Catholic Study Bible - NABRE

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Is the Catholic Study Bible - NABRE Third Edition a reliable study bible? It is printed by Oxford University Press and edited by Donald Senior, John Collins, and Mary Ann Getty, among others.

I looked at the Catholic Scripture Study Bible RSV-CE edited by Gail Buckley, with commentary from Scott Hahn, among others, but that study bible is criticized for not really being a study bible. People cite a lack of footnotes, commentary, and other study materials.

The Catholic Study Bible - NABRE is loaded with study material and commentary, plus a breakdown of each book of the Bible, a concordance, a reading guide, and many other sections for deep study.

My worry is always to be certain that I am using a Bible (with editors) that is completely faithful to Catholic teaching.

Can I use the Catholic Study Bible - NABRE, Third Edition with confidence?
 
Jersey_Jeepster said:
My worry is always to be certain that I am using a Bible (with editors) that is completely faithful to Catholic teaching.
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This is the source of never ending argument…for myself, I don’t rely on “study bibles”, because neither footnotes or commentary are inspired, but only are the words of the scripture.

Read and ponder, and open your mind and heart to what God says to you through the scriptures.

May I suggest the ancient practice of Lectio Divina?
 
I don’t think that’s a very rational argument. I myself, personally use, for my personal Bible, the RSVCE 2nd edition, and I have the Ignatius Study Bible. You’re right, the footnotes aren’t inspired, but how in the world do you expect to know what’s going on unless you have the idea of what first century Jewish life was like?
 
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First of all, its not an argument…it was an opinion.

Secondly, there are numerous academic and saintly resources that provide much richer literal and spiritual sense than footnotes in any particular bible.
 
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Jersey - I tend to find the whole concept of a single “Study Bible” more than a little limiting.

When I sit down to really dig into God’s Word, I use several references. I use both the NABRE, the RSVCE, my Catechism, a concordance, and commentaries. I typically rest assured in the fact that all my study materials by looking to make certain that all are accepted by The Church by each having an Imprimatur and a Nihil Obstat.

The Imprimatur is an official designation, by a Church authority, that a book or other printed works may be published. The Nihil Osbtat signifies a Church authority has found nothing in the book or printed work that contains nothing damaging to faith or morals.

Finally, I trust the Holy Spirit to guide me.

I wish you well in your studies and in your growing faith.
 
If you can afford it, it’s best to own more than one study Bible and more than one English translation (since there’s no such thing as a perfect English translation of the Bible).

That said I would recommend either the Didache Study Bible (NABRE) published by the Midwest Theological Forum or the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible (NABRE) published by Little Rock Scripture Study over the Oxford Catholic Study Bible (NABRE) because the commentary and study notes in the Didache and Little Rock Bibles are more pastoral in nature (meant for home study by the faithful) while the commentary and articles in the Oxford Study Bible are more secular and academic in nature.

If you were taking a college course on the Bible, the Oxford Study Bible would be a fine choice. But for personal and home use, I would recommend either the Didache or Little Rock Catholic Study Bibles instead.

(I own all three of these Bibles and they’re all quality Bibles, but the Didache and Little Rock Bibles are better suited for personal Bible study, IMHO.)

https://www.amazon.com/Didache-Bible-American-Revised-Hardcover/dp/1939231175

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Rock-Catholic-Study-Bible/dp/0814636489
 
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Thank you for the information. When I went to the Didache Amazon page, the title was the same, Didache Bible NABRE, but some of the reviews cite that this bible uses the RSV. So, I am a little confused. Is the Didache version you suggest a study bible? Is it the most recently revised NAB or the RSV?
 
Jersey_Jeepster said:
Thank you for the information. When I went to the Didache Amazon page, the title was the same, Didache Bible NABRE, but some of the reviews cite that this bible uses the RSV. So, I am a little confused. Is the Didache version you suggest a study bible? Is it the most recently revised NAB or the RSV?
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They publish two versions.

The GREEN hardcover (ISBN: 978-1939231147) uses the RSV-2CE translation, the newer BROWN hardcover (ISBN: 978-1939231178) uses the NABRE translation. Their notes and commentaries are the same in both versions, only the base translation is different.

(Also in the NABRE version, one also gets the original books introductions and footnotes that come with all NABRE translations. Hence, it’s a bigger Bible with more pages.)

https://www.amazon.com/Didache-Bible-Commentaries-Catechism-Catholic/dp/1939231140

https://www.amazon.com/Didache-Bible-American-Revised-Hardcover/dp/1939231175
 
TheGabbione said:
When I sit down to really dig into God’s Word, I use several references
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And just to stir the pot, I often will reference my Protestant KJV, NIV, etc. to see what those footnotes have to offer. As long as the commentary isn’t in conflict with Catholic teaching, they can be helpful. It’s all about how much study you want to put into study.
 
I bought the St. Paul’s hardcover edition of the NABRE with commentaries, chronological table, timelines, glossaries, reading schedule for Masses, etc., for around US$8. The materials have the imprimatur of a Catholic archbishop.
 
Thanks to everyone who responded and offered advice.
It looks like my main problem is trying to avoid NABRE commentary, which is criticized for modernist themes and the historical critical perspective.
If only they followed through and finished the Ignatius Study Bible to include the Old Testament.
 
Though it only covers the Gospels the Catena Aurea is unsurpassed for serious study.
 
I bought it from a coworker who recently visited the Philippines. I checked the publication page and website address is www.stpauls.ph.

I don’t understand why publishers can’t offer cheaper but durable editions. I wanted to buy the Didache Bible but it costs $40 to $50.
 
The only way to avoid the NABRE commentary (besides not reading it) is to avoid any Bible that uses the NABRE translation, because all Bibles that use the NABRE translation ARE REQUIRED by the terms the NABRE copyright TO INCLUDE the default commentary and footnotes which many Catholics find problematic.

Fortunately, there are other approved English translation for Catholics, including the RSV-2CE which is what the Vatican now uses when they publish text with verses from the Bible and the Jerusalem Bible (JB) which is the official Catholic Bible in Ireland, Scotland, England and Australia.
 
PeterT said:
They publish two versions.

The GREEN hardcover (ISBN: 978-1939231147) uses the RSV-2CE translation, the newer BROWN hardcover (ISBN: 978-1939231178) uses the NABRE translation. Their notes and commentaries are the same in both versions, only the base translation is different.

(Also in the NABRE version, one also gets the original books introductions and footnotes that come with all NABRE translations. Hence, it’s a bigger Bible with more pages.)
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Isn’t there a Didache that is paperback? I have one that’s green leatherbound but it turned out to be leather over a hardcover. I was hoping for a pliable leatherbound Bible. Other than that, I like it a lot.
 
I appreciate everyone’s replies and suggestions.

Here is what I decided to do:
Because this is my first study bible, I want to avoid any wishy-washy commentary or information. So, I decided to avoid all NABRE study bibles. The Douay-Rheims is my favorite translation, with the RSV-CE 2nd Edition a close second. With these things in mind, I purchased the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, NT and a book by John Bergsma and Brant Pitre titled, A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament. I will study the New Testament using the Ignatius Study Bible as designed, and I will use my Douay-Rheims version to read the Old Testament and use the Bergsma/Pitre book as an Old Testament study guide.
At some point in the future I will purchase the Didache Bible Ignatius Edition.
 
Hi Jersey I will be the opposite, the NABRE notes are not bad at all in my opinion. I have found them extremely useful more often than not. If I may suggest, don’t deny yourself their benefit, though they could use looking at critically. And if you are going to get the Didache Bible, get the NABRE version as it has everything the Ignatius Edition has, plus the NABRE notes. So you have the benefit of both. And you then have more than one translation of bible (at least for the NT since you will also have the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible). I use multiple translations and notes to get a sense of passages and I think there is only benefit to the NABRE.

I currently have these translations:
Didache NABRE
Ignatius Study Bible NT
NRSV Catholic Edition (ebook)
Confraternity (ebook)
Haydock Douay Rheims (ebook)
 
Thanks, chrisjb.
This will be my first study bible. I have other bibles that I use:
Two NABRE
RSV
Two RSV-CE
TWO Douay-Rheim
Jerusalem Bible, Reader’s Edition

So, I am familiar with NABRE commentary and footnotes and notes from the other versions.
 
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