NAB Bible

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This is going to be a little bit of a rant but I will try and keep it to a minimum. I have the NAB Bible, personal study addition. I bought it because it says its the one used for RCIA and it has a reading guide. I figured I needed that because this is my first time reading through the Bible. It also has really big letters on the front that say CATHOLIC BIBLE. So, I posted a question a few days ago and the answers made me feel a little like I might have been on another planet. I seached the forums and found there is a lot of controversy involving types of Bibles and when different books of the Bible were written. What Bible should I be reading anyway? This is very frustrating. You hear people complain about how Catholics really need to educate themselves but when there is all this controversy, how are you suppose to do it in a responsible manner?😦
 
If you are like me than you probably like to read a bible which is written in an easy to understand current language. I have used the NASB but my regular bible is the good news translation for Catholics. It is very easy to read and understand, plus it contains all the books including the deuterocanonicals. The student version is especially helpful and includes many commentaries.
 
Well, in Catholicism, we do not have a KJV “authorized version” onlyist movement or the like, though, you can find some especially fond of a particular translation. So therefore, we are more open to more accurate translations. Translations also vary in how dynamic or literal they are; each with their own advantages and disadvantages. So you can see, things can get pretty debatable. The USCCB standardized the NAB for liturgical purposes, but you can use whatever for personal study, but there are some translations better than others. Don’t worry though, your NAB should do you fine, what matters is studying and living it.
 
Most of what I have heard or read that is negative about the NAB is the footnotes and book intros (ie. commentary).

The text itself should be okay.
 
Yes, as soon as you ask what Bible you read, the extreme-traditionalists jump in with D-R or RSV-CE only. I for one am similar to you. I depend on the Church to instruct me. I enjoy reading the Bible for inspiration. For that purpose the NAB is fine. The Good News for Catholics is okay. For me I enjoy the NRSV for Catholics. It is the Bible used in Canada and very readable.
 
if you are in RCIA or a Confirmation class, or in a lectionary-based bible study or faith sharing group, the NAB is best because it is the translation approved for liturgy in the US. If you want to invest in a good hard cover study bible, get the Catholic Study Bible NAB Oxford U Press edition.

If you want a bible for personal study and devotion, read several Catholic translations and choose the one easiest to read, that “sounds” best to your ear. the choices are RSV-CE, Jerusalem Bible original 1966, New Jerusalem bible (inclusive language), NRSV (inclusive language), and douay-Rheims-Challoner ( recently reprinted) 18th c. English usage, continental spellings of OT names. the Navarre bible is very good, but expensive, depends on what you want to invest.

The Good News Translation is acceptable for personal use and works best for someone with a limited reading ability or for whom English is a second language. Not good for a formal bible study. No other paraphrase or “today’s English” version is acceptable IMO. two other 20th C English translations are the Confraternity version, which is the one most Catholic school children of my generation grew up on, which was replaced by the NAB, and the Ronald Knox bible (England) a very elegant readable translation. both of these may be available used if you look.

If you are involved in apologetics or ecumencal studies, RSV-CE works best. for personal study if you are just getting started RSV-CE studies of separate NT books ed. by Scott Hahn are your best bet.
 
Its a shame you dont live in England! We use the original Jerusalem Bible (no inclusive language) in our lectionary, but infact omit its Psalms and use those published under the name of the ‘Grail Psalms’. The essential difference is that the original JB Psalms use the word ‘Yahweh’ rather than the ‘Lord’ or ‘God’, and the Grail ones don’t.

The Jerusalem translation sits between lofty wording and simplified passages, as its used in our lectionary; its easy to understand whilst still sounding dignified.

There has recently been a new publishing of the JB, with the Grail Psalms included, to be used for studying the scriptures along with the liturgical calendar of the church. Its called the ‘CTS New Catholic Bible’. Have a look on the Catholic Truth Society UK website, I think you can order it there. (That’s if you wanted to!🙂 )

You might consider it, since you’re skeptical of the NAB, and this translation is also rooted in the Liturgy. Hope I’ve been of some help!

Matt
 
Thanks everyone! I will keep plodding along in my NAB Bible. What does RSV-CE stand for?
 
revised standard version, catholic edition…theres a second edition nowadays too, by ignatius press. hope this helps!

Matt
 
howdy MV, check the stickies and forum rules at the top, pick the forum that sounds most likely for your question, you might want to search on a key word for your question as there may be a recent or ongoing discussion. or you can search the entire site. main rule is be nice boys and girls.
 
MikinVa said:
Hello,

I am new and wonder how this place works, anybody?
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Welcome, MikinVa! Glad to have you with us.

Most of us here offer comments and arguments in favor of our favorite, or least favorite, translation of Scripture. We also provide a form to discuss questions re the interpretation of particular Scripture passages. Take a look at some of the topics herein and you’ll get the picture pretty quickly. Then feel free to jump in at any time!
 
Thanks folks. Are these continual threads/discussions?

I dropped in on this site looking for info on CRHP and thought, cool, an open discussion site.
 
Holland said:
Thanks everyone! I will keep plodding along in my NAB Bible. What does RSV-CE stand for?
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It stands for the ‘Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition’.

The original RSV was actually a Protestant translation (hence the designation ‘Catholic Edition’ tacked above), the fruit of the labors of a comittee of scholars appointed by the International Council of Education to revise the American Standard Version in 1938. The work was published in the years 1946 (The New Testament) and 1952 (The Old Testament).

The Catholic Edition came out in 1966. In it:
-The Deuterocanonicals are included in their traditional order, as per Septuagint and the Vulgate
-Explanatory notes are supplied
-A few words were changed, where the textual evidence is evenly balanced
-Passages omitted from the original RSV were restored
 
I find a fairly sensible approach is to read two versions of the Bible (not twenty) and compare many of the passages.

I think you should be reading the NAB if you’re American. You really should be reading the Bible that you hear at Mass. If you only read the NAB (or the Jerusalem/New Jerusalem Bible) you would be losing out on one of the greatest treasures in English literature: the Tyndale-King James bible tradition.

As a Catholic, for your second choice, you only really have a ‘Tyndale-King James’ choice from
  1. the Douay Rheims Bible
  2. the RSV: various versions are approved for use by Catholics but especially the Ignatius 2nd Edition
  3. the NRSV depending on your tastes regarding Inclusive Language
The big problem outside the Tyndale-King James tradition is that their renderings are often ugly and render phrases in a way that is simply not how the bible has been traditionally rendered in English, e.g.
2Co 9:15 RSV Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
2Co 9:15 NJB Thanks be to God for his gift that is beyond all telling!

I really find it helpful reading two versions. The RSV is probably the most beautiful.
 
Manfred said:
What’s “CRHP”?
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“Christ Renews His Parish” (also called “Chirp”). It’s an ongoing retreat program. For example, a group comes to your parish and “starts” the program, putting on the retreat to a group of parishioners (separate retreats for men and women). It’s overnight, and we do ours at the parish (we sleep in the school builiding in classrooms set up w/ cots. You can’t shower, just “wash up” in the bathrooms on the 2nd day). Then, that group (everyone that wants to, that is, it’s not mandatory), does “formation” and puts on the retreat for the next group, and so on. My parish is on it’s 7th cycle (I was part of the 5th group). It’s wonderful. There’s testimony, and prayer, and scripture, and music, the Holy Spirit is really present if you’re open to it. Everyone I know makes lifetime friends with their group, and other things “sprout” from them (for example, men’s and women’s ministry groups came directly from 2 of our CRHP groups), really revitalizing the parish.

Hope that helped.

In Christ,

Ellen
 
ALLGIRLS said:
“Christ Renews His Parish” (also called “Chirp”). It’s an ongoing retreat program. For example, a group comes to your parish and “starts” the program, putting on the retreat to a group of parishioners (separate retreats for men and women). It’s overnight, and we do ours at the parish (we sleep in the school builiding in classrooms set up w/ cots. You can’t shower, just “wash up” in the bathrooms on the 2nd day). Then, that group (everyone that wants to, that is, it’s not mandatory), does “formation” and puts on the retreat for the next group, and so on. My parish is on it’s 7th cycle (I was part of the 5th group). It’s wonderful. There’s testimony, and prayer, and scripture, and music, the Holy Spirit is really present if you’re open to it. Everyone I know makes lifetime friends with their group, and other things “sprout” from them (for example, men’s and women’s ministry groups came directly from 2 of our CRHP groups), really revitalizing the parish.

Hope that helped.

In Christ,

Ellen
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Thanks, Ellen. I’ve been a Catholic all my life and can’t say I’ve ever heard of this in my area (archdiocese of Boston). Maybe it’s me. 🤷
 
The method that I use is that I read one translation then I read another one and then another one, etc. All english Catholic translations have their strengths and weaknesses. And as such that must be taken into account. I would research the Bibles first before reading them to get an idea of what croud they were written for. NAB is the standard group of Catholics while the NJB (official Bible for most english speaking churches outside the US)and RSV (translation used with the official catachism) is more for advanced readers and the DRV provides an english translation of the Vulgate.

I really would love to see the Church do to the Bible what they did with the Catachism and standardize the translations. I think all translations should be measured against the New Vulgate since that is the Official Bible of the Vatican. Really, we do not have a translation which in one form or another one can find something lacking in it.

Perfect example of this is the NAB which is the official translation of the United States. The liturgy is suppose to be based off of this translation. Well the reading in the missal concerning Gabriel’s visit to Mother Mary has “Hail, full of grace” while the NAB has Hail, Highly (or O) Favored One".

The DRV in its time would be classified as being very accurate but it is written in Old English and a person attempting to decipher the Old English meanings can easily get the wrong meaning from certain passages.

I can go on and on. I guess my point is right now is read you NAB and then get you a RSV and read that translation and then get a NJB and read that translation so that you can get the most out of the scriptures.

God bless.
 
bauerice said:
Yes, as soon as you ask what Bible you read, the extreme-traditionalists jump in with D-R or RSV-CE only.
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There is no RSV-CE only movement comparable with the nutjobs into King James Onlyism.

The strengths of the RSVCE are that it follows the majestic Tyndale-King James tradition; it is very literal around 8% deviation from the Greek; it was broadly accepted in the 20th-century amongst conservative Catholics, Orthodox, Episcopalians and even scholarly evangelicals like it.
 
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