Reading holy scriptures. Prayer before reading the gospel

As we prepare to hear or read the New Testament, we must ask God for help. There are many cases when believers began to interpret divine books in their own way and, as a result, moved away from the Orthodox faith.

The prayer before reading the Gospel, which the holy fathers commanded us to perform, can sound in different options. Their meaning, as a rule, boils down to one thing - there must be a petition to God for the granting of understanding of Holy Scripture.

For example, one of them, the most capacious: “Lord, enlighten the eyes of my heart with the light of the mind of Your Holy Gospel.”

The prayer of Ignatius Brianchaninov before reading the Gospel is widespread: “ Save, Lord, and have mercy on Your servants (names) with the words of the Divine Gospel, which are about the salvation of Your servants. Lord, the thorns of all their sins fell, and may Your grace dwell in them, scorching, cleansing, sanctifying the whole person in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.»

The prayer before and after reading the Gospel will be clear and meaningful if it is structured according to the following scheme:

• read before reading the Divine Revelation a prayer for the enlightenment of the mind and the granting of understanding of the Divine Words;
• after reading the Holy Letter, follow the rule of Ignatius Brianchaninov, in which a petition is raised for the cleansing of the sins of all those for whom the Holy Gospel was read.

Most believers do exactly this. The chapters of Divine Scripture are included in prayer rule, performed by believers of the Orthodox Church every day. Therefore, it is very important to pray properly before reading the Gospel at home.

There are many books that fill our bookshelves. Personal library Almost everyone has it.

Based on the books that are in it, one can with a high degree of probability make a judgment about the person who owns them. About who he is, what he thinks and dreams about, what he strives for, what his life is like.

Most of the books we have are enough to read once, and we never return to them.

But there are those that we turn to again and again, reading them throughout our lives. Divine Revelation is the most important book of any Christian. It can be compared to air and food, which we need every day to live and pray to God. She leads, inspires, supports the hard way and to eternity and does not allow you to turn away from it.

The Bible was a reference book for many prominent people. It was read and reread many times by Dostoevsky, Pushkin, Gogol, Mendeleev, Pavlov and other no less famous personalities. In pre-revolutionary Russia, upon graduating from any educational institution, graduates were given a volume of the Gospel along with their certificate, as parting words and guidance for their future life.

The Bible is Divine Scripture. This means that each of his lines is filled with a special spiritual power that can change and enlighten our lives. Each of us has those days, periods when everything seems filled only with darkness.

It would seem that there is no light, melancholy and hopelessness are around us. And so, as soon as we begin to reread Revelation, spiritual light begins to illuminate our path in life.

Getting rid of passions

Through the Divine Books the Lord himself begins to act in us, in our lives.

There are numerous testimonies that show how Higher Power helped the believer cope with some of his bad skills and sinful habits.

So one person for a long time suffered from alcoholism and could not get rid of it addiction, for which he turned to doctors, tried to fight this habit by exerting his own will, but all these attempts were unsuccessful.

And one day he came to the monastery to consult with the elder on what he should do to overcome this sin.

The old monk advised him, every time a craving for something evil or sinful arises, to pick up a volume of the Holy Book and begin to re-read it over and over again. That's what this man did.

When a craving for alcohol appeared, and his hand reached out for a glass, before giving in and giving in to the destructive passion, he began to re-read the Holy Letter. And a miracle happened. As soon as he finished reading the chapter, he discovered that the passion that tormented him so much either faded away completely or weakened and became insignificant.

There are many examples of how the Word of God changed a person’s life. Therefore, we should not forget and turn our gaze to the Holy Scripture as often as possible, re-read it every day, so that the light of Divine Revelation illuminates us.

And so that through reading this Holy Book the Lord will always be with us, and our life will be filled with his light. Prayer before reading will promote and help this like nothing else.

How to read the Gospel correctly

Today, every person has the opportunity to buy a Bible, open it and start flipping through the pages, rereading them again and again. But will this always be a saving grace? If we do this hastily, without proper preparation and mental attitude, without deeply immersing ourselves in the meaning of what is stated, then it is unlikely.

It is unacceptable to behave towards the Holy Letter like an ordinary novel or detective story, re-reading it somewhere on the subway or while away the time on the bus. Leafing through the sacred pages casually, hastily and without certain internal efforts, we are unlikely to understand anything.

It is good to have in your library explanations of Divine Revelation:

1. Theophylact of Bulgaria.
2. John Chrysostom.
3. Bishop Michael.
4. Feofan the Recluse and others.

Holy ascetics, who have shone in the church with their deeds, believe that it is better to re-read Scripture, checking with Orthodox calendar. It contains daily instructions on which verses (passages) from the New Testament are included in the liturgical circle.

So, together with the whole church, we read the four Gospels throughout the year. Thanks to this, the New Testament opens from a completely different side. We cease to see and perceive only the eventual, historical outline of Divine Revelation. Its deep spiritual meaning begins to be revealed.

The Gospel is the way, the guide to action. This is how we should perceive the commandments given by Christ. They must be fulfilled, they must be lived every minute.

One should not seek only the pleasure given by the Holy Spirit to everyone who touches the Divine Scripture with their eyes and thoughts.

One must strive to see the infallible Truth hidden in the words of Divine Revelation. To perceive the reading of holy books as an appeal from God to each and every one of us personally.

Attention! When reading the Gospel, both in church and in private, you must stand with your head bowed.
IN home environment with a lack of physical strength or severe fatigue, you can kneel down and in a reverent pose listen to the words of God himself. Prayer before reading the Gospel , as a rule, must always accompany this mysterious act.

How to read at home

If you have received the blessing of a confessor or you yourself have come to such a decision under the influence of reading spiritual literature or listening to sermons, you must remember that you should read the whole chapter at a time, without leaving its completion for tomorrow. On the advice of the famous ascetics in daily prayers, committed by Orthodox believers, must include the acts, as well as the epistles of the apostles.

There is another way , how to read the Gospel at home. Many Orthodox Christians choose a similar path.

One chapter is read in full and one or more, at will or in accordance with the blessing of the confessor, chapters of the Apostle per day.

You need to read everything in order, from the beginning to the very end, and then come back and repeat everything again.

You shouldn’t randomly open the first page you come across and read everything that catches your eye or that catches your eye the most. There must be a gradually ordered reading of the Holy Scriptures, chapter by chapter.

Only in this case will a clear, precise picture of all the biblical events that took place be formed in a person’s mind.

When reading the Holy Revelation, one should not behave too freely or uninhibitedly. This is still a liturgical act, although performed independently, at home. Therefore appearance the person praying, and the behavior must correspond to what is happening.

There is no need to become like the sectarians who belittled the Holy Letter so much that they read it almost while sitting in the outhouse. Disrespect for God is a great sin.

Standing in prayer or reading the Divine Letter generates reverence in a person. This makes you more focused. On the other hand, if it’s hard, in cell prayer You can cut yourself some slack and read while sitting.

Exclusively to make it easier to concentrate on the meaning of the Holy Scriptures, and not be distracted by shifting from foot to foot. But it is also necessary to sit with reverence, and not reclining in a position that is too loose and inappropriate for the occasion.

Attention! If any sorrow or trouble has occurred, prayers before reading the Gospel at home, as well as listening to and paying attention to the Holy Letter, are very helpful in not getting confused and finding a prudent way out of a difficult situation.

Useful video

Summarize

Believers and many people who are completely non-religious recognize the Bible as a source the highest culture and spirituality for all humanity.

Divine Revelation presents us with fundamental moral truths that have long been lost and completely forgotten in the constant race for material wealth, progress and personal comfort.

Reading the Holy Scriptures is considered the norm for some people from childhood, but many believers cannot answer the question “What is the difference between the Bible and the New Testament? What is the Gospel? How important is it to read and study the Good News?” Prayer before and after reading the Gospel - strong help in learning the messages of Jesus and finding answers to pressing questions.

Four Gospels of the New Testament

The Bible consists of two large collections of spiritual messages to humanity - the Old and New Testaments, written before and after the birth of Christ.

Gospel - holy book Christian

The Son of God sent to earth had to fulfill His mission, to show people the way to eternal life. (John 14:6) The birth of Jesus the Savior began in human existence new era. His stay on earth lasted only 33 years, hence the expression “the age of Christ.”

Additional articles:

The disciples and followers of Jesus meticulously recorded all the events of the Teacher’s stay on earth in order to convey the Good News - the Gospels - to subsequent generations. The messages to humanity are not mere writings, these sacred writings not only describe the life of Jesus, they are filled with His teachings, instructions, prayers and promises.

Attention! The New Testament includes only four Gospels, for they are recognized as inspired, canonical, consecrated by the Church.

There are also non-canonical, apocryphal messages; the Church is not responsible for their divine essence.

Why constantly read the Gospel

The Lord Jesus left his children a real gift:

• messages;
• instructions;
• warnings;
• adviсe.

The Teacher revealed the meaning of the Good News during a meeting with the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-40), naming his teachings clean water, the thirst for which will move Christians in studying the depth of the essence of God.

Conversation of Jesus Christ with the Samaritan woman

Reading the holy message reveals the deity of Jesus through the mystery of His birth and resurrection, helps a person to see his sinfulness and shows the way to eternal life through repentance. Through supernatural miracles such as turning water into wine (John 2:1-11), stopping a hurricane (Matthew 8:26), raising the dead (John 11:1-46) and others, Jesus showed that He was truly God , to whom was given authority in heaven and on earth.

The letters of the apostles will become a real adviser in any life issue, teach you to love people and submit to God, fulfilling His commandments, and reveal the essence of the Lord’s Prayer. (Matthew 6:9)

Reading passages about healing the sick, Christians are filled with faith that Christ will help them overcome serious illnesses.

Important! Gospels for Orthodox Christians - guiding star in the world of passions, sin and vices.

How to read the Gospel profitably

The morning reading of the Holy Letter will open the door to God's guidance for the coming day and will become the key to solving all problems, the evening reading will be the security bolt for the night.

When starting to read the Good News, you should ask to communicate with Him in order not only to understand the message of Christ, but also to accept it into your life and act on It. Prayer before and after reading the Gospel will help.

The Church advises reading Scripture morning and evening

You can memorize all the verses of the Gospel, do good deeds, and still go to hell if you do not repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Savior.

You should not mechanically read the lines of one or several chapters of the Epistles, doing it just for show. IN spiritual world such reading will not bring any benefit. It is better to begin studying the scriptures in small groups in Sunday school or with the support of a spiritual guardian who will explain unclear passages of Scripture and help to repent of the sins revealed through reading the Good News.

To better understand the Message, you should read its interpretation, which will tell you about the time of writing, traditions, and the lives of people of a particular event. Reading about the Virgin Mary, in the interpretation you can find the story of Her birth and understand why God chose Her to become the Mother of God. The story of John the Baptist is more fully revealed in the explanatory notes of the saints.

Advice! Reading the Bible does not free you from sins, but shows the way how to come to Repentance, Confession and Communion, putting on the clothes of Christ.

What prayers to read before and after reading the Good News

In the Christian world there is no single prayer that is read before or after reading the Word of God.

The meaning of this action is to ask for God's blessing and help to understand and accept. There will be no sin if a Christian turns to the Creator for a blessing with a sincere request, and then thanks the Almighty for the gift of communication with Him in his own words.

Orthodox prayer book

If a person does not have the skills to pray, he trusts in the power of proven proclamations written by saints under the guidance of the Lord.

Orthodox Christians pray several types of prayers.

Before starting to study the revelations of the Gospel, a prayer is read to receive a blessing.

Shine in our hearts, O Master of Mankind, the imperishable light of Your divine understanding, and open our mental eyes to Your gospel sermons and understanding: put in us the fear of Your blessed commandments, so that all carnal lusts may be overcome, we will go through spiritual life, all that is to please You, both wise and active. For You are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, with Your beginningless Father, and Your All-Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

After reading a chapter of the Bible, receiving revelation, instruction, and perhaps finding the answer to a problem, you should read the following words:

Save, O Lord, and have mercy on Your servant (name) with the words of the Divine Gospel, which are about the salvation of Your servant.

The thorns of all his sins have fallen, Lord, and may Thy grace dwell in him, scorching, cleansing, sanctifying the whole person in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

As we explore the gospel, we gain a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ's messages to all of us, His atoning sacrifice and the magnitude of the gift to all mankind, past, present and future.

The future of Christians depends on their relationship with Jesus.

Video about prayers before reading the Gospel at the liturgy

It is the understanding of this inner meaning The Bible and is obscured for many by historical details that distract attention from the eternal to the temporary, transitory.

This is why it is possible that the sad phenomenon familiar to all of us is that people who have extensive knowledge in the field of theology and history of the Church may not be able to think or feel in a Christian way.

Studying individual biblical facts is useful only if you have a common Christian worldview

Knowledge of individual facts from the life of the Old Testament and New Testament Churches cannot provide an understanding of a coherent worldview; Without a clear understanding of the Christian worldview in all its harmony, the most significant facts of Sacred History lose their enduring vital meaning.

Indeed, if, not understanding the Christian worldview, I do not know the true meaning of man’s earthly life, I do not know the true meaning of Divine Revelation for humanity, I do not understand the global significance of the incarnation of the Son of God, what lasting vital significance will faith in individual facts have for me, such as: the flood, the plagues of Egypt, the crimes of King David, the birth of the Savior of the world from the Virgin Mary, miracles, the resurrection and ascension into heaven of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Only a clear understanding of God’s economy, the meaning of man’s earthly life and the significance of Divine Revelation for humanity can give me an understanding of the true, enduring meaning of all these facts, can give me the opportunity to intelligently treat good and evil in myself and others, to consciously coordinate life with faith in these facts.

For a person who does not understand the general Christian worldview at all or does not know enough about it a certain concept, reading even best works theological-dogmatic literature poses some danger. He will certainly be in danger of forming a false, exaggerated concept of the meaning of the question with which he accidentally became acquainted; he will rarely be able to bring it into harmonious unity with a host of other questions, the place and meaning of which is not at all clear to him. The more he reads individual discussions, the more his mind will be cluttered with disordered piles of theological knowledge, completely inconsistent with each other.

Such a person, at the first encounter with a representative of the most absurd worldview, based on the most absurd of all absurd scientific fairy tales, or even in the first minute of a conscious attitude towards himself, can easily waver in his beliefs, if he does not have the courage to humbly admit his shameful ignorance of the matter of understanding Christianity, despite the huge piles of knowledge on certain issues of theology.

In order to acquire a correct idea of ​​spiritual life and a correct understanding of the Holy Scriptures, it is necessary to read the works of the Holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church, which have their source and basis Scripture and explain it. The venerable and God-bearing Fathers, who left us their books, were inspired by the same Holy Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles who proclaimed to humanity the Divine Revelation - the Holy Scriptures. “Let the holy fathers of the Orthodox Church be your teachers of the Holy Scriptures,” writes Bishop. Ignatius (Brianchaninov). Only from their creations can a holistic knowledge of Christianity be gleaned.

Just as we read and reread the lines of a person dear to us, pausing over each word, pondering it and enjoying it, turning our thoughts and feelings to the one from whom the letter is from, so we should read the Word of God: with reverent attention and childish love, throwing away every doubt and all the worries of everyday life, lifting up your mind and heart to the One who, in his fatherly care for us, “sent us the Word to heal us” ().

“Read the Gospel,” the bishop commands. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), - with extreme reverence and attention. Do not consider anything in it unimportant or unworthy of consideration. Every iota of it emits a ray of life. Neglect of life is death!

Reading should be preceded by prayer

" When you sit down to read or listen to the Word of God, writes St. Ephraim the Syrian, - pray to God first. Always pray to God that He will enlighten your mind and reveal to you the power of His words, because many, relying on their understanding and not understanding what was written, fell into blasphemy and died. Therefore, if while reading you come across something incomprehensible, attribute it to your thoughtlessness.”

There is a great difference: accepting the Word of God as truth and - believe in him! We read descriptions of southern fruits, their appearance, their taste; We have no doubt that such fruits exist, but what difference does it make when we ourselves taste them! What a pleasant, refreshing, life-giving sensation spreads throughout the entire body! This is the effect of the Word of God if you read it with faith. Any lover of the Word of God easily notices this. Sometimes lines and pages are read and the heart remains cold; but suddenly, with some saying, it seems to melt, like ice under sunbeam, the soul will become so peaceful and joyful, it is touched, and rejoices, and thanks, or it is frightened and contrite, it makes a firm decision, it prays. And again the world descends into her. The soul has tasted the Word of God...

On the fulfillment of the Word of God

It should be noted here the most necessary rule fruitful reading of the Word of God. Having “tasted” the word of God, which contains any instruction, from that very hour one must try to fulfill it, while the heart is still warm; and if you perform it once, the next time the execution becomes easier, because the “skill” of goodness is acquired (). On the contrary, a good intention, postponed until another day, usually remains unfulfilled, because the moral strength imparted to the soul by the Word of God, this joyful determination to follow his inspiration, remaining inactive, gradually weakens and disappears. “There is no benefit,” writes the saint, “to read and not do what the book (Holy Scripture) teaches. If you do not correct your will, then from reading you will become worse than you were.” In addition, such a practical attitude to the Word of God best confirms the Divinity of the Savior’s teachings. “Whoever wants to do the will of God,” He said, “will learn about this teaching, whether it is from God” ().

Conclusion

So, in what frame of mind should Christians read the Word of God?

“The Word of God,” writes N.A. Astafiev, is not like a human word, and therefore it should be read differently from how we read a simple book. In the Word of God lies wonderful “power for the salvation of everyone who believes” ().”

If you want, therefore, to read the word of God with spiritual benefit, then:

1) Read it with reverence and prayer. When starting to read, first cleanse your heart from all worldly worries and ask the Lord Jesus inwardly to open your mind to understand the Scriptures.

2) Apply what you read to yourself as it would apply to you. “What I tell you, I tell everyone,” the Lord once said to his disciples ().

3) Read slowly, trying to understand every word. If you don’t understand a word, think about what it means, and pray internally that the Lord will enlighten you; if you still don’t understand, leave it and read further; It means that the time has not yet come to understand this word, but later you will understand.

4) If you understand any instruction in the Word of God, then from that very hour try to fulfill it, asking the Lord Jesus to help you in this - and you will be “a faithful and blessed servant of your Lord” (see).

Reasons for the weak effect of the Word of God on us

Why does the Word of God have little effect on us now? Why were ancient Christians more responsive to him?

The first obstacle that prevents the Word of God from growing and ripening in the human heart is laziness And neglect listeners. in his famous parable about the sower and the seed, he means this with the words: “Another seed fell by the wayside.” By road here we mean the heart of a lazy and idle person (as St. Chrysostom explains). Just as seed thrown on the road is trampled (trampled) by the feet of those passing by, so a lazy listener does not pay attention to the Word of God. He listens with greater pleasure when people tell him empty tales than when he is instructed in the Christian life. Here is an example of such negligence:

One Greek teacher could not get the people to listen to him when he spoke about the most important matters of state. Then he began to tell the people the following fable: “Some young man in the summer hired a donkey from a certain man to travel from one city to another. When the sun began to burn at noon, they both wanted to hide from the heat under the shadow of a donkey, but one challenged the other and pushed him away from the shadow: the young man said that he hired a donkey, and therefore the donkey’s shadow should be in his favor, and the donkey’s owner said that he hired a donkey without a shadow.” Having said this, the teacher left his place to leave, but the people held him back, demanding that he finish and say what the solution to the dispute was. Then the teacher laughed and said: “What kind of people you are! You want to hear about the shadow of a donkey, but you don’t want to hear about the salvation of the fatherland.”

Likewise, some Christians: when they watch, listen or read something empty, they are not at all bored, even if it lasts the whole day. But there is not enough time to listen or read the Word of God.

Another obstacle that prevents the Word of God from taking root in human hearts and bearing fruit is bitterness these hearts. He likens people with hard hearts to stones when he says: “Some (seed) fell on a stone and, when it sprang up, it dried up because it had no moisture.” How does a person become like a stone? Through long-term stay in sin. The Wise One says: “When the wicked comes into the depths of evil, he does not bother” (), that is, when a person gets used to some lawless deed, he does not hear either remorse or reproof of preachers.

The third obstacle to this is worldly cares and pleasures. Our Savior concluded all this under the name of thorns, saying: “And another seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew and choked it.” It often happens that people with tenderness, and sometimes with tears, accept the Word of God into themselves and, it seems, want to correct themselves from their sins and turn to the true path. But then, not wanting to deprive themselves of some temporary benefit or even more wanting to increase it, out of mental weakness they remain the same as they were before. That’s why he said: “You cannot work for God and mammon” (). In particular, carnal passions and the love of money do not allow the Word of God to mature in the human heart.

These are the main obstacles to accepting and preserving the saving seed within the soul - the Word of God.

How often should you read the Bible?

Reading Holy Scripture is the duty of a Christian

The richness and inexhaustibility of the Word of God

The difference between the Bible and the works of men is that it can be read continuously for a whole human life. “Like fragrant aromas,” we read from St. John Chrysostom, - the more you rub your fingers, the more incense they release, the same is the effect of the Scriptures: the more you try to enter it, the more treasures you find in it.

“With one Gospel,” says Bishop. Theophan, - or you can live with the New Testament for a whole century - and read everything, and not finish reading it to the end. Read it a hundred times, and more and more remains unread.”

The zeal of ancient Christians for reading the Word of God

Many Christians in ancient times knew most of the books of Holy Scripture by heart.

Such, for example, was one of the Palestinian martyrs, blind John. “This man,” the historian Eusebius writes about him, “had the books of the Divine Scriptures written not on animal skins or on paper, which all deteriorate from worms and time, but in his bright soul and in his pure mind, so that he could when I wanted to read as a memory passages from Moses and the Prophets or Historical books, from the Gospel or the Epistles of the Apostles.” In devout Christian homes, children began their mental education by studying the Scriptures. Thus, their mental education was accomplished together with their moral one: what their childish understanding made wise, their tender heart also edified; and naturally the love of Scripture must have taken strong root in them.

The same way of education was in that holy family of Neocaesarea, from which came the great universal teacher - St. Vasily. His mother, when raising his sister Macrina, gave her to study those books of Scripture that were understandable to her, especially the Book of the Wisdom of Solomon, and in them - that which led to a virtuous life. Macrina knew the Psalms so well that the psalm, like a good companion, accompanied her in all her activities. Her mother did not allow her to read depictions of the passions in pagan tragedies and comedies. Subsequently, Macrina raised her brother Peter in the same way. This is how Basil the Great was brought up. “By the mercy of God and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,” says Basil the Great himself, “I was raised by Christian parents and from childhood I learned from them the Holy Scripture, which led me to the knowledge of the truth.”

“Whoever reads the psalms,” says St. Athanasius the Great, - he (amazing thing!) pronounces what he wrote as if he were his own own words, sings them as if they were written about him, reads and understands them as if they had been composed by him.”

Ancient Christians knew the psalms by heart and sang them. This is how, for example, Blessed Jerome, who lived in the fourth century, in Bethlehem, speaks about the lifestyle of his contemporaries: “Everything is simple with us, and only by singing psalms is the silence broken. Turn anywhere: the farmer walking behind the plow sings “Alleluia,” the sweat-covered reaper amuses himself with psalms, and the vinedresser, cutting off grape branches with a crooked knife, sings something from David. These are the people's favorite songs. A psalm is the exclamation of shepherds, a psalm is the refrain of a farmer.”

The happy one sang psalms, thinking, as Gregory of Nyssa beautifully says, that holy songs are a gift actually assigned for him, and the unfortunate one expressed his grief with them, thinking that God gave this Scripture for him as mercy. “Those traveling by land and by sea,” writes Gregory, “and at home going about their business, in short, everyone in all conditions, men and women, healthy and sick, consider themselves unhappy if they cannot have this lofty teaching in their mouths. At our feasts and wedding celebrations, this wisdom constitutes a form of amusement.”

The Beneficial Influence of the Gospel on the Christian

About the beneficial effect that St. has on people in our time. Gospel, it would be best to ask those who have the pious custom of reading something from this wonderful book every day. Probably such people would tell us that St. The Gospel alleviates and sweetens every sorrow, sanctifies and strengthens pure joy; like a crucible - it tempts, purifies and elevates sensual joy.

In fact, St. The Gospel, depicting the life of the God-man, clearly shows how He, having come to enlighten and save us, had no place to lay His head, and until His death He did not cease to be the subject of malice, envy and the darkest deceit. But, as the Son of God, “do not commit sin; flattery will be found in His mouth”; and we are born in sins, and do not voluntarily leave the sinful state for a minute. After this, all our most severe sufferings mean nothing compared to the humiliation and torment that our Redeemer endured, without any guilt, solely out of love for us. The thought of the disasters of the earthly life of Christ the Savior, aroused in people by reading or listening to St. The Gospels can easily reconcile them not only with days, but with years of sorrow, with difficult trials, with irreparable and irreplaceable losses.

But in St. The Gospel also has a mysterious, grace-filled power that eludes the gaze of the searching human mind - to restore, revive, console, heal, in addition to any auxiliary considerations on the part of man: the power that belongs to the Gospel, as the living and active Word of God. This power is revealed in the fact that no matter what blows of disaster strike a person - for example, betray him happiness, friendship, justice, and blood kinship, leave him everything that he could hope for - by turning to the Gospel, he will find in it help, consolation and reassurance for his soul, depressed by difficult circumstances.

So, if you are in need, in grief, in trouble, if you are persecuted, humiliated, insulted, deprived of what you deserve, hurry to the Holy Gospel for sure inspiration with the grace-filled courage of saving patience and longed-for complacency. It’s okay if disasters and sorrows have become, as it were, your constant lot and inevitable destiny: and here in St. In the Gospel you will find something that will turn your hard and dark life into light and bright. And St. The Gospel, with its miraculously quickening power, will fulfill over you the words once spoken by Jesus Christ in a conversation with the Jews: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” ().

Through the pages of St. The Gospels are poured out in a special way, Divine power- to restore, console, heal, live, improve, elevate and sanctify a person. Who doesn't need this power? Everyone, without any exception, is in need. Consequently, everyone, without any exception, can and should either listen to or read St. Gospel.

Instructions on continually reading the Word of God

“Make the Gospel,” one writer suggests, “your reference book, your guide. If you are tired of the affairs of the day or of life, read it, re-read it again and again... and you will become close to Christ.”

“Try,” the bishop urges. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), - so that the Gospel is assimilated to your mind and heart, so that your mind, so to speak, floats in it, lives in it: then your activity will conveniently become evangelical. This can be achieved by constant reverent reading and study of the Gospel.

What happiness, what wealth - acquiring the Gospel by memory! It is impossible to foresee the upheavals and disasters that could happen to us during our earthly life. The Gospel, which belongs to memory, is read to the blind, accompanies a prisoner to prison, speaks to a farmer in a field irrigated by his sweat, instructs a judge during his very presence, guides a merchant at a trade, entertains a sick person during painful insomnia and severe loneliness.”

“Read the Holy Scripture constantly,” writes N.P. Astafiev, “every day in your free time from everyday affairs, preferably in the morning, before starting work, or in the evening, after finishing it; devote at least half an hour, at least a quarter of an hour, to this holy work every day. Read in order one book of Holy Scripture after another, mainly the books of the New Testament, and gradually, to the extent that you can perceive, you will gain wisdom and be sanctified by one or another word of God.”

Usually, for a more convenient and better acquaintance with the Bible, they recommend sequential and continuous reading of this book chapter by chapter, with one chapter for each day. This type of Bible study can be both relaxing and fruitful. Without objecting to such a study of the Bible in essence and recommending it for our part to those who find it appropriate for themselves, we cannot, however, insist exclusively on this method of studying the word of God. Let every Christian, when reading and studying the Word of God, conform not so much to the requirements of the “method” of study, but to the mood of his own own soul, and reads this book not so much out of obligation as out of desire of the heart. There is no need that one day he will not read a chapter, but several in a row, and the next day he will not have time to read even one chapter. The important thing is not how much and when he reads, but that he never forgets this book, that he, if possible, resort to it more often and read it with deep penetration into its highly edifying meaning, as a reference book in the proper sense.

About reading sections assigned for every day

All this presupposes in the reader who wants to understand the deep meaning of this Book, some special knowledge, and some special caution, and most importantly, the guidance of such aids that would help him to accurately understand the deep and mysterious meaning Holy Scriptures. Where to look for such benefits? To understand a poet, one must, they say, go to the poet’s country. To correctly understand the Bible, you need to go to, because this Book appeared in the bowels of the Church and was always kept in it. Therefore, the Church is the first and only interpreter of the Bible. Anyone who wants to understand it correctly must first of all turn to the church treasury, to the patristic literature that has come down to us.

“The most important, indispensable tool for reading the Word of God, for correct understanding of it, should be for an Orthodox Christian,” writes N.A. Astafiev - an explanation of the Word of God, holy, infallible, Orthodox, the explanation offered by it in the works of the Holy Fathers of the Church. There is almost no place in Scripture that cannot be explained by one Father or another. It is these explanations that one must turn to so as not to fall into error when reading the Word of God. If necessary, one must turn to living teachers of the Church—pastors.”

“As you reverently read the words of the Spirit of God, remember, Christian, that it is not for our poor, sinful mind to exhaust the entire depth of the wisdom of God hidden in the word of God,” says Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov). “It is said: “wisdom will not enter into an evil-doing soul” (), for wisdom itself for a person is, first of all, piety ().”

The Dignity of the Holy Fathers and Their Interpretations of Holy Scripture

There were holy people, pure in heart, humble in spirit and close to God; they read the Word of God and asked God for instruction on how to understand the Book of His Words; and enlightened them with His grace, and they, made wise by the grace of the Spirit of God, left us in their writings interpretations of the Word of God. You too, humble reader of the Word of God, turn to these godly interpreters; do not think beyond the measure of your mind; It is safer to trust in understanding the mysteries of God to someone who, through a holy life, has cleansed his heart from passions and himself has become the abode of the Spirit of God; It is safer to question such a God-enlightened man than to delve into the unsearchable depths of God’s wisdom with your own mind alone. The king's word is better understood and explained by the king's servant; The Word of God is better understood and explained by a man close to God. And such were the godly shepherds and teachers of the Church of God, which, according to the word of the Apostle of Christ, itself is the pillar and affirmation of the truth (). They themselves explained the Holy Scripture, guided by tradition from St. the apostles who came to them. Yes, St. Chrysostom says in one place: “Do not be embarrassed if what I said is strange to you; I speak here not my own words, but the words of our fathers, wonderful and famous men.”

Thus, the Spirit of God, dwelling in the Church according to Christ’s promise, chose holy men, and through them preserved and still preserves the purity of the true interpretation of Holy Scripture. Their interpretation is the understanding of the Church itself. “Only in the Church,” says Clement of Alexandria, “is true knowledge preserved; whoever interprets Scripture contrary to church tradition has lost the rule of truth.” “Whoever is not in the Church,” says St. Hilary, “he cannot understand the Divine Word at all.” After this, should we sinners, with our short-sighted minds, with our unclean hearts, take on such a great undertaking?” ...

“Do not dare to interpret the Gospel and other books of Holy Scripture yourself,” the same ascetic bishop inspires. – The Holy Spirit, who spoke the Word of God through the Prophets and Apostles, interpreted it through the Holy Fathers. Both the Word of God and its interpretation are the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is the only interpretation accepted by the saint. Orthodox Church! Only this one interpretation is accepted by her true children! Whoever explains the Gospel and all Scripture arbitrarily, thereby rejects the interpretation of it by the Holy Fathers and the Holy Spirit. Whoever rejects the interpretation of Scripture by the Holy Spirit, without any doubt, rejects Holy Scripture itself.

To understand the Word of God, it is necessary to fulfill it - to correct one’s life.

Leave your sinful life, leave your addictions and pleasures, renounce your soul: then the Gospel will become accessible and understandable to you. “Hate your souls in this world,” said the Lord, “the souls for which, from the fall, the love of sin has become as if natural, as if life, will preserve it in eternal life” (). For one who loves his soul, for one who does not dare to self-sacrifice, the Gospel is closed: he reads the letter, but the word of life, like spirit, remains for him under an impenetrable veil. When the Lord was on earth in holy flesh, many saw him - and at the same time they did not saw. What is the use when a person looks with the eyes of his body, which he has in common with animals, but sees nothing with the eyes of his soul - with his mind and heart? And now many read the Gospel every day, and have never read it together, do not know it at all.

“The Gospel,” said St. Mark the Ascetic, “can be read with a pure mind; understood as he fulfills the commandments by his very deed. But the exact and perfect revelation of the Gospel cannot be acquired within oneself through one’s own efforts: it is the gift of Christ.

The Holy Spirit, having indwelled His faithful and true servant, makes him both a perfect reader and a true doer of the Gospel.”

Testimonies of the Church Fathers and Church Writers about the Bible

Introduction

You are seduced without knowing

Scriptures nor the power of God

The Teaching of God's Word about Himself

The Apostle Paul, having said that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” adds: “and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be perfect for everyone. good deed cooked." How is this done? This is accomplished by the same Word of God, “living and active” (), when a person accepts it into his heart by faith.

In Holy Scripture the Word of God is called a sword, a hammer, fire, a lamp, a seed, and the word of life.

The Word of God is a “spiritual sword”: it “penetrates to the division of soul and spirit and judges the feelings and thoughts of the heart” (; ).

The Word of God is the “hammer” that breaks our stony hearts (Jeremiah 23, 29).

The Word of God is a “fire” that burns the impurity of sin in us and warms our hearts, which by nature are cold to the “mysteries of the Kingdom of God” (). The Word of God, received into the heart by faith, cleanses and sanctifies it (and 17:7).

The Word of God is “a lamp shining in a dark place” () and with its light it dispels the darkness of our ignorance, passions and delusions.

The Word of God is “seed” (). Just as a seed is thrown into the plowed ground and bears fruit, so in the human heart, contrite, softened by the Word of God, the same seed of the Word of God is planted and “bears fruit thirty, sixty or a hundred times” ().

The Word of God is, finally, the “word of life” (), the word that gives life - eternal life.

Clement of Alexandria († c. 217):

“The whole life of a perfect Christian is like a sacred festival: his sacrifices are prayers, his worship is reading the Bible... Knowing the Holy Scripture very well, and reading it in old age, he lives in complete obedience to the Gospel... His whole life is nothing else, as teaching and deeds consistent with the teaching of the Lord."

“Ignorance and weakness are two sources of sins, and both of them depend on our will: we do not want to learn or conquer lusts. Against both, we have been given means: knowledge and strong conviction from the evidence found in the Bible."

Zephyrinus, Pope († 217):

“Just as night cannot extinguish the stars that shine in the sky, so, of course, malice on earth cannot darken the souls of believers who hold fast to the foundation of the Holy Scriptures.”

Origen († 254):

“Grant, God, that we all fulfill this Gospel injunction: try the Scriptures!”

“All those who do not recognize that reading the Bible awakens great and worthy of the title of human concepts must be ignorant and blind.”

Jesus Christ Himself Explains the Scriptures

“If you test the Scripture, always zealously learn from it and strive to act on it, then Jesus will appear to you on this path and explain the Scripture to you, so that you too will exclaim: “Isn’t my heart sorrowful in me, when you spoke to me on the way?” and when did you tell me the scriptures? For He is close to those who remember Him and who test His commandments day and night.”

Holy Scripture renews the mind

“I don’t know whether the mind of one who is indifferent to the Holy Scriptures and to the exercise of spiritual knowledge can be renewed? If through this exercise the mind that seeks here only to spread its knowledge in the sciences is not renewed, then at least the mind that guides us to honesty, to philanthropy, to faith, to constancy can be renewed... Who in If he does not renew his mind, he will go astray and be deceived.”

St. Theon, Bishop of Alexandria († 300):

“Nothing feeds the soul and strengthens the mind as much as reading the Holy Scriptures. The main benefit you will derive from this is that you will be constant, honest, pious, fulfill your duties in the love of Christ and value everything that is transitory less than the promised eternal blessings that surpass any human mind and concepts.”

St. Anthony the Great († 356):

“Be diligent in reading the Scriptures, and they will pluck you out of uncleanness (that is, they will drive away unclean thoughts).

If you constantly and diligently engage in reading the Scriptures and fulfilling the commandments, then God’s mercy will be with you.” “Whatever you do, have evidence of it in the Holy Scriptures.”

St. Ephraim the Syrian († 372):

Reading Scripture gathers thoughts and gives knowledge of God

“To the best of your ability, force yourself to read the Scripture as often as possible, so that it gathers your thoughts, which the enemy scatters with his wiles, putting evil thoughts into you.

Reading the Divine Scriptures brings the wandering mind into focus and gives knowledge about God. Therefore, do not be careless, but practice this reading and prayers so that your mind will be enlightened.

Reading the Word of God–conversation with the Holy Spirit, cleansing the body and soul

Others boast of conversing with nobles, princes and kings, but you boast of the fact that in the Holy Scriptures you converse with the Holy Spirit; because the Holy Spirit speaks through them.

If you cannot read, do not go away from where you can listen and benefit; for it is written: If you see a man of understanding, pray to him, and let your foot rub the degrees of his doors (). This is useful not only for those who cannot read, but also for those who can, because many read and do not know what they are reading.

Don't let anything distract you from reading

Make sure that when you want to read, the enemy does not interrupt you, making you despondent, or distracted, or saying: “Do such and such a thing first, since it is small, and then you will read with a calm spirit.”... Don’t believe him, but be like a thirsty deer and want to come to the springs of water, that is, to the Divine Scriptures, in order to drink from them and quench your thirst, which burns you with passions.

Read carefully, precede reading with prayer

When you read, read with diligence and diligence; dwell on every word with great attention.

Open my eyes, and I will understand the wonders of Your law (). I hope, my God, that You will enlighten my heart.” Always pray to God to enlighten your mind and reveal to you the power of His words. Many, relying on their own understanding, have fallen into error.”

St. Basil the Great († 379):

Reading Holy Scripture is the path to truth

“The most reliable way to achieve the truth is reading Holy Scripture, for in it we find what we should do and what not to do. Here, long-dead holy people seem to rise before us with their high life and show the way to those who want to imitate their good examples. That is why each of us who feels weak in the performance of our duties, reading the Bible, can find reinforcement in it. I only advise that such reading be accompanied by prayer.

In fact, the Apostles did not descend from the mountain with stone tablets in their hands, like Moses, but carrying the Spirit in their souls, and walked everywhere, exuding a treasure and source of teachings, spiritual gifts and all kinds of blessings, becoming by grace animated books and laws. Thus they attracted three thousand (to faith), then five thousand, and thus all the nations of the world, because through their mouth God spoke to all who came to them (and 4:4).

But since, over time, some deviated from the true teaching, others from purity of life and morality, the need for written instruction arose again. Think about what kind of folly it will be if we, who should live in such purity as to have no need for Scripture, but instead of books present our hearts to the Spirit, if we, having lost such dignity and having a need for Scripture, do not take advantage of how must, even with this second medicine! If the fact that we need Scripture and do not attract the grace of the Spirit to ourselves is worthy of reproach, then what, think, will be our guilt if we do not want to take advantage of this benefit, but despise Scripture as superfluous and unnecessary, and thus incur even greater punishment?

Every Word of Scripture Contains Treasure

Reading Divine Scripture is like treasure. Just as one who receives even a small particle from a treasure acquires great wealth for himself, so in the short utterance of the Divine Scripture one can find great power and an indescribable wealth of thoughts. In Divine Scripture nothing is said simply and without reason, but every word, even small, contains great treasure. And not only is the Word of God like a treasure, but also a spring, flowing out abundant streams and having much water.

The effect of God's Word on the soul

It is a great blessing, beloved, to read the Divine Scriptures. It makes the soul wise, it transfers the mind to heaven, it disposes a person to be grateful (before God), it does not allow him to become addicted to anything real, it makes our mind constantly dwell there (in heaven), it encourages us to do everything in the hope of reward of the Lord and strive with the greatest zeal for deeds of virtue. Here (in Scripture) you can clearly learn how quick God’s providence is to help (us), see the multitude of righteous people, the goodness of the Lord and the abundance of rewards. They can stimulate themselves to compete and imitate the wisdom of valiant men and not allow themselves to weaken in the exploits of virtue, but firmly rely on the promises of God even before their fulfillment. As bodily food is for maintaining our strength, so is reading Scripture for the soul. It is spiritual food that strengthens the mind and makes the soul strong, firm and wise, not allowing it to be carried away by unreasonable passions, on the contrary, further facilitating its flight and lifting it, so to speak, to heaven itself. Therefore, I ask, let us read the Divine Scripture with the greatest care.

The Word of God is useful in all circumstances

Listen, I ask you, all who are called to this life, acquire books - the medicine of the soul. If you don’t want anything else, at least acquire the Acts of the Apostles, the Gospel - our constant mentors. Should sorrow befall you, approach them as if they were a vessel filled with a healing substance. Whether there is loss, death, loss of loved ones, draw consolation from there in your misfortune. Or better yet, don’t just touch them, but take them inside and keep them in your mind...

Neither the greatness of glory, nor the height of power, nor the presence of friends, nor anything else of human things can console in sorrow as much as reading the Divine Scriptures. Why? Because these things are perishable and fleeting; therefore, the consolation from them is fleeting: and reading the Scriptures is a conversation with God.

Ignorance of Scripture results in all evil. We go to war without weapons - and how can we escape? It is easy to be saved with the Scriptures, but without them it is impossible.”

And some sayings, if they are not clarified by allegorical explanation and softened by the test of spiritual fire, then without causing disorder they will in no way serve as saving food for the inner man, and from their acceptance will follow more harm than any benefit, which is the following: let your loins be girded and your lamps burning. If you don't have a sword, sell your clothes and buy a sword (). He who does not take up his cross and follow Me is unworthy of Me(). Some very strict monks, having the zeal of God, but not according to reason, understanding this simply, made wooden crosses for themselves and, constantly wearing them on their shoulders, brought not edification, but laughter to everyone who saw them.

And some sayings are conveniently and necessarily attached to both understandings, that is, both literal and allegorical, so that both explanations deliver vital juices to the soul, such as the following: if someone hits you right cheek yours, then turn the other one to him(), when they persecute you in one city, run to another. If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Me(). It also produces hay for livestock, with which food all the fields of Holy Scripture are filled; it contains a simple and pure narrative of history, from which all those who are simpler and less capable of perfect and pure understanding, according to their state and measure, become healthier and stronger only for work and the work of an active life (Conversation VIII, Chapter 3).

About the double meaning of Holy Scripture

Therefore, about what is expressed in clear words, we can firmly determine and boldly express our opinion. And those objects which, leaving to our reflection and exercise, the Spirit of God placed in the Holy Scriptures, wanting them to be inferred from certain signs and assumptions, should be discussed slowly and carefully, so that their authentication or confirmation depends on the arbitrariness of the reasoner or the recipient.

For sometimes, when different opinions are expressed about one subject, both can be considered reasonable and, without prejudice to faith, can be accepted either positively or in the average sense, that is, in such a way as not to accept them with complete confidence and not to reject them absolutely. One should not reject either one or the other opinion when both of them do not turn out to be contrary to faith, such as, for example, that Elijah came in the person of John () and will come again before the coming of Christ; or the opinion about the abomination of desolation, which stood in the holy place (), by which they mean the image of Jupiter, which was placed in the temple of Jerusalem, and it will still stand with the coming of the Antichrist; One should also understand everything that is depicted in the Gospel () - that it was fulfilled before the captivity of Jerusalem and will be fulfilled at the end of the world. Of these opinions, none of them refutes the other, and the first understanding does not abolish the subsequent one (Ibid., Chapter 4).

On acquiring true knowledge of Holy Scripture

If you want to achieve true knowledge of Holy Scripture, then you must first try to acquire unshakable humility of heart, which, through perfection in love, will lead you not to the knowledge that puffs up, but to the one that enlightens. For it is impossible for an unpurified soul to acquire the gift of spiritual knowledge. And therefore, with all caution, avoid lest through the exercise of reading, instead of the light of knowledge and eternal glory, you develop qualities that lead to destruction from vain pride.

Then you need to try in every possible way, after rejecting all worries and earthly thoughts, to diligently and even constantly read the Holy Scriptures, until constant meditation nourishes your spirit... This meditation brings us two fruits: the first is that when the attention of the soul is occupied by reading and thinking about what she has read, she is not captivated by any networks of harmful thoughts; then the fact that what from what we had passed through frequent repetition, when we tried to assimilate the memory, we could not understand with a spirit that was not free at that time, later, having freed ourselves from all distractions with deeds and vision, reflecting especially during the silence of the night, we see more clearly, so, after calming down and even immersing in deep sleep, an understanding of the innermost meaning is revealed to us, which we did not even slightly understand in the waking state (Conversation. XIV, Chapter 10).

And as the renewal of our spirit increases from this exercise, our view of Holy Scripture will also begin to be renewed, and with success in this, the beauty of the more hidden understanding will also in some way prosper” (Ibid., Chapter 11).

For others, it is the wine of the Divine cup, gladdening their hearts, driving them into a frenzy with the power of thoughts, drawing their minds from the letter of the one who kills and leading them experimentally into the depths of the Spirit, and making it all the originator and finder of understanding, so that it is common for them to say: “And Your cup makes me drunken, as it is mighty” ().

And for the third - with the oil of the Divine Spirit, anointing their soul, taming and humbling it with an overabundance of Divine insights and delighting everything above the body, so that it too cries out in boasting: “Thou hast anointed my head with oil, and Thy mercy will marry me all the days of my life” ().

Clarification and development of the previous position

As long as we strive with effort, with active wisdom, in the sweat of our brow, to God, diminishing the passions of the flesh, until then with our daily bread, which is prepared by the cultivation of virtues and strengthens human hearts, the Lord feeds with us at the table of His gifts.

When His name is sanctified among us by dispassion, and He reigns over all our spiritual powers, having subdued and pacified the distant - the worst, I say, subduing the best - and His will will be in us as in heaven, then the new and ineffable beer of the wisdom of the Word , dissolved by tenderness and knowledge of the great mysteries, He drinks with us in His kingdom, which has come to us.

When we become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and are changed by a good change, in the renewal of our mind, then He (the Existing One), as with the gods, will be with us, deifying what has been received (humanity)” (Second Natural Chapters, 90-91).

St. Peter of Damascus († XII century):

What is needed to understand the Word of God

Sing wisely (), says the Prophet, and try the scriptures(), says the Lord. Whoever obeys this is enlightened, and whoever disobeys is darkened. For if someone is not attentive to what he says, he does not receive so much fruit from the Divine Scriptures, although perhaps he often sings and reads... Abolish yourself- said - and understand(), because abolition(rejection of worldly cares and vain thoughts) collects the mind, and if someone wants to be somewhat attentive, then he “knows in part,” according to the word of the Apostle (), and especially the one who has “partially” moral activity, for it gives the mind greater experience in dealing with passions.

The measure of knowledge of Holy Scripture is determined by the degree of purity of mind

However, he does not know so much how many mysteries each saying of Scripture contains, but how much the purity of his mind can receive from grace. This is clear from the fact that we often know through knowledge any saying of Scripture and comprehend one or two of the intentions (meanings) with which this saying was written, and after a while, when the mind becomes purer, it is granted a different understanding , higher than the first. I’m not talking about that, when someone hears - through any Scripture or person, this is not purity of mind or revelation; but if anyone knew and did not believe himself until he found that the Divine Scripture or one of the saints confirmed the knowledge that he received self-propelled about the saying of Scripture.

The varied meaning of the sayings of Holy Scripture is not a disagreement

And if, perhaps, instead of one intention (meaning), he met many, or heard about them from the Divine Scripture, or from the Holy Fathers, then let him not disbelieve this, and do not consider this a disagreement. For it happens that a thing is one, but its purpose is many different. So, about clothes, if someone said that they warm, another that they decorate, and a third that they cover, all three would say the truth that clothes are needed for warmth, cover and decoration... But if anyone, being thief and robber Regarding understanding, I would say that clothes are needed for robbery and theft, he is lying in every possible way. For neither Scripture nor the nature of things confirms this purpose of clothing.

The same thing happens with every thing, sensory or mental, or the Word of Divine Scripture. For even the saints do not understand every purpose of God regarding every thing or written word; besides, not everyone suddenly writes that they have learned. Partly because He is incomprehensible, and His wisdom has no limit, so that an Angel or a person could contain everything; partly also because it will not be useful if the saints themselves say everything they know, due to human weakness, and so that the word does not last and does not become hateful and incomprehensible, due to confusion, but so that what is said is in moderation. That is why it happens that today the same (saint) says one thing about the same matter, and tomorrow another; and this is not a disagreement if only the listener has knowledge or experience. And again: one says one thing, and the other says something else about the same saying of Divine Scripture, for often both were inspired by Divine grace, in accordance with the time and condition of people...

The purpose of the Word of God is one - to save man

Whoever has really tasted the knowledge of the Scriptures knows that the power of both the simplest sayings of Scripture and the most wise is the same, and is aimed at saving a person, and those who are not involved in this knowledge are often tempted” (Book II, f. 23).

St. Tikhon of Zadonsk († 1783):

“The Holy Scriptures have been handed down from God to the entire human race and to every person, to me and to you, human beings. because “the whole person,” and therefore you, “wants to be saved and to come into the mind of truth” (). For this reason, he gave His Holy Scripture to everyone, so that by reading or listening to it, he could receive eternal salvation. One must read or listen to the Word of God not in order to be witty, to be wise before this age, to be considered wise by people: this is contrary to the Word of God. For it was not given to us for this end, so that we might have glory from it in this world. One who reads and preaches the Word of God in order to become glorified on earth, wants the gift of God, that is, the Word of God, not to turn into God’s glory, but into his own vain, and thus steal God’s honor for himself from the gift of God, like the great thief and abominable sin. But one must read or listen to the Word of God in order to be wise for salvation, to have an enlightened mind to know the truth and to correct a heart inclined toward evil towards good and the creation of God’s will; also to preach it for the sake of building people, and not for the sake of demonstrating one’s wisdom: for this end, it has been handed down to us from God. If anyone reads, or listens, or preaches the Word of God not for this end, the Word of God will not only not benefit him, but will also harm him. Hence it happens that many who are most skilled in writing the Holy Scriptures are far more evil than those who are not literate. God takes away grace from such people for His contempt and abuse of His Divine gift: and so, without the grace of God, they fall into sin. For “God opposes the proud,” who seek not God’s glory, but their own glory ().

Two kinds of scientists and wise people. The only ones who learn in schools are from books, and the most from them are the craziest, even more so than the simple and illiterate: they don’t even know the Christian alphabet. The mind is sharpened, words are corrected and painted; but they don’t want to correct their hearts. Others study in prayer with humility and zeal and are enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and are wiser than the philosophers of this age: they are pious, holy and beloved to God. Although they do not know the alphabet, they understand everything well: they speak simply and rudely, but they live eloquently and favorably. Here, Christian, imitate!

How we should love God’s Word! So, we Christians should not be so comforted and delighted by anything as by His holy Word. The Word of God is the Word of His mouth, as the holy David says about himself: “The law of Your mouth is good to me, O Lord, more than thousands of gold and silver” (). Consequently, what kind of zeal, desire and insatiable desire for reading and hearing should one have? No matter how many times we either read ourselves, or hear a servant of God reading, so many times do we hear our God speaking to us. If we willingly listen when our king talks to us; everyone considers this a great deal: since one should be more willing to listen to God, the King of heaven and earth, who speaks. He honored us, unworthy of this, with His mercy: we should not neglect this great mercy of His, but rather show our gratitude to Him by most willingly listening or reading His Word; and what it reveals and promises in it is to believe, what it commands is to fulfill, and what it forbids is to be avoided.

From here it is clear how senseless, or even more lawlessly, those Christians do who move away from the Word of God. Many, having left this living and holy source, amuse themselves in obscene books, which amuse their flesh, but corrupt their souls: and thus by reading they destroy themselves, rather than build them up. Others strive to know what is happening in America, Africa, Asia and other distant countries, but they do not want to know near themselves and within themselves what is happening to their soul, in what state it is, they do not try to know from the Word of God. Others try to test the nature of herbs, potions, trees and other things; but they do not want to consider their nature, corrupted by sin, from the Word of God. Others learn to count the stars and measure the earth; but the short lives of our days and countless falls into sin, for which we are guilty before God all our days ( Who understands the Fall?), they don’t want to consider from Scripture. Some are taught day and night how to collect wealth, which they will be forced to leave with their body in this age; but they do not want to collect benefits for souls from the Scriptures, and they do not care about the wealth that goes away with souls for another age. Others begin to heal the body, which will soon turn to dust, and preserve it intact; but they do not care about the immortal soul and do not want to know its weaknesses from the Word of God and do not want to heal them. Others plan and do other things; but they neglect the fact that “there is only one thing that is needed,” according to the teaching of Christ. All these things and others like them do the same thing as someone who would keep a half-ruble in a chest, but would not care about a thousand ducats; or someone who is drowning in water, but, not caring about himself, tries to save his things.

On the fulfillment of the Word of God

It is not useful to read or listen to the Word of God, but not to create. Christ does not please those who listen to the Word of God, but those who hear and keep them. “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it” (). What good is the seed sown that bears no fruit? Nothing. What is the benefit of food to the stomach that is not converted into juice and blood? Quite nothing. Likewise, the Word of God, the Divine seed, does not bring any benefit when those who hear from it are not created. And just as the body becomes weak, and then dies, when the stomach accepts food, but does not cook it, and does not turn it into juice and blood: so the soul, although it hears the Word of God, which is food for the soul, faints and dies when the heard Word blood does not turn into its spiritual juice, that is, it does not strengthen it spiritually. Then this happens to a person when, from what he has heard, God's Words does not correct his life, does not turn to God, does not perform true repentance, does not lag behind his sins, and does not feel spiritual consolation in his heart. The Word of God was given to us so that, hearing it, we would correct ourselves according to its rule: but when this is not in us, then it does not bring us any benefit. Just as although there will be a fair amount of healing, it does not benefit the weak person when he does not want to use it for healing: so the Word of God, which was given to us from God for the healing of our spiritual infirmities, as said above, will not benefit us when there is no use from it. Let us correct our infirmities. Just as knowledge of skill does not bring any benefit to a master when he does not use his skill in his work, but will certainly end up in poverty: so art in Scripture and knowledge of the will of God does not benefit us when we do not correct our life according to the Word of God and His will. struggling.

Prayer as the main means for understanding the fulfillment of the Word of God

What must a Christian do in order for the seed of the Word of God to produce fruit in him? Christ answers: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; push, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives it, and everyone who seeks finds it, and it will be opened to the one who asks.” (). Because we ourselves are weak, we cannot do any good without Christ, according to His testimony: “Without Me you cannot do anything” (). For this reason, through fervent prayer one must seek everything from Him. It is necessary for the Spirit of God, Who spoke through the Prophets and Apostles, to act in us, to enlighten, admonish, instruct and guide us when we want to live according to His rule.

Rule regarding reading the Word of God

The reader of the book must do the following:

1) You should not read many sheets and pages, because someone who has read a lot cannot comprehend everything and keep it in memory. 2) It is not enough to read and think a lot about what is read, for this way what is read is better understood and deepened in memory, and our mind is enlightened. 3) See what is clear or unclear from what you read in the book. When you understand what you're reading, it's good; and when you don’t understand, leave it and continue reading. What is unclear will either be clarified by the next reading, or will be clarified by repeating another reading, with God’s help. 4) What the book teaches you to avoid, what it teaches you to seek and do, try to do it in action. Avoid evil and do good. 5) When you only sharpen your mind from a book, but do not correct your will, then from reading the book you will become worse than you were; learned and intelligent fools are more evil than simple ignoramuses. 6) Remember that it is better to love in a Christian way than to have a high understanding; It is better to live beautifully than to say: “reason boasts, but love creates.” 7) Whatever you yourself learn with God’s help, lovingly teach it to others on occasion, so that the seed sown grows and produces fruit.”

Gospel translated from Greek means “good news.” The four Gospels form the basis of the New Testament, the second part of the Bible (the first part is called the Old Testament). Reading the Holy Scriptures is a special act that requires an appropriate mood, so it is necessary to say prayers each time before and after reading the Gospel.

Why should you read the Gospel?

Constant reading of the Holy Scriptures is of great importance for Orthodox Christians: it not only strengthens them in the faith, but also contributes to a deeper understanding of Christian doctrine and what the Savior commanded us and for which He gave His life. Even for those who seem to know the Gospel well, with each new reading of it, some details and details of the earthly life of Jesus Christ are revealed that they had not noticed before.

With the help of prayer before reading the Bible, we tune our soul to a deeper perception of it. In the process of reading the Gospel, a person involuntarily compares his life with Christ’s covenants and understands how far he is still from truly being a true Christian. For the weak in spirit, this causes contrition of the soul, but the Savior taught that the firmness of faith and compliance with its requirements depends only on ourselves, which means that we can (and must!) follow His commandments in our every day, in our every action.

How to read the Gospel

To be a true Orthodox Christian, you must regularly read the Gospel and treat this not as a burdensome duty, but as an opportunity to enlighten the spirit and bring it closer to the Savior. If you are reading New Testament at home, you can tune into the right mood with the help of prayer.

The very language of the Gospel sets one in a special, sublime mood, but modern people may encounter passages that are not entirely clear. Therefore, it is recommended to read the Gospel and make notes to yourself which points in it are not clear to you, and then ask these questions to the clergy in the temple.

Very great benefit brings together reading the Gospel in small groups. This makes it possible to delve deeper into its content and discuss some issues immediately after reading or even during the reading process.

Despite its apparent simplicity, the text of the Gospel is so deep and multi-layered that not everyone is able to penetrate its essence.

In every group that reads it, there will probably be people who know the Holy Scriptures better and who will be able to clarify some unclear points, but in general, in such cases you still need to contact a priest. Therefore, it is advisable to mark during the reading process what remains unclear. An important point in reading the Gospel is also reading the interpretation of the holy fathers of the church of certain places in the Holy Scriptures.

Children and the Gospel

In church-going families, children literally from the first years of life take part in everything church holidays and perceive the basic concepts associated with Orthodoxy. In order to better introduce them to Christ’s teaching, it is recommended to read with them not the canonical Gospel, which is too difficult for them to understand, but its transcription for children, which in an accessible form sets out the story of the life and great martyrdom of Jesus Christ.

How does prayer help before and after reading the Gospel?

Prayer before reading the Holy Gospel helps to create the necessary mental mood - sublime, detached from worldly affairs, from everyday vanity. It doesn’t matter whether you read the Gospel every day or several times a week, what’s important is how fully your soul and mind are able to perceive and comprehend it. It is for the completeness of perception that it is necessary to put up a barrier from everything worldly, and this is precisely what prayer before reading the Gospel contributes to. It will help you fully concentrate on reading and the meaning of what you are reading, and will help you better understand it.

With the help of prayers before and after reading the Gospel, we seem to highlight and separate from everyday affairs that small segment of our life that we dedicated to the Word of God - the source of Divine grace, which cannot be exhausted to the bottom. These two prayers help to preserve intact the uplift of spirit and harmony of soul received from reading the Gospel. However, they do not remain “locked”, but spread Grace to our mental attitude and all our affairs.

Sometimes they resort to prayer before the Gospel for a person, for spiritual and physical condition which we care about, because reading the Gospel is a godly deed, which means that by doing this we can benefit not only our soul, but also our loved ones.

Especially often before reading the Gospel there is a prayer for children, and this is quite natural, because children are the main thing in our lives. Every Orthodox Christian must make every effort to ensure that his children and grandchildren join the faith, and this must begin with reading the Good News.

Below are the prayers that should be read before starting to read the Gospel itself.

Prayer before reading the Gospel

Shine in our hearts, O Master of Mankind, the imperishable light of Your divine understanding, and open our mental eyes to Your gospel sermons and understanding: put in us the fear of Your blessed commandments, so that all carnal lusts may be overcome, we will go through spiritual life, all that is to please You, both wise and active. For You are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, with Your beginningless Father, and Your All-Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer of Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov) before reading the Gospel for a person

Save, O Lord, and have mercy on Your servant (name) with the words of the Divine Gospel, which are about the salvation of Your servant.

The thorns of all his sins have fallen, Lord, and may Thy grace dwell in him, scorching, cleansing, sanctifying the whole person in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer after reading the Gospel

Glory to You, Lord the King, Son of the living God, who made me unworthy to hear Your divine words and the voice of Your Holy Gospel; With this sovereign voice of Yours, strengthen me in the repentance of this present life so that the night may pass, delivering me from all slander and malice of visible and invisible enemies: You You are the only strong one, and reign forever. Amen.

Every person knows that they should wash their hands before eating to prevent germs from entering the body, causing illness. Reading the canonical Gospel no less requires proper preparation. How to get rid of vain thoughts that, like microorganisms in the body, infect the human soul? before reading the Gospel. It will open the heart and inner world of a Christian towards the love of the Lord, and will also eliminate doubts, strengthening faith.

How to read the canonical Gospels correctly

According to Archimandrite Nicholas, there are several rules for familiarizing yourself with the Word of God. He points out that the mind of a believer is enlightened and strengthened only if a person does not read the entire Gospel at once, but in parts. After reading one chapter, you should think about it and discuss the text with your family and priest.

Family reading has a beneficial effect on interaction with loved ones, because at the moment of pronouncing holy words, angels walk among people, and the Lord and saints listen carefully. Demons fly away in horror to those who indulge in sin.

Prayer before the Gospel

Reading such texts requires concentration and humility. Feel the connection with the Creator through a description of the earthly life of his Son. Reading different prayers can be combined. The first is pronounced before and after immersion in the New Testament.

A prayer before and after reading the Gospel, compiled by St. Ignatius, will help you get into the right frame of mind. Its brevity does not take away time from the holy texts, but allows you to get involved in spiritual work. In it, the prayer asks to have mercy on him with the words of the Divine Gospel, instilling grace into the soul.

The prayer of St. John Chrysostom, inspired for such cases, asks the Lord for insight for understanding God's Law. From a young age the saint showed interest in the Holy Scriptures.

Another prayer is found at the end of the 11th verse section of the book of Psalms. It strengthens the spirit and faith, preparing a person to read the Gospel.

In an era of severe trials and cold relations between powerful countries, people begin to seek solace and support in holy texts. before reading the Gospel, it prepares the soul to receive spiritual food, protecting it from sinful thoughts. Keep not only your physical body clean, but also your immaterial body. Everything is interconnected, and in this way you will get a chance to avoid not only physical, but also spiritual diseases.