Answering an Orthodox, or purported such, on Creation and on Balaam

First, I found an article on the site Orthodox Christianity, by Seraphim Hamilton, while looking for my own blog, this one, finding it can certainly be accessed, but not very googled. Second, while in site, I found an article on St. Joseph the Fair or St. Joseph the All Comely, a k a Joseph in Egypt:

JOSEPH THE FAIR AND CHRISTIAN PARADIGMS
Metropolitan Serafim (Joanta) of Germany and Central Europe
https://orthochristian.com/165670.html

Third, I found under that one this comment:

Mauro Souto | 12/20/2024 10:53 pm

I admire the Orthodox Christianity as much as I despise the lies of Judaism which were, little by little, introduced into our religion and faith through the Synagogue of Satan. Mix together our sacred Scriptures with the Torah (certainly in nothing original as the real Torah brought by Moses) is something I will never understand coming from the Orthodoxy. Specially considering the amount of contradictions between both texts. Compare the creation of the world both in Genesis 1 and John 1. Two completely different revelations: someone is lying. Compare the story of Balaam: the Jewish documents say he did not curse Israel; the Christian documents say he did: someone is lying. How can I, as a Christian, validate the Gospels using the Torah, as many do, knowing that there is not a true Jewish text to rely on anymore? This is confusing, and there must be no place for confusion among the sons of Jesus Christ.

I think it is partly worthier of Marcion than of Photius (whom I believe to have died in the Catholic Church, i e in peace with the Pope).

I also think it is worth answering, because it argues for some ideas that are bad, but it argues, technically, well.

the lies of Judaism which were, little by little, introduced into our religion and faith through the Synagogue of Satan

Like they hijacked the Christian religion when the Church excommunicated Marcion?

Do not think so.

The general setup sounds a bit like Hitler in 1940 arguing the Jews had invented the Schwabach Fraktur, in order to make German print incomprehensible to occupied people. I love the Schwabach Fraktur, but even if some find it reminiscent of Square Letters, I think he credited Jews with more influence and perhaps even more taste than they had.

Mix together our sacred Scriptures with the Torah (certainly in nothing original as the real Torah brought by Moses) is something I will never understand coming from the Orthodoxy.

Mauro Souto will not understand Orthodoxy. Period. Unless he changes his mind.

Specially considering the amount of contradictions between both texts.

Atheists and Jews pretend there are many contradictions between texts in the NT, like about Our Lord's childhood or about St. Paul's vocation.

Compare the creation of the world both in Genesis 1 and John 1. Two completely different revelations: someone is lying.

No. John 1 describes the why and for what purpose. Genesis 1 describes the when (at least in what order) and the how.

Compare the story of Balaam: the Jewish documents say he did not curse Israel; the Christian documents say he did: someone is lying.

I looked up his name in the NT.

Leaving the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam of Bosor, who loved the wages of iniquity,
[2 Peter 2:15]

Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain: and after the error of Balaam they have for reward poured out themselves, and have perished in the contradiction of Core.
[Jude 1:11]

But I have against thee a few things: because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat, and to commit fornication:
[Apocalypse (Revelation) 2:14]

And while Jude 1:11 mentions Balaam as only one in three, II Peter 2 gives a context:

Leaving the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam of Bosor, who loved the wages of iniquity But had a check of his madness, the dumb beast used to the yoke, which speaking with man's voice, forbade the folly of the prophet
[2 Peter 2:15-16]

So, the NT actually confirms that Balaam was stopped from pronouncing the curse. Apocalypse 2 says he nevertheless contributed to the ruin of Israel in other ways, but not that this included cursing.

How can I, as a Christian, validate the Gospels using the Torah, as many do, knowing that there is not a true Jewish text to rely on anymore? This is confusing, and there must be no place for confusion among the sons of Jesus Christ.

There is a Christian text of the Torah, in the LXX version.

Also, "this is confusing" here only means "this is confusing to me" and while Christianity should offer no genuine stumblingblocks inviting to confusion about important issues, it can certainly involve a passage or two which could puzzle Mauro Souto.

Of whom the First Pope actually spoke:

And account the longsuffering of our Lord, salvation; as also our most dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction
[2 Peter 3:15-16]

As Marcion was no more Christian than Luther, twisting the previous chapter of II Peter to pretend Balaam cursed and wasn't stopped isn't better than twisting Romans 3, as Luther and Tyndale did, to pretend justification doesn't involve works.

Hans Georg Lundahl
Paris
IV LD of Advent
22.XII.2024