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Karakolis Christos, Issues of Interpretation and Theology in the New Testament, Pournaras Press: Thessaloniki, 2005, pages 325.

The volume contains eleven studies on the New Testament. Specifically, the studies refer to the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles of ap. Paul. At the same time, some other vital for the science of the New Testament areas are examined, such as Qumran, Knowledge and the apostolic Fathers. Common frame of all the studies is the interpretation and theology of the New Testament.

            The first study is about the death of John the Baptist through the narrative technique and Christology of the Gospel of Mark.

            The second study examines manuscript 7Q5 of Qumran, which, as its name states, was found in cave 7 of the archeological site of Qumran and has been identified since 1972 by some specialized scientists with Mk. 6, 52-53.

            The third text refers to the parable of the prodigal son. The author attempts a new allegorical interpretation of the parable, according to which, the parable depicts on another level of interpretation an important part of the history of salvation, starting from the beginnings of humanity and reaching the facts described in the book of the Acts.

            The fourth study presents the miraculous healing of the paralytic man at the font of Bethesda in the Gospel of John (5, 1-18) and specifically verse 5,14b. This passage is of great theological significance because it causally connects the condition of man’s health with sin.

            The fifth study of the volume analyzes the author’s theological and hermeneutic views on the relation of Christ and the “Greeks” in the Gospel of John.

            The sixth study refers to Jesus as the Yahweh of the Old Testament epiphanies in the Gospel of John. The study attempts a meaningful step towards the total understanding of John’s idea of Christ’s divinity.

            The seventh study presents the author’s position on the theory of dr. H. Warnecke about the identification of Kefallinia with Melita (Acts 28, 1).

            The eighth text analyzes the hermeneutic and theological problems of Rom. 6,10. The writer tries to contribute to the full understanding of this small, but particularly interesting and difficult text, pinpointing the various problems connected to it and suggesting solutions with the aim of clarifying its peculiar Christological terminology.

            The ninth study of the volume examines the terms “flesh” and “spirit” in the Epistle to the Galatians and Gnosticism. In particular, the author examines passages Gal. 3, 1-5. 4, 6 (in its context) 5, 16-26 and 6,7-10 that give a clear picture of ap. Paul’s views on flesh and spirit.

            The tenth study deals with the relation of the Church and the world in the Epistle to the Ephesians, on the basis of (Eph. 1,23b) and its context.

            Finally, the eleventh study investigates the meaning of the phrase “coming together for that purpose” (συνερχόμενοιεπίτοαυτό) of the Barnabas Epistle (4,10b). The writer tries to answer the question if it is about a constructive or Eucharistic gathering of believers, concluding the latter.

            The book closes with an index of biblical passages.

Ioannis Karavidopoulos, Biblical Studies B’, P. Pournaras Publ., Thessaloniki, 2000, pp. 319.

            This collection of biblical articles by Ioannis Karavidopoulos is set out in four parts. The first part contains articles and essays on matters of interpretation of the New Testament particular to the Orthodox Church, as well as historical evidence about the development of Greek bibliography and new directions in biblical hermeneutics, as they appeared in the second half of the 20^th century in biblical theological science.

            The content of the texts of the second part is centred around the actual New Testament text itself, and includes critiques published in the 20^th century and also modern Greek translations of the last quarter of the period. The other two parts consists of special biblical issues, the first being about the location of pauline theology and the second about the context of johnanine literature.

            In more detail, the author stresses the position and the importance of the New Testament in the Orthodox Church, referring to statistical data and characteristics of post-war bibliography in Greece. Also, he describes new academic trends in biblical hermeneutics (rhetorical analysis, narrative analysis, response by the reader, deconstruction).

            There is an analysis of the importance of Paul’s preaching in the context of 1^st century AD Greek-Roman society and in particular his missionary work together with apostle Barnabas in Cyprus, which the author views as the incipience of evangelism in the oecumene. He compares the religious pluralism of Paul’s era with the modern one, and develops the pauline response to it.

            He also examines the Athonite tradition manuscripts of the texts of the two epistles to Thessalonians and draws conclusions as to their utility, while in reference to line 4,9 of the epistle to Thessalonians he offers a comparative examination with correspondent practices of the Hellenic-Roman environment.

            There is a special study on ch. 2 of the Epistle to Galatians, and in particular to problems noted within the Christian community (the “reputed” and the “agitators”). The Apostle’s response to them is presented comprehensively. The author also analyses the Epistle to Philippians from a specific point of view, that of the psychology of the incarcerated, as the Apostle wrote this particular epistle while being in captivity.

            In the beginning of the fourth part, which refers to Johanine studies, the author focuses on the issue of Johanine catholicity; more precisely he hermeneutically reflects on the “153” fish of the village Jon. 21,11 as correspondent to the emphasis of the Synoptic Gospel but also the Acts of the Apostles in the ecumenical mission of the Church for the evangelisation of the whole world.

            The next paper looks at the basic axes on which the book of Revelation is structured, evil in the world, invitation to repentance and eschatological hope. He stresses hermeneutics notions that the Revelation is not a “back-dated diary of destruction”, and was not written to provoke panic but to call for repentance. The Antichrist is not the central person but Christ himself, and in contrast to destruction scenaria of our time, does not aim to induce panic but to offer a narrative of hope for the eschatological advent of the “new Jerusalem”.

            In the final study of the Johanine part but also in the whole of the book, the “silence” of line Rev. 8,1 is approached hermeneutically in comparison to cryptic references, as foreboder of the new world of God on Earth.

Karavidopoulos D. Ioannis, Biblical Studies C, Pournaras Press: Thessaloniki 2004, pages 398.

            This volume consists of 24 studies, which were published in honorary and other collective volumes, as well as introductions in scientific conferences. The common point of reference in all these texts is the hermeneutic interest in the New Testament either in general issues or smaller unities, always, of course, with the assistance of the Patristic hermeneutic tradition, as well as of modern research.

            The studies of the volume are divided in four units. The first unit contains studies on issues about ap. Paul and his theology, the second is about the Gospels, the third study is of general interest and the fourth includes speeches that refer to the work of four contemporary Orthodox theologians and interpreters: S. Agouridis, V. Stogiannos, Archbishop of America Mr. Dimitrios and N. Matsoukas.

            In the first group, that of Paulian studies, the following issues are examined: ap. Paul and the Greek society, is ap. Paul the founder of Christianity?, the Paulian word and globalization, interpretation of B’ Thes. 3,10, the social message of ap. Paul, fear and love in the relationship of husband and wife, according to ap. Paul (Eph. 5,33), the Christological hymn of the Epistle to the Colossians (1,15-20), the Paulian soteriology in the spiritual life of the Eastern Church, the soteriology of the Pastoral Epistles and ap. Paul in the Greek folklore .

            In the second unit about the Gospels, the author analyzes the data of ascetic hermeneutics, there is a hermeneutic approach to the evangelic reading of the wedding service (John 2,11), the Old Testament is examined as Holy Scripture of the Church, the cultural anthropology and the interpretation of the Gospel of Luke, the “third quest” of the historical Jesus and  the information we have about Mary in the apocryphal Christian texts.

            In the third unit, where general studies are included, the author presents the dialogue between Orthodoxy and Judaism, the prophetic notes in the margin of ancient manuscripts of the Gospels, the patriarchic edition of the New Testament in 1904 and the value of the Byzantine eklogadia, the theological and cultural value of the New Testament edition by the Holy Monastery of Vatopedion.

            The last part includes articles dedicated to contemporary theologians, whose names have been mentioned above.

            The volume closes with an index of passages from the New Testament.