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Bulletin of Biblical Studies, 12, Volume 2, January - December 1983, pp. 72

 The volume of January-December 1983 includes three (3) articles.

            H.Koester examines the adoration and the worship of the Emperor in Greece, according to the archaeological discoveries. At the begging the writer comes to  certain observations about the symbols of Emperor’s worship  that were developed at the Hellenistic years and afterwards he presents certain examples of close cross-correlation between the various adorations of deities that prevailed locally in Greek cities and the adoration of emperor. The article closes with certain comments relative to the adoration of the Emperor and the propaganda in the arch of Galerius in Thessalonica.

             Pr. Savvas Agouridis is searching for the effect of theology of community of John the Baptist in the configuration of the theology of the Fourth Gospel and he supports that the theology of disciples of John the Baptist about their teacher was much more extensive and much more decisive for the configuration of the Christology of the Gospel of John. Agouridis believes that in the frame of comparison of Jesus with Baptist, in the frame of the polemics at the perceptions of the disciples of Baptist for the religious importance of their teacher, it is likely that the various “christological” expressions are taken from the circles of Baptist and are attributed to Jesus, while respectively at the Baptist are attributed intensely depreciatory expressions.

              M. Konstantinou publishes an epistle from the shells of Leeches which includes information that confirms historical data of the Old Testament about the development and the phases of the war between the Kingdom of Judas and Babylonians. In this frame the author refers in the excavations and their discoveries in the regionTell ed -Duweir, the biblical city Lecher. Then, follows the description, the transcription and translation of the shell number 4 and his extensive comment verse to verse. The article closes with conclusions.

              The volume contains miscellanea. The first one is about the work ofIX Colloquium Ecumenicum Paulinum that took place in Rome from 23 of September up to 2 October 1983 and the Meeting of Advisors of - Translators ofUnited Bible Societies in Europe that took place in Cyprus of 20-21 September 1983. J. Karavidopoulos describes the work of the Research Team of liturgical manuscripts of the New Testament that took place in Thessalonica.

             The bulletin ends with Greek and foreigner book reviews, relative with the biblical science and research.

Bulletin of Biblical Studies, 14, Volume 4, January - June 1985, pp. 80.

 The volume January - June of 1985 of Bulletin of Biblical Studies includes three (3) articles.

             S. Agouridis in his article presents the three important phases of the research and study of the Bible, particularly of the New Testament, as well as the new prospects that they offer these new hermeneutical approaches/ methods. He starts with the Literal and Historical Method which aims to a literal analysis of the biblical text, as a whole or in parts, as well as to a deeper understanding of its particular historical context. Then, he presents the Form Criticism School, which investigates the texts in their final written form through a literal and historical interpretation although it recognises in them various other written sources. Finally, he analyses Redaction Criticism of the New Testament, which begins with the conclusions of Form Criticism research and seeks to find in each text what is the meaning that writer gives to it, according to his general theological plan. The study ends with the conclusions about the benefits of these methods for the modern Christian and the church.

             O.Hofius examines the significance that Paul gives in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as a process of expiation and reconciliation (Rom. 5,8-10). From the beginning, the writer reverses the opinion that wants Paul to see the crucifixion of Christ as an expiatory sacrifice, which the Son of God representatively offered for the sinful in front of God and for the God. Afterwards he analyses his opinion that Paul sees the death of Christ not as a mean for reconciliation, but as an achievement, not as a possibility, but as a realisation. Expiation and reconciliation are gifts of God and consequently in their coexistence they are the two sides of one coin that is the sacrifice on the Cross. This opinion of the writer is based on the continuity and discontinuity between the Old Testament meaning of expiation and the teaching of Paul for reconciliation and expiation.

            V.Makrides attempts to explain certain fundamental points of Mk. 11,27-33 and he analyses its historical background.

             At the end there are reviews of foreigner and Greek books relative with the biblical science.

Bulletin of Biblical Studies, vol. 5, July-December 1985, year 14, p. 114.

    The July-December 1985 issue of the Bulletin of Biblical Studies is a tribute to the memory of Vassilis Stogiannos and contains eight (8) articles.

    I. Karvidopoulos presents the life and scientific and broader work of Vassilis Stogiannos.

   S. Agouridis, referring to the visit of ap. Paul to Athens (Act 17, 16-34), attempts to give the general impression of the passage regarding the visit and the speech of Paul at the Supreme Court of Appeal (Arios Pagos). In this frame, the writer initially seeks the real significance of the Supreme Court and then briefly analyses the most important points of Paul’s speech.

   N. Matsoukas presents the interpretive principles of the ancient Church that are based on a double methodology, the charismatic hermeneutic and the scientific one while, at the same time, he comments on the relations between the orthodox theological interpretation and the contemporary scientific biblical research.

   P. Vassiliadis tries to put limits to the relationship of “biblical” and “philosophical” hermeneutic, as the latter was formulated by the philosopher H. D. Gadamer, interpreting as much as possible the mind of V. Stogiannos. This he realizes by outlining the course of the recent biblical hermeneutic, analyzing its main problem and attempting a short report to the solution provided to it by the orthodox theological thought.

   I. Galanis describes the relations of ap. Paul with Thessaloniki. So as the importance of Paul’s visit to Thessaloniki can be understood and rightly appreciated, the writer refers to the facts that preceded and, in a way, led to this visit. The analysis of Paul’s relations with Thessaloniki comes next in the way these are presented in Paul’s letters to the people of Thessaloniki.

   I. Karavidopoulos, aiming to outline the future prospects of biblical studies in Greece, makes initially a brief historical approach, reporting the evidence of the past that justify the modern reality. Afterwards, he describes the basic features that characterize the Orthodox interpretation of the Holy Scripture and, finally, he proceeds to some conclusions and provides the future prospects.

   M. Konstantinou aims at the understanding of the representations referred in the O. T. as places of God’s residence, using the iconography of the people of Israel’s surroundings as well.

   G. Galitis makes a brief report to the meaning of the revelation and of godly inspiration (θεοπνευστία) as well as to the issue of interpretation in the Scriptures.

   Following are bibliographies of Greek and foreign books that refer to biblical matters.