Need Advice on Whether to Purchase a KJV Bible for Someone in Prison

[bearer]

Well, a family friend’s boyfriend is in prison and is likely to be there for many years. Last night my wife and I were shopping on the prison commissary website for some personal items to send him. The prison does not allow anything from the outside world to be given to inmates–everything he has must come from inside.

Sadly, the only Bible they offer is the KJV. We’ve emailed the commissary requesting a NAB, but who knows whether or not they’ll stock them. He is, however, a Baptist according to his family’s faith tradition, so we’re wondering if sending him a KJV would be problematic in terms of living out our own Faith.

My wife thinks that it is better or nothing, but I disagree due to incorrect translations and other issues. But considering his protestantism, I’ve been wondering if I’m correct.

Can anyone offer some advice in line with the Magisterium?

 

[eddy714]

Well, a family friend’s boyfriend is in prison and is likely to be there for many years. Last night my wife and I were shopping on the prison commissary website for some personal items to send him. The prison does not allow anything from the outside world to be given to inmates–everything he has must come from inside.

Sadly, the only Bible they offer is the KJV. We’ve emailed the commissary requesting a NAB, but who knows whether or not they’ll stock them. He is, however, a Baptist according to his family’s faith tradition, so we’re wondering if sending him a KJV would be problematic in terms of living out our own Faith.

My wife thinks that it is better or nothing, but I disagree due to incorrect translations and other issues. But considering his protestantism, I’ve been wondering if I’m correct.

Can anyone offer some advice in line with the Magisterium?

Hello Brethren,

Well aside from missing book from the OT and if that all they have then its ok. I heard that the commentary might be what will mislead him in his faith formation. So hopefuly he can get guided there is some prisons that have preist that go in the weekends so if he is open to that then it would matter what type of Bible he reads.

But if you said that he is Baptist I don’t think that he will attend a Sunday Mass or something similar to that if they provide that in jail.

But a Bible in general would be great and just pray for him that the Holy Spirit will guide him through his journey.

 

[Maryann_C]

Ask the prison if a Bible can be sent direct from a Family Christian Book store ( it is a chain and they are on-line). we send bibles to inmates free of charge… and they are always accepted. It may be that the prison will allow that kind of outside mail purchase. Then you will have to special order the NAB although I would recommend actually sending a Baptist an RSV …you could even get the protestant RSV that has the apocrypha included that way you still get the complete Bible in his hands but are not offending a Baptist’s sensibilities. We recently ordered several of the RSVs with Apocrypha for a local protestant church.

 

[Nicea325]

Well, a family friend’s boyfriend is in prison and is likely to be there for many years. Last night my wife and I were shopping on the prison commissary website for some personal items to send him. The prison does not allow anything from the outside world to be given to inmates–everything he has must come from inside.

Sadly, the only Bible they offer is the KJV. We’ve emailed the commissary requesting a NAB, but who knows whether or not they’ll stock them. He is, however, a Baptist according to his family’s faith tradition, so we’re wondering if sending him a KJV would be problematic in terms of living out our own Faith.

My wife thinks that it is better or nothing, but I disagree due to incorrect translations and other issues. But considering his protestantism, I’ve been wondering if I’m correct.

Can anyone offer some advice in line with the Magisterium?

I personally believe it is better than nothing.

 

[Zenas]

I’m pretty sure any bible purchased in a prison commissary will be just that–a bible. No footnotes, no doctrinal commentary, probably not even any maps. Therefore the only thing lacking in the KJV will be the seven extra books. Will your friend be better off with a 66-book bible or with no bible at all? I think the answer is obvious.

 

[triumphguy]

I was a prison chaplain for a few years and supplied bibles on request to inmates. So check with the prison chaplain.

A word of caution - inmates like the pages in bibles because they are thin and tear easily and are easy to roll-up for cigarettes or spliffs.