Talk:Orthodoxy

Would anyone elucidate the issue of when the term in question actually first appeared (or to be found) within the Christian context.Max 09:51, February 2, 2008 (PST)

Orthodox

Orthodox (ορθοδόξος) in Greek means correct both in worship and belief. It is derived from the combination of όρθος/orthos (correct, straight, without deviation) and δόξα/doxa (glory or worship) or δοκείν/dokein (to teach). In fact, the names of the Orthodox Church in Greek, Russian, etc. reflects and reinforces more the doxa "etymology". Thus Orthodox, in the context of a Chalcedonean article, should be understood more as correct in worship and the claim correct in belief should be regarded as implicit.

• "Adjective" - "(Christianity) adhering to the rites of the (Chalcedonean) Orthodox Church."

Vasiliki 07:27, May 6, 2008 (UTC)

Thanks. But my question was not about etimology or semantics -- i know some Greek to understand this much. My question is about exactly when the word became an ecclesiastical term. To be entirely concrete: where is the phrase "Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία" to be found first?Max 20:23, December 8, 2008 (UTC)

I dont think I was replying to your question cause I gave it its own heading ... I was probably just writing down what i was thinking ... to remind myself to use it at a later date ... to answer your question, however, I dont think there is a formal "date" that the term Orthodox was used ... my understanding is that in classical usage the term described the set of doctrines that then gained prominence around the fourth century. Through the Ecumenical councils they had various dogmatical debates. The most significant was the debate about Trinitarianism, Homoousion doctrine of Athanasius the Great versus the Heteroousian doctrine of Arius and which set "Orthodox" apart from "other" Christians ...