Is my NAB Catholic bible translation accurate?

[SimonArizona]

Is my NAB Catholic Bible a good translation,?
is there a better one?
and
What is a good attractive accurate translation for my wife?

 

[DavidFilmer]

Is my NAB Catholic Bible a good translation?

You’ve heard the old saying, “you can’t please everybody.” This is perhaps nowhere as evident as it is when considering Bible translations.

The NAB is an official translation of the Catholic Church and it is the English-language version approved for liturgical use (actually, we use a version of the NAB which was modified by a Vatican committee 1990 but, to my knowledge, has not yet been published except as part of the Lectionary).

The NAB was first published in 1970. Subsequent revisions have made more use of gender-neutral and “inclusive” language, which annoys people who favor a more strict translation. Also, some people believe the footnotes and study guides sometimes reflect a more “liberal” bias.

However, while not perfect, it is probably the best available Catholic Bible.

 

[SimonArizona]

You’ve heard the old saying, “you can’t please everybody.” This is perhaps nowhere as evident as it is when considering Bible translations.

The NAB is an official translation of the Catholic Church and it is the English-language version approved for liturgical use.

The NAB was first published in 1970. Subsequent revisions have made more use of gender-neutral and “inclusive” language, which annoys people who favor a more strict translation. Also, some people believe the footnotes and study guides sometimes reflect a more “liberal” bias.

However, while not perfect, it is probably the best available Catholic Bible.

What is meant by inclusive language? I favor strict interpretations of the hebrew and greek manuscript copies.

 

[DavidFilmer]

What is meant by inclusive language?

There are two types of “inclusive” language: Vertically inclusive and horizontally inclusive.

Vertically inclusive language seeks to de-neuter God, and is offensive to all but the most liberal Christians. The idea is to, as much as possible, not refer to God using any masculine pronouns. So you take a verse such as “God sent his only begotten Son” and reword it in some awful fashion such as “God sent God’s only begotten Son.” Ugh.

Horizontally inclusive language seeks to use non-gender specific terms where masculine terms occur in the original texts but the author’s meaning was clearly not intended to exclude women. For example, if the original text says, “Jesus Christ came into the world to save men” then it might be reworded to say “Jesus Christ came into the world to save humanity” (or “the human race” or “people” or “everyone” - but probably not “mankind”).

 

[tobinatorstark]

Is my NAB Catholic Bible a good translation,?
is there a better one?
and
What is a good attractive accurate translation for my wife?

The NAB is an accurate translation for the most part. I am not sure what kind of reader you are. For many the NAB works for them. Many people here are dissatisfied with it and favor the RSV-CE, which is also quite accurate. I however prefer the Douay-Rheims. It is very literal and its word for word with the Latin Vulgate. If you feel comfortable with your NAB, keep using it. If you desire to get more meaning and desire a literal translation then I suggest getting a Douay-Rheims, but don’t abandon you NAB

 

[SimonArizona]

The NAB is an accurate translation for the most part. I am not sure what kind of reader you are. For many the NAB works for them. Many people here are dissatisfied with it and favor the RSV-CE, which is also quite accurate. I however prefer the Douay-Rheims. It is very literal and its word for word with the Latin Vulgate. If you feel comfortable with your NAB, keep using it. If you desire to get more meaning and desire a literal translation then I suggest getting a Douay-Rheims, but don’t abandon you NAB

What about the NRSV for woman?

 

[thistle]

Is my NAB Catholic Bible a good translation,?
is there a better one?
and
What is a good attractive accurate translation for my wife?

I like the Douey-Rheims which also has the Haydock Commentary which is very good too.

 

[drforjc]

As many have pointed out in thread after thread, the biggest problem with the NAB is certain footnotes are… well… not exactly in harmony with traditional Catholic interpretations.

 

[PraRFLEsEkHm]

As many have pointed out in thread after thread, the biggest problem with the NAB is certain footnotes are… well… not exactly in harmony with traditional Catholic interpretations.

You said it brother.

Myself I prefer the Dhouay Rheims also, although I do read the NAB - I steer clear of the notes. (I almost chucked it out altogether after reading a few of the notes…but kept it for the translation)

Peace

John

 

[tobinatorstark]

What about the NRSV for woman?

I have never read the NRSV, but I would assume that it too is quite accurate.I am not a big fan of the any of the RSV products myself. But I guess one could do a comparison of different Catholic Bibles

 

[AmbroseSJ]

The NAB is an official translation of the Catholic Church and it is the English-language version approved for liturgical use

Correction: of the American (USA) Church only.

 

[adstrinity]

As many have pointed out in thread after thread, the biggest problem with the NAB is certain footnotes are… well… not exactly in harmony with traditional Catholic interpretations.

You said it brother.

Myself I prefer the Dhouay Rheims also, although I do read the NAB - I steer clear of the notes. (I almost chucked it out altogether after reading a few of the notes…but kept it for the translation)

Peace

John

What are the footnotes that are found troubling?

 

[Christy_Beth]

I have a Douay-Rheims bible, along with a NAB (the new Catholic Answers bible). I have also kept my protestant NKJV because I’m more familiar with that. The protestant bible is a “life application” bible, so I have to be careful about it’s notes. It’s, of course, geared toward supporting the protestant beliefs.

 

[Antonia123]

I read a Catholic Answers article by Karl Keating a while ago. For literal interpretation, as opposed to “dynamic” interpretation, he recommended the NKJV (New Testament only), and the RSV-CE (Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version). He specifically did NOT recommend the NRSV.

I’ve run across two different RSV-CE Bibles, the Ignatius and the Navarre. Does anyone know which is better?

Thanks.

 

[tobinatorstark]

I read a Catholic Answers article by Karl Keating a while ago. For literal interpretation, as opposed to “dynamic” interpretation, he recommended the NKJV (New Testament only), and the RSV-CE (Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version). He specifically did NOT recommend the NRSV.

I’ve run across two different RSV-CE Bibles, the Ignatius and the Navarre. Does anyone know which is better?

Thanks.

Navarre series, correct me if I am wrong is much more expensive. I would go with either one if you are looking something kind of literal. If you are looking for something totally literal I suggest the Douay-Rheims.

 

[CalCatholic]

Is my NAB Catholic Bible a good translation,?
is there a better one?
and
What is a good attractive accurate translation for my wife?

I think the state of the NAB Bible has just gotten a liitle worse, the United States Council of Catholic Bishops just approved using the Revised Grail Psalms (over the NAB Psalms) for the Liturgy. This is kind of embarrassing since they already use an altered version of the NAB NT and they use the 1970 OT. This Bible is becoming so piece meal that I think it is time for the Bishops to dump it and use something that the Vatican will approve, like the RSV-2CE, which already has Vatican approval.

 

[Manfred]

I think the state of the NAB Bible has just gotten a liitle worse, the United States Council of Catholic Bishops just approved using the Revised Grail Psalms (over the NAB Psalms) for the Liturgy. This is kind of embarrassing since they already use an altered version of the NAB NT and they use the 1970 OT. This Bible is becoming so piece meal that I think it is time for the Bishops to dump it and use something that the Vatican will approve, like the RSV-2CE, which already has Vatican approval.

A few have stated herein that the USCCB has approved the revised Grail Psalter; would someone please post a link to an article so attesting?

I wholeheartedly agree with you that the bishops should dump the NAB, but you must remember that in the USA the NAB is “The Bishops’ Bible”.

The RSV-CE of 1965-66 (the original) still has Vatican approval and is even better, IM-not-so-HO, than the RSV-2CE, itself a bit of a hybrid of traditional and modern (but not inclusive).

 

[drforjc]

What are the footnotes that are found troubling?

They are sprinkled throughout, but here is one quick example:
1 Cor 11:27-28 where Paul is admonishing the Corinthians not to eat or drink the Eucharist unworthily.
Read your NAB footnote and see what the author of the footnotes understands by “unworthily.”

 

[tobinatorstark]

I think the state of the NAB Bible has just gotten a liitle worse, the United States Council of Catholic Bishops just approved using the Revised Grail Psalms (over the NAB Psalms) for the Liturgy. This is kind of embarrassing since they already use an altered version of the NAB NT and they use the 1970 OT. This Bible is becoming so piece meal that I think it is time for the Bishops to dump it and use something that the Vatican will approve, like the RSV-2CE, which already has Vatican approval.

The 1970 NAB is quite different, and I wish it was the same. But I disagree on using the RSV-2CE, I feel we should go back to using the Douay-Rheims.

 

[CalCatholic]

A few have stated herein that the USCCB has approved the revised Grail Psalter; would someone please post a link to an article so attesting?

I wholeheartedly agree with you that the bishops should dump the NAB, but you must remember that in the USA the NAB is “The Bishops’ Bible”.

The RSV-CE of 1965-66 (the original) still has Vatican approval and is even better, IM-not-so-HO, than the RSV-2CE, itself a bit of a hybrid of traditional and modern (but not inclusive).

Here you go: www.catholicculture.org/news/ (this is one of many).