The Orthodox Study Bible: New Testament & Psalms [Hardcover]

Peter E. Gillquist (Editor), Alan Wallerstedt (Editor), Joseph Allen (Editor), Michel Najim (Editor), J.N. Sparks (Editor), Theodore Stylianopoulos (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1086 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 24, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0840783914
• ISBN-13: 978-0840783912
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #520,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A useful introduction, December 30, 1999

By 

Matthew C. Steenberg - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Orthodox Study Bible: New Testament & Psalms (Hardcover)

This study Bible will serve as a useful introduction to the Orthodox interpretation of the scriptures, and many households will benefit from a copy. It is easily approachable, and the footnotes are helpful to those who are relatively unfamiliar with Orthodox theology.

Yet the critiques of others --that the OSB fails to make use of scriptural study that is prevalent within the Orthodox community, that it fails to be Patristic enough in its notes and comments-- are well grounded. Much more could have been added on the interpretation of passages by the Fathers, and it is a shame that this was not done. The book introductions are quite simplistic and often fail to consider the critical study of even Orthodox scholars on such issues as authorship, dating, audience, etc.

Still, most non-academics will find this a helpful and enjoyable volume. Its lexicon at the end, and guide to Bible reading by Bp. +KALLISTOS, are both excellent.

For those, especially, who are looking for a friendly insight into Orthodoxy through New Testament examination, it is a book worth having.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very useful Orthodox companion to the New Testament, October 15, 1999

By 

John J. Henderson - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Orthodox Study Bible: New Testament & Psalms (Hardcover)

Many Orthodox scholars such as Fr. Jack Sparks, Bishop KALLISTOS Ware, & Fr. Constantine Nasr. It was overviewed by such Orthodox authorities as Fr. Thomas Hopko, Fr. Stanley Harakas, and bishops representing virtually every Orthodox diocese in North America. I find this Study Bible very useful in introducing people to Orthodoxy through the Holy Scriptures as well as a wonderful companion for every Orthodox Christian. I believe that any Orthodox family could benefit from having this Study Bible in their home.

There are wonderful notes on nearly all the verses of the New Testament, giving the interpretation of the Orthodox Church on the Holy Scriptures. It also includes a lectionary, chapters on "How to Read the Bible," and "Introducing the Orthodox Church," and wonderful articles are interspersed throughout the Bible on such topics as "Confession," "The Four 'Orders' in Church Government," and "The Transfiguration." The pages are also graced by the presence of beautiful icons.

I do have a few minor problems with this Bible. Some is left to be desired in the Book of Psalms, largely because the Septuagint, the Old Testament of the Orthodox Church, was not used. (Of course, this is about to be resolved because the same group of people is currently working on the Old Testament Orthodox Study Bible using the entire Septuagint text.) It was also disappointing to see that in the Morning and Evening prayers in the back, there is no mention of the Virgin Mary. However, the notes and articles throughout the Study Bible clearly explain the emphasis which is put on the Virgin Mary in the Orthodox Church.

I would highly recommend owning this Study Bible, and I don't feel that it deserves a lot of the harsh criticism it has gotten. They did an excellent job!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for devotional reading, February 3, 2007

By 

Another Reader (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Orthodox Study Bible: New Testament & Psalms (Hardcover)

There are several ways to read the Bible - the two most common are devotional and academic. A devotional reader reads the Bible as if it were a love-letter from their Beloved - reading not critically, not looking for flaws or loopholes, or evidence, but rather looking for what the Beloved wishes to communicate. The academic reader reads as if reading a scientific textbook, searching for flaws, evidence, arguments, and proof.

There is a place for both types of reading. Devotional for the Spiritual life, and Academic for the person who needs more evidence to come to Faith regarding a particular teaching, or who writes for those in such a position, or a person who simply has an academic interest in Religious matters. Many times a person might alternate between the two types of reading based on their needs at a given time.

If you are a person who wishes to read the Bible devotionally, with an understanding of the Orthodox Church's teachings on the passages, this is a perfect choice. If you are new to Orthodoxy, or cradle Orthodox, or if you know nothing of Orthodoxy, and want to understand the Church's teachings about every New Testament passage, this is an ideal place to start.

If you are an academic reader, I would still strongly encourage this edition, only with the caveat that you shouldn't expect it to what it is not. It gives a wonderful first level overview of any given passage, and a good place to start for further reasearch. It is not an apologetic work, but neither was it intended to be.

I have read this edition from cover-to-cover - every word, every footnote, every article (except perhaps the index and the copyright page ; ) - I cannot recommend it more highly. Inside the cover there is an impressive list of endorsements by many well-known Orthodox Bishops.