Bible Version Suggestions

[porthos11]

I gave specific verses of where the NAB/RE are wrong, you attack that as a “caricature”. I will now provide the specific verses. The NABR/RE translations of these passages are defective in every sense of that word.

Genesis 3:15 (The Protoevangelium)

NABRE: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel.

DR (Challoner Rev): I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.

NAB/RE verse is translated to the derogation of the Blessed Virgin and deliberately weakens the connection between this verse and the vision of Mary in Revelations 12.

The Hebrew is neuter. “He” or “it” are perfectly acceptable translations.

The Vulgate is solo on the “ipsa” part. “She” is not the best translation. “He”, referring eventually to Christ, is preferred.

1 John 5:7-8

NABRE: So there are three that testify, [8 ]the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and the three are of one accord

DR: And there are three who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one. [8] And there are three that give testimony on earth: the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three are one

NABR/RE verse is translated to the detriment of both the beautiful language of this epistle but also to its meaning.

The so-called “Johannine Comma” is not present in the best Greek manuscripts, and in none before the 15th century, and is accepted as not belonging to Scripture.

Luke 1:28

NAB/RE: And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

DR: And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Again, translated in derogation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Favoured one, while not the best, is not an inaccurate translation of “kecharitomene.” It isn’t a “derogation” of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “Full of grace” isn’t even that good a translation either. They’re just trying to find a suitable English word for an extraordinarily loaded Greek one. Translators have better things to worry about than find ways to attack the Blessed Virgin.

The Vulgate of St. Jerome was based on pre-Masoretic texts (and Greek texts for the NT) that we no longer have access to and is thus a better source than the Masoretic texts which have been corrupted over time. The “original language” of the 6th-10th Century Masoretic texts is not a better source than the 4th Century Jerome Vulgate for the Old Testament, and the same thing is true with respect to Greek Texts.

The Douay-Rheims (Original or Challoner revisions) remains the “golden standard” for English Bibles because they were based, for the most part, on the Jerome Vulgate (Challoner revision, also drew upon Clementine Vulgate).

The converse is also true. We have access to more and older manuscripts that Jerome did not have. The Masoretic text, while troublesome in places, is substantially accurate, and this assessment is backed up by the majority of ancient-language manuscripts.

I don’t consider the the Douay/Challoner, or even the Knox the “gold standard” PRECISELY because they are translations of the Latin. I personally find the Douay an irritating read and would pick the King James over it any time. Pope Pius XII himself said that over any translation (and the Latin IS a translation), the original languages have the authority and weight (DAS 16).

The NAB is a perfectly fine translation for Catholics to read, although I would recommend they go for the RSV instead.

 

[tvknight415]

For the RSV, get the Didache edition. Period.

For the NABRE, I’d go either Didache or the Little Rock Study Bible. LR has probably the most engaging page layout, and the extras are generally helpful.

 

[Neofight]

The NAB/NABRE are terrible, uninspired, insipid, awful translations.

STOP THE PRESSES!

Opinionated comments about the NABRE such as “terrible” and “awful” is one thing, but making a claim that the NABRE is “uninspired” is treading on very dangerous ground.

By making such outrageous claims you are (inadvertently. I certainly hope) is paramount to questioning the legitimacy of any OF Mass celebrated in the U.S., since it is the text authorized by the USCCB for the lectionary.

Hopefully you just had a bad choice of words.

 

[Returner]

For a beginner, the NABRE is good.
It’s what I received from a Catholic church a year ago.

I don’t have the money to buy a physical copy of the Douay Rheims bible.
If anyone would like to donate one, I am happy to study it and receive it.

 

[Wesrock]

I think the above posts illustrate quite clearly that translation is not perfect, and there are many textual sources we have to weigh against each other. There are strains of King James Only-ism, or Douay Rheims Only-ism, or Vulgate only-ism, and while perhaps a text can be declared free of moral and theological error, it can only be less authoritative than the original. Some people seem to think that their preferred translation is as inspired as the originals, and that’s just foolishness, in my opinion. I’ve gone off on a tangent. I’m not claiming anyone in this thread went so far, but I’ve seen many who do.

Anyway, long story short, you won’t go wrong with either an NABRE or RSV-2CE translation. Just keep an open mind about translations. If you stumble across something that makes you question, don’t hesitate to seek the Church’s guidance. Some things are lost in translation, as it’s not a one word for one word business, and sometimes elaboration is needed. And while we can all profit and learn from scripture, and there are many smart people who can discover new things, be careful not to hold your personal reading as the authoritative one.

 

[hadulzo]

Like lays potate chips, one is not enough. Being a lector fo about 6 months, i reslly like reading from thd lectionary size. I have a Jerusalem family bible and a plastic stand for it got the bible on ebsy, the holder from franklin covey… yes i like the didache bible very much also, but there is comfort in s big bible.

 

[AmbroseSJ]

STOP THE PRESSES!

Opinionated comments about the NABRE such as “terrible” and “awful” is one thing, but making a claim that the NABRE is “uninspired” is treading on very dangerous ground.

By making such outrageous claims you are (inadvertently. I certainly hope) is paramount to questioning the legitimacy of any OF Mass celebrated in the U.S., since it is the text authorized by the USCCB for the lectionary.

Hopefully you just had a bad choice of words.

Actually the Lectionary uses a modified version of the NABRE. The NABRE as it stands, is not considered legitimate for Liturgical use by the Vatican. There is no Catholic Bible printed that has the actual modifed version of the NABRE which is used in the Liturgy. What is sold is the not-ready-for-Liturgy version of the NABRE.

 

[porthos11]

Actually the Lectionary uses a modified version of the NABRE. The NABRE as it stands, is not considered legitimate for Liturgical use by the Vatican. There is no Catholic Bible printed that has the actual modifed version of the NABRE which is used in the Liturgy. What is sold is the not-ready-for-Liturgy version of the NABRE.

Modified 1986 NAB actually (i.e. 1970 Old Testament, 1986 NT). The NABRE dates to only 2011 (2011 OT, 1986 NT). The NABRE has not bee approved for liturgical use, even as a base.

 

[PJM]

=AJB328;13407108]It’s been about 5 years since I’ve come back to the church and since then I’ve done a ton of apologetics reading and some of the the saints, but every time I start reading the Bible I get sidetracked. I mainly use it for reference, but I’d really like to sit down and read the whole thing.

I’ve heard some people mention that they’ll pick a Bible translation and use it for the whole year and I think that may keep me focused, the only question is which one do I use.

This is a list of the what I have:

NAB
Douay Rheims
RSV-CE
The New Jerusalem Bible
The Catholic Study Bible (I believe it’s NABRE)
The Didache Bible (I believe it’s RSV-CE 2)

So which would you all suggest for just starting out reading the Bible to lay some ground work. Is there another translation I should look into?

That dear friend is quite a collection

I personally trust the Douay as being the most reliable; BUT certainly not the easiest to read. The RSV-CE -2, if its smilar to my RSV would be my recommendation.

BUT more importantly; I STRONGLY suggest beginning with the New Testament. Here’s why:

The Old Testament is a difficult read for anyone not familiar with the entire bible…

Because the “Old Testament is continued in the New Testament” [St. Augustine I think]

And the New Testament completes, fulfills and even perfects the Old Testament; and is a MUCH easier read.

Doing this then will make the OT much more comprehensible. When reading the Old Testament, keep in mind that we have only One True God; so the OT Yahweh and the NT Jesus are the same one God. This too will aid your reading it.

Discipline is along with PRAYER: beging each reading with a short prayer request to the Holy Spiti; and end each with a brief prayer of thanks for right understanding.

Here are two free download sites to assist you:

haydock1859.tripod.com/

Haydock’s Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859 edition.
A Catholic Bible commentary compiled by the late Rev. Fr. George Leo Haydock, following the Douay-Rheims Bible.*

AND: clerus.org/bibliaclerus/index_eng.html

From the Congregation for the clergy

These ought to help you over the tough spots. IF you come across a passage still unclear post it in the Bible Forum and you’ll get some good [and perhaps and also some not so good] advice.

Personal discipline is needed here:

Find a quiet spot that you can use everyday; COMMIT to reading “x” number or perhaps one chapter per day. Then do it. With prayer; God WILL help you:thumbsup:

God Bless you,

Patrick

.

 

[Mystrx]

I use these two.

Douay Rheims for the beauty and reverence of the language.
**RSV-CE **for study.
& this
**The Ignatius Study Bible **which is a very good study bible. Collected new testament only, but they are a good ways into the old testament already also, but still ongoing and thus available as single books only. I’m waiting for it to be collected and then I’ll snag that as well.

I’ve been looking into the Navarre Bible series (scepterpublishers.org/category/?category_id=24) lately for another study bible option.

 

[AmbroseSJ]

Modified 1986 NAB actually (i.e. 1970 Old Testament, 1986 NT). The NABRE dates to only 2011 (2011 OT, 1986 NT). The NABRE has not bee approved for liturgical use, even as a base.

Thank you for that correction!