This evening I completed a project that I have been working on for some time, editing a 250-year old Russian Orthodox systematic theology. It's now available on Amazon. I've been working on this in my spare time over quite a few months. Several factors joined together to push me towards this little project. First, I enjoy learning through editing - I've done this for 3 or 4 other books, though I've only put two of the others on Amazon's publishing platforms. This method allows me to get to know a book well. Second, I have been seeking to learn more about the Christian tradition (Orthodoxy) in the East since shortly over the last 2-3 years; I knew incredibly little about it before that. Third, I have wondered if a theological system crafted in cultures more inclined towards an honor-shame paradigm would differ substantially from the legal/justification bent of Western theological thought.
The answer to this final question seems to be that, yes, Orthodox theology makes greater use of biblical honor-shame themes than its Western counterparts, but it doesn't neglect the legal themes. For examples, 'Mediator' is used more often than 'Redeemer' when speaking of Christ (13 times to 6), yet 'reconciliation' is used somewhat less often than 'justification' in the text.
In many areas, particularly the central ones of Christ and salvation, Platon's words would be indistinguishable from a modern evangelical writer's. At the same time, in areas of church liturgy, he will often be less clear about the biblical basis for his assertions. Platon is very concerned about the practical dimensions of his theology; he often speaks pastorally, giving possible applications for real life as well as pointing out daily evils that he sees in the society he serves in. Below are some of my favorite thoughts from the work which I think any Christian may appreciate.
"The love and mercy of God to all his creatures, but particularly to man, is greater than we are capable of comprehending."
"For though we ought, by all means, to do good works; yet at the same time we are to place our hope of salvation alone on the mercy of the Savior."
"He showed in what the real happiness of man consists; and this he placed in poverty of spirit, in tears and humility, in meekness and mercy, amid persecution and reviling, which was altogether contrary to the wisdom of this world."
"The worship of God is the testifying of our internal subjection of spirit before God."
After a discussion of the ten commandments:
"Notwithstanding, though we should make even so great advances in fulfilling the commandments of the Lord and whatever degree of progress we may make in virtue, yet, when we consider that all this is the fruit of divine grace and that all our virtues are mixed with imperfections, we have not the least cause of self-exaltation, but rather to keep in continual remembrance the words of the gospel, "When ye have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do."
"However, some will perhaps say, what, are we then to fall into despair? Certainly, if you continue to look up to yourselves for help. But when we reflect on the inexhaustible goodness of God and on his infinite wisdom, then we are comforted by hope, and our fears are dispelled; and in this hope we ought frequently to join in the words of Isaiah, 'Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.'"
By the way, I'd be happy to send you a pdf of the book if you would like it.
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