Is it ok to use a Protestant bible for journaling?

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AngelOfGod

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So yeah, I love reading the Bible and studying the scriptures. As a Catholic, obviously I do use our own Catholic bible versions (eg. NAB) I do however love to Bible journal as well but it’s hard to find a Catholic bible that has those large margins where you can jot down notes. I had to squeeze in my notes in the tiny margins of my NAB bible. So it came to the point where I thought of actually buying Protestant bible where they have a variety of bibles for journaling.

I’m not sure if I’m making sense, or a big deal, but I’ve always been reluctant about this like is it “morally” ok to use a Protestant bible for my journaling purposes as Catholic?
 
Its fine. Other than protestant vs catholic commentary or biblical footnotes, you will find no difference between the protestant and catholic New Testament canons, and while the “catholic bible” has a few books more than these “protestant bibles”, again other than commentaries or footnotes there is little differences in the Old Testament protestant or catholic canon.

I’ve heard (but can’t attribute the quote) that “the best bible is the one you read”, of course I would temper that with exclusions, such as the New World Translation used by the Jehovah Witnesses, and perhaps a couple others I am not familiar with.

Bottom line is, if your study includes not just the text, but considers church teachings of the magisterium, you are fine.
 
On the OSV journaling Bible, just be aware that the print is quite small. I really suggest taking a look at it in person before buying. But if the print size is OK for you, it’s great!
 
Another idea is to get a really good Catholic Bible with commentary in it (if you’re going to buy a new Bible, why not?) - then use a separate journal for your journaling. You write the verse number and then your thoughts. It requires maintaining two books that way, but it gives you a lot of space for journaling and all the extras you can’t put in the margin. Very often I write out a bible quote in full, just as a way of remembering. With a separate journal there’s a lot you can add into it - colors, paste some clippings, etc.
 
Bill_B_NY said:
Another idea is to get a really good Catholic Bible with commentary in it (if you’re going to buy a new Bible, why not?) - then use a separate journal for your journaling.
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verbum.com is a great program that allows for a single place to reference and journal.
 
AngelOfGod said:
I’m not sure if I’m making sense, or a big deal, but I’ve always been reluctant about this like is it “morally” ok to use a Protestant bible for my journaling purposes as Catholic?
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Why not?

Complaints re: Protestant Bibles concern what’s erased - and, Sola Scriptura
 
It would be great to support a Catholic store, and to support leading all home to the Church 😊

Jesus said to St. Faustina regarding the Divine Mercy Chaplet:

“Today, bring to Me the souls of heretics and schismatics, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion, they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal, and in this way, they alleviate My Passion.”

Protestants are our brothers and sisters in Christ and we should love them and ardently desire for them to come home to the original Church. So maybe buying their bibles wouldn’t be the best idea? I am not trying to insult Protestants, I was one myself for many years 🙂 now a grateful Catholic believer! God bless you
 
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If you simply google “catholic journaling bible” you can find a number of them from The Catholic Company (catholiccompany.com) and Amazon.

Here are just a few I found within a few seconds:

The following 4 use the NABRE translation
'Catholic Notetaking/Journaling Bible (NABRE) | The Catholic Company®
'Journaling Through the Gospels & Psalms Bible (NABRE) - Rose | The Catholic Company®
'Journaling Through the Gospels & Psalms Bible (NABRE) - Navy | The Catholic Company®
'The Catholic Journaling Bible: Our Sunday Visitor: 9781681922416: Amazon.com: Books

These 2 use the NRSV-CE translation:
'Amazon.com: NRSV, Catholic Bible, Journal Edition, Cloth over Board, Blue, Comfort Print: Holy Bible (9780785230441): Catholic Bible Press: Books
'Amazon.com: NRSV, Catholic Bible, Journal Edition, Leathersoft, Brown, Comfort Print: Holy Bible (9780785230465): Catholic Bible Press: Books

And this one uses the CPDV translation (and it’s only $13 USD!!!):
'Catholic Bible for Journaling: New Testament with Psalms & Proverbs: Drawn to Faith, Catholic Art Publishers: 9781640015586: Amazon.com: Books
 
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StRaphaelPray4Us said:
Please be very cautious with using the “CPDV” version- it’s the “Catholic Planet” guy who wrote the “translation” and has no approval for use by Catholics whatsoever. I was super excited when I heard Drawn to Life was publishing a Catholic journaling bible, because the Blessed is She edition hadn’t been released yet, but upon researching it and reading the Amazon reviews, I was sadly disappointed to find out about the translation used and even more so about the man who “wrote” the translation.
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Ha ha, someone put out Ron Conte’s translation as an actual published journaling Bible? How did I not know that? What a time to be alive.
 
Actually some Protestant Bibles have some very questionable translations and the books they have omitted are of considerable significance.

I like the suggestion made above to support the people who print and sell Catholic Bibles by buying and using them.
 
Maximian said:
and the books they have omitted are of considerable significance.
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I agree.

This would be an interesting topic to follow up on…of the duetero-canonicals, what are some of the points in those books do you think have considerable significance?

The reason I ask is, there is much made of the difference between the Protestant and Catholic canons, and the only difference between the canons are 7 books in the OT…which are relatively seldom used as Mass Readings, and my own experience is that many Catholics have not read or studies them anyway.

As far as translations, there is no real “protestant translation”…the NIV, or other mainstream and high church protestant bibles do not have questionable translations…what they have is questionable theological approaches to scripture, and as I indicated in my post, nearly any mainstream Christian bible will not lead Catholics astray if they are read in light of teachings of the Church…without subscribing and considering Church teachings a “Catholic translation” does the reader no better.
 
StRaphaelPray4Us said:
Please be very cautious with using the “CPDV” version- it’s the “Catholic Planet” guy who wrote the “translation” and has no approval for use by Catholics whatsoever. I was super excited when I heard Drawn to Life was publishing a Catholic journaling bible, because the Blessed is She edition hadn’t been released yet, but upon researching it and reading the Amazon reviews, I was sadly disappointed to find out about the translation used and even more so about the man who “wrote” the translation.
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Honestly, this is not really relevant, in my point of view.

It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of him, there is nothing wrong with his free translation for simply personal use, it really is no different from a Catholic using a King James or NIV Bible for personal use.

Now, that CPDV Bible cannot be used for Bible studies in a Parish, or any other Parish/Diocesan affiliated events etc. But if someone wants to use it individually for journally, it is OK in my opinion.

BTW - in Conte’s defense, he has stated that anyone can take the CPDV and fix any mis-translations. Personally, I think SOMEONE should do a review of his CPDV and create a revised version because having a Catholic Bible in the Public Domain (other than the D-R) would be a very good thing to have.
 
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AngelOfGod said:
I’m not sure if I’m making sense, or a big deal, but I’ve always been reluctant about this like is it “morally” ok to use a Protestant bible for my journaling purposes as Catholic?
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How would you feel about a Protestant using a catholic bible that way?

Also have you considered using a notebook and including chapter and verse references to keep track?

And I note @yankeesouth mentions bibles designed for journaling.
 
StRaphaelPray4Us said:
feels very strongly that books on the Faith should carry an Imprimatur.
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While I totally respect your opinion, not every orthodox, faithful Catholic book has an Imprimatur (for several reasons).

There are many books by very respected Catholic Authors & respected Catholic publishers who sometimes don’t bother with the Imprimatur.

For example: because the Imprimatur has to be received from the author’s or publisher’s local Bishops (the ordinary or an auxiliary), sometimes getting an Imprimatur isn’t practical if those bishops are too swamped.

Addtionally, the Imprimatur isn’t even valid for some Catholic book topics.

So while Imprimatur’s are great, it’s often good to know which Catholic Publishers (like Ignatius Press, Catholic Answers Press, etc) are very trustworthy.

BTW, since Vatican II, the bishops no longer give Imprimaturs for Bible translations. Instead, the national Bishop conferences select translations they want to sponsor for the entire Church.

God willing, one day, some bishop’s conference will sponsor a Public Domain translation for Catholics (other than the D-R)
 
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