New American Bible vs RSV, ESV, KJV etc

[garysibio]

The NAB was affordable so my sister got it, My mom got me the Good News Translation:Catholic Edition…and I don’t really like how it is worded.

I would like a new one but they are charging a lot for a bible, which should be an abuse.

Agreed but it doesn’t always work out that way. Have you looked for a used one on Amazon.Com or Half.Com?

 

[KnightIHSV]

I know this may sound rather strange but if you look at “catholic bible” on e-Bay you can often find good Bibles like the RSV-CE at a very reasonable price. In some cases they are sold by 2nd hand bookshops that do not appreciate their true value. May God bless you in your search.

 

[Cyklist]

The RSV-CE from closer to the mid-20th century is currently on a sale in a Bible Study software, see: christianforums.com/t7718397/#post62240547
See also: forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=10230667&postcount=192

on e-Bay you can often find good Bibles like the RSV-CE at a very reasonable price.

 

[KnightIHSV]

Thank you very much - this is very helpful.

 

[Jerry-Jet]

I don’t understand why the Catholic Church whose members assisted by the Holy Spirit that wrote the bible and decided what books are in the bible turns around and wants to make official Protestant translation bibles?

Isn’t there something wrong with that picture?

And the fact that so many Catholics would use a Protestant derived translation over the NAB–doesn’t that show how inferior the NAB is as a translation?

Catholics deserve better than the NABRE and better than Protestant translations.

When it comes to bible translations it shouldn’t be an answer of either/or–it should be an answer of neither/nor!

While not perfect an English translation of the Nova Vulgata would be better than any bible currently produced.

If that’s not perfect enough then by all means make corrections according to original language texts where such varients are obviously warranted.

But please spare us the worn out original language text mantra when the only purpose is really to translate with an agenda while CLAIMING to translate from original language texts!

 

[HillbillyHermit]

Of course, if you think the NAB is a good translation, please refute. While I have never liked the NAB, especially its liberal footnotes, I am open to persuasion.

All I have to say is:
I believe in one Holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.

Because Jesus said this:

18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
(Matthew (NAB) 16)

And this:

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 (Jesus) said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.
23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John (NAB) 20)

And so I think this:

I believe Jesus and that the Holy Spirit will always be guiding His Church.

Our shepherds have approved translations for His flock.

The same Holy Spirit will use whatever approved translation I use to bring me closer to God.

And God doesn’t need any more armchair quarterbacks.

 

[Bob_Aliano]

I agree with many of the comments above and they are what prompted me to return to the Douay Rheims bible.

 

[rotlex]

Actually there are a few errors here:

1. The Jerusalem Bible with Grail Psalms is used in the UK Lectionary.
2. An adapted edition of the NRSV is used in Canada.
3. The USCCB announced last summer that they would be initiating a ten year project which
   will result in a new edition of the NAB that will be produced for use in the liturgy. It is going to be translated along with cooperation with the Liturgical offices in Rome so that when finished one will be able to have a Bible that matches the readings heard at Mass. It will utilize the Revised Grail Psalms.

Honestly, I have to wonder why on Earth they are bothering anymore. Why not go back to the Douay Rheims and be done with it? Seriously. It’s my favorite translation, well, that and the KJV with Apocrypha, and was used forever in the not so distant past.

 

[GreenTeaHamster]

Catholics deserve better than the NABRE and better than Protestant translations.

Yup, yet another translation from the USCCB that orthodox Catholics can ignore

i am just going to stick to my Knox transl. until the Bishops finaly make a NAB-CE for once.

 

[Jerry-Jet]

I hope that the next and maybe last revision of the NAB will be a good one–it might be once it is finished because it will have to face many hurdles because it will be used in the lectionary. There will be a long fight with the Holy See because of that–I wonder what the Holy See will require when it comes to the hail Mary when those verses are used in the lectionary.

Will we see “Hail Mary Full of Grace”? Will we see in Isaiah 7:14 " A virgin will conceive"? I hope we will.

Until then I’m sticking with the Confraternity New Testament–Douay Rheims Challoner Old Testament–and the new English translation of the New Lain Psalms approved by Pope Pius XII combination bible that I have.

If I HAD to use one of the Protestant translations that have been Catholic polished I would go with the RSVCE2.

The Knox bible is not too bad.

I have always wondered what the Douay Rheims bible would be like if it was re-edited and all its archaisms and non doctrinal errors according to original language texts were removed? That might not be a perfect bible but it would be a very good one.

 

[kellyschlerf888]

this is rather embarrassing but I am completely lost… Having just become a Catholic a little more than a year ago and with a Catholics Women’s Bible NAB I just want to know which Bible will give me everything I could possibly need in a Bible. I am completely clueless, however, it is very important for me to have the best recommendation from pretty much the start.
God Bless Us All,
Kelly Schlerf

 

[Cyklist]

Hi, Kelly! That’s not embarassing! It’s in fact quite time-consuming to be aware of all English Bible versions. In addition to English Bible versions You need commentaries and one Bible Dictionary.
The most expensive part is commentaries. There is a good thread about commentaries: christianforums.com/t7541241/
(… in addition to those commentaries, if You want advanced commentaries on Lk and 2 Mc, $134.95, there’s: logos.com/product/29869/hermeneia-upgrade-3
… Bovon is working on the final part of Lk, 9:51-19:27, it’s coming in April 2013. I don’t know how long exactly it takes for it to come in Logos, Logos bundles Hermeneia commentaries, 2, 3, whole Old Testament, whole New Testament or whole set. The best lexicon for Lk is: logos.com/product/3879/liddell-and-scott-greek-english-lexicon
I started out using Logos with the Hermenia Upgrade (3 vols.) $149.95 back in April 19. 2012: logos.com/product/4704/hermeneia-upgrade … it’s mentioned in the above Christianforums -link. It contains Mt 1-7 revised, Mk, Acts. I returned it, got a refund, and bought the whole set on a sale - that includes it.)

For a Bible dictionary, I would say get the 1985 Harper’s Bible Dictionary. It is available in Logos: logos.com/product/204/harpers-bible-dictionary
Logos is freeware btw: logos.com/installation
(For discussion about Bible dictionaries, see: community.logos.com/forums/t/66390.aspx
accordancebible.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9354&page=3
community.logos.com/forums/t/66283.aspx)

For a Bible, RSV-2CE and the Jerusalem Bible for Isaiah. The Jerusalem Bible for Proverbs, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings and Ezekiel. The NETS (New English Translation of the Septuagint) for Judith, 1-2 Mc, Daniel. The REB for the rest of the Old Testament and Deuterocanonicals. Jerusalem Bible for the New Testament.
Get a Jerusalem Bible NT-only. And for an Old Testament search Amazon for: jerusalem bible old testament general alexander jones
(You can get the Deuterocanonicals separately if You want: search Amazon for: REB Apocrypha)
REB in Logos $24.95: logos.com/product/24537/the-revised-english-bible-with-the-apocrypha
RSV-2CE in Logos $10: logos.com/product/29627/the-ignatius-bible-revised-standard-version-second-catholic-edition
When You buy from Amazon, enter through the link that can be found in the right pane at: csntm.org/ and the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts will be given a portion of Your purchase at no cost for You:

this is rather embarrassing but I am completely lost… …], however, it is very important for me to have the best recommendation from pretty much the start.

 

[CalCatholic]

this is rather embarrassing but I am completely lost… Having just become a Catholic a little more than a year ago and with a Catholics Women’s Bible NAB I just want to know which Bible will give me everything I could possibly need in a Bible. I am completely clueless, however, it is very important for me to have the best recommendation from pretty much the start.
God Bless Us All,
Kelly Schlerf

Hi Kelly, You already have the NAB which is used in the mass in the USA (slightly altered for the Liturgy). If I could only add one more Bible, I would add the ‘Ignatius Catholic Study Bible - New Testament’ which uses the Revised Standard Version 2nd Catholic Edition (RSV-2CE) and has very extensive notes.

 

[GreenTeaHamster]

God Bless Us All,
Kelly Schlerf

Welcome to CatholicAnswersForums’ SacredScriptures Subforum, Home of the Version Wars!!!
i’m kidding but from what i’ve read so far on CAF there’s general disgust for the NAB footnotes
i personally read the Knox cos my goals are different from others: i’m a ‘reader’ going for Lectio Divina level, so the Bible i read nned not be superduper literal so be sure to ask yourself what your goals are - God bless

 

[GreenTeaHamster]

I hope that the next and maybe last revision of the NAB will be a good one–it might be once it is finished because it will have to face many hurdles because it will be used in the lectionary. There will be a long fight with the Holy See because of that–I wonder what the Holy See will require when it comes to the hail Mary when those verses are used in the lectionary.

Will we see “Hail Mary Full of Grace”? Will we see in Isaiah 7:14 " A virgin will conceive"? I hope we will.

Until then I’m sticking with the Confraternity New Testament–Douay Rheims Challoner Old Testament–and the new English translation of the New Lain Psalms approved by Pope Pius XII combination bible that I have.

If I HAD to use one of the Protestant translations that have been Catholic polished I would go with the RSVCE2.

The Knox bible is not too bad.

I have always wondered what the Douay Rheims bible would be like if it was re-edited and all its archaisms and non doctrinal errors according to original language texts were removed? That might not be a perfect bible but it would be a very good one.

The Knox transl. is good enough for my goals, namely Lectio Divina and having a bible where good English is a priority…as opposed to hardcore studying of the holy text
God bless!

 

[Jerry-Jet]

One strength of the Knox version is that it is based on the Vulgate.