My new attitude about the New American Bible, Revised Edition

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johnbres2

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Much to my own surprise, I have developed a much better attitude of late about the NABRE. Almost universally panned, I agree with some of the reviews, who abhor the “favored one” instead of “full of grace” type things in this edition. However, it recently occurred to me that the NABRE is the ONLY Modern Bible on the market that was created in English as a Catholic Bible. I know the Douay Rheims is still available, and I have several Douays, that I use in conjunction with the NAB. Even there, though, the DR took a lot from the KJV–to go back to my criterion of being created in English for Catholics.

The much loved RSV-2CE is indeed a nice Bible, but the RSV is a Protestant Bible. The 2CE simply took some liberties to change phrases at will to make it “Catholic.” That smacks a bit in-authentic with me.

I know the NAB is flawed. But it is the Bible of MY TEAM, and I have come to accept it as such. Plus, it has merit on its own. It was done with great care and love, and it reads quite well. Plus, you can get a beautiful St. Joseph Edition Personal Size for about $6.75, which is the best deal you will find anywhere for such a well-made new Bible. If you haven’t yet, give the NABRE a chance.
 
I have decided to spend this year reading through the NABRE. All to often with translations, most notably the NAB, too much time is devoted to arguing over a few selected verses or the commentary/notes. As I have been reading, I have been pleasantly surprised with the quality of the translation. It is certainly more formal than the original NAB, though slightly less than the RSV.
 
My OLD attitude about the NABRE has hardened. They have had 10 million different times to change the heretical notes and haven’t.

They choose to say favored one like the OProtestants.

Which translation does the devil like better–“favored one” or “full of grace”?

Case closed!
 
The development of the NABRE was also integral to the development of the Catholic Biblical Association. Today Catholic Bible scholars can be found in almost all secular and non-denominational schools – and that’s part of the CBA’s work.

Hopefully someday, we’ll see a high quality study Bible based on the NABRE that can be used in college classrooms.
 
johnbres2 said:
Much to my own surprise, I have developed a much better attitude of late about the NABRE. Almost universally panned, I agree with some of the reviews, who abhor the “favored one” instead of “full of grace” type things in this edition. However, it recently occurred to me that the NABRE is the ONLY Modern Bible on the market that was created in English as a Catholic Bible. I know the Douay Rheims is still available, and I have several Douays, that I use in conjunction with the NAB. Even there, though, the DR took a lot from the KJV–to go back to my criterion of being created in English for Catholics.

The much loved RSV-2CE is indeed a nice Bible, but the RSV is a Protestant Bible. The 2CE simply took some liberties to change phrases at will to make it “Catholic.” That smacks a bit in-authentic with me.

I know the NAB is flawed. But it is the Bible of MY TEAM, and I have come to accept it as such. Plus, it has merit on its own. It was done with great care and love, and it reads quite well. Plus, you can get a beautiful St. Joseph Edition Personal Size for about $6.75, which is the best deal you will find anywhere for such a well-made new Bible. If you haven’t yet, give the NABRE a chance.
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I’m more concerned over the integrity of the translation than whether the translator was Catholic or Protestant. Was the translation produced with a specific agenda other than to be faithful to the original languages?

Although I have not seen the NABRE but the revised NT and Psalms are indication enough that the translators were more concerned with being politically correct than accurate.

BTW, you are wrong about the NAB being the only English translations done by Catholics. The Jerusalem Bible and the New Jerusalem Bible are both still in print.
 
garysibio said:
BTW, you are wrong about the NAB being the only English translations done by Catholics. The Jerusalem Bible and the New Jerusalem Bible are both still in print.
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We have numerous reports indicating that the JB was primarily translated from the French.

In the case of the NJB, it was certainly influenced from the French, and the notes and introductions are from the French.
 
Bible_Reader said:
We have numerous reports indicating that the JB was primarily translated from the French.

In the case of the NJB, it was certainly influenced from the French, and the notes and introductions are from the French.
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The text was translated from the original languages. The footnotes and inrtoductory stuff came from the French version.
 
garysibio said:
The text was translated from the original languages. The footnotes and inrtoductory stuff came from the French version.
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Yes, I’ve often heard that claim made, but even a casual inspection reveals that there are some problems with the claim.

For the JB: Dom Wansbrough, the general editor of the NJB, readily admits that the JB was, at least in parts, translated from the French.

For the NJB: the NJB does not appear to have been independently translated. You can readily verify this for yourself: Take a copy of* The New Jerusalem Bible* and the* La Bible de Jérusalem *and pick random verses, and see that they almost always match in interpretation. In contrast, if you compare *The New Jerusalem Bible *to the RSV-CE or NRSV or NAB, you will find numerous conflicts. If the NJB was independently translated, then it is a miracle; because the English translators almost always chose the same interpretations as the French translators. Indeed, the mere fact that the NJB notes and introductions (translated from the French) so perfectly fit this version is a bit of a warning sign – if you try to use the notes and introductions with other translations, you’ll find all sorts of places where they don’t match up.
 
I have never liked the NAB even though I bought one when I was in RCIA.

But the edition I bought was the New Answer Bible which is the NAB with inserts which explain the faith.

The first time we read the 23rd psalm in Mass I didn’t recognize it. The translators took a beautiful psalm and just butchered it.

I was used to the KJV version which is beautiful and I love the fact that the RSV-CE has the same version.

Now I mostly use the DR or the RSV-CE for reading.
 
Well it depends upon your choice dude! 😃

since everything comes from our patience and critical understandings…let our hearts decide what is appropriate…
 
Miriam1947 said:
I have never liked the NAB even though I bought one when I was in RCIA.

But the edition I bought was the New Answer Bible which is the NAB with inserts which explain the faith.

The first time we read the 23rd psalm in Mass I didn’t recognize it. The translators took a beautiful psalm and just butchered it.

I was used to the KJV version which is beautiful and I love the fact that the RSV-CE has the same version.

Now I mostly use the DR or the RSV-CE for reading.
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The NABRE revised the whole Old Testament including the Psalms, here is the new Psalm 23:

**The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures he makes me lie down;
to still waters he leads me;
he restores my soul.
He guides me along right paths
for the sake of his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and you staff comfort me.

You set a table before me
in front of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Indeed, goodness and mercy will
pursue me
all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of the Lord
for endless days.
**
 
What would really be a better NAB would be the NAB with all the changes necessary for it to be the lectionary text that is used at mass PLUS the New Grail Psalms that are used at mass AND without the heretical notes!

Now it still wouldn’t be my choice as a bible but a NAB like that would at least be something that could be stomached!

The reason you’ll never see a NAB like that is the AGENDA of the people who push the NAB–MODERNIST to the core!
 
CalCatholic said:
The NABRE revised the whole Old Testament including the Psalms, here is the new Psalm 23:

**The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures he makes me lie down;
to still waters he leads me;
he restores my soul.
He guides me along right paths
for the sake of his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and you staff comfort me.

You set a table before me
in front of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Indeed, goodness and mercy will
pursue me
all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of the Lord
for endless days.
**
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Psalm 23 (Revised Standard Version)

1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;

2 he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters;

3 he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

This is very similar to the KJV version of the psalm:

King James Version (KJV)
Psalm 23

1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

I truly do not see the point of the NABRE translation.
 
Jerry-Jet said:
What would really be a better NAB would be the NAB with all the changes necessary for it to be the lectionary text that is used at mass PLUS the New Grail Psalms that are used at mass AND without the heretical notes!
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I have heard this claim before, “heretical notes”. Can you point me to such a think in the NABRE? Specifically the NABRE Little Rock Study Bible?
Now it still wouldn’t be my choice as a bible but a NAB like that would at least be something that could be stomached!
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The reason you’ll never see a NAB like that is the AGENDA of the people who push the NAB–MODERNIST to the core!
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This is ad hominem attack and against forum rules.
Miriam1947 said:
I truly do not see the point of the NABRE translation.
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If this is the case then what is the point of having any more translations into English once you have one?
 
ByzCath said:
I have heard this claim before, “heretical notes”. Can you point me to such a think in the NABRE? Specifically the NABRE Little Rock Study Bible?

This is ad hominem attack and against forum rules.

If this is the case then what is the point of having any more translations into English once you have one?
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I agree…not heretical…but I can definitely see the modernist claims!
 
You don’t see the point? What are you saying: we should all use the King James? The KJV is beautiful, but it is also the Bible of the most extreme haters of the Catholic Church. Every translation has warts. The Bishops who commissioned the NAB were following Pope Paul’s (?) directive that the original languages should be used to translate new versions that could be used by all the faithful.
 
johnbres2 said:
You don’t see the point? What are you saying: we should all use the King James? The KJV is beautiful, but it is also the Bible of the most extreme haters of the Catholic Church. Every translation has warts. The Bishops who commissioned the NAB were following Pope Paul’s (?) directive that the original languages should be used to translate new versions that could be used by all the faithful.
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Where on earth did you get the idea that I think we should use the KJV? I never said that.

I don’t like the NAB or the NABRE. Does that make me a bad Catholic? I don’t think so.

I prefer the RSV-CE or the DR.

I am quite capable of understanding other translations perhaps because I was a Protestant and grew up with the KJV.

Relax, okay? :rolleyes:
 
For years I used the NRSV, but have switched to the RSV-CE2. The RSV is the translation I grew up with and I am glad that there’s a new edition of it which removes the archaic language in reference to God, but which keeps Standard English. As far as NABRE goes, it is a good translation as well. The best translation is the one that you will read.
 
Different subject: I picked up The Jewish Annotated New Testament (Oxford University Press, 2011) which is a commentary on the NT written totally by Jewish Bible scholars.

Thing is, they used the NEW Revised Standard Version. It’s really a smooth reading version, with a lot of gender biased wording updated.
 
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