Is this a good Bible?

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Hi AngelRose: 🙂

I own this Bible. I bought it a few months back when I started a Bible study with some friends. It’s a pretty good Bible, and I feel really scholarly when I use it, but it’s very big and very heavy! Buyer beware! There are a few drawbacks:

For one, the margins are so tight that trying to pencil anything in for notes is virtually impossible. From that angle, it’s not much of a “study” Bible. Secondly, the pages are so thin that ink and highlighter bleed right through to the reverse side. Finally, you need to be cozy with the NAB translation, plus the often scholarly, not-so-orthodox notes appended to each Biblical book. This study edition includes a Reading Guide which likes to expand on certain scholarly points, such as how Paul’s authorship of certain epistles is questionable, etc. I think it does this in a more tasteful manner than it might’ve, so kudos for that! 👍

Is it worth the price? That’s the question! If you’d like to get chocked full of NAB-quality scholarly opinions, then sure. Otherwise, it might be a little expensive brand new. I wish I’d use mine more, which I might try to, but there are just some things about the NAB translation I find unforgivable…particularly the Psalms.

Hope that helps form an opinion. Sorry if my opinion was a little harsh! :o
 
If it had nab footnotes it cant be a good bible.

its a paradox in terms…
 
Epistemes said:
Hi AngelRose: 🙂

I own this Bible. I bought it a few months back when I started a Bible study with some friends. It’s a pretty good Bible, and I feel really scholarly when I use it, but it’s very big and very heavy!
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I was wanting a big Bible so that doesn’t bother me!😃
Epistemes said:
For one, the margins are so tight that trying to pencil anything in for notes is virtually impossible. From that angle, it’s not much of a “study” Bible. Secondly, the pages are so thin that ink and highlighter bleed right through to the reverse side. Finally, you need to be cozy with the NAB translation, plus the often scholarly, not-so-orthodox notes appended to each Biblical book. This study edition includes a Reading Guide which likes to expand on certain scholarly points, such as how Paul’s authorship of certain epistles is questionable, etc. I think it does this in a more tasteful manner than it might’ve, so kudos for that! 👍
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I noticed in my paperback version of this (the personal study bible by oxford) that it had lots of notes and such that were not orthodox but I did check some of the footnotes with the ones in my Bible I got during RCIA and most were similar or the same. I also checks some of the translation just to make sure it matched and all the ones I checked did. So hopefully it won’t be too off. 😃
 
AngelRose81 said:
I was wanting a big Bible so that doesn’t bother me!😃
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I like big Bibles too! There’s nothing better than carrying a large tome…especially when it’s the Word of God! 😃 [Just call me pedantic. :o ] I’m looking forward to receiving the one-volume hardcover Haydock-Douay-Rheims for this very reason!
I noticed in my paperback version of this (the personal study bible by oxford) that it had lots of notes and such that were not orthodox but I did check some of the footnotes with the ones in my Bible I got during RCIA and most were similar or the same. I also checks some of the translation just to make sure it matched and all the ones I checked did. So hopefully it won’t be too off. 😃
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If your RCIA paperback is anything like mine, then, yes, it should be exactly the same translation, notes, and all. This one includes a nice Reading Guide, Dictionary, Concordance, Yearly Reading Cycles, etc. The extras almost salvage the bad translation of the Psalms…and the tight margins.
 
Epistemes said:
I like big Bibles too! There’s nothing better than carrying a large tome…especially when it’s the Word of God! 😃 [Just call me pedantic. :o ] I’m looking forward to receiving the one-volume hardcover Haydock-Douay-Rheims for this very reason!
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I agree!!😃
Epistemes said:
If your RCIA paperback is anything like mine, then, yes, it should be exactly the same translation, notes, and all. This one includes a nice Reading Guide, Dictionary, Concordance, Yearly Reading Cycles, etc. The extras almost salvage the bad translation of the Psalms…and the tight margins.
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I love the extras, especially the yearly reading cycles!!

Thanks for all your great info on this Bible, I think I’m going to go ahead and order it.
 
AngelRose81 said:
I was considering purchasing this bible…What do you all think?

amazon.com/Catholic-Study-Bible-Donald-Senior/dp/0195282841/ref=sr_11_1/103-8110610-1867037?ie=UTF8&qid=1176069932&sr=11-1
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this is the update of the study bible I have been using for years, which I prefer to all other study bibles. It has the revisions in translation that are now incorporated into the US lectionary. I would buy it in hardcover if I could afford it, but that will wait for a while, for the time being I don’t need it. Yes this would be my first recommendation for a study bible for the student. The Navarre Bible is beyond the means of most of us, but the one-volume NT recently became available for a reasonable price, and that should be the next purchase in your study library.

this is definitely not the book you want to lug to the chapel or prayer group. Mine is on a sidetable (meant for a laptop) which gives plenty of room to work with it, so I don’t have to hold it (way to heavy). For a bible like this invest in the hardcover. In fact, for any bible you will use a lot, buy the hardcover it is not that much more expensive and will last longer, or at least buy a cover for your paperback. If you like to underline, buy colored pencils made for that purpose, ballpoints and hiliters will bleed through and are very acidic on the paper.
 
puzzleannie said:
this is the update of the study bible I have been using for years, which I prefer to all other study bibles. It has the revisions in translation that are now incorporated into the US lectionary.
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Is this true? This is the translation used during Mass? I didn’t realize that. If so, I’ll have to start using it more!
 
puzzleannie said:
this is the update of the study bible I have been using for years, which I prefer to all other study bibles. It has the revisions in translation that are now incorporated into the US lectionary. I would buy it in hardcover if I could afford it, but that will wait for a while, for the time being I don’t need it. Yes this would be my first recommendation for a study bible for the student. The Navarre Bible is beyond the means of most of us, but the one-volume NT recently became available for a reasonable price, and that should be the next purchase in your study library.

this is definitely not the book you want to lug to the chapel or prayer group. Mine is on a sidetable (meant for a laptop) which gives plenty of room to work with it, so I don’t have to hold it (way to heavy). For a bible like this invest in the hardcover. In fact, for any bible you will use a lot, buy the hardcover it is not that much more expensive and will last longer, or at least buy a cover for your paperback. If you like to underline, buy colored pencils made for that purpose, ballpoints and hiliters will bleed through and are very acidic on the paper.
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Thanks for the info. I plan on taking this one to bible study with me & I’ve got a bible highlighter that doesn’t bleed through, but I like the colored pencil idea too!👍 We’ve got commentaries for the bible study & notebooks too so I’m not worried about writing in it too much.

I’ve got a smaller, personal sized NAB to take with me for prayer. Its one of those that has a magnetic closer so I can keep my prayer cards, rosary card, etc in there. I like it too.
 
puzzleannie said:
this is the update of the study bible I have been using for years, which I prefer to all other study bibles. It has the revisions in translation that are now incorporated into the US lectionary. .
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It does? I’ve been looking for a Bible like that?
 
This is a great Bible. I really enjoy reading it and it has become one of my favorites. But as other posters said, it is not good if you need to transport it from place to place. The maps in the back have already started falling out of it but the binding for the main text seems much better.

Despite the pages falling out in the back, I am really glad I bought it and highly recommend it!!

Sincerely,

Maria1212
 
AngelRose81:

If you seek to follow orthodox Catholic teaching, do not use the NAB. With all due respect to the NAB fans who have posted, I would recommend you not get it. The NAB has footnotes that flatly contradict orthodox Catholic teaching. And inspite of what one of the other posters stated, it does not have revision that are in the new lectionary. The Vatican rejected it in its published form; an amended version had to be edited for use in the lectionary for the Vatican to sign off on.

Check out www.adoremus.com and look at their articles about bible translations and the lectionary.

Check out www.firstthings.com and search “bible babel” for Richard Nuehaus’ devestating critique of the NAB; he calls it rightfully a “wretched translation.”

I recommend the Douay Rheims, Confraternity Version, or Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic edition, or the original RSV catholic Bible.

The Douay Rheims is the Catholic analog to the KJV, with archaic language, but I like it. But if you want something more easily understood with good study notes…

You can get the Confraternity Version brand new from www.sinagtala.com or search “confraternity bible” on amazon.com and buy it used. I bought one for $1.98 in excellent shape.

Or get the RSV second catholic edition. Available from Amazon.com or www.Ignatius.com.
 
lanceg said:
AngelRose81:

If you seek to follow orthodox Catholic teaching, do not use the NAB. With all due respect to the NAB fans who have posted, I would recommend you not get it. The NAB has footnotes that flatly contradict orthodox Catholic teaching. And inspite of what one of the other posters stated, it does not have revision that are in the new lectionary. The Vatican rejected it in its published form; an amended version had to be edited for use in the lectionary for the Vatican to sign off on.

Check out www.adoremus.com and look at their articles about bible translations and the lectionary.

Check out www.firstthings.com and search “bible babel” for Richard Nuehaus’ devestating critique of the NAB; he calls it rightfully a “wretched translation.”

I recommend the Douay Rheims, Confraternity Version, or Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic edition, or the original RSV catholic Bible.

The Douay Rheims is the Catholic analog to the KJV, with archaic language, but I like it. But if you want something more easily understood with good study notes…

You can get the Confraternity Version brand new from www.sinagtala.com or search “confraternity bible” on amazon.com and buy it used. I bought one for $1.98 in excellent shape.

Or get the RSV second catholic edition. Available from Amazon.com or www.Ignatius.com.
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I have the last one you mention (RSV second Catholic edition) and love it. One nice feature of the RSV is that it is “accepted” by Protestants if you ever study with or debate them. The Ignatius CSB is in very convenient paperback editions and the notes are by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch. There is very little room for your own notes however. I got mine from here: getfed.com/display_results.cfm?category=0&search_string=ignatius%20catholic%20study&AID=164&new=yes

Jeff
 
TarlsQtr said:
I have the last one you mention (RSV second Catholic edition) and love it. One nice feature of the RSV is that it is “accepted” by Protestants if you ever study with or debate them. The Ignatius CSB is in very convenient paperback editions and the notes are by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch. There is very little room for your own notes however. I got mine from here: getfed.com/display_results.cfm?category=0&search_string=ignatius%20catholic%20study&AID=164&new=yes

Jeff
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Is the second edition the one that was published in December 2006?

Sincerely,

Maria1212
 
It was approved by the National Council of Catholic Bishops in 2001 and published by St. Ignatius Press in 2002.

It has also been accepted by National Council of the Churches of Christ (NCC), making it acceptable to Protestants as well (if this is important to you).

Jeff
 
The NAB is really a poor translation. It’s not terribly inaccurate (although there are instances . . .) - It’s just bad. I cringed throughout the holy week readings. Just get a RSV-CE. Even a KJV that has the Deuterocanonicals would be better than the NAB.

The Hahn/Mitch Ignatius Study Bibles are pretty helpful.
 
The NAB is not as poor as some would like to make it out to seem. Is it the best? No. And even for “Catholic” Bible, it does get certain traditional renderings incorrect. The Psalms are pretty poor, mostly due to the extreme inclusive language. The NT is awkward, but it does contain many of the revisions contained in the 1971 RSV-CE, which hasn’t been released to the public (other than in the Oxford-Scepter Compact RSV-CE Bibles). These are highly accurate revisions, as well. And the NAB does try to avoid direct renderings such as “cereal offerings,” “holocausts,” and “the tenth hour” for modern vernacular equivalents, but at least it doesn’t translate “ekklesia” as “community” in Matt. 16:18, as does the JB and NJB. Not the best, but not wretched.
 
Quite a while back, I ordered the hardcopy of the DR with Haydock…

It arrived today,… awesome… and heavy too…

Although it will not qualify as my “floppy” bible… the Haydock footnotes are what I wanted. The soft cover addition will be the one I can work from at my desk… the hardcover is a keepsake.

And… they sent two to anyone who had been waiting so long. How is that for really awesome.

.
 
Nazianzen said:
The NAB is really a poor translation. It’s not terribly inaccurate (although there are instances . . .) - It’s just bad. I cringed throughout the holy week readings. Just get a RSV-CE. Even a KJV that has the Deuterocanonicals would be better than the NAB.

The Hahn/Mitch Ignatius Study Bibles are pretty helpful.
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Nazianzen mentions a KJV with Apocrypha- there is a splendid edition of the KJV with Apocrypha called the Third Millennium Bible (TMB), available at Amazon, www.light-n-life.com, or at the publisher’s web site at www.tmbible.com.

I have one, I always forget to mention it on this forum. The TMB updates the most archaic, least understood language, but keeps the basic language and phraseology of the KJV which has formed such an important back drop to our English-speaking literary and religious culture.
 
The only thing to be careful about is that there are a few verses in the KJV that don’t seem to be in the oldest Greek texts.

One of these is when Jesus says not to get angry with your brother. In the KJV, he adds, “unless you have good reason.” No recent translation from the original texts that I am aware of includes this phrase, and it is not in my Greek NT.
 
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