www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Scripture and Patristic Writings Orthodox Study Bible

A critique of the OSB. Very interesting!
Silouan, monk

http://voxstefani.blogspot.com/2007/08/on-worldview-deficiencies-and-orthodox.html

http://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol%202%20S1%20Francis.PDF

Is there an eye rolling icon?

Well, I really do hope that in the new edition coming out in a month or so, they thoroughly revise the notes and introductions for the New Testament books.

I'm not sure what to think. Using the NKJV is not ideal, but if everyone is going to get up in arms about it, then maybe the Bishops should commission a new Orthodox translation from scratch. I don't see why this would be so difficult.

Joe

Perhaps, St. Vladimir's Seminary should produce a new translation and publish it through St. Vladimir's Seminary Press? We have the resources to do it. It is just a matter of Orthodox biblical scholars sitting down and doing it.

Joe

Compared to Blessed Theophylact's bible commentaries the NT OSB commentaries are watered down, but at this point the OSB is better than nothing, especially since no one else seems to have done anything. Seems like the choice is either OSB or nothing as far as an Orthodox worldview is concerned.
Didn't some monks in Colorado produce an Orthodox bible? Is there any problem with it?

Does anyone know when the OSB is going to be available -- really? I have just read "summer" 2008, somewhere. Is it not February? Thank you so much!

The Leather edition will be released first in February or March.
The hardback edition will be released in summer 2008.

If you go to Amazon.com you can preorder the OSB at a substantial discount.

I just ordered both and this is what Amazon told me.

It's important to note that a Study Bible is just that, a study Bible, not a multi-volume compendium of patristic commentary, but a help for studying the Scriptures in one volume - which also must include the text of Scripture.

Surely nothing is perfect, but mark my words, most of the writers who have nothing good to say were invited to help, or their help would have been welcomed, but they would not and did not.

I've seen some of the unedited commentary and notes for the OSB Old Testament. The hard part was, no doubt, having to edit those massive notes down to footnotes that would fit.

No matter what, it should be better than what we have now, and it may be very, very good.

Father,

What kind of help does it provide? (I do not mean to be agreeing with criticisms, but I was wondering how a student would be helped with the Study Bible.)

Terry

Glad I ordered the leather edition...

I for one quite enjoy my NT/PS OSB and am looking forward to the full OSB being released. I purchased copies for all of my children as well.

Gordo

It offers background, explanations and information about things, people and places that wouldn't be necessarily commonly known. The same reason many study Bibles exist. There is also some patristic commentary mixed in, along with explanations from an Orthodox perspective on certain passages. What does Orthodoxy believe about justification and the like.

I guess the response I would give to those who want a completely literal English translation with no words wrong, faithful to the correct texts, no "bad icons" or replete with patristic commentary or whatever is twofold:

- One is they should fund and oversee the translation, production and printing of such a Bible since it doesn't exist now.
- Two, realize that if that Bible existed many people couldn't or wouldn't use it. The church is not a collection of academics or intellectuals. Many, many people need something accessible and readable. I'm sure this would lead to shrieks of "you're dumbing it down", etc.; but it's reality. I use it to help with my sixth to eight grade Sunday School kids. My wife would never pick up a Bible like the one described in scenario one. It's just reality.

Maybe the church in its life has been two used to the idea and fact that the Bible is largely not in the hands of the laity, and that reflects much of the criticism leveled at the OSB. I don't know. What I do know is there isn't much else out there, and the OSB was a good effort to fulfill a need that existed.

In the end there are people who will not be pleased no matter what. I personally have read the criticisms of the OSB and though they certainly have some merit; I also in large part find them pedantic, unrealistic and just ridiculous in different measures.

My own humble opinion.

Then it's like the historian who threads a narrative from various sources, brings a character and period to life, and is faced with critics who focus on what he did not write, rather than what was written.

Perhaps it are the expections some people have as to what the Orthodox Study Bible should be which is unrealistic.

Terry

Great points all, Andrew.

This series (especially in its e-format) is on my wish list. Perhaps with my tax refund...

http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/review/code=1470

I heard a taped lecture by Fr. John Breck, who is one of my favorite Orthodox Biblical Scholars. He was critical of the OSB, but did not provide specifics.

Some seem to level the "evangelical" charge against the project...but again, with very few specifics as to what that means. Anyone seen any specifics?

Gordo

I didn't see the edited notes, so I don't know.

I DO know that those involved were always interested in help, and would have gladly accepted it from the usual suspects, but were constantly rebuffed.

I don't know if it was because all the work done was voluntary (not paid), some sort of personality conflict, or they just had nothing to offer, only detraction.

No Study Bible will be perfect, anymore than any translation of the Bible (or any other document) could be 'perfect.'

The question is: "Will it be useful?"

I guess we'll see in a month.