Bulletin of Biblical Studies, 2 – 3, Volume 5, December 1977 - June 1978, pp. 91-244.

             The double bulletin, 2nd - 3rd, of the 5th volume, December 1977 - June 1978, of the Bulletin of Biblical Studies contains the nine (9) papers of the Second Symposium of Greek Biblical Theologians of the Universities of Athens and Thessalonica, that took place in Crete from 16 - 21 September 1977, on the theme “Sects and heretics in the era of Paul”. At the beginning there is a short prologue by S. Agouridis with regard to the history of the organisation of the Symposium in Crete and the address of the Director of Orthodox Academy of Crete, Al. Papaderos to the participants.

             In the first paper, P. Vassiliadisexamines the existence of sects or theological tendencies in early Christianity. In this frame he firstly makes a conceptual definition of the term “sect” in the New Testament and afterwards he attempts a presentation of various theological tendencies that existed in the early Christian period.

             S. Agouridis refers in the way that Luke faced in the Acts the Magic of Hellenistic period, he examines its importance and the problem of Luke in Acts due to the meeting with the Magic and the comparison of Apostles to the Divine Men of season.

              M. Siotis makes a presentation of the political character of Paul’s opponents. He examines the various historical data of the era which show also the political character of juxtaposition, beyond the religious one. Afterwards he analyses the conflict through the relative information that is contained in various texts of the New Testament.

             J. Karavidopoulos examines the problem of falsely called on the base of orthodox ecclesiology, analysing mainly the relation between canonicity and genuineness, orthodoxy and sect.

             J. Galanis analyses Gal. 5,13-26 and the basic theological views of Paul for the Law, the freedom etc, by making a connection between  morals and doctrine in Paul.

              G. Galitis analyses the command of subjugation in the Epistle to Titus, putting it in its concrete historical and social context and investigating the problem of “undisciplined” of Crete.

              J. Tsagalidis examines the phenomenon of sect in correlation with the Church and the life in Christ.

             B. Stogiannos having as a concrete example the opponents of Paul in his epistle to the Galatians, he attempts to analyse the three aspects - historical, theological and methodological- of the problem of the characterisation of the tendencies that we find in New Testament as orthodox or heretics and he presents at the same time all modern scientific opinions that they are related with the particular problem.

             G. Papatzanakis presents the confrontation between the sect of Colossus and Paul and he analyses the meaning of the phrase “elements of world” (Col. 2,20), as well as the theological views of Paul towards the “elements”.