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Aly
Guest
Is there a good bible for teens so they can read it and understand some of the really confusing stuff?
Aly!
Aly!
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RikasAngel
Guest
Hello All,
The Bible I would recommend for young people is The New Catholic Answer Bible because of all of its handy apologetics inserts. It uses the New American Bible translation, though of course it’s not as accurate as the Revised Standard Version, it is easier to read. It is also good to give a young person a supplement like a Bible dictionary, or books like Matthew Pinto’s Did Adam and Eve Have Belly Buttons? and Did Jesus Have a Last Name?. There is also the new Teen Bible Timeline by Ascension Press. I hope these help.
The Bible I would recommend for young people is The New Catholic Answer Bible because of all of its handy apologetics inserts. It uses the New American Bible translation, though of course it’s not as accurate as the Revised Standard Version, it is easier to read. It is also good to give a young person a supplement like a Bible dictionary, or books like Matthew Pinto’s Did Adam and Eve Have Belly Buttons? and Did Jesus Have a Last Name?. There is also the new Teen Bible Timeline by Ascension Press. I hope these help.
J
jbuck919
Guest
Forgive me, but I was reading Douay-Rheims before I was twelve. There is no such thing as a Bible well suited for teens.
I have been exposed, much to the detriment of my already pre-existing condition of hypertension, to a number of compromised edittions of scripture, including flat-out paraprhased “bibles.” They are worthless trash, and you should flee in terror from them.
There is something called education. Let me give you a little example. The classic Pentecost reading, if it is done in full, includes the passage in which it is reported that the Apostles appeared drunk. This is refuted by someone noting that they cannot be drunk, because it is only the third hour of the morning. (Evidently they did not know about alcoholism back then, but that is beside the point.) Many modern so-called tranlsations say “9:00 o’clock” instead of “the third hour.” Every time I hear this grating rendition, I turn to whoever is next to me and whisper, “They knew that because they were wearing their digital watches.” Anachronism is simply unacceptable in biblical rendition. How many times does it take to teach a person that the day began at dawn which would have been approximately 6:00 am, and that the third hour of the morning would have been approximately 9:00 am? Once, unless the pupil is mentally retarded, and I don’t like to be read or preached to as though I were mentally retarded…
Enough rant. You get my point.
I have been exposed, much to the detriment of my already pre-existing condition of hypertension, to a number of compromised edittions of scripture, including flat-out paraprhased “bibles.” They are worthless trash, and you should flee in terror from them.
There is something called education. Let me give you a little example. The classic Pentecost reading, if it is done in full, includes the passage in which it is reported that the Apostles appeared drunk. This is refuted by someone noting that they cannot be drunk, because it is only the third hour of the morning. (Evidently they did not know about alcoholism back then, but that is beside the point.) Many modern so-called tranlsations say “9:00 o’clock” instead of “the third hour.” Every time I hear this grating rendition, I turn to whoever is next to me and whisper, “They knew that because they were wearing their digital watches.” Anachronism is simply unacceptable in biblical rendition. How many times does it take to teach a person that the day began at dawn which would have been approximately 6:00 am, and that the third hour of the morning would have been approximately 9:00 am? Once, unless the pupil is mentally retarded, and I don’t like to be read or preached to as though I were mentally retarded…
Enough rant. You get my point.
F
Fidelis
Guest
Hi Aly -
At your age, I think you should not look for what is easiest, but instead look for what is best. As you enter your teen years, you want to start laying the foundation for an adult understanding of the Faith and the Scriptures, and not a child’s, or what some condescendingly refer to as “teen editions.” You should start using the Bible now that you will be using as an adult.
The Bible I recommend is the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE). It may be a bit of a challenge to read, but that’s OK as it will give you more accuracy of translation, while at the same time challenging you to grow more literate. My 11 year old uses it and he it has helped both his understanding of the Bible and his reading and vocabulary skills. So, don’t dumb yourself down, but try to rise above the average!
As far as understanding, what you really need are some good supplementary materials to aid in your Bible study. For your age group, I highly recommend the Ignatius Study Bible series and any of the Bible studies offered by Emmaus Books. They will get you off to a good solid start. For more information about these and other Catholic Bible study helps, please visit my website, linked below.
The important thing, however, is that you begin reading the Bible a little everyday. The more you read it, the more comfortable and familiar you will be with it. This will stand you in good stead as you grow in your knowledge and practice of the Faith.
At your age, I think you should not look for what is easiest, but instead look for what is best. As you enter your teen years, you want to start laying the foundation for an adult understanding of the Faith and the Scriptures, and not a child’s, or what some condescendingly refer to as “teen editions.” You should start using the Bible now that you will be using as an adult.
The Bible I recommend is the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE). It may be a bit of a challenge to read, but that’s OK as it will give you more accuracy of translation, while at the same time challenging you to grow more literate. My 11 year old uses it and he it has helped both his understanding of the Bible and his reading and vocabulary skills. So, don’t dumb yourself down, but try to rise above the average!
As far as understanding, what you really need are some good supplementary materials to aid in your Bible study. For your age group, I highly recommend the Ignatius Study Bible series and any of the Bible studies offered by Emmaus Books. They will get you off to a good solid start. For more information about these and other Catholic Bible study helps, please visit my website, linked below.
The important thing, however, is that you begin reading the Bible a little everyday. The more you read it, the more comfortable and familiar you will be with it. This will stand you in good stead as you grow in your knowledge and practice of the Faith.
A
axolotl
Guest
amazon.com/Catholic-Youth-Revised-Standard-Version/dp/0884897958/sr=8-13/qid=1166982274/ref=sr_1_13/102-1286034-1134561?ie=UTF8&s=booksIs there a good bible for teens so they can read it and understand some of the really confusing stuff?
is a nice one.
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puzzleannie
Guest
The Catholic Youth Bible NAB from St. Mary’s Press
The International Student Bible for Catholics NAB from Thomas Nelson publishers.
CYB has explanatory notes, sidebars and other helps scattered throughout, the SB has excellent Q&A up front on a lot of the questions most teens have. Both have suggested reading plans and good topical indexes.
The International Student Bible for Catholics NAB from Thomas Nelson publishers.
CYB has explanatory notes, sidebars and other helps scattered throughout, the SB has excellent Q&A up front on a lot of the questions most teens have. Both have suggested reading plans and good topical indexes.
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MarkA16
Guest
I have the Catholic Youth Bible NAB given from CCD. I like it, I don’t think there are any problems with it. But now I want to get a Douay-Rheims one 
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puzzleannie
Guest
ST Marys Press, the publisher of the Youth Bible, also has a teen catechism which will help answer many of your questions.
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Aly
Guest
U guys are AWESOME. Thanks. Im gonna try and find one that makes sense. So many people say so much different stuff that its hard to know what is in the bible and what aint!
-Aly!
-Aly!
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Church_Militant
Guest
jbuck919: were u saying this is a good one or not? I tried to read some and its just as hard as other ones.
Aly!That’s the Douay-Rheims Bible and came out 2 years before the King James version did. It’d be kinda tough for a 14 year old (and even some adults…) though I use it and like it.For you, I’d suggest the NAB or the Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition. Both should be easy enough for you to understand or else to be able to look around and find out what anything odd might mean.
Another handy little thing for you might be the Compendium Catechism which will help you better know and understand your faith.
God bless you Aly.
M
mmortal03
Guest
Does the New Catholic Answer Bible contain the regular NAB footnotes?Hello All,
The Bible I would recommend for young people is The New Catholic Answer Bible because of all of its handy apologetics inserts. It uses the New American Bible translation, though of course it’s not as accurate as the Revised Standard Version, it is easier to read. It is also good to give a young person a supplement like a Bible dictionary, or books like Matthew Pinto’s Did Adam and Eve Have Belly Buttons? and Did Jesus Have a Last Name?. There is also the new Teen Bible Timeline by Ascension Press. I hope these help.
S
sweet_journey
Guest
Aly,
When I was a teen – when dinosaurs roamed the earth – I read a modern English translation and a version that I didn’'t understand very well. I could usually get the meaning using both translations. These days I like reading the Catholic Women’s Devotional Bible. It’s easy to understand and has some devotionals by women who aren’t theologians.
Also, I referred to Haley’s Bible Commentary and a Concordance to spice things up!
Yea for you to be searching for a Bible you enjoy reading! Keep up the good work and see where God leads you!
When I was a teen – when dinosaurs roamed the earth – I read a modern English translation and a version that I didn’'t understand very well. I could usually get the meaning using both translations. These days I like reading the Catholic Women’s Devotional Bible. It’s easy to understand and has some devotionals by women who aren’t theologians.
Also, I referred to Haley’s Bible Commentary and a Concordance to spice things up!
Yea for you to be searching for a Bible you enjoy reading! Keep up the good work and see where God leads you!
S
St_Aloysius
Guest
Hola! I’m a teen! (Or so I’ve been told.)
I like this Bible a lot:
amazon.com/Holy-Bible-Catholic-Revised-Standard/dp/0718006968/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202443018&sr=1-9
Reasons? Primarily that it is easily understood (more so than the NAB, even), while not dumbing things down and still remaining THE standard for biblical accuracy; it has helpful maps and lots of “mini-notes”; it has great font and is a good size.
If you want to compare translations, go to studylight.org and type in a familiar verse or chapter.
Hope you find one!
I like this Bible a lot:
amazon.com/Holy-Bible-Catholic-Revised-Standard/dp/0718006968/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202443018&sr=1-9
Reasons? Primarily that it is easily understood (more so than the NAB, even), while not dumbing things down and still remaining THE standard for biblical accuracy; it has helpful maps and lots of “mini-notes”; it has great font and is a good size.
If you want to compare translations, go to studylight.org and type in a familiar verse or chapter.
Hope you find one!
P
puzzleannie
Guest
Amy Wellborn’s Prove It series of books, and her companion youth bible are excellent and relatively low cost, from Our Sunday Visitor, and the bible has a good Q&A section
the Teen Catechism by Fr. McBride from OSV is a readable digest of our beliefs
also by OSV the Bible For Teens is a good companion for reading the bible, explains briefly the people and events in each book, and how they fit into the whole story of salvation history
the International Student Bible NAB from Thomas NElson also has a great Q&A section in front that addresses questions typically asked by teens and young adults, and is the most readable modern translation, and the version used for Mass readings. in paper under $10 in bulk lots
for middle grades, or for those who are reading below grade level, or for whom English is a second language, the Breakthrough bible, from St. Mary’s Press is a good choice, but pricey. it is the Good News Translation with imprimatur, and also has good study notes, and sidebars on the events and characters of the bible, with anime-style illustrations
the Teen Catechism by Fr. McBride from OSV is a readable digest of our beliefs
also by OSV the Bible For Teens is a good companion for reading the bible, explains briefly the people and events in each book, and how they fit into the whole story of salvation history
the International Student Bible NAB from Thomas NElson also has a great Q&A section in front that addresses questions typically asked by teens and young adults, and is the most readable modern translation, and the version used for Mass readings. in paper under $10 in bulk lots
for middle grades, or for those who are reading below grade level, or for whom English is a second language, the Breakthrough bible, from St. Mary’s Press is a good choice, but pricey. it is the Good News Translation with imprimatur, and also has good study notes, and sidebars on the events and characters of the bible, with anime-style illustrations
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