Which Bible Does Orthodox Church Use?
Orthodox churches use various versions of the Bible. Among them are the King James Version, Septuagint, and Other translations. But which one is the most reliable? The answer may surprise you. The first step in determining what version of the Bible the Orthodox church uses is to understand the differences between these versions.
Table of Contents
The King James Version
The orthodox church uses the King James Version in its worship services. During the sixteenth century, the Puritans and Anglicans were at odds, and the King James Bible brought them together. While all modern translations claim to be ecumenical, the KJV remains the standard, as it is used across denominational lines.
The King James Version is known for its archaic language style. It uses “thee,” “thy,” and “thou,” and often includes a suffix such as -est or -eth. This style of English is more accurate for a liturgical Christian’s understanding of the language.
Orthodox churches use the King James Version for Divine Liturgy and other readings. However, most Orthodox parishes don’t use this version. However, the English version of the Lord’s Prayer is used in all English-speaking parishes, regardless of denomination.
The KJV and NKJV are used by the Orthodox church. The KJV contains the NT text from Greek Textus Receptus, which is very close to the official Orthodox text of the NT. However, the KJV doesn’t use the Septuagint to translate the Old Testament. A new translation of the Old Testament is being prepared.
The King James Version is still the most common and accurate version of the Bible. However, there are many other versions of the Bible. The RSV, for example, has been adapted by the orthodox church. The RSV uses the same text as the KJV, but with some differences. The NRSV has a more modern literary style and is more literal than the RSV.
The Septuagint
The Septuagint is the oldest Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. It was originally written around 150 B.C. and was used by early Christians to locate prophecies fulfilled by Christ. While many Jews viewed the Septuagint as a misuse of Holy Scripture, it was eventually used as the basis of a number of later translations, including the Old Latin, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, and Slavonic languages. The Septuagint was also used by the early Christian church as a translation of the Old Testament.
There are several translations of the Septuagint in English. The New English Translation, published by Oxford University Press in 2007, is an eclectic translation based on the Gottingen/Rahlf5 critical edition of the Septuagint. However, this translation is not suitable for English-speaking Orthodox.
Early Christian writers cited the Septuagint as the source of their faith. Despite the differences, the Septuagint remains the bible used by the orthodox church. The Septuagint was the preferred language of the early Christian movement and was the foundation for much of the early development of liturgical language, theological language, and homiletic literature.
The Septuagint has two main versions. The Septuagint LXX is the version used by the Orthodox Church. It contains the entire Greek text, which requires a special font. It also contains hyperlinks to Strong’s concordance. However, it is difficult to navigate.
Other translations
The Orthodox church uses a few different versions of the Bible. Some of these are based on a Protestant project, while others have a Greek edition. The Septuagint, an established version of all Old Testament books, and certain New Testament books are also used by the church. In addition to the Septuagint, English translations are available of all these books. But these translations are not the official texts of the church.
The Greek Septuagint and Syriac Peshitta are the two ancient textual traditions of the Old Testament that the Church uses. The Latin Vulgate, a pre-schism version of the Bible, also has a place in the Orthodox church. But the church recognizes other translations of the Bible, including the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) and specific Old Church Slavonic translations.
There are several important differences between these translations. For example, the RSV contains more apocrypha than the NRSV, which is more conservative. In addition, the OSB’s Companion series of commentary helps readers understand the text better. The NIV is a Protestant Bible with a Protestant bias.
Another version of the bible used by the Orthodox church is called the Orthodox Study Bible. This version contains translations of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Additionally, it includes articles on Orthodox faith and its differences from the generally accepted Protestant canon. It also includes basic daily prayers and reproductions of icons.
