Die orthodoxe Hermeneutik in ihrem Selbstverständnis gegenüber der historisch-kritischen Methode

Different churches have developed over time several concepts of exegesis of the New Testament. From the very first apostolic years, the Orthodox East embraced the delivered interpretation of the Fathers, who always respected the revealing and holy spiritual character of the Scriptures (God-centric interpretation). Prevailing since the Middle-Ages in Western Christianity, on the other hand, has been an interpretative spirit of rationalistic research of the texts which gives priority to historical facts and ignores sometimes the supernatural-revealing intervention of the divine (human-centric interpretation). As long as different understandings of the holy text can lead to divergence from the delivered dogmatic teaching, it is imperative for both sides to know and understand each other better, in order to success an effective convergence. Through the harmonic synthesis of both hermeneutical directions some exaggerations and extreme interpretations could be avoided.