An honest question...

I have never understood what "orthodox" means. In my life and the circles I have lived, that word is not used. I have looked it up, I think I understand what some people use it for and how it is used in that regard... but it still remains as a bit of mystery. So I will ask... What is orthodox?

Thanks.

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danwdoo

There are multiple meanings for the term and Factbook has articles that cover them. Two common ones used are Orthodox churches and Orthodox theology (these are not necessarily related to one another). Just enter Orthodox into Factbook and you will see several options in the dropdown that covers these and more and that would be a good place to start your research.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1319780#Comment_1319780

Also look up orthopraxis as a contrast.

Justin Gatlin

I have never understood what "orthodox" means. In my life and the circles I have lived, that word is not used. I have looked it up, I think I understand what some people use it for and how it is used in that regard... but it still remains as a bit of mystery. So I will ask... What is orthodox?

Thanks.

Orthos means "straight" (orthodontists make your teeth straight). Doxos means "glory" (like the doxology). So, to commit a slight fallacy in the name of making it memorable, orthodoxy means you have your theology straight. It is basically the opposite of heresy.

Orthodox with a capital O refers to the family of Christian dominations that split with Roman Catholicism in the Great Schism.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1319796#Comment_1319796

orthodox | Search Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com)">
mid-15c., in reference to theological opinions or faith, "what is regarded as true or correct," from Late Latin orthodoxus, from Greek orthodoxos "having the right opinion," from orthos "right, true, straight" (see ortho-) + doxa "opinion, praise" (from dokein "to seem;" from PIE root *dek- "to take, accept").

Of other subjects than religion or theology from 1640s. Meaning "of or pertaining to the Greek Church," by 1772. In reference to a branch of Judaism, recorded from 1853; as a noun meaning "an Orthodox Jew," by 1889.

Hence, I've been taught orthodoxy is right beliefs, orthopraxis is right actions.

Orthodox with a capital O refers to the family of Christian dominations that split with Roman Catholicism in the Great Schism.

Er ,,, ah.. is also includes those of the Nestorian and the Monophysite splits as well as the Armenian and Georgian churches (the first two state churches) that really never split from anyone. So think two families - Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox ... the latter being at great risk at the moment with the jihadist types running around in some of their countries.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1319796#Comment_1319796

Orthos means "straight" (orthodontists make your teeth straight). Doxos means "glory" (like the doxology). So, to commit a slight fallacy in the name of making it memorable, orthodoxy means you have your theology straight. It is basically the opposite of heresy.

An interesting usage pattern is 'catholic' vs 'orthodox', and the earliest usage (catholic dating approx Ignatius).

Fos Zoe

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1319804#Comment_1319804

I like the straight theology interpretation

I have always heard it means right or correct belief and also right or correct glory or worship.

so being orthodox is one who has correct doctrine and offers to God the correct glory or worship with some meaning by worship the divine liturgy and services of the Church.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1319864#Comment_1319864

The terms "Catholic" and "Orthodox" were not initially used to distinguish separate branches of Christianity, as they were applied to the unified church long before the formal split in 1054. Here's an overview of how these terms came to be used:
Catholic

The term "Catholic" (meaning "universal" in Greek) was first used to describe the Christian Church as early as the 2nd century AD

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. Specifically:

The first known use of the phrase "the catholic Church" (he katholike ekklesia) occurred in a letter written around 110 AD by Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans
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.

From early on, Christians referred to the Church as the "one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church"
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.

The term was used to emphasize the universal nature of the Church, rather than to distinguish it from other branches.

Orthodox

The term "Orthodox" (meaning "correct belief" or "right opinion" in Greek) came into use later:

It was increasingly used from the 4th-5th centuries onward to distinguish the mainstream church from various heretical movements.

The Eastern churches in particular began to use "Orthodox" as a self-descriptor to emphasize their adherence to the decisions of the early ecumenical councils.

Application to Separate Churches

It was only after the formal schism in 1054 that these terms came to be associated with distinct churches:

The Western church became known as the "Roman Catholic Church"
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.

The Eastern churches collectively became known as the "Eastern Orthodox Church"
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.

However, both churches continued to view themselves as the true inheritors of the original unified church, using both "catholic" and "orthodox" to describe themselves in different contexts.In summary, while these terms were used for centuries within the unified church, their application to separate ecclesiastical bodies only solidified after the East-West Schism of 1054.