The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy,Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
Besides the New Testament, this scholarly text and bible within Orthodoxy, provides the Psalms.
(For disclosure, once again, I am Protestant and Reformed)
From page 635
Authors: David and others
Date: About 1000-400 B.C.
Theme: The songs of God's people, a hymnbook of Israel.
Background:
Types of Psalms
-Prophecies of the coming Messiah. (635).
-Prayers for the king. (635).
-Personal lamentations. (635). (Expressing grief and sorrow, my add).
-Songs of praise. (635).
-Hymns for specials feasts. (635).
Psalms as prayer book for Israel and the Christian Church
The Orthodox text opines that as with Israel, the Psalms in the Christian Church became a book of prayer and praise (635). Key are prophetic predictions in regard to the coming Messiah in the Psalms, which from a New Testament perspective are verified within its books.
The Psalms are viewed as predicting the events of Christ's life (635).
An example...
Psalms 22:16-17
NASB: New American Standard Bible
16 For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me
New Testament versions rendered do not mention the dogs, but all of the Old Testament revelation is reasoned as scripture within Christianity and the rest of that section parallels the Gospel texts versions and the overall New Testament story in regards to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
The Orthodox Bible states:
'Verse 16 describes the piercing of Christ's hands and feet.' (651).
Some critics within Judaism and elsewhere, will disagree that this (16-17) is a prophecy in regard to Jesus Christ. I disagree with their analysis, but for academic balance, do support examining the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible in its original context. In other words, one should not read too much New Testament into the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible.
(This was taught to me at a Canadian Christian seminary, by the way)
In regards to verse 18 which states in the Orthodox Study Bible:
They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. (652)....the notation states:
Verse 18, quoted in the Gospels (Matthew 27;35; John 19: 24), is the prophecy of the casting of lots for Christ's garments. The clarity of this verse continues to this day to baffle both Jews (Those within Judaism, my add) who have rejected Him as Messiah, and modern unbelieving biblical scholars (Critics of prophecy and biblical Christianity, my add). (651).
