Orthodox Study Bible

The original edition of the OSB, released in 1993, included only the New Testament and Psalms, both taken from the NKJV, which was chosen because the NKJV translation is based on the Greek Textus Receptus used by the Eastern Orthodox Church. The 2008 edition of the OSB includes the full Orthodox canon. It retains the NKJV for the New Testament. The Old Testament is a translation of the Septuagint developed by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology. The translation uses the NKJV Old Testament as the base text, but alters it where it differs from the Septuagint, with Alfred Rahlfs' edition of the Septuagint used and Brenton's English translation serving as additional reference material. One feature therefore is that New Testament quotations of the Old Testament are identical in wording between the Old and New Testaments (e.g. 1:27; 19:5; Mark 10:7-8; 6:16; 5:31). The overview committee included fourteen archbishops, metropolitans, and bishops from various Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions, as well as eight priests and seven lay scholars. ==Study materials==

The translations of the Old Testament and New Testament are accompanied by commentary from the Orthodox viewpoint. Articles provide guidance and support for many facets of the Orthodox faith which can be confusing or unknown to those unacquainted with the Church. There is a comparative of list of contents, side-by-side with the Roman Catholic canon and the generally accepted Protestant canon. The OSB addresses such questions as: "Why is the Mother of God essential to the Faith?", "Who were the Seventy Disciples?", "How is an Orthodox understanding of the Bible different from a Roman Catholic or Protestant understanding?". In addition, the OSB provides basic daily prayers, a lectionary for personal use, and reproductions of icons in its pages. ==Response==

Although not an official text of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the publication has received positive endorsements from such prominent bishops as Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America), Metropolitan Phillip (Antiochian Orthodox Church) and Metropolitan Theodosius (Orthodox Church in America). Public response According to the Canadian Journal of Orthodox Christianity, the OSB has been "on the whole [...] warmly received" across major jurisdictions. They also note how it is used commonly for personal reading and in parish Scripture studies. Critical response Brian A. Butcher, deacon in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, views it as an important step for Eastern Orthodox Christians in understanding the Eastern Orthodox interpretation in an English translation, but notes that limitations may apply for liturgical and devotional use, unless they closely align with Eastern Orthodox tradition. Theologian and independent researcher Cyril Kennedy critiqued it negatively, identifying three central issues: he argues that it presents itself as a patristic study Bible yet does not seriously engage in biblical scholarship, several sections adopt a polemical tone toward non-Eastern Orthodox traditions, and that historical statements are oversimplified, which makes it lean towards a devotional book rather than a scholarly resource. ==See also==