Everything about The Orthodox Study Bible totally explained
The
Orthodox Study Bible is a translation and annotation of the
Christian Bible published by
Thomas Nelson. The Old Testament has been directly translated from the
Septuagint
using the
New King James Version as the template. The New Testament is the New King James Version. Both are accompanied by
Orthodox viewpoint commentary.
The New Testament and Psalms in the New King James Version with commentary notes was published in 1993 by Thomas Nelson.
The
Old Testament was prepared under the auspices of Academic Community of St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology, using clergy and lay scholars. The overview committee included 14 archbishops, metropolitans, and bishops from various Orthodox jurisdictions, eight priests, and seven laymen. The project experienced some production delays. It was originally expected by
Pascha (Easter) 2007, but was finally released on February 12th of 2008. The Old Testament edition includes a new translation of the Psalms by Dr. Donald Sheehan of Dartmouth College.
Criticism
Despite positive
endorsements
by such prominent bishops as Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh
(Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America) and
Metropolitan Phillip
(Antiochian Orthodox Church), some commentators have been critical of the results of the project that have been published so far. Critics tend to be concerned both with the version chosen (NKJV) and with the overall approach of the commentators. One review, printed in the journal
Sourozh stated that the commentary "feels far too much like a piece of evangelical propaganda decked out in the trappings of Orthodoxy".
There are also inaccuracies at Genesis 3:15, Genesis 4:8 and Psalm 22(23) where the text follows the Hebrew and not the text of the Septuagint. Further, several notes, don't accurately reflect the beliefs of The Orthodox Church. For example, in the Gospel According to St. Luke, the genealogy of Jesus is traced through His Holy Mother, the Theotokos (for example Virgin Mary), back to Nathan, who was the biological son of King David. This important fact, that's celebrated liturgically in the Orthodox Church, is completely ignored. It is even erroneously suggested that it's Joseph's lineage, or maybe his brother, that only links Christ to the Royal House of David through adoption not blood. This note directly contradicts the teachings of the Orthodox Church and St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans in Chapter One, verse three that make the bold statement that Jesus Christ is biologically related to King David, thus directly fulfilling the Old testament messianic prophecies.
Alternate Projects
An alternative attempt to provide a traditional Orthodox study bible is
The Orthodox New Testament by Holy Apostles Convent in Buena Vista, Colorado (under the "Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece"). This work is currently printed in two volumes (Vol. I: The Gospels, Vol. II: Acts, Epistles, and Revelation). Criticism of this work has tended to object to the woodenly literal translation of the scriptural text. The same publisher also provides a New Testament study software. Many Orthodox Christians have also objected to the fact that this version is published by a
Greek Old Calendarist group that's outside the boundaries of the worldwide Orthodox communion.
There is also the on-going work of Mr. Peter A. Papoutsis in his translation called The Holy Orthodox Bible. However, this translation is being released in sections, but will eventually be release in a one volume hardcover edition in the next several years. The Holy Orthodox Bible Volumes I, II(a), IV & The Psalms can be found in both book and e-book options on www.lulu.com.
The EOB or Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible is a professional, scholarly and collaborative edition confirmed for full release in January 2008. It offers a new translation of the New Testament based on the official ecclesiastical text of the Greek-speaking Orthodox Churches (the Patriarchal Text of 1904) with extensive introductory and appendix material. The Old Testament is a fully revised and annotated edition of Brenton's Septuagint.
Mr. Michael Asser has just recently translated and published his English translation of the Septuagint psalms through the Center for Traditional Orthodox Studies (CTOS), and the CTOS will also publish his complete English Septuagint translation in three or four installments, beginning in October with the Pentateuch, continuing in Feb-March 2009 with the historical and poetical books, and concluding four months later with the minor and major prophets.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Orthodox Study Bible'.
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