Work is ongoing in earnest on the Ancient Christian Study Bible (ACSB).1 The completed volume will be published by Oxford University Press (OUP).

Different study Bibles provide their readers different resources. The ACSB focuses on notes that summarize the first Christian millennium’s major interpretations of each passage.

The project aims to

connect the Greek text of the Bible with patristic annotations for a modern English-speaking educated public[ … and to] be the premier patristic Study Bible for use by Orthodox clergy, scholars, students and faithful, as well as those interested in ancient Christian interpretation of Scripture.

The Features of the ACSB

To support this aim, the ACSB has five key features for each book. These features include

  1. an introduction that treats background matters as well as the book’s general history of interpretation,
  2. a new translation based on both testaments’ Greek texts,
  3. notes that explain important text-critical issues,
  4. exegetical notes that provide context for each passage and, especially, its patristic reception, and
  5. notes that summarize each passage’s major interpretations across the first millenium.

The summary notes include citations to the relevant primary sources. Where possible, notes will refer to editions available in English translations. Otherwise, notes will cite the principal editions of patristic texts.

Also planned for the volume are several short essays. These essays will discuss topics like

  • surveys of principal interpreters from the Greek, Latin, Coptic, Ethiopic, Syriac, and Armenian traditions,
  • the biblical canon,
  • the impact of Greek philosophy on Christian biblical interpretation,
  • early Christian hermeneutics and what it means to read Scripture with these authors today.

The Making of the ACSB

A study Bible is no small undertaking.2 Still less is one that digests a thousand years of interpretation.

So, the ACSB has behind it a team of over 50 experts and scholars. And even beyond this group is the OUP team that will produce the volume.

Such a large, multifaceted project promises helpful results in the final product. In addition, the process of making the final product highlights important findings that prove useful in other projects besides.

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  1. For most of the details here, see “Holy Cross Dean Fr. Eugen J. Pentiuc, Co-Editor of The Ancient Christian Study Bible,” Hellenic College Holy Cross, 8 July 2025. Header image provided by Hellenic College Holy Cross. ↩︎

  2. Image provided by 4motions Werbeagentur. ↩︎