Finding the "right" Bible

[newbetx]

OK. I’m finally going to try again… to read the Bible.

A while back on Relevant Radio I heard a guest speaker discussing the various versions of Bibles out there. He rattled off way to many initals for me to remember what he thought a good one would be. It’s description is along these lines. It only is a single translation from the original greek, arameric(?) and hebrew texts. “So it’s the closest thing to the original scripture” we have. Well according to him, anyway.

Another thing. I need large print and the “study” bibles are just way too distracting. To study, I plan to do actual bible study. I just want to read, absorb, and become familiar with the scriptures at this time.

 

[wardrandolph]

The New American Bible is easy to read(modern english).Its approved by the USCB.Its also the Scripture readings at Mass in the USA.I am not thrilled with some of the footnotes.My personal favorite is my Douay–Rheims Challoner edition from Baronius Press.It was translated from the Latin(Vulgate).Beautiful language.

 

[Ocarm]

OK. I’m finally going to try again… to read the Bible.

Please forgive me if I’m telling you what you already know, but just in case anyone else might be reading.

The Revised Standard Version (RSV) is usually acknowledged as the most literal translation, and is often used by bible scholars. The New RSV is somewhat less literal but reads a little more smoothly. Both are available with the deutero-canonical books that are often excluded in protestant bibles. If you want to look before you buy, the full RSV is available for online reading at:

quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html

and you can look at passages from the NRSV at:

bible.oremus.org/

The Douay-Rheims is probably the most poetic of the Catholic bibles, although it is not as accurate as the RSV. Note that the names of some indvidual books are different to modern equivalents, meaning that it can take a little getting used to.

A version including the Challoner revisions (most editions do include them) is preferable, because the earlier edition was sometimes a little clumsy in maintaining the latin grammar of the vulgate. Its available for online reading (with Challoner revisions) at:

drbo.org/

Hope this helps. Best wishes with your scriptural endeavours.

 

[DonLeon]

Please forgive me if I’m telling you what you already know, but just in case anyone else might be reading.

The Revised Standard Version (RSV) is usually acknowledged as the most literal translation, and is often used by bible scholars. The New RSV is somewhat less literal but reads a little more smoothly. Both are available with the deutero-canonical books that are often excluded in protestant bibles. If you want to look before you buy, the full RSV is available for online reading at:

quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html

and you can look at passages from the NRSV at:

bible.oremus.org/

The Douay-Rheims is probably the most poetic of the Catholic bibles, although it is not as accurate as the RSV. Note that the names of some indvidual books are different to modern equivalents, meaning that it can take a little getting used to.

A version including the Challoner revisions (most editions do include them) is preferable, because the earlier edition was sometimes a little clumsy in maintaining the latin grammar of the vulgate. Its available for online reading (with Challoner revisions) at:

drbo.org/

Hope this helps. Best wishes with your scriptural endeavours.

Putting my two cents worth in, I find that the RSV, Catholic version, published by the American Bible Society is quite helpful. It does have a Nihil Obstat and is approved by Rome.

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

 

[rciadan]

The Douay-Rheims is probably the most poetic of the Catholic bibles, although it is not as accurate as the RSV. Note that the names of some indvidual books are different to modern equivalents, meaning that it can take a little getting used to.

A version including the Challoner revisions (most editions do include them) is preferable, because the earlier edition was sometimes a little clumsy in maintaining the latin grammar of the vulgate. Its available for online reading (with Challoner revisions) at:

drbo.org/

.

This website also has a great search engine.
I would beg to differ with the statement regarding the DR not being as accurate. It is the most accurate english translation there is. It is also translated from St. Jerome’s Latin Vulgate, which was translated directly from the most trustworthy sources in the history of the Church.

 

[Ocarm]

This website also has a great search engine.
I would beg to differ with the statement regarding the DR not being as accurate. It is the most accurate english translation there is. It is also translated from St. Jerome’s Latin Vulgate, which was translated directly from the most trustworthy sources in the history of the Church.

Fair enough. However, I would nevertheless state that for what its worth, I don’t think you would find many scriptural scholars who would agree with you as regards to accuracy - as opposed to literary quality, perhaps.

The original vulgate has required substantial revisions, and in any event there is in the final analysis no definitive ‘best’ version of the bible. I realise its popular to bash scripture scholars these days - or perhaps it always has been - but I think they’re entitled to comment on matters of language and text even if one may not agree with their theological conclusions. Certainly all the scriptural academics I’ve met have favoured the RSV, and been generally mildly condemnatory of the NRSV because of its tendency towards political correctness over linguistic accuracy, and of the DRB for replicating occasional errors or ellipses in St Jerome’s translation of the sources into Latin. But that’s received wisdom, and it may be wrong. I myself am certainly no expert,

And since its after 1am where I am, I will bid you good night.

 

[newbetx]

Please forgive me if I’m telling you what you already know, but just in case anyone else might be reading.

The Revised Standard Version (RSV) is usually acknowledged as the most literal translation, and is often used by bible scholars. The New RSV is somewhat less literal but reads a little more smoothly. Both are available with the deutero-canonical books that are often excluded in protestant bibles. If you want to look before you buy, the full RSV is available for online reading at:

quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/browse.html

and you can look at passages from the NRSV at:

bible.oremus.org/

The Douay-Rheims is probably the most poetic of the Catholic bibles, although it is not as accurate as the RSV. Note that the names of some indvidual books are different to modern equivalents, meaning that it can take a little getting used to.

A version including the Challoner revisions (most editions do include them) is preferable, because the earlier edition was sometimes a little clumsy in maintaining the latin grammar of the vulgate. Its available for online reading (with Challoner revisions) at:

drbo.org/

Hope this helps. Best wishes with your scriptural endeavours.

Thanks so much. I appreciate the online version since I can read it at work without having to buy a second copy. Thanks!

Putting my two cents worth in, I find that the RSV, Catholic version, published by the American Bible Society is quite helpful. It does have a Nihil Obstat and is approved by Rome.
Thanks for that, too. It was very helpful!

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

 

[tobinatorstark]

OK. I’m finally going to try again… to read the Bible.

A while back on Relevant Radio I heard a guest speaker discussing the various versions of Bibles out there. He rattled off way to many initals for me to remember what he thought a good one would be. It’s description is along these lines. It only is a single translation from the original greek, arameric(?) and hebrew texts. “So it’s the closest thing to the original scripture” we have. Well according to him, anyway.

Another thing. I need large print and the “study” bibles are just way too distracting. To study, I plan to do actual bible study. I just want to read, absorb, and become familiar with the scriptures at this time.

Good luck in reading the Bible. It is a wonderful thing. It is very important that you have the right Bible. For me the right Bible is the Douay-Rheims. However it isn’t right for everyone. I wouldn’t read a Bible just for readability either. You need to focus on accuracy. Already many have given there opinion. I truly recommend the Douay-Rheims

 

[rciadan]

I don’t think you would find many scriptural scholars who would agree with you as regards to accuracy

That depends on which scripture scholars you ask. I can find as many who will defend my statement as you can yours.

The original vulgate has required substantial revisions,

I pray you a sleep full of peace and restful slumber.

 

[DorianGregorian]

I use the Douay-Rheims. For 350 years it was THE English Catholic Bible. However the Jerusalem Bible I’ve heard is very accurate and faithful to the original text as well.

The NRSV-CE I believe is the one used at most masses so I assume that has the most “readability.”

I hope that I may learn enough Ecclesiastical Latin so that I may read the Vulgate. Currently I own the Douay-Rheims/Clementine Vulgate edition published by Loreto. As long as it is approved for Catholic use you shouldn’t have a problem.

Laus Deo

 

[tobinatorstark]

I use the Douay-Rheims. For 350 years it was THE English Catholic Bible. However the Jerusalem Bible I’ve heard is very accurate and faithful to the original text as well.

The NRSV-CE I believe is the one used at most masses so I assume that has the most “readability.”

I hope that I may learn enough Ecclesiastical Latin so that I may read the Vulgate. Currently I own the Douay-Rheims/Clementine Vulgate edition published by Loreto. As long as it is approved for Catholic use you shouldn’t have a problem.

Laus Deo

In the U.S. the NAB is the in lectionaries and only in Canada I believe that the NRSV is used in lectionaries. Other places might use the RSV-CE I don’t know for sure. The Vatican uses the RSV-CE for English

 

[DorianGregorian]

Thanks for the information I found this on the USCCB and it seems to confirm that the NAB is indeed the official Bible of the Lectionary.

I did some searching on the USCCB and found this:

"Is the New American Bible the only translation of Scriptures we can read from at Mass?

Since May 19, 2002, the revised Lectionary, based on the New American Bible is the only English-language Lectionary that may be used at Mass in the dioceses of the United States, except for the current Lectionary for Masses with Children which remains in use.
The 1970 edition of the New American Bible is used in the Scripture readings and canticles of the Liturgy of the Hours (except the Benedictus, Magnificat, and Nunc dimittis.)"

The original link is here: usccb.org/nab/faq.shtml

But this may be getting a little off topic from the original question on the thread. Any Bible approved for use by a competent Church authority is fine for a Catholic.

 

[tobinatorstark]

Thanks for the information I found this on the USCCB and it seems to confirm that the NAB is indeed the official Bible of the Lectionary.

I did some searching on the USCCB and found this:

"Is the New American Bible the only translation of Scriptures we can read from at Mass?

Since May 19, 2002, the revised Lectionary, based on the New American Bible is the only English-language Lectionary that may be used at Mass in the dioceses of the United States, except for the current Lectionary for Masses with Children which remains in use.
The 1970 edition of the New American Bible is used in the Scripture readings and canticles of the Liturgy of the Hours (except the Benedictus, Magnificat, and Nunc dimittis.)"

The original link is here: usccb.org/nab/faq.shtml

But this may be getting a little off topic from the original question on the thread. Any Bible approved for use by a competent Church authority is fine for a Catholic.

Any Bible containing the Imprimatur or Nihil Obstat is approved for personal devotion. I don’t know all the steps it took to get the Bible in the Lectionary. The NAB that we read isn’t in the Lectionary. The lectionary is known as the RNAB. The NT 1986 and Revised Psalms 1991 are in our Bible. The Vatican rejected the 1991 Psalms for liturgical use. I hope this helps some

 

[mccorm45]

Any Bible containing the Imprimatur or Nihil Obstat is approved for personal devotion. I don’t know all the steps it took to get the Bible in the Lectionary. The NAB that we read isn’t in the Lectionary. The lectionary is known as the RNAB. The NT 1986 and Revised Psalms 1991 are in our Bible. The Vatican rejected the 1991 Psalms for liturgical use. I hope this helps some

While it is true that an adapted form of the NAB is used in the Mass, it is more than 90% the same as in the NAB Bible itself. This is the case with both the OT and NT, the Psalms are another story. In the near future we will be hearing the revised Grail Psalter, which was approved at the most recent USCCB meeting in the Fall. At that same meeting, the revised NAB OT was also approved and it was decided that the revised NAB would not be published until a re-revised Psalms was produced and approved. For those of us who dislike the current '91 revised NAB Psalms, this is very good news! catholicbibles.blogspot.com/2009/06/nab-revised-ot-news.html

 

[phoenix3212]

I highly recommend the RSV-CE. It’s far more poetic than the NAB, and is even quoted in the English Version of the Catechism. I believe it’s also been approved for liturgical use.

I received my copy of the RSV some two weeks ago, and really do think this is a fantastic translation. It’s easy to read, but also preserves the poetry and form of the original languages quite well.

 

[Axion]

The New Jerusalem Bible is the “official” English language modern translation on this side of the Atlantic. It is not based on the Vulgate however, but uses Masoretic texts for the OT.

Both the NAB and NJB have some very dodgy notes, which treat Liberal Bible criticism as fact, and often do not back up catholic teaching.

For devotional use the Christian Community Bible has very good notes that tend to back up Catholic teaching more.

I think an RSV-CE has been brought out with excellent notes in the US.

 

[DonLeon]

The New Jerusalem Bible is the “official” English language modern translation on this side of the Atlantic. It is not based on the Vulgate however, but uses Masoretic texts for the OT.

Both the NAB and NJB have some very dodgy notes, which treat Liberal Bible criticism as fact, and often do not back up catholic teaching.

For devotional use the Christian Community Bible has very good notes that tend to back up Catholic teaching more.

I think an RSV-CE has been brought out with excellent notes in the US.

Your best bet is to study and learn Aramaic, Hebrew, an Koine Greek and then read the scriptures in those languages. Then, maybe you won’t go wrong…

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

 

[CalCatholic]

I’ll rely on my RSV-2CE and a good Bible Commentary. The RSV-CE is now available in giant print, but I am still waiting for Ignatius to release the RSV-2CE in a large print version.
It may take a while, I think they have a few projects stacked up ahead of it.

 

[Peter_Dawson]

OK. I’m finally going to try again… to read the Bible.

A while back on Relevant Radio I heard a guest speaker discussing the various versions of Bibles out there. He rattled off way to many initals for me to remember what he thought a good one would be. It’s description is along these lines. It only is a single translation from the original greek, arameric(?) and hebrew texts. “So it’s the closest thing to the original scripture” we have. Well according to him, anyway.

Another thing. I need large print and the “study” bibles are just way too distracting. To study, I plan to do actual bible study. I just want to read, absorb, and become familiar with the scriptures at this time.

I have been reading Bible for 35 years. My experience is that the 1970 New American Bible for Catholics is the best translation into modern English. The footnotes are good, too. Current NAB’s are good – just not as wonderful. Although it is missing the excluded 7 books and material from Daniel and Esther, the classic King James Version is probably the most precisely-accurate translation into English.