The Orthodox Study Bible: A Chosen Generation: A Holy Nation
Preface
From my academic review of this Orthodoxy Study Bible. This article was originally published on Blogger, 20200523. Revised 20240915 and 20260726.
Interpreting the Scriptures
Jack N. Sparks-A Chosen Generation: A Holy Nation
Sparks explains that the Scriptures are centred on Jesus Christ and his Church. (836). It is not about nations, governments, societies, or about incidental themes which appear. (836). It is not about the earth, history, the sky, the heavens or any other thing. (836) I agree with these comments from Spark, in that I view the Hebrew Bible and New Testament witness as not primarily world history, or simply history, but in context they offer specifically, religious history. Via progressive revelation, in my theology, the New Testament introduces the God-man, Jesus Christ that was the prophesied Messiah in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament.
If the scriptures through manuscript evidence, offered primarily, modern, secular, history, we might expect more biblical focus on early, pre-modern, science, as one example. But, the focus of biblical, religious history is not scientific, but rather, salvific. If the scriptures through manuscript evidence, offered primarily modern, secular, history, we might expect more focus on political history, but the focus is not political, but rather, salvific. In evaluating the Bible, the context in which biblical books are written, verse by verse, is always a key. I highly value science as an academic discipline, but do not use the Bible as a science textbook. I value the importance of politics and political science, as tainted as they are, in our present, imperfect realm, but I do not use the Bible as a political science textbook. By salvific, this is documenting the revealed plans of God to save certain persons for everlasting post-mortem, life within an eventually culminated a Kingdom of God.
The New Testament and Old Testament texts are no doubt ancient texts, written in ancient contexts. But, the God being described is infinite and eternal that exists within and outside of time. Within the context of time, this includes past, present and future.
Sparks reasons that from 1 Peter 2:9, 10, those in the Church are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. (836). The Church is made up of all peoples, nations and tongues, in the one and only Christian nations (836). Sparks reasons this is the only 'Christian nation', the 'people of God'. Old Israel was a 'type' of the New Israel, the Church. (836). I will add that the subject of Israel and the Church is one of much theological debate. Sparks opines the scripture was not discussing the United States of America, present-day Israel, or any other nation, past, present or future. (836). In other words, the Hebrew Bible discusses Israel and in the New Testament, through progressive revelation, this culminates in Jesus Christ and his Church. (836).
Englishman's Concordance
1 Peter 2:9 Adj-NNS
GRK: ἱεράτευμα ἔθνος ἅγιον λαὸς εἰς
NAS: PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION,
KJV: priesthood, an holy nation,
INT: priesthood a nation holy a people for
ἅγιον Adjective, Nominative, Neuter, Singular
Englishman's Concordance
Cited
1 Peter 2:9
GRK: βασίλειον ἱεράτευμα ἔθνος ἅγιον λαὸς (a royal priesthood a nation holy a people, my add)
NAS: A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE
KJV: an holy nation, a peculiar
INT: a royal priesthood a nation holy a people
ἔθνος Noun, Nominative, Neuter, Singular
Englishman's Concordance
Cited
ἅγιον, hagion, holy
ἔθνος ethnos, a nation
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For clarity, I will add that the culminated Kingdom of God is not of this world (John 18: 36); it is not of this present world system within the fall (Genesis 1-3). Instead it is of a future culminated realm within the new creation (2 Peter, Revelation 20-22). The Kingdom of God is in a sense in the believer, as these people are in Jesus Christ (Luke 17: 20-21). The Kingdom would culminate, internally, in a sense, in the resurrection of the citizen of the Kingdom of God. At that point being without sinful nature, and therefore lacking sinful desires, will or choices. Sparks explains that neither the United States of America nor 'Holy Russia' (please keep in mind that this is an Orthodox study bible) is accurately the culminated, Christian nation. The holy nation and priesthood of believers are the Church. (836).
Practical theology
Certainly, there is no theological room for racism or any kind of ethnic prejudice within biblical, Christian faith and philosophy. The theology of a holy nation and the priesthood of believers embraces the Kingdom of God, which progressed from the Hebrew Bible covenant with Israel, to the New Testament covenant with the Church. This Church contains various ethnic peoples as citizens. All citizens are equally covered by the atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ for their sins as transformed resurrected citizens (1 Corinthians 15), regardless of ethic origins.
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