Help me to study the Bible the Catholic way

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Dancelittleewok

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Right now I current own The Catholic Study Bible (NAB, 1995 edition) and The Catholic Youth Bible (NRSV, 2005) and cannot afford another new Bible since I’m currently unemployed.

Between the two, the NAB seems more orthodox and very informative but not distinctly Catholic in its commentary. (Example: the commentary on the Last Supper talks about the similarity between Passover and the Last Supper but nothing about the Eucharist.) The NRSV version admits their version uses gender inclusive language and in the Book of Wisdom, the commentary says the ‘she’ part is “I am called Sophia. The Bible speaks me as an aspect, or image of God…Solomon prayed for understanding, and I came to him…” (pg. 747). I’ve only kept the NRSV this long because I don’t think it’s right to throw out a sacred item like the Bible in the garbage, even though it’s commentary and translation is questionable.

My question is how or what I can do to study the NAB with the little resources I have? I’ve seen some cheap Ignatius commentaries but they general cover one to three books. I’ve thought about getting a pocket ESV new testament/psalms (about $10 plus) so I can see the differences in translation. I’m also interested in learning the Lectio Divina.

Thank you for your help! 🙂
 
Dancelittleewok said:
Right now I current own The Catholic Study Bible (NAB, 1995 edition) and The Catholic Youth Bible (NRSV, 2005) and cannot afford another new Bible since I’m currently unemployed.

Between the two, the NAB seems more orthodox and very informative but not distinctly Catholic in its commentary. (Example: the commentary on the Last Supper talks about the similarity between Passover and the Last Supper but nothing about the Eucharist.) The NRSV version admits their version uses gender inclusive language and in the Book of Wisdom, the commentary says the ‘she’ part is “I am called Sophia. The Bible speaks me as an aspect, or image of God…Solomon prayed for understanding, and I came to him…” (pg. 747). I’ve only kept the NRSV this long because I don’t think it’s right to throw out a sacred item like the Bible in the garbage, even though it’s commentary and translation is questionable.

My question is how or what I can do to study the NAB with the little resources I have? I’ve seen some cheap Ignatius commentaries but they general cover one to three books. I’ve thought about getting a pocket ESV new testament/psalms (about $10 plus) so I can see the differences in translation. I’m also interested in learning the Lectio Divina.

Thank you for your help! 🙂
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Do a google search for “Haydock”, it is an online commentary that is quite good from what I have heard. You can also go to veritasbible.com and find it there.
 
the Haydock commentary was written for the Douay-Rheims Challoner revision English translation, so where there are word choice and translation differences between the DRC and the NAB you will run into problems. You commentary should be written for the translation you are using. May I suggest the Dictionary of Biblical Theology, written for the NAB, you can get it from Word Among Us wau.org. Also the New World Library Condordance for the NAB, available from Catholic booksellers who also sell the NAB, Autom for one.
 
I recommend taking a look at SalvationHistory.com. They have several FREE online Catholic Bible studies. It’s from the same guy who does the Ignatius Study Bible, too (Scott Hahn).

Start with the study Genesis to Jesus. It gives a nice “Big Picture” overview of the Bible, from a Catholic perspective, of course.
 
I recommend the Agape Bible Study. It has several topics including salvation history and looks into some of the books themselves. It is free and very comprehensive.
 
All the translations have issues. Dr Andy Minto recommended use several translations and when there is a difference in word choice, get your hands dirty and figure out why that is. In other words, use resources that help you get at the source text. Blueletterbible.org is good for this but has no deuterocanonicals. I have also heard good things about e-sword.
 
adriancombe said:
All the translations have issues. Dr Andy Minto recommended use several translations and when there is a difference in word choice, get your hands dirty and figure out why that is. In other words, use resources that help you get at the source text. Blueletterbible.org is good for this but has no deuterocanonicals. I have also heard good things about e-sword.
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Did you go to Franciscan? 😉

Good advice. I’ve got lots of different translations sitting around for that purpose, some of which are really terrible (New Living Translation, anyone? ;)).
 
Joe_5859 said:
I recommend taking a look at SalvationHistory.com. They have several FREE online Catholic Bible studies. It’s from the same guy who does the Ignatius Study Bible, too (Scott Hahn).

Start with the study Genesis to Jesus. It gives a nice “Big Picture” overview of the Bible, from a Catholic perspective, of course.
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I was going to second this, but that has already been done…

So, I third this. 👍
 
Dancelittleewok said:
The NRSV version admits their version uses gender inclusive language and in the Book of Wisdom, the commentary says the ‘she’ part is “I am called Sophia. The Bible speaks me as an aspect, or image of God…Solomon prayed for understanding, and I came to him…” (pg. 747). I’ve only kept the NRSV this long because I don’t think it’s right to throw out a sacred item like the Bible in the garbage, even though it’s commentary and translation is questionable.
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You don’t have to like the NRSV but there’s nothing particularly unique or faith-shattering about the observation that Sophia is a feminine word and that there are corrollations between the Sophia texts and the Logos.
 
I can empathize with you in your disatisfaction in using the NAB. Even though I love the layout and the fact that it is Catholic, the language tends to be unelegant, the choice of the translators on some words is questionable and unhelpful, and many of the footnotes drive me to distraction (literally).

If you are limited to only the NAB and the notes bug you, try to make a concerted effort to either take them with a grain of salt (benefiting from what is helpful and ignoring what is not) or to ignore them completely.In the meantime, I would strongly recommend you find a way to get alternative Catholic editions (you should have have at least two for comparison purposes). Sometimes you can find some great ones at used bookstores, or maybe you can ask for them as gifts at Christmas or on your birthday. You can find them online, of course, but that can be a cumbersome way to study the Bible.

You’ll find lots of resources on getting started reading the Scriptures from a Catholic perspective at my website, found here. I wrote an article on this topic which can also be found on my website. Here is the direct link.

Hope that helps. 🙂
 
I coordinate all the Catholic Scripture Studies at my Parish. Send a private message and I can email information on **Catholic Scripture Study **which is a formal Scripture Study which was created by Sister Marie Therese that is endorsed by the Church. Here is the Link to the site… and if you will send me a private message with your mailing address or P.O. Box or your Parish Address (I can send it attention to you) I’ll send you **New American Standard Bible for free **and I’ll cover shipping as well. **God Bless You **for wanting to learn more about your Faith!

catholicscripturestudyinc.org/history.php
 
DEXTRA_DOMINI said:
I’ll send you **New American Standard Bible for free **and I’ll cover shipping as well. **God Bless You **for wanting to learn more about your Faith!
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NASB is not a Catholic Bible, did you mean a different version?
 
Joe_5859 said:
Did you go to Franciscan? 😉

Good advice. I’ve got lots of different translations sitting around for that purpose, some of which are really terrible (New Living Translation, anyone? ;)).
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Yes, graduated in 93. Took PBS I & II as well as NT Greek from Minto. Hahn is famous (deservedly) but Minto is awesome as well.

I almost never look at a hard copy Bible except my Greek English New Testament, and that mainly because it is Nestle Aland with the manuscript variant info, loci citati vel allegati etc.
 
New American Bible ( NAB ) ISBN 978-0-89942-950-2

A Catholic Bible of Course:)

I wouldn’t give a fellow Catholic a Non-Catholic Bible thanks for asking though:D

Sometimes I type faster than I think, I am so use to adding standard it just kinda got thrown in the mix:thumbsup:
 
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