ESV Bible...ok to use?

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I’m fairly certain it is. I mean, I’d prefer to read a Catholic bible, but I just love the way the ESV reads! I wish a Catholic bible read the same way.
 
The ESV is an evangelical “editing” of the RSV. So some aspects can have a “leaning” in that direction. But much of it is the RSV.

So wishing a Catholic Bible to read that way - your wish is granted. See the RSV CE 🙂
 
One may read from various translations --but note that there can be “translational choices” that reflect the background of the translators.

So such need to be used with care. I do not recommend using other translations (or the notes) to those without the background to distinguish. One has to make a judgment.

(that being said I own and use at times an ESV NT among the translations I have).

(also note the OT of course is short a few books in most of the printings)
 
Noted. Must check out RSV-CE. Just wish I had more money. Can’t really afford a new bible. My NABRE was given to me as was my ESV. Guess I’ll have to wait until next year’s birthday (too late for Christmas requests :)).
 
Ignatius New Testament is very cheap -even the ( bonded?) leather one…check that one out.
 
From my Protestant days I have the HUGE ESV Study Bible. I loved the translation as well. Now as a Catholic, one of my go-to Catholic translations (besides the DR & NAB) is the RSV-CE. This is my go-to Bible when dealing with protestants in apologetics situations.

God bless!
 
Bookcat, I appreciate your responses. Also, to the poster that recommended I stick with the D-R (sorry not looking at the name right now), I would like to try it, but anytime I’ve tried to, I get confused. Seems like I’ve read some of the RSV-CE before. Probably would like it.
 
Have a look at any of the 1941-1969 versions of the Confraternity Bible. They are an updating of the D-R, and were intended for use in the liturgy, so do not depart from the Vulgate. The NT is simply excellent. The OT, in the early versions, is pure Douay, while modern translations of the OT were gradually introduced as time went on. They are very reasonable on eBay and in thrift stores. I find that I rarely read any other version.

The most important aspect is that it is a complete, Catholic bible. The Deuterocanon, much of which is clearly anticipatory of the Advent of the Messiah, is an absolute must to have. Does the ESV contain it?
 
buzzoff1031 said:
I’m fairly certain it is. I mean, I’d prefer to read a Catholic bible, but I just love the way the ESV reads! I wish a Catholic bible read the same way.
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In and of itself, the ESV is a superb translation. I understand why you use it. The sad part about it is that most of the ESV’s do not contain the rest of the Catholic Cannon. However, they have made a translation of those books and I believe they market them separately.

In any case, if you have a Catholic Bible around where you can read and reference the books that are specific to the Catholic Cannon, then there is no problem.

Personally, I read the NASB or ESV unless I am reading a book specific to the Catholic Cannon, or Daniel and Esther.
 
buzzoff1031 said:
po, any idea where to get it?
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I have purchased most of mine from either eBay or Goodwill stores. It is a bit like a treasure hunt. The NT (pocket-sized) is re-printed by Scepter Publishers for $9.95. I think that most Catholic bookstores would have it. Sadly, the arrival of the NAB cancelled the Confraternity project and bibles with the completed Confraternity OT translation were never sold.

A huge plus is that the book introductions and footnotes have none of the NAB modernist nonsense in them. They build up the faith, rather than cause doubt. The entire Confraternity of Christian Doctrine at that time was ordained clergy, with none of the secular influence of the “college liberal” theologians whose modernism clouds the footnotes of the NAB.

One factor that I really like: The Confraternity Bible contains the prayer to the Holy Spirit before reading the scriptures. Neither the NAB nor the NAB/RE have it. Why is that?
 
I would think it would be okay to use the ESV, so long as you have another Catholic Bible that includes the Deuterocanonical books. There actually is an ESV Bible that comes with Deuterocanon (they are not new translations though, but I believe are taken from one of the versions of the RSV), I think it is published by Oxford University Press. If you are going to have an ESV AND Deuterocanon, I suggest getting the one by OUP.

I have a couple ESV Bibles and I’m not sure what to think of it as a translation. It is a literal translation, and the wording/structure of sentences feels very “wooden” to me. When I was reading the ESV on an iphone app at work one time, I realized that said translation didn’t make sense in my normal English. How one would talk in the ESV is not how I would speak in reality and the wording isn’t how I would word things in regular, everyday speech. Which means, it feels too literal to the point where it doesn’t make sense to me in normal English.

I think the ESV would be a good translation for checking your Koine Greek exercises, but I don’t think I would use it for regular Bible reading. I’ll have to flip through and read some verses to see if I’m in that train of thought again.

If it works for you though, I say go for it.
 
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