Buying a new Bible

[Matthew_Holford]

swiss guy, I believe the UK uses the New Jerusalem bible does it not?

The English & Welsh (not UK) (there’s 3 hierarchies covering UK) bishops approve RSV, Jerusalem, New Jerusalem and NRSV for Catholics. Only RSV and Jerusalem can be used in a lectionary. Grail is used for psalms in the liturgy and for canticles in the liturgy Jerusalem, RSV or Grail Psalter may be used.

A wider range was used for the Divine Office, which contains scripture readings from Jerusalem, Knox, NEB, RSV, and Good News Bible.

 

[zz912]

http://shop.catholic.com/images/P/IB2lg-01.jpg
.
This is the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition (RSV-CE). It has been acclaimed for decades as the clearest, most accurate, and most beautiful translation of the Bible in modern English.

Key features of this magnificent translation include:

The ONLY major modern translation of the Catholic Bible available in standard English
Closely reflects the original languages
Uses an elegant, rhythmic English style while avoiding the obscurities found in the King James version.

All other major translations have been faulted for excessive paraphrasing or using “inclusive language” – the same language rejected by the Vatican in the new Catechism.

The RSV-CE is used by:
***The ***Vatican for scriptural references in all publications
The Navarre Study Bible series
Dr. Scott Hahn’s Catholic Study Bible series
Catholic Answers’ Answer Tracts series

The Ignatius Bible is a fine imprint on quality paper. The ample inside gutter eliminates the need to pull the book apart to read the inside columns. The outside margin has been slightly widened as well. The text is easily readable under normal lighting conditions with minimal bleed through. Its handy 5½ x 8½ inch format is perfect for home or travel, Bible Study or reading on your own.

Highly Recommended by:
***Mother Angelica, EWTN ***
Catholic Answers
http://shop.catholic.com/product.php?productid=40&cat=295&page=1:bluelite:

I highly recommend Dr. Scott Hahn’s version of the Ignatius study Bible. He has only completed the NT so far, but it is VERY informative and helpful. I can’t wait for the OT to come out.

 

[cthulhubryan]

The ONLY major modern translation of the Catholic Bible available in standard English
Closely reflects the original languages
Uses an elegant, rhythmic English style while avoiding the obscurities found in the King James version.

I second this recommendation! I love my RSV. I grew up with it in the Methodist Church and now with my RSV-CE I am very happy!!!

 

[Church_Militant]

http://shop.catholic.com/images/P/IB2lg-01.jpg
.
This is the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition (RSV-CE). It has been acclaimed for decades as the clearest, most accurate, and most beautiful translation of the Bible in modern English.

Key features of this magnificent translation include:

The ONLY major modern translation of the Catholic Bible available in standard English
Closely reflects the original languages
Uses an elegant, rhythmic English style while avoiding the obscurities found in the King James version.

All other major translations have been faulted for excessive paraphrasing or using “inclusive language” – the same language rejected by the Vatican in the new Catechism.

The RSV-CE is used by:
TheVatican for scriptural references in all publications
The Navarre Study Bible series
Dr. Scott Hahn’s Catholic Study Bible series
Catholic Answers’ Answer Tracts series

The Ignatius Bible is a fine imprint on quality paper. The ample inside gutter eliminates the need to pull the book apart to read the inside columns. The outside margin has been slightly widened as well. The text is easily readable under normal lighting conditions with minimal bleed through. Its handy 5½ x 8½ inch format is perfect for home or travel, Bible Study or reading on your own.

Highly Recommended by:
***Mother Angelica, EWTN ***
Catholic Answers
http://shop.catholic.com/product.php?productid=40&cat=295&page=1:bluelite:

I totally concur!

I have several translations, but the top 3 are The RSV-CE 2nd edition, The Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Confraternity Bible (can be hard to find).

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Having still not decided which version to purchase I ventured to the Catholic book shop at the cathedral today. They had a variety of Bibles. I made two purchases: the New Jerusalem Bible Pocket Edition (they didn’t have the Jerusalem Bible) and Ignatius Catholic Bible (RSV-CE). I don’t know where they get the name pocket edition from; I have no pockets large enough to put it in. I made several other purchases too; it’s dangerous to let me loose in a book shop.

 

[cthulhubryan]

it’s dangerous to let me loose in a book shop.

Right there with you on that one!

 

[crazzeto]

I do have one update to my original suggestions though… I do love my physical paper bibles, and I think everyone should have one… But I also think we’re in an age where it totally makes sense to have a kindle format bible too, perhaps several.

On my Kindle I have the KJV (so I can speak protestant), Douay-Rhiems & Ignatious RSV-CE. I find it very useful and handy to have these available, and if I’m totally honest currently I’m reading Isais before bed every night, and I’m reading it out of my kindle RSV-CE.

Well worth having an e-reader these days.

 

[melbanglican]

My much-loved NRSV-CE Bible is starting to fall apart because it has a glued binding. Therefore, I’m going to buy a Douay-Rheims (Baronius Pub) because:

1. the glued binding of my beloved NRSV-CE has started to come apart.
2. I want another bible with the Apocrypha.
3. the Baronius bibles all have sewn bindings!

There are a couple of interesting comments from customers on one of the editions at

christianbook.com/rheims-pocket-size-bible-genuine-leather/9780954563134/pd/563134?item_code=WW&netp_id=580927&event=ESRCN&view=details

I hope you find them to be informative.

Regards

melbanglican

 

[SonCatcher]

Having still not decided which version to purchase I ventured to the Catholic book shop at the cathedral today. They had a variety of Bibles. I made two purchases: the New Jerusalem Bible Pocket Edition (they didn’t have the Jerusalem Bible) and Ignatius Catholic Bible (RSV-CE). I don’t know where they get the name pocket edition from; I have no pockets large enough to put it in. I made several other purchases too; it’s dangerous to let me loose in a book shop.

The 1966 edition of the Jerusalem Bible is mostly out of print. There is only one new printing left, as far as I can find (on Amazon but may be available elsewhere). It’s the Reader’s edition so it doesn’t have full notes (which I understand are a major asset to the full edition). If you want the full notes, you will certainly have to find a used copy (such as this beautifully illustrated one).

Sorry if that exacerbates your bookstore addiction.

 

[Miriam1947]

I have the new Douay-Rheims published by Saint Benedict Press. Bought it at my own store. :yup:

The New Testament has all the words of Jesus in red. I love that. Brings back memories of my old KJV when I was a protestant.

I have the Ignatius RSV-CE as well.

The very first time I heard the 23rd psalm in mass, I didn’t recognize it. Cannot believe how awful the NAB translation is. That psalm is one of my favorites and the KJV and RSV-CE are almost word for word the same.

 

[Jerry-Jet]

I bought my bible on line. It has the Douay Challoner Old Testament–an English version of the new Latin Psalms approved by Pope Pius XII–and the Confraternity New Testament.

I truely believe that this combination of the bible has the lowest number of inaccuracies of any bible.

It isn’t Protestant. It isn’t liberal. It has conservative notes.

It has “a virgin will conceive”–“hail Mary full of grace”–2 Corinthians 2:10 “in the PERSON of Christ”.

It also has “Supersubstantial bread” in the footnotes of the Our Father.

It also has the angel moving the waters where people were waiting to be healed.

And it even has the Johanine Comma in the footnotes.

The Copyright for the bible was 1950–I believe it was purchased in 1953 or 1954–it was new in the box and appeared to never have been read because all the pages kind of stuck together when you turned to various pages in the bible.

 

[JRRTFAN]

The 1966 edition of the Jerusalem Bible is mostly out of print. There is only one new printing left, as far as I can find (on Amazon but may be available elsewhere). It’s the Reader’s edition so it doesn’t have full notes (which I understand are a major asset to the full edition). If you want the full notes, you will certainly have to find a used copy (such as this beautifully illustrated one).

Sorry if that exacerbates your bookstore addiction.

It’s easy to get a full 1966 edition of the JB on eBay or ABEBOOKS.com, the notes are great. The NEW JB is a different animal and is gender neutral with notes which are less good.

The JB is a very dynamic edition, thought for thought, it is on the opposite end of the scale from the RSV-CE.

 

[JRRTFAN]

I bought my bible on line. It has the Douay Challoner Old Testament–an English version of the new Latin Psalms approved by Pope Pius XII–and the Confraternity New Testament.

I truely believe that this combination of the bible has the lowest number of inaccuracies of any bible.

It isn’t Protestant. It isn’t liberal. It has conservative notes.

It has “a virgin will conceive”–“hail Mary full of grace”–2 Corinthians 2:10 “in the PERSON of Christ”.

It also has “Supersubstantial bread” in the footnotes of the Our Father.

It also has the angel moving the waters where people were waiting to be healed.

And it even has the Johanine Comma in the footnotes.

The Copyright for the bible was 1950–I believe it was purchased in 1953 or 1954–it was new in the box and appeared to never have been read because all the pages kind of stuck together when you turned to various pages in the bible.

I have several Confraternity Version editions in my collection, Jerry. I will agree that this version is very faithful to Catholic teaching but it is a translation of the Latin Vulgate, just like the DRC, and there are more accurate Greek and Hebrew sources than the Vulgate, which is a translation itself. (hence the New Latin Vulgate “Novus Vulgata” , not the VUlgate, is now the official translation of the Church). Official Church documents are translated from Latin into English using the RSV for biblical quotes, not the Confraternity (which I like very much).

 

[Jerry-Jet]

Sure there are more accurate Hebrew and Greek original texts than the vulgate that the DRC and Confraternity were based upon.

The trouble though is that modern translators do not make varient original source text choices through the lense of the Catholic Church and what it has taught for the last 2,000 years.

Don’t tell me that the RSV does that.

Don’t tell me that all the inclusive language silliness of the NJB, NRSV, or NAB does that.

It’s too bad that we don’t have an English translation of the Nova Vulgata. See if you had a bible like that then any modern translation which purported to base itself on original translation texts would have to defend WHY its varient orignal text choices were more reliable to and better than the Nova Vulgata.

Would some be better or more reliable? Of course. But how many times do you think that their biases in translation would readily be apparent or their claims to a more RELIABLE original language text be apparently dubious?

And for all the RSV lovers out there Pope Benedict XVI in one of his encyclicals on faith has already stated how the older Vulgate translation is more accurate when Paul speaks about faith in Hebrews than the RSV is.

The pope can see such things–it never ceases to amaze me how the ecumenically driven Catholic proponents of the RSV cannot see such things?

I think they do see such things–they just don’t want other Catholics to see such things.

Today’s Catholic is faced in picking the lesser of evils when it comes to translations of the bible.

There isn’t a perfect choice and it is best to read and be knowledgeable of various translations of the bible so that one will get the whole truth of the bible.

The reason I choose Douay Confraternity New Latin Psalm hybrid bibles is not because they are perfect–they’re not–it’s because I feel that when it comes to areas of doctrine that they more FULLY convey the Fullness of Faith that the Catholic Church has taught over the last 2,000 years.

And when faced with the choice of a bible that is more accurate on non doctrinal areas of the bible because it is based on better original language texts than the Vulgate but is at the same time not as FULLY accurate as the Vulgate on DOCTRINAL areas of the bible and a Vulgate derived bible that is not as accurate on non doctrinal areas of the bible but is more accurate on doctrinal areas–then I choose the Vulgate derived version of the bible.

My view of the best possible bible would be one that would be based on original language texts-- but would only depart from the Vulgate only when it could be shown that a more reliable original language text existed–and it didn’t conflict with the Vulgate when it came to matters of doctrine and didn’t in a less FULLER way than the Vulgate express what the Catholic Church has taught on doctrinal over the last 2.000 years. On non doctrinal matters it wouldn’t matter.

I’m pretty sure that there are people who post in here at CAF that could make great improvements in the RSV, NRSV, NAB, NJB, or NJB by changing probalby less than 20 verses in each and eliminating gender inclusiveness.

And yes friends the Douay Confraternity New Latin Psalm bibles that I advocate here–they’re not perfect either and they should be changed in a few instances, too.

 

[Church_Militant]

I do have one update to my original suggestions though… I do love my physical paper bibles, and I think everyone should have one… But I also think we’re in an age where it totally makes sense to have a kindle format bible too, perhaps several.

On my Kindle I have the KJV (so I can speak protestant), Douay-Rhiems & Ignatious RSV-CE. I find it very useful and handy to have these available, and if I’m totally honest currently I’m reading Isais before bed every night, and I’m reading it out of my kindle RSV-CE.

Well worth having an e-reader these days.

And most folks don’t know that Amazon offers the Kindle for PC free of charge as a download. VERY handy. I also have the DRB and a number of other good Catholic books on my comp now.
kindle for pc free download

 

[JRRTFAN]

Sure there are more accurate Hebrew and Greek original texts than the vulgate that the DRC and Confraternity were based upon.

The trouble though is that modern translators do not make varient original source text choices through the lense of the Catholic Church and what it has taught for the last 2,000 years.

Don’t tell me that the RSV does that.

Don’t tell me that all the inclusive language silliness of the NJB, NRSV, or NAB does that.

n a few instances, too.

You will get no argument from me that Catholic Bible translators since 1950 have been on the gutting edge of goofiness. I realize that the RSV is the product of Protestant scholarship and I do read the DRC and Confraternity all the time, I have a new-in-box Confraternity, leather bound, with Pius XII on the frontpiece, and I like it well. But I realize that the best modern formal equivalence translation is the RSV-CE, not necessarily CE2, but it is said to be in conformity with Liturgicam Authenticam, which is more than the NAB can claim, and I read neither Greek nor Latin, but can get the Navarre Bible out which has RSV and Vulgate and that’s about as close as it gets today.

 

[Jerry-Jet]

JRTTFAN: if you were given absolute power as supreme dictator for a hypothetical RSV-CE3–what changes would you make to the RSV?

I don’t think it would take alot of changes in the direction of the Vulgate tradition for the RSV to be a great bible.

What do you think?

I guess another question would be–what changes would you make to a Confraternity-Douay bible to make it a great bible?

I’ve seen a million different variations of the Psalms–evidently it is one of the hardest books for the translators to get right–I wonder how accurate the New Grail Psalms that will be used in the liturgy will be?

 

[JRRTFAN]

JRTTFAN: if you were given absolute power as supreme dictator for a hypothetical RSV-CE3–what changes would you make to the RSV?

I don’t think it would take alot of changes in the direction of the Vulgate tradition for the RSV to be a great bible.

What do you think?

I guess another question would be–what changes would you make to a Confraternity-Douay bible to make it a great bible?

I’ve seen a million different variations of the Psalms–evidently it is one of the hardest books for the translators to get right–I wonder how accurate the New Grail Psalms that will be used in the liturgy will be?

As I posted, Jerry, I do not kno0w Greek or Hebrew so couldn’t comment on the veracity of the RSV from that perspective. I would like to see a version published with a real leather cover, thumb indexed and with some notes, more on the order of the St Joseph NAB (but more orthodox, the NAB notes are often problematic).

From the CV side I would like to see the translation of the OT completed, a lot of it is Douay and they never finished it. I would like to see the books using the generally accepted names rather than the Douay Greek, e.g., Sophanias for Zephania. I would like to see the names of persons and places all use the generally accepted names rather than the Douay style. Other than that, I;m and agreeable guy.

 

[melbanglican]

Based on the fascinating and highly educational discussion on this subject that has unfolded in this forum over the last few days, I would be grateful for any advice I can get on the following question.

Can anyone suggest where I might purchase a RSV-CE, leather or hard cover with sewn binding? (This last thing is a must.)

I’m particularly keen to have one of these because of it’s prominent place in the theological life of the Church.

However, I’m almost certain to buy a DRC (Baronius) as well. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a beautiful and evocative Bible.:heaven:

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Tomcmaj]

One question is, do you want word-for-word or thought-for-thought?

Both have their advantages and disadvantages! I’d opt for getting one of each, say SRV-CE an NJB, respectively. NJB reads like poetry more than any other BIble I’ve read (about 5 of them).

You can check the NJB against Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic texts, and you’ll find that NJB inclusive language doesn’t change meaning is any significant way. It wasn’t supposed to. The language is there…for inclusiveness!