNehushtan.

The Worship of God

1Cor.10:14–Fleefromidolatry.

1Thess.1:9–[They]turnedtoGodfromidolstoservealivingandtrueGod.

1John5:21–Li]lechildren,keepyourselvesfromidols.

The Worship of God

PurityofDoctrine:UndefiledworshiprequiresanaccurateviewofwhoGodis.

TorejectthetruthaboutwhoGodis,asHehasrevealedHimselfinHisWord,istoworshipthewrongGod.

The Worship of God

1John2:22–WhoistheliarbuttheonewhodeniesthatJesusistheChrist?ThisistheanIchrist,theonewhodeniestheFatherandtheSon.

The Worship of God

1John4:2–3–BythisyouknowtheSpiritofGod:everyspiritthatconfessesthatJesusChristhascomeinthefleshisfromGod;andeveryspiritthatdoesnotconfessJesusisnotfromGod;thisisthespiritoftheanIchrist,ofwhichyouhaveheardthatitiscoming,andnowitisalreadyintheworld.

The Worship of God

1John5:20–AndweknowthattheSonofGodhascome,andhasgivenusunderstandingsothatwemayknowHimwhoistrue;andweareinHimwhoistrue,inHisSonJesusChrist.ThisisthetrueGodandeternallife.

The Worship of God

John1:1–InthebeginningwastheWord,...andtheWordwasGod.

John1:14–TheWordbecameflesh,anddweltamongus.

John1:17–GraceandtruthwererealizedthroughJesustheMessiah.

Biblical Criteria

1.   TheWordofGod(inScripture):ThetruechurchviewsScripturealoneasitsfinalauthority.

2.   TheworkofGod(insalvaGon):ThetruechurchunderstandsthatsinnersarejusIfiedsolelybyGod’sgracethroughfaithaloneonaccountofJesusChrist.

3.   TheworshipofGod(inspiritandtruth):ThetruechurchworshipstheTriuneGodinpurityofdevoIonandpurityofdoctrine.

Comparison to Eastern Orthodoxy

The Word of God (The Scriptures)

The Word of God

EasternOrthodoxyexplicitlyrejectstheReformaIonprincipleofsolaScriptura(Scripturealone).

ItviewsScriptureaspartofalarger“HolyTradiIon”thatincludestheliturgyofthechurch,thecreedsofchurchcouncils,andtheteachingsofthechurchfathers.

The Word of God

TheRevisedandUpdatedCatechismoftheOrthodoxFaith,P016:

TheProtestantsloganof“SolaScriptura”...isdecepIveandacauseofschismandheresy.

The Word of God

BrynGeffertandTheofanisG.Stavrou,EasternOrthodoxChris9anity:MarInLuther'smantra,solascriptura(“byscripturealone”),provedanathematotheRomanCatholicChurchintheWestandtheOrthodoxChurchintheEast.Scripturealoneisnotsufficient,theyreplied.

The Word of God

RobertLetham,ThroughWesternEyes:[Wemight]focusonthequesIonofwhatistheulImateauthoritythatdetermineswhatwearetobelieveanddo.ProtestantssaythisistheBible,theWordofGod,whichmustsitinjudgmentonallopinionsofman.TheOrthodoxalsobelieveintheauthorityoftheBiblebutplaceitinacontextwhereitisoneamongarangeoffactors.

The Word of God

MichaelHorton,ThreeViewsonEasternOrthodoxyandEvangelicalism:Itiscertainlythecase,however,thatEasternOrthodoxyandorthodoxProtestanIsmapproachScriptureandtradiIon,aswellastheircoordinaIon,ratherdifferently.LikeRome,theEasthasgenerallyacceptedatleastcertainpost-apostolictradiIonsasequalinauthoritytoScripture.

The Work of God (in Salvation)

The Work of God

HankHanegraaff,Chris9anityinCrisis:TheBible,fromfirsttolast,demonstratesthatthesavedthroughouthistorycometofaithinexactlythesameway—bygracealonethroughfaithaloneonaccountofChristalone.

YetEasternOrthodoxyexplicitlyrejectstheReformaIonprincipleoffaithalone.

The Work of God

ConfessionofPatriarchDositheosandtheSynodofJerusalem(1672):WebelievethatamanisnotsimplyjusIfiedthroughfaithalone,butthroughfaiththatworksthroughlove,thatistosay,throughfaithandworks.(DecreeXIII).

The Work of God

FatherCallinicos,TheGreekOrthodoxCatechism,31:FaithinChristwithoutgoodworksisnotenoughtosaveus.Goodworksbythemselvesarealsonotsufficient.OursalvaIonwillbetheoutcomeofavirtuouslifepermeatedandsealedbytheinesImablebloodoftheOnly-bego]enSonofGod.

The Work of God

MichaelHorton,ThreeViews:OrthodoxyreflectsaSemi-Pelagianconsensus....TowhatextentcanhumansbesaidtocontributetotheirownsalvaIon?Pelagiansanswer,“EnIrely”;Semi-Pelagianssay,“inpart.”Neitheroftheseanswers...doesjusIcetothebiblicalaccountofsin;nordoeseithergivethecomfortthatisheldouttousin“thegoodnews.”

The Work of God

•  EasternOrthodoxyteachesthatthesacramentalsystemisnecessaryforsalvaIon.

•  ItdefinessalvaIonintermsoftheosis(becominglikeGod)ratherthanjusIficaIon(beingdeclaredrighteousbyGod).

•  Atapopularlevel,salvaIonisgenerallyunderstoodassomethingsecuredthroughparIcipaIoninthechurchanditsrituals.

The Work of God GeorgeHancock-Stefan:IntheOrthodoxChurchonecanjusIfiablyparaphrasethejailer’squesIon(Acts1:30)from“WhatmustIdotobesaved?”to“Whatmustthechurchdoinorderformetobesaved?”ManyoftheOrthodoxclergyandlaitywhobecameBapIsts...confessthattheyhadnoideawhatitmeanttobeachildofGod.Thechurchrepeatedlyassuredthemthattheyare,buttheyhadnorelaIonshipwithGodbecausetheyhadnevercommi]edtheirlivestoGod.

The Worship of God (in Spirit and Truth)

The Worship of God

WhenevaluatedagainstthestandardofScripture,EasternOrthodoxworshipexhibitsseriouserrors.

The Worship of God

PurityofDoctrine:EasternOrthodoxymakestruthaboutGodintenIonallyambiguousbyelevaIngmysteryandmysIcism.

ApophaIcism(“negaIvetheology”)teachesthatthetranscendentGodcanonlybeknownthroughnegaIvestatements—explainingwhatHeisnot,ratherthanwhatHeis.

The Worship of God

VladimirLossky,Mys9calTheology:

AlltrueOrthodoxtheologyisatitsrootapophaIc;apophaIcismisthefundamentalcharacterisIcofthewholetheologicaltradiIonoftheEasternChurch.

The Worship of God

LawrenceW.Carrino:

ThemostseriousflawinapophaIcismisthe“ism”—theunwarrantedrelianceonnegaIonandhencemysIcismforthewholeofEasterntheologicalvision.

The Worship of God

RobertLetham,ThroughWesternEyes:

ThisthreatensourknowledgeofGodwithaprofoundagnosIcism,sincewehavenowayofknowingwhetherGodisashehasrevealedhimselfinJesusChrist.ItalsodefiesraIonaldiscourse,sincewecannotsayanythingaboutwhoGodis.

The Worship of God

PurityofDevoGon:EasternOrthodoxycreatescompeItorstothepureandundefiledworshipofGodbyencouragingitsmemberstovenerateandpraytodepartedsaints.

The Worship of God

Inthe8thcentury,atheologiannamedJohnofDamascus,taughtthattherewasadifferencebetweenworshipandveneraIon.Hesaiditwasacceptableto“venerate”icons(imagesofsaints)aslongasonedidnot“worship”them.

Worship–Greekword–latreia

VeneraIon–Greekword–proskynesis

The Worship of God

RevelaGon22:8–9–AndwhenIheardandsaw,Ifelldowntoworship[proskunēsai]atthefeetoftheangelwhoshowedmethesethings.Buthesaidtome,“Donotdothat.Iamafellowservantofyoursandofyourbrethrentheprophetsandofthosewhoheedthewordsofthisbook.Worship[proskunēson]God.”

The Worship of God

EasternOrthodoxServiceBook,223:LetussingthepraisesofMary,Virgin,Doorofheaven.Gloryofalltheworld,sprungforthfromman,whoalsobaretheLord;theSongofthebodilessPowers,andtheEnrichingofthefaithful.ForsherevealedherselfasHeavenandtheTempleoftheGodhead.

The Worship of God

EasternOrthodoxServiceBook,68:OBirth-giverofGod,inthatthouartawell-springoflovingkindness,vouchsafeuntousthycompassion.Lookuponthepeoplewhohavesinned.Manifestthypowerasever;fortrusIngintheewecryalouduntothee;Hail!AsaforeImedidGabriel,ChiefCaptainoftheBodilessPowers.

The Worship of God

MichaelHorton,ThreeViews:

OrthodoxyenforcesnothingshortofpoliIcalrepressionofevangelicalchurcheswhereveritisdominant.

InnaIonslikeRussia,theOrthodoxchurchhasbeenaprimarypersecutorofevangelicalism.

Conclusion

Conclusion

EasternOrthodoxy’selevaIonoftradiIoncausesittounderminethesoleauthorityoftheWordofGod.

ItsinsistenceonjusIficaIonbyfaithandworkscausesittofrustrategrace(Rom.11:6;Gal.2:21)anddemeanthesavingworkofGod.

ItsemphasisonmysteryandmysIcism,alongwithveneraIngandprayingtodeadsaints,causesittodistortanddistractfromthepureworshipofGod.

Conclusion

JeffMaples:TheGreekandEasternOrthodoxchurchisclearlyalifelesschurch.Therewasabsolutelynogospelinthisservice.Alostpersoncouldnotwalkintothischurchandwalkoutachangedman.ItwasliterallyaPaganpracIce.Likeaseance....Inthisreligion,salvaIondoesn’tcomethroughChrist’simputedrighteousnessandsubsItuIonaryatonementonthecross,itcomesthroughthesedeadritualsthattheybelieveontologicallychangesthemintodivinebeings.ItwastrulyoneofthemostwickedexperiencesI’veeverseen.