Yes, but think how happy we will be when it finally arrives in the mail. I am sure we will forget all about our long wait and give praise to the Lord!

In addition to glosses or notes in the text, I like the maps, chronologies, and charts in the appendices. Any word on the quality of OSB's appendix?

Terry

I don't think so - last word is February sometime.

The hardback is due for June....let's hope Feb. is still the date!!

Yes, obviously, any reviewer is subjective and many factors will influence opinion. There may be cultural factors at work, the phenomenon of large-scale conversions to Orthodoxy on the part of former evangelicals is an American one, the reviewer in this case is British. The general point that it can be unsound for recent converts to attempt to represent Orthodoxy seems to be a perfectly reasonable one. In something purporting to be an Orthodox Study Bible I don't think it is disdainful or pedantic to wonder why prayers to the Theotokos were omitted from the earliest editions or why the Psalter is not presented in the numbering used by the Church. It seems from all the reviews I've read that part of the problem is that this volume falls between two stools. To people already within Orthodoxy, an Orthodox Study Bible implies something that is going to fully reflect the mind of the Church in its presentation, whereas the OSB seems to be aimed at people outside the Church and reflects standard evangelical style models of presentation.

Let's hope indeed that the forthcoming volume will be an improvement and that lessons will have been learnt.

Brigid

A minor point of historical interest...

Many of the same instigators for the OSB project were ordained priests and deacons shortly after their conversion. Obviously the Archbishop believed that they were sufficiently prepared to shepherd his flock and expound upon the Sacred Scriptures in his liturgical assemblies.

The OSB is not intended to be a scholarly commentary which addresses the issues of the academy. (That is not to say, of course, that the academy should have "no comment" - even if that were possible - nor would it be advisable. Scholarship certainly has a key role in expounding the message of Scripture in collaboration with the hierarchy.) The OSB's purpose is evangelistic, catechetical and pastoral. One could say that its purpose perfectly aligns with that of the NT writings as well.

God bless,

Gordo

Yes, I agree. The important thing I think is that despite the relative newness of some of the principal contributors, it received the commendation and input of a number of Orthodox hierarchs. They felt it was good enough, despite whatever failings it has, to fill a need.

I find the comments of Father John a page back depressing, but not surprising.

Has the OSB been given the support of any Orthodox communions?

Terry

I know it has the approval of Metropolitan Philip of the AOA and Metropolitan Maximos of the GOA who IIRC serve on its editorial board. I have seen it on the book table of every Orthodox Church I have been to that has one. The major Orthodox book distributors I can think of sell it.

Ordered leatherbound for personal home/prayer use...ordered a hardback as well for a gift...I just received an e-mail that the hardback will be delivered late February...early March...in time for the great fast...I'm wondering if those who heard it would not be available now until the summer are trying to order and it's already known that a 2nd printing is necessary...just a thought...

I just checked, Amazon still says June 2008...so I hope the mssg they sent you is correct! That would be great!

I sure hope that is correct!

Sept. 2000 was the OSB workshop at Antiochian Village.

8 years is a long time to wait.

Any word on the latest?

Is it actually coming out this month?

Anyone?

Please?!!

I don't know the exact dates, but here is what was in yesterday's bulletin:

I am praying it turns out to be excellent, and will order mine next Sunday.

The Coptic church I visited used the NKJV as its pew bible. Is it common for Orthodox churches to use that version?

If so, then why is it a problem that the OSB uses the NKJV?

Terry

The NKJV is owned by Thomas Nelson Publishers, and at the time of the OSB's work, Nelson was owned by an Orthodox Christian, who gave it gratis to the project for its work.

The RSV would have cost $20K (thanks for that NCC) and would have been the preferred version if the cost was not so high. Many modern English translations of the Liturgy use the RSV as their text from which the Liturgy comes.

You can find it spelled out verse by verse in this book:

http://www.lulu.com/content/725388

Patristic commentary is on the left page, Liturgy and Bible Refs on the right.