Review | The Orthodox Study Bible By Thomas Nelson

Pastor Steve Waldron, New Life of Albany - Albany, Ga

[FolkBoyify]

To say we split from the Roman Catholic church is false. It was a mutual split, but technically, the Roman Catholic church split from us with their ideologies on authority within the Church.

[CharlesSeraphDrums]

Wrong on the hand position of Jesus: it refers to His two natures: Divine and Human.

[LlywellynOBrien]

My understanding is that the two fingers represents Christ's two natures, while the three fingers (or two and a thumb) represents the three persons of the Trinity.

[richardhildreth]

I am Eastern Orthodox, and LOVE my church!! All Orthodox churches are the same. The difference we say is the deserts we serve at our potlucks. But the difference is actually culture and language, but we all believe the same. And not having three dimensional figures as opposed to 2 dimensional is still an issue. Thank you so much pastor for this review. I was really surprised to see this, but I greatly appreciate it. And, priests can marry unless they are bishops. I am a recent convert from Protestantism by the way. And WOW, it is wonderful! And I am closer to Jesus because of my Orthodoxy faith. Blessings to you.

[LandscapeDallas]

Thank you, Pastor Steve, for the irenic review of the Orthodox Study Bible.
I have been Orthodox for 25 years, but was raised Baptist and spent quite a few years in the Pentecostal/ Charismatic movement as well. I use the OSB often in spite of its shortcomings, it is a pretty good study Bible. The New Testament is NKJV, as you mentioned, the Old Testament is NKJV in style but is a boiler=plate translation of the Septuagint using the NKJV as a base.
They missed more than they should have in leaving the NKJV unchanged, but overall it is pretty good. As a result, the Orthodox Study Bible Old Testament is more congruent with the New Testament than if it were translated from the Masoretic Text. Over 95% of the time, when the New Testament quotes the Old Testament, it is following the Septuagint readings.

[stservulus]

I really enjoyed your video. I use this Bible. I do wish it had more commentary on the Psalms. Thank you for being respectful of the Orthodox Church. I really appreciate your positive attitude. BTW, since becoming Orthodox I have been taking my Bible reading more seriously. It has been coming alive for me.

[josephr.gainey]

The Orthodox Church did NOT split off from the Roman Catholic Church. It is the oldest Christian Church on earth. Roman Catholicism with its changes in doctrine and insisting that the Pope be supreme governor of all churches left Orthodoxy.

[GenevieveEvangeline]

I'm a former evangelical. I even went to a Pentecostal church for a while. I illustrated sermons for a reverend from Fuller Seminary with his PhD as his secretary for years. I converted to the Orthodox Church in 2006. After being Orthodox 14 years, I would say "not quite" on your view of Orthodox theology. I read the bible cover to cover before converting. I almost have it memorized as a cradle Baptist. I have to say the Orthodox Church is the most biblical church I've ever been to. In the 1100s, western theology shifted to legalism, but we Orthodox, never became legalistic. However, our view of Grace is the uncreated divine energies of God. We believe that through what was given to us from the apostles was the way to tap into that Grace to be infused by it and radically changed by it. We don't earn salvation. We were saved at the cross, on the path being saved and shall be saved if we continue the good fight and endure to the end. Regarding the bible, we put together the New Testament in the 4th century AFTER Constantinople. As Orthodox, we are not as divided as you imply. And once upon a time, the Romans used Greek for 200 years before Latin. The term Greek in Greek Orthodox refers to universal/katholicos language during the day of Jesus, thanks to Alexander the Great. The 5 patriarchs/centers: Constantinople, Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch (all Greek speaking) and then Rome (Latin), they had been run by councils, 7 of them by the time of the Schism. Rome made changes without a council to please Charlemagne. The 3 (A, A & J) sided with Constantinople. The Universal Church split in two with Orthodoxy and Roman Catholic. Ortho meaning right/straight and doxy meaning teaching/glory. (As wisdom comes from God). I have had communion at the 4 of the patriarchates juristictions and at a Russian and OCA. It's not divided. It's like Polish catholic vs. Irish vs. Mexican. The Antiochian one is from where they were first called Christians started by Peter and Paul. Jerusalem was where James, the first bishop, held the first council (Acts of the Apostles). All the Orthodox Churches were planted by an apostle or a missionary of a church planted by an apostle like missionaries Sts. Ceril and Methodius to Russia, who wrote a language for the Slavs. Now, veneration, it is like kissing Grandma's picture after she died to show love to grandma. We are not worshiping paper or wood or even the person depicted but rather greeting those depicted in Church triumphant with a kiss of peace as we other Christians also alive in Christ in the Church Militant. We kiss on the cheek when we greet each other. Militant or Triumphant we worship together in the Holy Spirit. Jesus conquered death. They are not dead but alive in Christ united to Christ. I'm not sola scriptura because that came in the 1500s. Additionally, the church functioned 20 years after Jesus died following the apostles teachings before the first NT book was written. I'm also not legalistic because that view was thanks to Anselm (lawyer and later bishop) applying German Feudal Law to his interpretation of the bible. Our traditions safeguard what was handed down. Jewish oral tradition to preserve teachings was communal like saying the Lord's Prayer. People will correct you. That said, I've been to over 30 orthodox churches in 7 juristictions and even ones in Africa and many in my American homeland (CA). It's truly universal and the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. And my Jewish friend told me that we stole our whole liturgy from the Jews.

[pravolub]

As an Orthodox Christian, I need to correct just a couple mistakes.
Rome split from Orthodoxy, not the other way around. The symbolism of Christ's hand is that the two upright fingers represent His Divine/Human natures, and the three folded fingers represent the Holy Trinity. There are more, but I don't have the patience to type a long treatise on an old and small cell phone. Regardless of your assessment of Orthodoxy, at least you were willing to take a look. ☦Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on us all.

[terrysbookandbiblereviews]

the New Testament is the NKJV for the Old Testament it's a translation of the LXX.

[a_random_orthodox_Christian]

As an Eastern orthodox I have to say this review was very interesting God bless you pastor

[tennesseegirl]

Veneration is not worshipping the icons. That's not what we do. They are just held in high regard just like The Apostles and Mary etc. 😉

[JHNAW]

I became Greek Orthodox after learning the original 1611 KJV includes the Apocrypha and an introduction to the reader explaining that the New Testament quotes the LXX. The first KJV to be printed without the Apocrypha, with only 66 books, was printed on 1666! Wow. The Protestant Bible reduced the Bible to 66 books in 1666. I accept the LXX and identify with the Eastern Orthodox Church. I also have no problem accepting the canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. A fascinating fact to me is that every English translation, including the Leftist ones and the Jehovah's Witnesses' New World Translation, and even the Living Bible paraphrase, has the Apostle Thomas call the self-resurrected Jesus of Nazareth "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:26-28). God bless you.

[LK_Ireland]

Did he mention the Septuagint that’s the most unique thing about this Bible. Only the New Testament the new king James version of the old is this LXX, The first major work as a study Bible in English

[AssyrianEasternOrthodox]

The Great Schism split started from Roman Catholicism. Orthodoxy did not split nor will it ever since its the true Church founded by Christ.

[joelancon]

Hey I am a Roman Catholic I think I just want to explain our distinction between Veneration and Worship. First of all if you define veneration as worship that is totally fine, but please recognize that we define the terms differently and please do not accuse us of idolatry or idol worship. If you want honest dialogue at least hear us out.

Veneration is defined by the Catechism of The Catholic Church as "showing devotion and respect to Mary, the Apostles, and the martyrs, who were viewed as faithful witnesses to faith in Jesus Christ. Later, veneration was given to those who led a life of prayer and self-denial in giving witness to Christ, whose virtues were recognized and publicly proclaimed in theor canonization as saints. Such Veneration is often extended to relics or remains to those recognized as saints; indeed, to many Sacred objects and images Veneration must be clearly distinguished from adoration and worship which are due to God alone." By this definition you could also say that people venerate their parents, friends, and brothers in Christ since it is defined as "respect and devotion." If I were to say "Man you protestants can often run circles around us with y'all's impressive knowledge of scripture I need to talk to y'all more often." I just venerated certain protestants, with an often true and reasonable claim.

Worship is defined as "Adoration and Honor given to God, which is the first act of the virtue of religion. Public worship is given to God in the Church by the celebration of the Paschal Mystery[sacrifice] of Christ in the liturgy." By this definition you could say that the worship of God is done with a mixture of praise and offering of a sacrifice. We Catholics, and The Orthodox as well, would say that the Liturgy(Mass/Church) is the offering of the Sacrifice of Christ(not the re-offering), which is worship. Granted you do not have agree with or believe this, but it is what we believe.

[larrym.johnson]

There are pastor John Michael Talbot speaks in toungs . The Catholic Church believes in the gifts of the Holy Spirit she has oprationed in the Holy Spirit since 33 A.D. Fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead was the Feast of Pentecost in the upper room. I am a Catholic and if you have the catechism of the Catholic Church in your library look at paragraph 1076 thanks and God bless you.

[reubenyahshua]

ive just got this im really enjoying it

[jamesarmstrong]

Of all my years in the Orthodox Church, I have never heard it said or taught or heard of speaking in tongues. I would like to know your source of this. I do know that parts of the Divine Liturgy are sung (said) in Greek. This is definitely not speaking in tongues.

[colonyofcells]

I have seen videos of the way the orthodox do triple immersion baptisms of babies and adults. Catholics long ago switched from immersions to sprinkling for whatever reasons, and sprinkling was continued by most protestants like the presbyterians.