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3.0 out of 5 stars
Not THE Orthodox Bible, April 17 2004
I applaud the efforts of those who contributed to the creation of this study. There are many helpful notes, introductions, and topical studies that elucidate themes central, or at least unique, to Eastern Orthodoxy. In particular I found helpful the notes in the Epistle to the Romans. At the same time, I was very disappointed to find that in many places the notes were quite dumbed-down. To make it worse, in the section of morning and evening prayers, which, by the way, are very handy, there is no mention of Mary, the Mother of our God and Savior Jesus Christ!! This has lead me to conclude two things. Firstly, this production is intended to convince Portestants that we Orthodox do indeed love the Scriptures and it is a tool to draw them into our fold (which isn't a bad thing!). Secondly, the claim that it is THE Orthodox Study Bible leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Perhaps I'm a nit-pick, but to neglect the Mother of God in the prayers is wrong when it's touted as THE OSB. Perhaps in its second printing it could be modified to say AN OSB.Although there are many differences between the Orthodox and the Catholics, which I in no way dismiss as superficial, I still find the Jerusalem Bible's notes helpful. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, my former home, has published through Concordia Publishing a helpful study Bible which an Orthodox could read with profit, although there will be obvious differences in parts (i.e., Romans and James). I recommend these titles since they are more scholarly than the OSB in most respects. Nonetheless, everything they say cannot be endorsed as Orthodox and, depending on the subject in question, caution must me used. I think it can also be said that the whole idea of the interpritation of scripture is that the Church in our liturgies and sermons tells us what the meaing is and we learn by finding the scriptures within the liturgical life of Mother CHurch, the Bride of Christ. THat is also why in a sense we have no need for an authoritative translation. Of course some are better than others (I.E. Jerusalem bible over the NIV), but it is still not enough. We must have the mind of the Fathers from Abraham on down.
All in all, don't forget that the concept of a study bible can lead to a "me and my bible" mentality even if you are reading one with notes from the holy Fathers. Keep going to liturgy, say your prayers, love your neighbor and your enemies and our loving Fahter will show you His will- with or without a Protestant-geared bible.
THat said, it can certainly be used with profit. Just don't see it as the end all.
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