NAB problem list

[James_2_24]

Please list below any problems you know of in the New American Bible.

 

[ktm]

James_2:24:

Please list below any problems you know of in the New American Bible.

The NAB? You mean the “cow Bible”?

Psalm 23:1-2

1 A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

2 In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me;

MOOOOOO!

 

[Socrates]

The footnote to 1 Corinthians 3:15 (“But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.”)

“The text of 1 Cor 3:15 has sometimes been used to support the notion of purgatory, though it does not envisage this.”

 

[Malachi4U]

ktm:

The NAB? You mean the “cow Bible”?

Psalm 23:1-2

1 A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

2 In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me;

MOOOOOO!

Gods peace be with you Theophilus,

I don’t have the original Greek MS handy but I did look at several Bible versions that use a ‘literal’ translation like the NAB. From what I’ve seen the translation in the NAB is accurate, though perhaps not poetic like the AKJV.

Does anyone know the actual translation ‘literally’ from Greek for this verse? The NAB is a literal translation so it is only fair to grade it as such.

A prisoner of Christ

PS, a good catch though on ‘grazing’ and cows!

 

[Charles]

Socrates:

The footnote to 1 Corinthians 3:15 (“But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.”)

“The text of 1 Cor 3:15 has sometimes been used to support the notion of purgatory, though it does not envisage this.”

I’ve often wondered about his footnote myself. Rather than throw something like that out, I really wish they would have explained why they say this. Is it a matter of opinion? Is it the way the particular Greek words are used in other contexts? I have been mystified at their reasoning since the first time I read this!

 

[Malachi4U]

Socrates:

…“The text of 1 Cor 3:15 has sometimes been used to support the notion of purgatory, though it does not envisage this.”

It does seem to ‘envisage’ this to me! What else could it be but Purgatory or a cleansing of bad/neutral works during ones life? I even looked the verse up in protestant Bibles and got the same meaning as the NAB.

Even if you don’t believe in Purgatory itself, this verse describes what happens. Catholics just gave this process a name.

 

[Socrates]

I’ve often wondered about his footnote myself. Rather than throw something like that out, I really wish they would have explained why they say this. Is it a matter of opinion? Is it the way the particular Greek words are used in other contexts? I have been mystified at their reasoning since the first time I read this!

Well there’s no dogmatic interpretation of that verse that I’m aware of so it seems necessarily to be a matter of opinion. But I’ve had some friends (who are a lot more biblically literate than me) tell me that there was a pretty strong modernist influence in the creation of the NAB. Some of the notes seem to bear this out. The supernatural seems to get downplayed in places.

People who know Greek tell me that the translation itself is very sound though. Of course the Catholic RSV seems to be the translation of choice in Catholic apologetics circles.

 

[Slow_Burn]

I agree, Socrates. The NAB is great for just sitting back and reading; like a story almost. By contrast, the RSV-CE (also known as the Ignatius Bible) is more “scholarly sounding”, for lack of a better phrase. If I’m looking to do Bible study, I"ll grab the Ignatius. I’m I’m looking to read it without having to think too much, I’ll grab the NAB. Just my 2 cents

 

[Pax]

Socrates:

The footnote to 1 Corinthians 3:15 (“But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.”)

“The text of 1 Cor 3:15 has sometimes been used to support the notion of purgatory, though it does not envisage this.”

On the contrary Socrates. You are only expressing your opinion on what this verse means. A plain reading of the verse is closer to a description of purgatory than it is to any other interpretation.

 

[Buckeyejoe]

But I’ve had some friends (who are a lot more biblically literate than me) tell me that there was a pretty strong modernist influence in the creation of the NAB. Some of the notes seem to bear this out. The supernatural seems to get downplayed in places.

I agree with this statement. The supernatural does get down played in the New American Bible. I have alot of beefs with it, a major one is…Instead of, “Hail, full of grace” our beloved scholars Catholic/Protestant say, “highly favourd daughter” This is bunk!

Ignatius Bible is best.
Douey Rheims is good.
New American Bible overall is pretty good.

For leisure reading try the New Jeruselum Bible

Thanks

 

[copland]

As far as the NT translation, it is very very good! The OT is nothing to write home about. The footnotes and introductions are very liberal, and rarley ever give a good tradtional to counter.

As far as an example of poor OT passages

Genesis 1:2the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why the translators chose mighty wind. Though, in Hebrew the word used is RUWACH, which can mean wind, breath, mist, or spirit. In the Greek Septuagint the Greek word “pneuma” is used, which has the same meaning as the Hebrew and can mean wind, breath, mist. But the obvious meaning here in this passage is Spirit. Not only does it fit the context but Tradition proclaims it too. The Church has always understood it to be “Spirit!” The Spirit of God swept across the waters.

I love the NT in the NAB because I know that it is very faithful to the Greek. But the OT has places in it that are not very good translations.

 

[cmom]

Buy the Navarre Bible.

 

[Psalm45_9]

“And coming to her he said, ‘Hail favored one! The Lord is with you.’” (Luke 1:28) No, no, no!!! The correct answer is “Hail full of Grace.”

 

[quintessential5]

ktm:

The NAB? You mean the “cow Bible”?

Psalm 23:1-2

1 A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

2 In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me;

MOOOOOO!

I don’t really see how this is a mistranslation. If the Lord is my shepherd that would make me a sheep. So if he is going to let me graze in green pastures that means he will take care of all of my physical needs…

Socrates:

The footnote to 1 Corinthians 3:15 (“But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.”)

“The text of 1 Cor 3:15 has sometimes been used to support the notion of purgatory, though it does not envisage this.”

In this passage St. Paul is likening one’s teachings to straw, gold, etc. He talked about how he made certain he was passing gold onto them (that is, he was quite certain that all that he taught was from the Lord). So in verse 15 when he writes “if someone’s work is burned up” he is not referring to someone’s deeds, rather to the “work” of their teachings to their respective “flocks”. So this passage could refer to purgatory, but does not necessarily.

 

[Sirach14]

Charles:

I’ve often wondered about his footnote myself. Rather than throw something like that out, I really wish they would have explained why they say this. Is it a matter of opinion? Is it the way the particular Greek words are used in other contexts? I have been mystified at their reasoning since the first time I read this!

" Many Fathers, particularly from St. Augustine on, have connected this verse with purgatory: ’ Some will be saved through a *purifying fire; for a long or short period depending on the extent to which they were attached to things which do not endure’ ( Enchirision, 1, chap. 68)

 

[Sirach14]

Slow Burn:

I agree, Socrates. The NAB is great for just sitting back and reading; like a story almost. By contrast, the RSV-CE (also known as the Ignatius Bible) is more “scholarly sounding”, for lack of a better phrase. If I’m looking to do Bible study, I"ll grab the Ignatius. I’m I’m looking to read it without having to think too much, I’ll grab the NAB. Just my 2 cents

Have you ever tried the Navarre Bible: The footnotes are the best I have ever read.

 

[joshua1]

As far as the “MOO” way of looking at the translation. What comes to my mind is the fact that David was a shepherd before he became king. I can picture him sitting on a grassy hillside with all the sheep grazing. In my mind he was simply doing an anology of us. Even Christ said they were like sheep without a shepherd. The sheep obviously was the inspiration for one of the most beautiful poems or psalms.

 

[quintessential5]

Sirach14:

Have you ever tried the Navarre Bible: The footnotes are the best I have ever read.

I forgot to mention that in my last post! I have the condensed version of the Navarre New Testament and the commentary is enlightening and I daresay beautiful.

 

[Pax]

quintessential5:

In this passage St. Paul is likening one’s teachings to straw, gold, etc. He talked about how he made certain he was passing gold onto them (that is, he was quite certain that all that he taught was from the Lord). So in verse 15 when he writes “if someone’s work is burned up” he is not referring to someone’s deeds, rather to the “work” of their teachings to their respective “flocks”. So this passage could refer to purgatory, but does not necessarily.

This is really a topic for another thread, but it still needs to be addressed here. Please note that while the context does include “teaching” it is, nevertheless, improper to use the context to deflect the obvious meaning of the words “Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw–each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

You make a false distinction between deeds and the “work” of teaching. Works, whether they be of obedience to God, loving God, believing in God, or teaching the gospel, are all things that “we do.” Moreover, the judgment which brings “loss or reward” will be “without partiality.” It will be the same for all whether they are teaching or performing some other work. Besides we are all teachers and we all evangelize. We all build to one degree or another upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. We will be judged and will recieve a reward or suffer loss even though we will be saved, but only as through fire.

This passage either applies to purgatory or it does not. To say that it can, but “does not necessarily” is to suggest that scripture can mean whatever the individual wants it to mean. This approach leads to denial of some truths and the creation of errors.

 

[ktm]

quintessential5:

I don’t really see how this is a mistranslation. If the Lord is my shepherd that would make me a sheep. So if he is going to let me graze in green pastures that means he will take care of all of my physical needs…

The traditional translation, and the one given in the RSV-CE, is “he makes me lie down in green pastures.” “Lie down” and “graze” are two profoundly different actions. I don’t know Greek, so I can’t say which is better, but one of them is obviously very wrong!