E‑Sword - Software for PC - Which version of Bible and Commentaries?

version? King James with Apocrypha.

commentaries? none, but I suspect John Wesley would be the closest. but still none from that list.

ArmyMatt said:

version? King James with Apocrypha.

commentaries? none, but I suspect John Wesley would be the closest. but still none from that list.

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Why do many Orthodox use the KJV? Just curious.

Also I didn't realise E-Sword had the KJV with Apocrypha, I've just added it.

Two words; Duoay and Rheims. Not the modern version, but the original versions.

Xenophon said:

Two words; Duoay and Rheims. Not the modern version, but the original versions.

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I have the DR on there and for some reason when I click on some of the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical books it says "this book isn't available in this translation." They should be and they're listed so why are they even listed and then unavailable. Am I missing something?

Frankl said:

In general, which Bible translation should I use, easier to understand - better, and which commentaries you recommend?

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I personally use the NKJV.

for commentaries, look to the saints first and foremost.

I remember listening to Archbishop Alexander, when he found out that the Orthodox Study Bible was a NKJV translation, how he expressed his disappointment and dissatisfaction about the translation being "terrible." He then went on to show us how the translation failed with several examples.

Aspzan said:

Why do many Orthodox use the KJV? Just curious.

Also I didn't realise E-Sword had the KJV with Apocrypha, I've just added it.

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probably because it was translated in part to be liturgical I believe.

Aspzan said:

I have the DR on there and for some reason when I click on some of the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical books it says "this book isn't available in this translation." They should be and they're listed so why are they even listed and then unavailable. Am I missing something?

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It isn't the right version of DR, they don't have the old version, I think. By the time Cardinal Newman was around, he was very upset with the DR during his time, saying it was protestantized and just an imitation of the KJV.

Don't know why the software isn't working.

Frankl said:

e-Sword: Free Bible Study for the PC

Bible study tool for PC, it's free.
You can add Bible versions and also commentaries versions.

So, my question is, according to Orthodoxy, which version of Bible should I use from the list?
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And which commentaries from the list?
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There is also "Ancient Christian Commentary" but its not FREE and it costs around $130

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I like the ESV- it's easy to read and I find the translation from the Greek to be more accurate. I do keep the Orthodox Study Bible handy as well for brief commentary, articles, and reading the Deuterocanonicals (Apocrypha).

I wouldn't recommend any of those commentaries, although, I did use the Matthew Henry the other day. He listed a variety of opinions held by theologians on the topic and the basis for their arguments without giving an opinion himself, but I'm not sure if he is that way in all his commentaries. I read it in conjunction with the commentary from the OSB, which was not very clear, for the purpose of trying to understand the Orthodox position better.

I primarily read from the Eastern Fathers and the Saints. It is hard to find their writings broken down by passages, but you can find collections of homilies on various books and topics.

Here is a good source for the Early Fathers:
Early Church Fathers - Christian Classics Ethereal Library

I have Logos Bible Software, which lets me read the DR translation with the Orthodox Study Bible notes, commentary from a wide variety of Church Fathers, and the notes from the Yale Anchor Bible (if I want to see something discussing the structure of the verse or something from a more academic perspective.)

NKJV and RSV.