New Navarre Bible Format and the Ignatius SB

[Fidelis]

As some of you may have noticed, the newer editions of the Navarre Bible have taken the Latin Vulgate translation that used to be right under the English, and placed it at the back of the book. What do you think of that? Good, bad, or neutral?

This may also may be old news to some of you, but the Ignatius Study Bible has released the remainder of Paul’s epistles (Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon). All that’s left is Peter’s, James’, John’s and Jude’s epistles, Hebrews, and Revelation, and the New Testament will be done. How long do you think it will take to put it all in a single volume, and will you purchase it when it’s released?

 

[BayCityRickL]

Tell me more. I think I just read that the Navarre Bible was something that St. Josemarie Escriva had something to do with. Is this right?

I have a budget, so this may sound cras. Why should I buy the Navarre series?

 

[Fidelis]

From the Book Description at Amazon.com:

The Navarre Bible New Testament commentaries offer extensive explanations of the meaning of the scriptural text and its implications for everyday life. The commentaries draw on a rich variety of sources - Church documents, the writings of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and the work of prominent spiritual writers, particularly Saint Josemaria Escriva, who initiated the Navarre Bible project. The commentary appears on the same page as the Bible text, which is the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. Each volume is self-contained with extensive introductions and notes to Old Testament prophecies. The Navarre Bible commentary is considered by many to be the best Catholic commentary on the Bible available today.

I’d say that pretty accurately describes it. In contrast to the –IMHO – modernist and often annoying and semi-heterodox) footnotes often found in the NAB, Jerome, and Collegeville commentaries, the Navarre is faithful to the teachings of the Church, short on modernist speculation masquerading as established fact, and is more pastoral in tone. This means, along with good background info on the text, there is lots of material for fruitful spiritual meditation. Also IMHO – and you’ll probably get a lot of modernist apologists disagreeing with this on this thread-- along with the Ignatius Study Bibles, these are the best Catholic Bible resources out there.

For a example, here’s the commentary on today’s Gospel:

Christ Defends His Action (Continuation)​

(Jesus said to the Jews,) [33] “You sent to John, and he has borne
witness to the truth. [34] Not that the testimony which I receive is
from man; but I say this that you may be saved. [35] He was a burning
and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his
light. [36] But the testimony which I have is greater than that of
John; for the works which the Father has granted Me to accomplish,
these very works which I am doing, bear Me witness that the Father has
sent Me.”

---

Commentary:

31-40. Because Jesus is Son of God, His own word is self-sufficient, it
needs no corroboration (cf. 8:18); but, as on other occasions, He
accommodates Himself to human customs and to the mental outlook of His
hearers: He anticipates a possible objection from the Jews to the
effect that it is not enough for a person to testify in his own cause
(cf. Deuteronomy 19:15) and He explains that what He is saying is
endorsed by four witnesses–John the Baptist, His own miracles, the
Father, and the Sacred Scriptures of the Old Testament.

John the Baptist bore witness that Jesus was the Son of God (1:34).
Although Jesus had no need to have recourse to any man’s testimony, not
even that of a great prophet, John’s testimony was given for the sake
of the Jews, that they might recognize the Messiah. Jesus can also
point to another testimony, better than that of the Baptist–the
miracles He has worked, which are, for anyone who examines them
honestly, unmistakable signs of His divine power, which comes from the
Father; Jesus’ miracles, then, are a form of witness the Father bears
concerning His Son, whom He has sent into the world. The Father
manifests the divinity of Jesus on other occasions–at His Baptism
(cf. 1:31-34); at the Transfiguration (cf. Matthew 17:1-8), and later,
in the presence of the whole crowd (cf. John 12:28-30).

Jesus speaks to another divine testimony–that of the Sacred
Scriptures. These speak of Him, but the Jews fail to grasp the
Scriptures’ true meaning, because they read them without letting
themselves be enlightened by Him whom God has sent and in whom all the
prophecies are fulfilled: “The economy of the Old Testament was
deliberately so orientated that it should prepare for and declare in
prophecy the coming of Christ, Redeemer of all men, and of the
Messianic Kingdom (cf. Luke 24:44; John 5:39, 1 Peter 1:10), and should
indicate it by means of different types (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:11).
…] Christians should accept with veneration these writings which
give _expression to a lively sense of God, which are a storehouse of
sublime teaching on God and of sound wisdom on human life, as well as a
wonderful treasury of prayers; in them, too, the mystery of our
salvation is present in a hidden way” (Vatican II, “Dei Verbum”, 15).

The Navarre also features articles on a number of biblical subjects. The chief editor on the Navarre series is Antonio Fuentes who also wrote a series of introductory articles on almost every book of the Bible. If you want a sample of what you’ll get in the Navarres, go here:
catholic.com/search.asp?searchType=file&target=navarre&rc=10&fr=1