anyone know a translation of The Explanatory Bible of Aleksandr Lopukhin

MJ. Smith
MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 54,929
edited March 3 in Books and Courses Forum

this is listed as a major eastern Orthodox commentary, but I find it only in Russian. does anyone know of an english translation, even if out of print?

Description from Preplexity:

The Explanatory Bible, or Commentary on All Books of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is a significant work by Aleksandr Pavlovich Lopukhin (1852-1904), a Russian Orthodox biblical scholar and theologian. This comprehensive Bible commentary was published in 12 volumes between 1904 and 1913 in St. Petersburg.

Key features of Lopukhin's Explanatory Bible include:

Comprehensive coverage: It provides commentary on all books of the Old and New Testaments.

Scholarly approach: Lopukhin was a professor of ancient history and comparative theology at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, bringing academic rigor to the work.

Historical context: The commentary aims to present biblical history in light of the latest research and discoveries of its time.

Popularity and influence: It became a major Eastern Orthodox commentary, widely used and respected in Russian-speaking Orthodox communities.

Accessibility: Lopukhin was known for his ability to popularize theological literature, making complex concepts understandable to a broader audience.

Continued relevance: The commentary has been reprinted multiple times and remains an important resource for Russian-speaking Christians.

While the Explanatory Bible is a significant work in Russian Orthodox biblical scholarship, it is important to note that as of 2025, there does not appear to be an English translation available. The commentary remains primarily accessible to Russian-speaking readers and scholars.

Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

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  • Vlad
    Vlad Member Posts: 71 ✭✭✭
    edited March 3 Answer ✓

    There are electronic versions of the Lopukhin's Explanatory Bible (in Russian). Some of them are available online, for example, here: http://www.lopbible.narod.ru/
    You can use auto-translation feature in your browser (e.g. Google Chrome), and read the translation of the commentary in English. The text of the Bible itself is the Russian Synodal Translation (for which you don't need to use the auto-translation), and the commentary itself is shown below the Bible text.

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  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 54,929

    If not English what about other European languages?

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Vlad
    Vlad Member Posts: 71 ✭✭✭
    edited March 3 Answer ✓

    There are electronic versions of the Lopukhin's Explanatory Bible (in Russian). Some of them are available online, for example, here: http://www.lopbible.narod.ru/
    You can use auto-translation feature in your browser (e.g. Google Chrome), and read the translation of the commentary in English. The text of the Bible itself is the Russian Synodal Translation (for which you don't need to use the auto-translation), and the commentary itself is shown below the Bible text.

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 54,929

    Thank you - that's a big help.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

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