As a Catholic, is it wrong to go to a Baptist bible study

[jack63]

Sometimes in certain areas of the US it is hard to find a good Catholic Bible study group. You see a nice protestant group…something like a Baptist group…lots of young people…pretty young Christian woman. Good food! Why not?! I did this once.

The problem is that I, as a Catholic, I made so many social faux-paux, they stopped inviting me. It kinda hurt. I’d bring wine (on multiple occasions) and watch and wave of awkwardness descend on the group…it took me a while to understand why. I talk about John Kennedy (he was president before abortion became an issue…FYI), and I’d be met with dead silence. Tried discussing a U2 concert,(Irishmen with cool religious themed music…no doubt they’re older) and I was met with theological debate on Catholicism.

 

[OraLabora]

Instead of going to a Baptist Bible study, and I wouldn’t BTW even though I’m fine with Protestants (married to one even!), try taking up lectio divina. Or find a group that does, or if there’s a contemplative religious order nearby, visit them and ask to speak to a monk or nun for help on how to do it.

True story, I was standing outside the monastery waiting for Vespers on a warm summer afternoon, when a visitor came out and started to lecture me about the monastery just being the “work of man” and how the bible was all that was needed for the answer, blablaba, in short an evangelical protestant wanting to take me on.

I didn’t bite. Instead I replied “I see you love the Bible as I do; have you ever heard of lectio divina?”. He hadn’t. So I told him it was a prayerful way to read and meditate the Bible. I asked if he had internet access and he did, so I told him to google “lectio divina”, and said I was sure he’d find it an interesting way to learn scripture and develop new insights. He left all enthusiastic promising to look it up!

Don’t argue, plant seeds. Who knows, one may take root and grow.

I doubt though, that you could pull that off in a Baptist Bible study. You’ll be seriously outgunned and if they know you are Catholic they will try to draw you into a chapter-and-verse debate.

 

[Elizabeth_Henni]

Absolutely not wrong! It is an opportunity. Make sure to bring a copy of the “American Bible”. This is the only Bible translation recognized by the Catholic Church. “The Apocrypha” are books of the Bible added later because they hadn’t been discovered until the 1900’s. After much discernment by the Catholic Church. It was approved by Vatican 2. It’s important to know their are many translations & they each have different variations which can then make it confusing to figure out which interpretations are recognized by the Catholic Church.

Bringing a Catholic Study Bible to your Baptist group, would make for a highly interesting & enriching experience for both you & the others - but only to be referred to in group with the permission of each group member. This is Catholic Church protocol to maintain respect of others of different Faiths & without offending anyone. Sometimes … a delicate balance. Best to err on the side of silence, until you discern that it’s a good time to share when those around you are open to hearing what you have to say about our Catholic Faith.

Have fun & God bless!
Elizabeth

 

[Jimbo]

Ack! Cavin, Jeff Cavin. Stupid auto correct

 

[Fauken]

Make sure to bring a copy of the “American Bible”. This is the only Bible translation recognized by the Catholic Church.

That is incorrect, even if it’s in reference to only English translations. In America alone there are several listed here:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/approved-translations/index.cfm

“The Apocrypha” are books of the Bible added later because they hadn’t been discovered until the 1900’s. After much discernment by the Catholic Church. It was approved by Vatican 2.

I take it you’re referring to the Deuterocanon? That is also not true. The Douay-Rheims, translated hundreds of years ago, has the Deuterocanon, and the Latin Vulgate it is translated from was the Latin translation done by St. Jerome. They’ve been around and approved as biblical canon for centuries.

 

[Elizabeth_Henni]

Thank you so much for enlightening me about this.
When I became a Catechist in 2003, I was told by our Director of our parish Christian Ministry that the NAB was the only translation we were authorized to use to teach Catechism.

This is such an interesting discussion to me, Fauken. I am always very interested in making sure references I use are reliable, respected & approved by the Church. Your link really opened my eyes. Perhaps you could help me understand what the USCB’s “Permissions” section included in your very informative link said, among other interesting things, this:

“The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) owns the copyright on the New American Bible, revised edition translation. The copyright allows the owner to protect the integrity of the text so that individuals may not introduce changes without permission. Royalty fees earned by licensing the text to companies who publish and sell Bibles help to provide funds for Scripture scholarship and other educational needs.”

If you read further in this section, you will most likely get the impression of the favoritism shown the NAB edition. I also learned that finding the most recent edition is also important when wishing to be precise.

This article has strong language regarding the NAB with respect to copyright of this edition. Perhaps it has something to do with the Church’s fostering of Ecumenicalism which might call for a Bible translation acceptable to those of other religions - including Catholics?

 

[thistle]

I have been working hard to live the word of God. I feel I need more help! And there’s a bible study at a Babtiest church close to me. Has a Catholic . Is it wrong to study with Babtiest bible study group.

I think you should steer clear. Find a Catholic Bible study group or use an online one.

St. Paul Center

 

[Elizabeth_Henni]

I will address your insightful & helpful comment/question about “The Apocrypha” in a later post.

Thank you for your post!
Elizabeth

 

[phil19034]

Thank you so much for enlightening me about this.
When I became a Catechist in 2003, I was told by our Director of our parish Christian Ministry that the NAB was the only translation we were authorized to use to teach Catechism.

“The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) owns the copyright on the New American Bible, revised edition translation. The copyright allows the owner to protect the integrity of the text so that individuals may not introduce changes without permission. Royalty fees earned by licensing the text to companies who publish and sell Bibles help to provide funds for Scripture scholarship and other educational needs.”

If you read further in this section, you will most likely get the impression of the favoritism shown the NAB edition. I also learned that finding the most recent edition is also important when wishing to be precise.

This article has strong language regarding the NAB with respect to copyright of this edition. Perhaps it has something to do with the Church’s fostering of Ecumenicalism which might call for a Bible translation acceptable to those of other religions - including Catholics?

1. I think the reason why your director wants the NAB is because the Lectionary used in the United States is based on the NAB, and the Liturgy of the Hours used in the United States is based on the 1970 NAB (both with changes required by the Vatican)

• If director meant the NAB/NABRE are the only authorized version that the Parish was allowing you to use, that’s one thing. But if the director meant that the NAB/NABRE are the only versions Catholics were allowed to use to teach Catechism & study in the United States, that’s 100% wrong.
• for example, my Pastor reads from the NRSV at our Parish Bible Study. It’s often good to have a few different (Church approved) translations for comparison. Also, there are a number of Church Catechism programs that often use the RSV-CE, RSV-2CE, and Douay–Rheims translations because they are easier to acquire copyright permissions (the Douay-Rheims being in the public domain)

1. The reason there seems to be a bias towards the NAB and NABRE in the United States is because the CCD (which is attached to the USCCB) owns it. Every time someone buys a NABRE Bible, the CCD gets money. So the US Bishops a few years back made it so the only Lectionary allowed to used in the United States was the one based on the NAB so the CCD would receive royalties from everyone sold. However, there are other American Catholic publishers that sell lectionaries for other nations using the RSV-2CE
2. As FYI, while the NABRE is better than the NAB, but it’s hardly the best English Translation. The NAB isn’t even approved for Mass in all counties. For example, while the Canadians have an OPTION to use the NAB based Lectionary (like the USA does) for their Masses, an edited version of the NRSV-CE is their prefered version Lectionary. And in the United Kingdom, the NAB is not an approved translation. In England, they use the Jerusalem Bible as the basis of their Lectionary.

(cont)

 

[phil19034]

@Elizabeth_Henni

(part 2)

The Brits also approve use of the the RSV at mass too.

England and Wales use the following translations in their Liturgy of the Hours:

• Jerusalem Bible
• Knox Bible
• New English Bible
• Revised Standard Version
• Good News
• plus the 1963 Grail Psalter

But no NAB anywhere.

http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Scripture/Versions.shtml

NOTE: the new African Liturgy of the Hours in English uses the New African Bible (which uses the NABRE translation, but removes all NABRE comments & replaces them with more traditional, Catholic comments), with a few edits.

God Bless