I will always remember my first time in an Eastern Orthodox church. The air smelled sweet with incense, while gold icons looked down from the walls. I heard a priest chanting old prayers, not a pastor preaching. Indeed, it felt like going back in time. Later, when I tried to follow the Bible readings, I saw something else that was different. The Old Testament verses sounded a little strange, even though I had read the Bible my whole life. This experience made me ask a simple but deep question: what bible do eastern orthodox use?
This question is not as easy as it sounds. For instance, if you ask a Protestant, they may say the NIV or the ESV. If you ask a Catholic, they will name the New American Bible. For the Eastern Orthodox Church, however, the answer is a trip into old history. It is a story of a different Old Testament and also a different way to think about the Bible. Ultimately, their faith is tied to old traditions. This is essential to understand before we can answer what bible do eastern orthodox use.
To find the real answer to “Are All Bibles the Same?”, we need to do more than name a book maker. We must look at the old texts the Apostles used. Furthermore, we will see why the Orthodox Old Testament has more books. We will also find the top version used by English-speaking Orthodox Christians today. This guide, therefore, will give you a clear and full answer.
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Why Is the Orthodox Bible Different, and What Bible Do Eastern Orthodox Use?
To understand the Orthodox Bible, we first need to see why it is different. The main change is not in the New Testament, as the 27 books of the New Testament are the same for Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox. The real change, and it is a big one, is in the Old Testament.
The story starts over 2,000 years ago. At that time, people used two main versions of the Old Testament.
First, there were the Hebrew and Aramaic texts, which Jewish people in and around Jerusalem used. For many years, Jewish experts, called Masoretes, copied these texts with great care. This is the text that most Protestant Bibles, like the NIV, KJV, and ESV, use for their Old Testament.
However, there was another key version. Many Jewish people lived outside of Israel and spoke Greek, which was the main language at the time. About 300 years before Jesus was born, a big project started in Egypt. There, experts translated the Hebrew texts into Greek. This Greek translation is called the Septuagint.
This is the main difference. The Eastern Orthodox Church thinks the Septuagint is the best and most holy version of the Old Testament. Their Old Testament, therefore, comes from this old Greek text, not the Hebrew Masoretic Text. This choice changes everything and is the foundation for knowing what bible do eastern orthodox use.
The Septuagint: The Key to What Bible Do Eastern Orthodox Use?
The Septuagint is the heart of the Orthodox Old Testament. Its name is often written as LXX, which is the Roman number for 70. Its story is key to the Orthodox view of the Bible.
Ancient Origins: The First Answer to What Bible Do Eastern Orthodox Use?
An old story tells about how the Septuagint was made. The story says the Greek king of Egypt wanted the Jewish holy books for his great library. So, he asked the top priest in Jerusalem to send experts. About 72 men were sent, six from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. They worked for 72 days and made a perfect Greek translation.
While this story might not be all true, the main point is. The Hebrew holy books were put into Greek in Egypt long before Christ. This means the Septuagint is a very old witness to the Old Testament. Furthermore, it is based on Hebrew texts that are much older than the Masoretic Text we have now.
When wondering what Bible do Eastern Orthodox use, why do they trust the Septuagint?
The Orthodox Church trusts the Septuagint for a big reason: it is the version the first Christians used. This is a very important point. When looking at what bible do eastern orthodox use, their answer is deeply connected to this history.
When the New Testament writers quoted the Old Testament, they used words from the Septuagint most of the time. For example, in Matthew 1:23, the writer quotes Isaiah 7:14. He says a “virgin” will have a baby. The Greek word for “virgin” (parthenos) comes from the Septuagint. The Masoretic Text, in contrast, uses a Hebrew word that can just mean “young woman.” The early church saw this as proof that God inspired the Septuagint.
This happens over and over. The Apostles and early Church leaders read and preached from the Septuagint. For the Orthodox, this is the Bible of the Apostles. So, if they have to pick, they will always pick the text the Apostles used. Also, the Dead Sea Scrolls have shown some interesting things. In some spots, these old Hebrew scrolls match the Septuagint better than the Masoretic Text. This shows the Septuagint comes from very old and good Hebrew texts. You can learn more about this from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
What Books Are in the Eastern Orthodox Old Testament?
Because the Orthodox Church uses the Septuagint, its Old Testament is longer. It has all the books of the Protestant Old Testament, plus more. Protestants often call these extra books the “Apocrypha,” but the Orthodox do not like that name, as it can mean “hidden” or “false.”
Instead, the Orthodox call these books Anagignoskomena. This word means “worthy of being read,” and they see them as part of the Holy Scriptures. This list of books is also a bit different from the one in Catholic Bibles.
What Extra Books Are Included in the Orthodox Canon?
The full list of books in the Orthodox Old Testament often has:
- Tobit
- Judith
- 1, 2, and 3 Maccabees (Catholics have only 1 and 2)
- The Wisdom of Solomon
- The Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach
- Baruch
- The Letter of Jeremiah
- Parts of Daniel (The Prayer of Azariah, Song of the Three Holy Youths, Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon)
- Parts of Esther
- Psalm 151
- The Prayer of Manasseh
Some Orthodox groups may also add 4 Maccabees and 1 Esdras at the end. This longer Old Testament is a result of using the Septuagint. So, the Old Testament contents are a big part of the answer to what bible do eastern orthodox use.
What Official English Translation of the Bible Do Eastern Orthodox Use?
This brings us to the main question for people who speak English. If you go to an Orthodox book store in the USA, what Bible will you see? The answer is a bit tricky because for a long time, there was not one “official” English Bible for all Orthodox Christians. The Church’s main languages for worship have been Greek, Slavonic, and others.
But as the Church grew in countries that speak English, they needed a standard English Bible. Today, one version is more common than all others.
The OSB: The Common Answer to What Bible Do Eastern Orthodox Use?
For most Orthodox Christians who speak English, the top choice is the Orthodox Study Bible (OSB). This Bible was a huge project, made to give Orthodox people a trusted text with notes.
So, what is the OSB? It has two parts.
- The New Testament: The New Testament in the OSB is the New King James Version (NKJV). The team chose the NKJV for a special reason. It is based on the “Received Text,” or Textus Receptus. This is the same family of Greek texts that the King James Version used, and it matches well with the old text used in Orthodox worship for many years.
- The Old Testament: This is the most special part. The Old Testament in the OSB is a new translation, translated into English right from the Greek Septuagint. This makes the OSB special because it is the first main English Bible with an Old Testament based on the Septuagint.
The OSB is also full of great study notes and charts. These notes give comments from the early Church Fathers, which helps the reader understand the Bible like the early Church did. For most people asking what bible do eastern orthodox use in English, the OSB is the best and fullest answer. You can find it in most big book stores and from Orthodox stores online like Ancient Faith Store.
Are There Other English Translations Orthodox Christians Use?
The OSB is the most common, but it is not the only one. You might find other Bibles in some Orthodox churches.
- Eastern/Greek Orthodox Bible (EOB): This is a newer project, mostly online, and it is still being worked on. It aims to be a full Orthodox translation. It is very good but not as well known as the OSB.
- Revised Standard Version (RSV): The RSV is a well-respected Bible. Some churches may use a version with the extra books. Its main weakness is that its Old Testament is still based on the Masoretic Text.
- King James Version (KJV): In the past, some English-speaking Orthodox used the KJV with the extra books, but its old language is hard for many people today.
The number of choices can be confusing when you ask what bible do eastern orthodox use. However, the Orthodox Study Bible has made a clear and common choice for the first time.
How Is the Bible Used in Eastern Orthodox Worship and Life?
To really know the Orthodox view of the Bible, we must see how they use it. For the Orthodox, the Bible is not just a book of rules to read by yourself. It is a living book that is part of the Church’s worship.
How is Scripture Part of the Liturgical Life of the Church?
The services in the Orthodox Church are full of scripture. For instance, the psalms, hymns, and prayers are almost all made of Bible verses. In every Divine Liturgy (the main Sunday service), priests read parts of the Epistles and Gospels. The Gospel book itself is treated with great respect. It often has a nice metal cover, and the priest carries it in a special walk. Indeed, the reading of the Gospel is a main point of the service.
Why Is Holy Tradition the Key to Understanding the Bible?
Maybe the biggest difference is how the Orthodox understand the Bible. They think the Bible must be read with Holy Tradition as a guide. What is Holy Tradition? It is the living faith of the Church passed down from the Apostles. This includes the writings of the early Church Fathers, the choices of the great Church Councils, the Church’s hymns, and the lives of the saints.
For the Orthodox, the Bible is the best part of Holy Tradition; it is not a separate thing. You cannot really understand one without the other. This stops people from making up their own ideas. Instead, they read the Bible with the mind of the Church, guided by 2,000 years of wisdom. This church and tradition context is key to knowing what bible do eastern orthodox use and why. You can learn more about Orthodox worship from the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
Final Verdict: The Bible of the Ancient Church
So, after our deep look, we can now answer our question.
The full answer to what bible do eastern orthodox use is a story of old texts, church life, and holy tradition.
The Orthodox Bible’s Old Testament is based on the old Greek Septuagint. This was the Bible used by the Apostles and the early Church. Because of this, their Old Testament is longer than in Protestant Bibles, as it has the books they call the Anagignoskomena.
For English speakers, there is not one single version that the whole Church says to use. However, the Orthodox Study Bible is now the common choice. It has an Old Testament from the Septuagint and a New Testament that matches the Church’s worship text.
Most of all, the Orthodox see the Bible as the heart of the Church’s life. This core belief is the final piece to understanding what bible do eastern orthodox use. Church members read, chant, and pray it in worship. They understand it through the wisdom of the saints and Church Fathers. For them, it is not just an old book, but the living Word of God.
FAQ – What Bible Do Eastern Orthodox Use
What is the relationship between Holy Tradition and the Orthodox interpretation of the Bible?
Orthodox Christianity teaches that the Bible is best understood in the context of Holy Tradition, which includes the teachings of the Church Fathers, church councils, hymns, and saints’ lives. This tradition guides the interpretation of scripture and prevents individual misinterpretation.
How is the Bible incorporated into worship and life in the Eastern Orthodox Church?
In the Orthodox Church, the Bible is central to worship through readings of the Gospels, Epistles, and Psalms during services. It is regarded as a living book that forms part of the Church’s liturgy, prayers, and hymns, and is understood within Holy Tradition.
What books are included in the Orthodox Old Testament that are not found in Protestant Bibles?
The Orthodox Old Testament includes additional books known as the Anagignoskomena, such as Tobit, Judith, 1, 2, and 3 Maccabees, the Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, Baruch, and parts of Daniel and Esther, making it longer than the Protestant Old Testament.
Why does the Orthodox Church use the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew Masoretic Text for their Old Testament?
The Orthodox Church prefers the Septuagint because it was the version used by the early Christians and the Apostles, and it is based on older Hebrew texts. Additionally, many New Testament quotations from the Old Testament are taken from the Septuagint, which the Church considers more aligned with their faith and tradition.
What specific version of the Bible is used by most Eastern Orthodox Christians in English?
Most Eastern Orthodox Christians who speak English use the Orthodox Study Bible, which features the Old Testament translated from the Greek Septuagint and the New Testament based on the Textus Receptus, along with study notes from early Church Fathers.
