New American Bible?

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Just out of curiosity, does anyone here use the New American Bible?
 
No, I disposed of my NAB several years ago. I purchase a DR and my wife bought an Ignatius Bible. even the Ignatius is sometimes “different”. So my wife cross checks with my DR.
 
Just out of curiosity, does anyone here use the New American Bible?
Yup, every time I go to Mass!! 😉

My first “adult” bible, which I bought with my First Communion money, was the the first edition of the NAB, and it is by far, my favorite translation. I just purchased the revised edition, it’s OK, but I like the original better.

I have 4 or 5 different translations that I use for scholarly study, but my old stand-by for prayer or reflection will alway be my old NAB!!
 
I often use it (the old edition, that is), despite its obvious flaws. I have a RSV-CE (first edition) too but it is harder to use casually as it lacks topic headings, and quite honestly I sometimes like the language of the NAB better. Hoping to get my hands on the Ignatius Study Bible New Testament soon.

On my old computer I had several electronic Bibles, but alas, it is no more.
 
No, I disposed of my NAB several years ago. I purchase a DR and my wife bought an Ignatius Bible. even the Ignatius is sometimes “different”. So my wife cross checks with my DR.
whats wrong with NAB
 
whats wrong with NAB
It required a few changes before Rome would approve it for use as a lectionary. So what we hear at Mass is not fully the NAB. That is usually a ‘strike one’ in my book. A Catholic approved Bible should be ready for use in the lectionary without modification. Rome should not have to request changes to something produced by bishops.

Also, the footnotes stink, but those are not really part of the translation per se.
 
It required a few changes before Rome would approve it for use as a lectionary. So what we hear at Mass is not fully the NAB. That is usually a ‘strike one’ in my book. A Catholic approved Bible should be ready for use in the lectionary without modification. Rome should not have to request changes to something produced by bishops.

Also, the footnotes stink, but those are not really part of the translation per se.
yea i agree about the footnotes btw is the ones they sell have the changes
 
The Catholic Study Bible, which is the NAB with extensive commentary, is what is required for use in our seminary (where I received my MA and D.Min.) I still use it for study but use the Jerusalem (not the revised Jerusalem) for personal prayer.
 
Just out of curiosity, does anyone here use the New American Bible?
yes since I am teaching and supervising RCIA, confirmation and RE classes all week that is the Bible we use since our program emphasizes the lectionary readings at all levels, and this is the translation approved for liturgy in the US. I prefer the RSV for my personal devotional reading (the JB type is too small for me now).
 
I had the impression that NAB is used extensively in the US, but that the Jerusalem or New Jerusalem Bible is used in the rest of the Catholic world.

I was wondering what the basic difference is between the NAB and other bibles, and if my impression is correct, why does the US have their “own” BIble"?

Thanks, tomcmaj
 
Also, the footnotes stink, but those are not really part of the translation per se.
My Bible class sophomore year of high school our teacher would have us take notes on a chapter and then give us quizzes. Our notes has to include the footnotes and a good portion of the quizzes were the footnotes.
 
I was wondering what the basic difference is between the NAB and other bibles, and if my impression is correct, why does the US have their “own” BIble"?
Money is the main reason the US has a different Bible. I believe the copyright is owned by the USCCB, or some related group. So it’s a good moneymaker for them, and there is no good reason to shoot themselves in the foot by discontinuing its use.

That said, it’s not a bad translation - in fact, I think it’s pretty good for lectionary use. It is written at a slightly lower grade level than some of the other translations. This makes it easier to read and easier for listeners to understand, when age, pronunciation, microphone technology, education level, attention span, English fluency, etc may undermine comprehension at mass. I suspect that this (along with US cultural influence) was also a reason for its use in the Philippines, where other languages are the mother tongue for many in the population.

By the way, here is a list of the translations used in most of the anglophone world.
usccb.org/liturgy/page1.shtml
 
I had the impression that NAB is used extensively in the US, but that the Jerusalem or New Jerusalem Bible is used in the rest of the Catholic world.

I was wondering what the basic difference is between the NAB and other bibles, and if my impression is correct, why does the US have their “own” BIble"?

Thanks, tomcmaj
You’re not the only ones! Canada uses the NRSV, and as far as I know we’re the only country that does. What I heard (which therefore may or may not be accurate) was that the CCCB started using it before they got approval from Rome. A couple years back we had some revisions to our lectionary to make the NRSV more suitable for liturgy, so it’s been approved now, but I think it was more a matter of begging forgiveness rather than asking permission.

Having said that, I don’t mind the NRSV, or the NAB for that matter. I have copies of both and while neither are my preferred translation for personal prayer (I like the New Jerusalem) I’ve never run into any serious problems in either.

Some bibles are approved for personal or devotional use and not for liturgy. I think that this is related to the style of language used in them more than any problems with the text. After all, if the translation itself had serious issues I doubt it would have received approval.
 
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