How has the Holy Bible been preserved till today?

The Holy Bible is the book of the Church, which we receive through the tradition of the Church. By tradition, our sacred books were canonized, confirming that they were divinely inspired. Origen the scholar says, “in all these questions we approve of nothing but what the Church approves of, namely only four canonical Gospels.”²⁰³ St. Cyril of Jerusalem says ”Learn also diligently, and from the Church, what are the books of the Old Testament, and what those of the New.”²⁰⁴ So also St. Augustine : “For my part, I should not believe the gospel except as moved by the authority of the Catholic Church.”²⁰⁵ St. Basil the Great says, ”For were we to attempt to reject such customs as have no written authority, on the ground that the importance they possess is small, we should unintentionally injure the Gospel in its very vitals.”²⁰⁶

It is important to note that while Church tradition testifies to the Holy Bible, and the Holy Bible is itself a part of the Church’s tradition, none of this diminishes the unique value of the Bible. Tradition defends the Bible’s nature as the word of God, the eternal divine revelation, which addresses not only the present age but also the ages to come.

Although tradition testifies to the Holy Bible, it cannot be its judge. On the contrary, a tradition is only accepted if it is founded on the Bible; it cannot be accepted if it disagrees with the Holy Bible.²⁰⁷

Moreover, the Holy Bible is for every believer, that he may experience it and personally taste its beauty, appreciating its value and inspiration. However, no one can by himself determine the divine inspiration of the Holy Bible and the presence of the Holy Spirit within the Bible — only the Holy Spirit who lives in the Church can do that. It is not through any individual effort of a human deciding alone, but through adherence to the judgment of the Church.²⁰⁸

Finally, the close relationship between the Holy Bible and the tradition of the Church in no way extinguishes one’s personal feelings towards the Holy Bible. On the contrary, the tradition of the Church reinforces the personal approach, and requires of us that we live the Bible in no way isolated from the Church.

203 Origen, Homilies on Luke 1.2 (FOTC 94:6).

204 St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 4.33 (NPNF II/7:26).

205 St. Augustine of Hippo, Against the Epistle of Manichaeus, Called Fundamental 6 (NPNF I/4:131).

206 St. Basil of Caesarea, On the Holy Spirit 27.66 (NPNF II/8:41).

207

Sergius Bulgakov, The Orthodox Church , trans. Elizabeth S. Cram, ed. Donald A. Lowrie (New York: American Review of Eastern Orthodoxy, 1935): p. 21.

208 Sergius Bulgakov, The Orthodox Church , trans. Elizabeth S. Cram, ed. Donald A. Lowrie (New York: American Review of Eastern Orthodoxy, 1935): p. 21.