The Bible belongs at the heart of Orthodoxy

Scripture fills Orthodox worship. Psalms structure the daily services; the Epistle and Gospel are proclaimed in the Divine Liturgy; hymns weave biblical images together; doctrine and icons interpret the same saving history. The claim that Orthodoxy does not value the Bible usually comes from looking for a modern sermon-and-study format rather than noticing how deeply Scripture shapes the whole service.

Orthodox Christians call the Bible the inspired Word of God in human words. Christ is its center and fulfillment, so passages are read within the whole story of creation, Israel, Incarnation, Cross, Resurrection, Church, and Kingdom.

Why the Septuagint matters

The Septuagint is the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures widely used in the early Church. New Testament writers often quote forms found in this Greek tradition. Orthodox liturgy and patristic interpretation inherited its language and ordering.

The Orthodox Old Testament includes books such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, Baruch, and Maccabees, with some variation in traditional listings. Protestants often call these books Apocrypha; Orthodox Christians receive them as part of the Church’s longer canon.

Is there one official English translation?

No single English translation is universally mandated across every Orthodox jurisdiction. Parishes may use the Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New King James Version, English Standard Version, King James tradition, or a liturgical translation prepared by their jurisdiction.

Translation choices involve accuracy, readability, liturgical familiarity, and the underlying Old Testament text. A priest can tell you what is heard in your parish, which helps home reading connect with worship.

What about the Orthodox Study Bible?

The Orthodox Study Bible is a convenient one-volume English option. Its Old Testament is based on the Septuagint tradition and its New Testament uses the New King James Version, with notes and articles from an Orthodox perspective. Many beginners find it useful.

It is not a replacement for the Church’s worship or the only acceptable Orthodox Bible. Study notes are aids, not an ecumenical council. It can be paired with the translation used at your parish and with guidance from trusted clergy and teachers.

A practical beginner choice

  • Ask which translation your parish uses for public readings.
  • Choose a readable Gospel edition and begin with Mark or Luke rather than waiting for the perfect Bible.
  • Add an Orthodox Study Bible or a Septuagint-based Old Testament when you want the fuller canon in one place.
  • Use digital reading for consistency, but keep a print Bible if screens pull you into distraction.
  • Read a small section regularly and bring difficult questions to the Church’s wider interpretive life.

Sources & further reading