Alternative to NJB for RCIA

[MasterYoda]

Hello,

I will be joining my parish’s RCIA program in the fall as an instructor. We will be using the newly issued RSV-CE second edition as the default text as opposed to the NAB translation. My question is what translation should be used for those people that need a more dynamic translation. The Jerusalem/NJB is very hard to find. The CTS Bible is great but hard to find in the US. Can I recommend the NLT? Any other ideas?

Thanks.

 

[ccolley]

Hello,

I will be joining my parish’s RCIA program in the fall as an instructor. We will be using the newly issued RSV-CE second edition as the default text as opposed to the NAB translation. My question is what translation should be used for those people that need a more dynamic translation. The Jerusalem/NJB is very hard to find. The CTS Bible is great but hard to find in the US. Can I recommend the NLT? Any other ideas?

Thanks.

I’m afraid that I don’t know what the acronyms CTS and NLT stand for, but I can say that I personally like the RSV-CE and I am also purchasing The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. It uses the RSV-CE and has commentaries and Notes by Scott Hahn. So I really like it, but each of the books is sold separately…so I am SLOWLY purchasing the entire bible.
Good luck with your search.
CC

 

[mccorm45]

Hello,

I will be joining my parish’s RCIA program in the fall as an instructor. We will be using the newly issued RSV-CE second edition as the default text as opposed to the NAB translation. My question is what translation should be used for those people that need a more dynamic translation. The Jerusalem/NJB is very hard to find. The CTS Bible is great but hard to find in the US. Can I recommend the NLT? Any other ideas?

Thanks.

MasterYoda,

The original Jerusalem, with the notes, is fairly hard to find that is quite true, however one can easily get a copy of the full NJB from Amazon: amazon.com/New-Jerusalem-Bible-Henry-Wansbrough/dp/0385142641. I also see it pretty regularly at places like Borders and Barnes and Noble.

In my mind, the NJB is clearly the best translation that is on the dynamic-equivalence side of the spectrum. The other, realistic option, is the Good News Bible, but that leans a little to close to a paraphrase. Having RCIA members using either the RSV-2CE or NJB would provide a nice balance for the classes.

 

[MasterYoda]

I agree that the New Jerusalem Bible is a very solid dynamic translation. The issue that I perceive is its total lack of support from the publisher Doubleday. Candidates can purchase the rather large version with all of the notes or the text version and that is it.

There are not any other format options, which is why I was looking at the New Living Translation. I will look into the Good News Bible also. Any additional help will be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[CalCatholic]

I agree that the New Jerusalem Bible is a very solid dynamic translation. The issue that I perceive is its total lack of support from the publisher Doubleday. Candidates can purchase the rather large version with all of the notes or the text version and that is it.

There are not any other format options, which is why I was looking at the New Living Translation. I will look into the Good News Bible also. Any additional help will be appreciated.

Thanks.

The New Living Translation is a Protestant Bible which does not include 7 books that are recognized as canonical by the Catholic Church, so this version would not be good for RCIA. The New Jerusalem Bible with all the notes and maps is available at most bookstores and at Amazon. It is also offered in a bonded leather ‘readers edition’ which lacks the notes and the maps but makes it very portable. This or the New American Bible (NAB) would be your best choices.

 

[mccorm45]

I agree that the New Jerusalem Bible is a very solid dynamic translation. The issue that I perceive is its total lack of support from the publisher Doubleday. Candidates can purchase the rather large version with all of the notes or the text version and that is it.

There are not any other format options, which is why I was looking at the New Living Translation. I will look into the Good News Bible also. Any additional help will be appreciated.

Thanks.

here is the NLT Ina rare Catholic edition:
amazon.com/gp/aw/d.html/ref=mp_s_a_2?qid=1264098311&a=0842354905&sr=8-2

 

[bauerice]

I have the NLT-Catholic reference edition and find it very nice and readable. Yet, I know it would be very hard to find and expensive to get more than a few copies. The RSV-2CE is an excellent choice. But, for the cost factor, the NAB can be purchased from most catholic bookstores as well as Autom in a paperback edition.

 

[garysibio]

I have the NLT-Catholic reference edition and find it very nice and readable. Yet, I know it would be very hard to find and expensive to get more than a few copies. The RSV-2CE is an excellent choice. But, for the cost factor, the NAB can be purchased from most catholic bookstores as well as Autom in a paperback edition.

How is the NLT Catholic Edition? Does it use inclusive language? Does it have reference material? I really like the NJB translation but I wouldn’t give you a nickel for the introductory material.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

While I prefer the RSV-CE for my own use, I always used the NAB with my RCIA classes. It is closest to what they encounter in the mass readings, and I didn’t want to confuse them with other translations at that point.

 

[garysibio]

While I prefer the RSV-CE for my own use, I always used the NAB with my RCIA classes. It is closest to what they encounter in the mass readings, and I didn’t want to confuse them with other translations at that point.

Don’t they get confused even more by the NAB footnotes?

 

[Mattjolley]

The Jerusalem/NJB is very hard to find.

amazon.com/Jerusalem-Bible-Readers-Alexander-Jones/dp/0385499183/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264159570&sr=8-1 There’s the original JB reader’s edition

The CTS Bible is great, shame it’s tough to find in the US. Why not suggest getting it from the Catholic Truth Society UK Site, seems quite affordable, even to the US.
cts-online.org.uk/acatalog/Our_Products_CTS_New_Catholic_Bible_21.html

I love this bible Probably since it matches the English Lectionary Word for word… Plus while I love the original JB, I can’t abide the use of ‘Yahweh’ so the CTS Version clears that up nicely.

 

[CalCatholic]

amazon.com/Jerusalem-Bible-Readers-Alexander-Jones/dp/0385499183/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264159570&sr=8-1 There’s the original JB reader’s edition

The CTS Bible is great, shame it’s tough to find in the US. Why not suggest getting it from the Catholic Truth Society UK Site, seems quite affordable, even to the US.
cts-online.org.uk/acatalog/Our_Products_CTS_New_Catholic_Bible_21.html

I love this bible Probably since it matches the English Lectionary Word for word… Plus while I love the original JB, I can’t abide the use of ‘Yahweh’ so the CTS Version clears that up nicely.

Mattjolley,
I heard rumors that the UK was looking to change their lectionary in the future and were considering using a ‘corrected’ version of the NRSV (as Canada did). Have you heard anything about that over there?

 

[Mattjolley]

I’ve only heard rumours myself, claiming that the NRSV introduction would be apt when the new Missal comes into effect.

Personally, I hope they don’t.

But what does ‘corrected’ actually mean? A reduction of the use of inclusive language?

Matt