Why are some people scandalized by the Old Testament?

The Church Fathers reveal several reasons why people are scandalized by the Old Testament. These include:

• a. The need for the key of David : St. Jerome perceived the need for the key of David to loose the seals of the Holy Bible and delight in its wonders. On this account the Psalmist asks God, saying, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from your law.” (Ps. 119:8).

St. Jerome says, “In the apocalypse a book is shown sealed with seven seals (Rev. 5:1), which if you deliver to one that is learned saying, ‘Read this,’ he will answer you, ‘I cannot, for it is sealed’ (Isa. 29:11). How many are there today who fancy themselves learned, yet the scriptures are a sealed book to them, and one which they

138 St. Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, or Miscellanies 7.16 (ANF 2:551).

139 St. Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, or Miscellanies 6.15 (ANF 2:508).

140 St. Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, or Miscellanies 7.16 (ANF 2:551).

141 St. Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, or Miscellanies 7.16 (ANF 2:550).

142 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 Timothy 1 (NPNF I/13:410).

cannot open save through Him who has the key of David , ‘he that opens and no man shuts; and shuts and no man opens’ (Rev. 3:7). In the Acts of the Apostles the holy eunuch when reading Isaiah, he is asked by Philip ‘Do you understand what you read?’ He answers: ‘How can I unless someone guides me?’ (Acts 8:30–31) … Then Philip came and showed him Jesus, who was concealed beneath the letter. Wondrous excellence of the teacher! In the same hour the eunuch believed and was baptized; he became one of the faithful and a saint. He was no longer a pupil but a master; and he found more in the church’s font there in the wilderness than he had ever done in the gilded temple … It is idle to try to teach what you do not know … it is worse still to be ignorant of your ignorance.”¹⁴³

• b. Suspicion: St. Basil the Great says, “Never neglect reading, especially of the New Testament, because very frequently mischief comes of reading the Old; not because what is written is harmful, but because the minds of the injured are weak . All bread is nutritious, but it may be injurious to the sick. Just so all Scripture is God inspired and profitable, and there is nothing in it unclean: only to him who thinks it is unclean, to him it is unclean … ‘All things are lawful but all things are not expedient’ (1 Cor. 6:12).”¹⁴⁴

• c. Reading without Love: St. Augustine says, “The Bible enlightens the eyes of the soul, so read it, O wise one, and be filled with its love. God has placed the Holy Scriptures in the world as a lamp of light that illuminates its darkness. The one who loves himself shall be enlightened by reading, and follows it. Approach the Bible with love, and contemplate its beauty. You will not benefit without love, because love is the entrance to understanding. The book commands your love, if you do not love it, do not read it. It speaks to you, but if you are bored while reading it, you will be deprived of its gestures. You should love it, open it, read it and contemplate its beauty, otherwise, you shall not read it because if you do not love it, you will not benefit from it.”

• d. Lack of repentance: St. Augustine says, “If you sin, your adversary is God's word … It's the adversary of your will until it can become the author of your salvation. Oh what a good adversary, what a useful adversary!”¹⁴⁵

• e. Conducting oneself in the Lord grants splendor to knowledge: The father Hesychius of Jerusalem says, “When the earth is plowed, it produces flowers and fruit, but contemplating the Law produces virtues. This is the reason why the practice of the Law is required with zeal (Ps. 119:40, 47, 48); not by covering it in words, but

143 St. Jerome, Letter 53.5, 7 To Paulinus (NPNF II/6:98, 99) amended.

144 St. Basil of Caesarea, Letter 42.3 To Chilo, his disciple (NPNF II/8:144–145).

145 St. Augustine of Hippo, The Works of St. Augustine: A translation for the 21st Century: Part III—Sermons; Volume IV: Sermons 94A-147A , trans. Edmund Hill, ed. John E. Rotelle (New City Press, 1992) Sermon 109.3: p. 133 (FC 94:149).

by doing it; not by discussing the language of the divine words in a useless way, but by confirming it by our conduct and approving it in our actions. Just as knowledge makes reading glorious, so doing grants knowledge splendor. What is the benefit of a vineyard without vines planted in it, nor pruned, nor being tended? Is not it vain for a knight to go out to a broad place when he has not yet trained his horses? …

“In any case, Job did not behave like this, but from the beginning, he armed his soul with virtues, and trained it for battle through godliness. So long as he found himself in wealth and prosperity, he offered burnt offerings every day when he arose early (Job 1:5). Before the visible light (the sun) had dawned, he lit the invisible light. As he leapt out of his bed, he would run towards the One who grants sleep, with praise upon his lips (Ps. 127:2). He began the day’s activities by drawing near to the Creator of the day … How many times did Job shut the mouth of Eliphaz who wanted to exhibit his eloquence! … How many times did he negate the haughtiness of Bildad by weighing his words, this true soldier of righteousness! Notice that Zophar also proclaimed his own superiority at the beginning of his conversations! Let us scrutinize his words with awareness.”