I haven't read all of these studies of yours. But I am quite enamored with these writings, particularly the manner in which you seamlessly speak of both sacred things and worldly things, each in their proper register. This ability of yours seems intimately bound up with the clarity and breadth you have in your reading practice.
I am very interested in your formal explanations here, but I am in general quite ignorant of this kind of biblical exegesis and of the Old Testament. All of the Russian Orthodox priests I have spoken to are very reticent about eschatological matters, which I generally think is actually a good thing. Nevertheless it is the heart of my impetus to scriptural study, despite (or because of?) my awareness of the ever-present danger of "prelest."
Is your reading approach the extension of a traditional approach? Something that you were led to by study under a learned elder? Or just something that you outright discovered?
(Pardon my asking, but--)are you using LLMs for any of this reading? I do not mean to pry, but I only ask because I find the structural lucidity quite astonishing, particularly in how it dovetails with the liturgical concept of eschatology that I have been in my own way muddling through, in the Russian Orthodox tradition.
My reading of the biblical text is premised on a baseline, simplistic principle of "sola scriptura" and Hebraic parallelism through an apostolic, Mosaic-Judaically supersessionist framework of doctrinal teachings, viewing the literalized "material" corollaries of the Old Testament as shadows typifying the completed work of Jesus Christ manifested and revealed unto the whole world through the books of the New Testament that highlight the fulfillment of the biblical promise.
Learned elder? No. It literally is the case that I more or less "outright discovered" these patterns after usually dozens and sometimes hundreds total hours of nonstop studying, rereading, and constant internal mental deliberation, as eventually at some point I would realize how it naturally fits together and defines itself with monumental clarity. It's no credit I can ascribe to myself, because the chiastic literary structure was there all along and produced by divine inspiration, and I so happened to be bestowed the wonderful privilege of being able to comprehend this mystery of God. All praise, honor, and glory belongs unto our God who sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb!
LLMs? Oh lol, no; while I did at various points use ChatGPT and DeepSeek to try and clarify the meaning of some texts to attempt at better grasping how chiastic pericopes should be demarcated, ultimately I've learned to always take AI responses with a grain of salt and never lopsidedly "rely" on them to supplement major gaps in my learning, and that they are only of potential usefulness if I already know enough. It's essentially a Catch-22: AI input can only help solidify my understanding if I have a solid understanding to begin with. There is no substitute for the teachings emanating from the Holy Spirit of God; one must have faith and diligence, patiently seeking after the guidance from God's Spirit.
I haven't read all of these studies of yours. But I am quite enamored with these writings, particularly the manner in which you seamlessly speak of both sacred things and worldly things, each in their proper register. This ability of yours seems intimately bound up with the clarity and breadth you have in your reading practice.
I am very interested in your formal explanations here, but I am in general quite ignorant of this kind of biblical exegesis and of the Old Testament. All of the Russian Orthodox priests I have spoken to are very reticent about eschatological matters, which I generally think is actually a good thing. Nevertheless it is the heart of my impetus to scriptural study, despite (or because of?) my awareness of the ever-present danger of "prelest."
Is your reading approach the extension of a traditional approach? Something that you were led to by study under a learned elder? Or just something that you outright discovered?
(Pardon my asking, but--)are you using LLMs for any of this reading? I do not mean to pry, but I only ask because I find the structural lucidity quite astonishing, particularly in how it dovetails with the liturgical concept of eschatology that I have been in my own way muddling through, in the Russian Orthodox tradition.
Hello, Robert, hope all is well for you, friend.
My reading of the biblical text is premised on a baseline, simplistic principle of "sola scriptura" and Hebraic parallelism through an apostolic, Mosaic-Judaically supersessionist framework of doctrinal teachings, viewing the literalized "material" corollaries of the Old Testament as shadows typifying the completed work of Jesus Christ manifested and revealed unto the whole world through the books of the New Testament that highlight the fulfillment of the biblical promise.
Learned elder? No. It literally is the case that I more or less "outright discovered" these patterns after usually dozens and sometimes hundreds total hours of nonstop studying, rereading, and constant internal mental deliberation, as eventually at some point I would realize how it naturally fits together and defines itself with monumental clarity. It's no credit I can ascribe to myself, because the chiastic literary structure was there all along and produced by divine inspiration, and I so happened to be bestowed the wonderful privilege of being able to comprehend this mystery of God. All praise, honor, and glory belongs unto our God who sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb!
LLMs? Oh lol, no; while I did at various points use ChatGPT and DeepSeek to try and clarify the meaning of some texts to attempt at better grasping how chiastic pericopes should be demarcated, ultimately I've learned to always take AI responses with a grain of salt and never lopsidedly "rely" on them to supplement major gaps in my learning, and that they are only of potential usefulness if I already know enough. It's essentially a Catch-22: AI input can only help solidify my understanding if I have a solid understanding to begin with. There is no substitute for the teachings emanating from the Holy Spirit of God; one must have faith and diligence, patiently seeking after the guidance from God's Spirit.