Which Bible Do Orthodox Christians Use?
A Complete, Beginner-Focused Guide to the Septuagint, the Deuterocanon, and Choosing the Right Bible
If you are exploring Eastern Orthodoxy, this question almost always comes up early:
Which Bible do Orthodox Christians use?
It seems like a simple question, but it opens the door to something much deeper. Many inquirers notice right away that Orthodox Bibles look different from the ones they grew up with. There are more books in the Old Testament. Psalm numbers do not always match. Familiar verses sometimes read a little differently.
This can feel unsettling at first, especially if you were taught that there is only one correct biblical text.
The truth is simpler and far older than most people realize.
Orthodox Christians use the Bible that was received, read, prayed, and proclaimed by the Apostles and the early Church. That commitment centers on two things most modern Christians were never taught about:
• the Septuagint (LXX)
• the Deuterocanonical books
This guide is written specifically for people who are looking seriously into Orthodoxy and want clarity, not arguments. The goal is to help you understand what the Orthodox Church uses, why it uses it, and which English Bibles will actually help you on your journey.
The Short Answer
Orthodox Christians do not follow a single modern English translation. Instead:
• The Old Testament is based primarily on the Septuagint (LXX)
• The New Testament follows the Byzantine Greek textual tradition
• The canon includes the Deuterocanonical books, which many Protestants later removed
To understand why this matters, we need to go back before modern denominations even existed.
The Septuagint (LXX): The Bible of the Apostles
What Is the Septuagint?
The Septuagint, often abbreviated LXX, is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures completed between the 3rd and 1st centuries before Christ. It was produced for Jewish communities who no longer spoke Hebrew fluently, especially in the Greek-speaking world.
This matters because Greek was the common language of the Roman Empire, and it was the language in which the New Testament itself was written.
When Jesus taught, when the Apostles preached, and when the New Testament authors quoted the Old Testament, they overwhelmingly relied on the Septuagint.
This is not speculation. It is visible on the page.
Why the Septuagint Matters So Much in Orthodoxy
1. The New Testament Quotes the Septuagint
When the New Testament quotes the Old Testament, the wording almost always matches the Septuagint rather than later Hebrew texts. This includes quotations from the Psalms, Isaiah, and the Law.
2. It Predates the Masoretic Text by Centuries
The Masoretic Text, which most Protestant Bibles rely on, was standardized between the 7th and 10th centuries after Christ. The Septuagint reflects a much earlier form of the Hebrew Scriptures.
3. It Preserves Explicit Messianic Language
One of the most famous examples is Isaiah 7:14.
The Septuagint uses the Greek word parthenos, meaning virgin.
Later Hebrew manuscripts use a term that can be rendered more ambiguously as young woman.
The Gospel of Matthew follows the Septuagint wording.
4. It Shapes Orthodox Worship
The hymns, psalms, and prayers of the Orthodox Church are built on the Septuagint text. Reading it at home allows you to hear Scripture the same way it is heard in the Divine Liturgy.
Septuagint vs Masoretic Text: Why the Difference Exists
The Masoretic Text
The Masoretic Text is a Hebrew manuscript tradition preserved by Jewish scholars known as the Masoretes. Their work was meticulous and reverent, but it was finalized long after Christianity had already spread throughout the Roman world.
Most modern Protestant Bibles translate their Old Testament from this text.
The Orthodox Perspective
Orthodoxy does not reject Hebrew Scripture. It simply trusts the textual tradition that the Church actually received, used, and interpreted from the beginning.
The question Orthodoxy asks is not:
“What is the latest or most academically standardized text?”
It is:
“Which Scriptures did the Apostles read, preach, and hand down to the Church?”
That answer is the Septuagint.
The Deuterocanonical Books: Not Extra, Not Optional
One of the most common questions inquirers ask is:
“Why does the Orthodox Bible have extra books?”
From an Orthodox point of view, it does not.
What Does “Deuterocanonical” Mean?
The term Deuterocanonical means “of the second canon.” These books were included in the Septuagint and used continuously in the Church, but they were later debated in the West.
These books include:
• Tobit
• Judith
• Wisdom of Solomon
• Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
• Baruch
• 1, 2, and 3 Maccabees
• Additions to Daniel and Esther
• Psalm 151
These writings were never hidden or secret in the early Church. They were read in worship, quoted by Church Fathers, and used to teach doctrine and prayer.
They were removed from many Western Bibles during the Reformation, not added by Orthodoxy.
Why These Books Matter for Inquirers
The Deuterocanonical books provide a spiritual and historical bridge between the Old and New Testaments.
They teach about:
• prayer for the dead
• almsgiving and mercy
• martyrdom and faithfulness under persecution
• divine wisdom personified
Many ideas that appear suddenly in the New Testament are already present here.
So Which English Bible Should You Use?
If you are an English-speaking inquirer, you are not expected to learn Greek or Church Slavonic. The Church understands this. That is why several high-quality English resources exist.
Below are the best Amazon-available options that actually align with Orthodox tradition.
The Orthodox Study Bible (Best All-Around Choice)
Why it matters:
The Orthodox Study Bible is the single most recommended Bible for people exploring Orthodoxy.
What makes it unique:
• Old Testament translated from the Septuagint
• New Testament based on the Byzantine text using the NKJV
• Patristic commentary drawn from the Church Fathers
• Full-color icons and liturgical reading guides
This Bible was created specifically to help modern readers enter the mindset of the ancient Church.
Recommended for:
Anyone new to Orthodoxy who wants one complete, trustworthy resource.
Ancient Faith Study Bible (Excellent Secondary Resource)
Why it matters:
The Ancient Faith Study Bible focuses on commentary rather than canon structure.
Key features:
• Uses the CSB translation for readability
• Margins filled with quotes from 2nd–5th century Church Fathers
• Excellent for seeing how early Christians interpreted Scripture
Important note:
This Bible follows a Western book order and canon, but the commentary is deeply Orthodox in spirit.
Recommended for:
Readers who want patristic insight alongside a modern English translation.
Lexham English Septuagint (For Deep Study)
Why it matters:
The Lexham English Septuagint is a direct English translation of the Greek Old Testament.
What it offers:
• Clear, modern English
• Faithful to the Greek structure of the LXX
• Ideal for comparing with other translations
This is not a replacement for a full Bible. It is a companion text for serious learners.
Recommended for:
Inquirers who want to understand exactly how the Septuagint differs from the Masoretic tradition.
How Orthodox Christians Read the Bible
One final difference many inquirers notice is not about the text itself, but how it is used.
In Orthodoxy, Scripture is not treated as a stand-alone instruction manual. It is read:
• within prayer
• within worship
• within the life of the Church
Practical Guidance for Beginners
Start with the Gospels
Begin with Mark or John. Let Christ shape how you read everything else.
Use the Psalms
The Psalms are the prayer book of the Church. Be aware that numbering follows the Septuagint.
Read with the Saints
Orthodox Christians believe the authors of Scripture are alive in Christ. Keeping a small icon or prayer card nearby reminds us that Scripture is a living conversation, not a dead document.
Why This Question Matters So Much
The question “Which Bible do Orthodox Christians use?” is often really a deeper question:
“Can I trust that the Orthodox Church has preserved the faith of the Apostles?”
The Bible Orthodox Christians use is not newer, simpler, or more modern. It is older, fuller, and deeply integrated into worship and prayer.
Orthodoxy did not change the Bible.
It protected it.
Final Encouragement
If you feel overwhelmed, that is normal. You are stepping into a tradition that is ancient, vast, and deeply rooted in lived experience.
Start simply. Choose a Bible that aligns with the Church’s life. Read slowly. Pray as you read. Let understanding come over time.
