Best Study Bible?

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Alfie_Smith

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Hi! I am a Protestant who has recently felt very drawn towards the Catholic Church. As I would like to learn more about the church and it’s teachings, I wondered if anyone could recommend a good Study Bible please?

Also, should I start to recite the rosary and if so, how often?

Thank you.
 
Alfie_Smith said:
Hi! I am a Protestant who has recently felt very drawn towards the Catholic Church. As I would like to learn more about the church and it’s teachings, I wondered if anyone could recommend a good Study Bible please?

Also, should I start to recite the rosary and if so, how often?

Thank you.
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I had this question a few weeks ago and chose the RSV CE, Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. I asked my confessor which translation he reads and he also chooses this translation.

As for your Rosary, you can pray it as much as you want. Open yourself up as you are and let God guide you.
 
The RSV-CE does seem to be an often recommended translation of the Bible. I do believe the study bible that I’ve heard recommended the most is the Ignatious Study Bible (which is RSV-CE) you can purchase it here:

shop.catholic.com/product.php?productid=16814&cat=295&page=1

I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m hoping to get it for Christmas if I’m lucky 🙂 Good luck on your journey, and God Bless.
 
Alfie, I would recommend sitting in on a couple RCIA classes. They are wonderful, interesting, and would certainly teach you everything you want to know about the Catholic Church and its teachings.

Welcome.
 
I’m going to assume you already have a Bible so if you got a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (or just use the online version here: vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM) you can pair the two together for a great bible study! A great deal of the Catechism draws from Scripture which you can look up with you bible. And with the internet, you read up on the other works of the Church which the Catechism also draws from.

I personally like the Challoner Douay-Rheims as a study bible of which the online version can be accessed here: drbo.org/

I also refer to the Haydock Bible Commentary which is also available online here: haydock1859.tripod.com/

In addition, check out the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology which teaches the biblical basis for many of the teachings of the Church: salvationhistory.com/

You may also find these to be of great interest to you as well:
The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20100930_verbum-domini_en.html

Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation
vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html
 
Thank you so much to everyone who has replied. It really is appreciated. 👍
 
I really really like the Ignatius Study Bible (RSV-2CE), but it is just NT. I believe they are working through the OT now. I’ve head good things about Navarre, though its a little pricey to get the whole set. You can get the ISB in paperback on Amazon for like $22.
 
Though some have disdain for this, I really love my Catholic Answer Study Bible, NAB.
 
mdkirkbride said:
I really really like the Ignatius Study Bible (RSV-2CE), but it is just NT. I believe they are working through the OT now. I’ve head good things about Navarre, though its a little pricey to get the whole set. You can get the ISB in paperback on Amazon for like $22.
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I recently bought a paperbook Ignatious Study of Genesis and I really really like it!
 
the translation that will seem most familiar to most people is the RSV-CE (revised standard version, Catholic edition with imprimatur) Ignatius Press has the best selection. If you have been using one of the “modern English usage” translations you may like the New American Bible better. That is the version used, for the most part, in the Mass readings in the US.
 
I think a good Bible to start with is the ‘Ignatius Catholic Study Bible - New Testament’, put out by Ignatius Press. It has great notes and commentary and uses the RSV-2CE translation. 👍
 
Hi Alfie, and welcome to the forums!

Without question the Catholic bible that goes into the greatest detail is the Navarre Bible. It is a set that contains the text from the Revised Standard Version bible translation, with additional commentaries and explanations. This extensive project was initiated by St. Josemaria Escriva and was compiled by the University of Navarre faculty. Sources of the commentaries include: various Church documents, the writings of the Early Church Fathers and Doctors of the Church , as well as the writings from modern spiritual writers.

God bless you on your journey,
Subrosa
 
I use a McReynolds Word Study Greek-English New Testament, which I would highly recommend to anybody interested in serious Bible study. If you’re not familiar with Greek, see if you can audit a few classes at your local university. Translations are all well and good but there is really no substitute for reading the Bible in its original language.
 
The most approachable study Bible for non-Catholics and/or beginners to scripture study is going to be the Catholic Scripture Study International Bible which uses the RSV-CE translation and provides study notes that are great for beginners as well as those coming from other faith traditions. cssprogram.net/

After that in terms of depth is the Ignatius Study Bible which as was noted above has only been release as a single volume in the New Testament. It uses the RSV2CE translation which is a bit of an update from the earlier one but is very very similar. amazon.com/Ignatius-Catholic-Study-Bible-Testament/dp/1586172506/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323546855&sr=1-1

Following that in terms of depth is the Navarre Study Bible Series. It is availible in both OT and NT but comes in multiple volumes because it is so big. It uses the RSV-CE for English but also provides the Nova Vulgata in Latin throughout. bestcatholicbible.com/product/Complete%20Navarre%20Bible%2010-Volume%20Hardcover%20Set

Another one worth considering that has been pointed out above is the Haydock Bible. This uses the Douay-Rheims translation which will have archaic language similar to what you will find in older versions of the King James. The study notes are outstanding and can be counted on to be completely faithful. amazon.com/Haydock-Bible-Douay-Rheims-Old-Testament/dp/B000OTWYF6/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323546761&sr=1-2

I am also eagerly awaiting the completion of this series which looks to be outstanding. They are using the NAB translation however, unlike the regular NAB, the study notes should be completely faithful to Church tradition and teaching. They have brought in some real heavyweights in terms of Bible scholars. catholicscripturecommentary.com/

All of those study Bibles are faithful to the Magesterium of the Church and can be counted on to teach Church doctrine properly. In addition, as others have suggested, I would strongly encourage you to get a copy of the Catechism. There is one for adults in the United States that is very throughout but also very direct. It cites scripture regularly and is very approachable. amazon.com/United-States-Catholic-Catechism-Adults/dp/1574554506/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323546929&sr=1-1

Finally I would suggest looking into Dr. Brant Pitre. He has a ton of wonderful CD’s on Sacred Scripture to include some of the exact lectures he teaches to seminarians who are studying to be Catholic priests and deacons. catholicproductions.com/store/audio/pitre/index.html
 
To the OP, I am going to tag onto your thread with a follow up question if you do not mind.

Does anyone have any feedback on the following two Study Bibles?

This one had some less than stellar reviews prior to the re-translation of the NAB due to issues with orthodoxy of the study notes. Now, with the NABRE translation, they have released a new version. Have the notes been updated to be in greater compliance with Catholic tradition?
amazon.com/Catholic-Study-Bible-Donald-Senior/dp/019529775X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323547671&sr=1-1

Second is the Little Rock Study Bible. This is relatively new but seems to suffer from some of the same issues as the Oxford Catholic Study Bible in that it some have accused it of presenting some things which are not always in keeping with Church tradition. amazon.com/Little-Rock-Catholic-Study-Bible/dp/0814636489/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

If anyone has knowledge of these two Bibles, I would appreciate the feedback.

Peace,
 
Thanks to everyone who has posted here. It is appreciated. 🙂

I am going to get the Catholic Scripture Study International Bible, but have put the other recommendations here on my “to get” list.
 
Alfie_Smith said:
Thanks to everyone who has posted here. It is appreciated. 🙂

I am going to get the Catholic Scripture Study International Bible…
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I think that is a great decision. As I mentioned above, it is faithfully Catholic and still approachable by those from other faith traditions or for those who have not done much in the way of scripture study in the past. I think you will be very satisfied with it.

Also, I just noticed that you are in the UK, which I should have seen before I recommended the US Catechism for Adults. Sorry about that. Just so you know, there is a Catechism that was written for the UK which I hear is quite good. If you are really interested in Catholic Christianity, reading the Catechism is about the best way to get a handle on the Faith. Anyway, here is the link to the UK Catechism: amazon.co.uk/Catechism-Catholic-Church-catholic-church/dp/0860123278

Finally, this Catholicism for Dummies book is very well done. Don’t let the title throw you off. We got it as a gift after coming into the Church last Easter. Despite the fact that I had read the Catechism, a Study Bible, and gone through RCIA, I still learned a ton from this book: amazon.co.uk/Catholicism-Dummies-Rev-John-Triglio/dp/0764553917/ref=pd_sim_b_1/278-5864616-8885936

If you get through that Study Bible, the Catechism, and the Catholicism for Dummies book you will know more about the Catholic Church and her beliefs than the overwhelming majority of people you find in the pews on Sunday.

Peace,
 
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