New Study Bible Concepts

[mccorm45]

Since there seems to be lull in new Catholic study Bibles being published, I was thinking about what I would like to see be developed with the translations that already exist. So, here are 3 of the ideas that I came up with…I’d be interested to see some of your ideas. ( I am aware that Ignatius Press is publishing a new Study Bible, but I am not confident that it will be completed in the next 5 years.) The number of these ideas doesn’t necessarily indicate order of importance or need in my mind.

1. New Douay-Rheims Study Bible- The first thing I would do is update the archaic language in the translation, much like they did with the NKJV. Secondly, I would like the notes and commentary to be a mix of textual criticism and Catholic doctrine.
2. NRSV Catholic Study Bible- I would try to model the notes and study tools in the same style as the NIV study Bible. Obviously, the content will be Catholic. I personally believe that the NIV is the best looking and has the best mix of notes in any study Bible on the market. I would include lots of maps, charts, a concordance, cross-references, and references to the CCC.
3. Men’s Catholic Devotional Bible- Zondervan has been publishing a Catholic Women’s Devotional Bible for some time. I like the quality and content of it. It would be great to have one that could be used for men’s fellowships. As far as I know, there is no Catholic Men’s Devotional Bible, while I know there are plenty of Protestant version.

 

[NoelFitz]

Mccorm45

Thank you for your post.

What is wrong with *The Catholic Study Bible *(Paperback), by Donald Senior (Editor) and John J. Collins (Editor), which was referred to in your blog?

Review

“I highly recommend the revised Catholic Study Bible to my students, colleagues, and friends. With the additional introductory articles, it now provides exceptional coverage of issues of great importance for both academic and pastoral concerns; they bring this wonderful tool for learning to a new standard of completeness and excellence, and in accessible language. Revisions of the Study [Reading] Guides ensure insightful, contemporary discussion of the biblical texts by excellent scholars and teachers. This is a treasure.” --(Rev.) John C. Endres, S.J. Professor of Sacred Scripture, Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley and the Graduate Theological Union

Product Description
The Second Vatican Council’s call for biblical renewal in every aspect of Catholic life revealed the need for a key to the Scriptures that would communicate their power by means of modern scholarship. The Catholic Study Bible addressed this crucial need. It has been widely accepted for use by advanced students, who have benefited from its wealth of background information on the historical, literary, and theological dimensions of the Bible.

The Second Edition of this landmark resource has been significantly upgraded. The study notes have been completely rewritten, and there are new and expanded essays and sidebars on special topics in the study materials and biblical text.

The heart of this edition’s ancillary materials remains its extensive Reading Guide that leads the reader through the Scriptures, book by book. Clear marginal references in the biblical text point to specific pages in the Reading Guide, easing the retrieval of important background information.
A 15-page Glossary defines biblical terms with which students may not be familiar. Also included is a handy 72-page selective concordance (index) to the New American Bible translation. This resource is a valuable aid to in-depth Scripture study (not available in the College Edition). Also included: the complete Sunday and weekday lectionary readings for all three liturgical years of the Church, plus 32 pages of authoritative, full-color Oxford Bible Maps with place-name index.

 

[Fidelis]

1. Men’s Catholic Devotional Bible- Zondervan has been publishing a Catholic Women’s Devotional Bible for some time. I like the quality and content of it. It would be great to have one that could be used for men’s fellowships. As far as I know, there is no Catholic Men’s Devotional Bible, while I know there are plenty of Protestant version.

I wrote Zondevan about three years ago about this and they wrote back saying, at that time, they had no plans to publish a men’s version of this.

I too decry the snails pace that single volume Catholic study Bibles are [not] being published. Nobody really likes the NAB Study Bible except DRE’s, nuns in polyester pants-suits, and dour old men. The Ignatius Study Bible (now in development) is our next, best hope, but it is so far from being completed I basically despair of seeing it in my lifetime (I’ll be 51 this month).

Protestants seem to be able to crank out interesting and useful (albiet theologically flawed) study Bibles like McDonald’s cranks out french fries. Why can’t we Catholics?

 

[mccorm45]

Mccorm45

Thank you for your post.

What is wrong with *The Catholic Study Bible *(Paperback), by Donald Senior (Editor) and John J. Collins (Editor), which was referred to in your blog?

My problem is not so much with the Catholic Study Bible first edition, but rather with the second edition. I just think that if you are going to put out a new edition, then there needs to be significant upgrades. I own a leather 1990 edition of the Catholic Study Bible, and I use it in conjunction with other resources. The additions they did make are ok, but I just think it could be a lot better. Here is the thing…every Catholic NAB comes with the same study notes. Some of the notes are good, while others are not so good. I would have like to see Oxford enhance the notes, add more detailed in-text maps and diagrams, and leave space on the margins for personal notes. Like I mentioned in my first post, it is worth looking at the NIV study Bible by Zondervan to see how a quality study Bible is produced. They offer various editions, covers, sizes…etc… It is really top notch quality.

 

[mccorm45]

I wrote Zondevan about three years ago about this and they wrote back saying, at that time, they had no plans to publish a men’s version of this.

I too decry the snails pace that single volume Catholic study Bibles are [not] being published. Nobody really likes the NAB Study Bible except DRE’s, nuns in polyester pants-suits, and dour old men. The Ignatius Study Bible (now in development) is our next, best hope, but it is so far from being completed I basically despair of seeing it in my lifetime (I’ll be 51 this month).

Protestants seem to be able to crank out interesting and useful (albiet theologically flawed) study Bibles like McDonald’s cranks out french fries. Why can’t we Catholics?

I agree with you 100% about the Ignatius Study Bible. The problem I think is two fold with Ignatius Press: 1) They are too small of a publishing house with a real lack of resources. (If you look at the latest RSV-2CE, you will notice it was produced with Nelson Publishing.) 2) I just don’t think the Ignatius Study Bible is that much of a priority. I think they would rather put out a dozen new Pope Benedict books every year than finish up the Study Bible. Look, I understand somewhat their reasoning, since Pope Benedict can be a good means of getting a profit.

Ultimately, it will take getting a publisher like Zondervan or HarperCollins to committ to doing this in order for Catholics to get high quality study Bibles. Not only that, only they will have the ability to promote and advertise these editions not only to Catholics, but to the general public.

How awesome would it be to walk into a Borders/Barnes and Noble or even a Christian book store and see a huge advertisement for a new Catholic Study Bible? I see it for translations like the NIV, TNIV, ESV, NLT, and the Message.

 

[tobinatorstark]

1. New Douay-Rheims Study Bible- The first thing I would do is update the archaic language in the translation, much like they did with the NKJV. Secondly, I would like the notes and commentary to be a mix of textual criticism and Catholic doctrine.

I wouldn’t say that the language is archaic. What words would you change. Please don’t say that you would change the “Thee and thou” But I do like the sound of a of notes and commentary, but I wouldn’t make a Bible like the NKJV is to the KJV.

 

[mccorm45]

I wouldn’t say that the language is archaic. What words would you change. Please don’t say that you would change the “Thee and thou” But I do like the sound of a of notes and commentary, but I wouldn’t make a Bible like the NKJV is to the KJV.

Yes, why not? Nobody uses the terms “thee” and “thou” in common or really even in formal speech these days. Some others:

ye, doth, hath, wilt, shalt, betimes, whilst, maketh, canst, etc…

PS: Please don’t turn this into another Douay-Rheims thread…that is not the purpose of it. It’s purpose is to look at the current state of Catholic study Bibles.

 

[tobinatorstark]

Yes, why not? Nobody uses the terms “thee” and “thou” in common or really even in formal speech these days. Some others:

ye, doth, hath, wilt, shalt, betimes, whilst, maketh, canst, etc…

I do agree with you on some of the words like ye, doth, hath, wilt, shalt, betimes, maketh, canst. I actually use the word whilst. I also think that all words like maketh should be changed though. I do like your idea though. Talk more in depth about the commentary that you would have in mind. I would love to hear about that

 

[mccorm45]

mccorm45;4123815:

Yes, why not? Nobody uses the terms “thee” and “thou” in common or really even in formal speech these days. Some others:

ye, doth, hath, wilt, shalt, betimes, whilst, maketh, canst, etc…

I do agree with you on some of the words like ye, doth, hath, wilt, shalt, betimes, maketh, canst. I actually use the word whilst. I also think that all words like maketh should be changed though. I do like your idea though. Talk more in depth about the commentary that you would have in mind. I would love to hear about that

Well, let me just say that no commentary included in a one volume study Bible will ever be perfect. However, I think a nice mixture of a few things would be best:

1. Crossreferences to other Biblical texts arranged in a way that is most profitable for those who use it for study. I think the Jerusalem Bible does it best.
2. Crossreferences that link important doctrinal passages to the Catechism of the Catholic Church
3. The commentary would be a mixture of good historical-critical analysis and some doctrinal imput, like showing Christological typology in the Old Testament. Maybe even some notations from the Fathers and Church Councils. I am thinking of a mixture of the New Jerusalem Bible and the Navarre.
4. Good in-text excurses which would focus on word studies and some theological terms. The Ignatius series is doing this well.
5. Also, a concise concordance, Mass readings, and some sweet maps. The in-text maps of the HarperCollins study Bible are well done.

 

[tobinatorstark]

tobinatorstark;4123863:

Well, let me just say that no commentary included in a one volume study Bible will ever be perfect. However, I think a nice mixture of a few things would be best:

1. Crossreferences to other Biblical texts arranged in a way that is most profitable for those who use it for study. I think the Jerusalem Bible does it best.
2. Crossreferences that link important doctrinal passages to the Catechism of the Catholic Church
3. The commentary would be a mixture of good historical-critical analysis and some doctrinal imput, like showing Christological typology in the Old Testament. Maybe even some notations from the Fathers and Church Councils. I am thinking of a mixture of the New Jerusalem Bible and the Navarre.
4. Good in-text excurses which would focus on word studies and some theological terms. The Ignatius series is doing this well.
5. Also, a concise concordance, Mass readings, and some sweet maps. The in-text maps of the HarperCollins study Bible are well done.

You got a really good idea going on I do like the idea of cross referencing other text like what the CCC did. I do think a mixture of different commentaries would be beneficial.

 

[Mea_Culpa]

There’s the Navarre Bible. There’s a one volume edition for the New Testament coming out (it now says it will be out in early October). Click here to see info about it. It’s based on the RSV-CE, which is the best English translation.

The write-up for it says:

This edition of commentaries on all twenty-seven books of the New Testament gives you the complete English (Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition) and Latin (New Vulgate) texts of each book, plus extensive and faithfully Catholic explanations of the scriptural texts and their implications for everyday life. It is self-contained with wide-ranging general introductions, introductions to each biblical book, a table of sources sited, maps and informative notes. Scholarly and readable, the Navarre bibles are a comprehensive intellectual, historical, and spiritual survey of the riches of the New Testament.

 

[tobinatorstark]

There’s the Navarre Bible. There’s a one volume edition for the New Testament coming out (it now says it will be out in early October). Click here to see info about it. It’s based on the RSV-CE, which is the best English translation.

The write-up for it says:

This edition of commentaries on all twenty-seven books of the New Testament gives you the complete English (Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition) and Latin (New Vulgate) texts of each book, plus extensive and faithfully Catholic explanations of the scriptural texts and their implications for everyday life. It is self-contained with wide-ranging general introductions, introductions to each biblical book, a table of sources sited, maps and informative notes. Scholarly and readable, the Navarre bibles are a comprehensive intellectual, historical, and spiritual survey of the riches of the New Testament.

Although I am not a fan of the RSV-CE as you already know, but the commentary that you posted on the thread Romans 5:13-14 that came from the Navarre was excellent. I compared the one you gave to from the Navarre to the Haydock and it was interesting to see how similar they were. I clearly got the message in each of them. I am really starting to get into the commentary now. Like I said before I am not a fan of the RSV-CE but I do think the Navarre Bible Commentary is worth have having though

 

[mccorm45]

Although I am not a fan of the RSV-CE as you already know, but the commentary that you posted on the thread Romans 5:13-14 that came from the Navarre was excellent. I compared the one you gave to from the Navarre to the Haydock and it was interesting to see how similar they were. I clearly got the message in each of them. I am really starting to get into the commentary now. Like I said before I am not a fan of the RSV-CE but I do think the Navarre Bible Commentary is worth have having though

I am a fan of the Navarre series as well. They do a really good job with a lot of things I am looking for in a study Bible. In particular, they use a one-column system, like the Jerusalem Bible, and include lots of cross-references in the margins. I would love to see them put together a one volume OT and NT combined edition, in the same way as the Jerusalem Bible. It would easily become my daily study/prayer Bible. It would be nice if it would be in a nice genuine leather edition as well, not the bonded and fake leather covers that most Catholic Bibles suffer from.

 

[COPLAND_3]

The Navarre Bible is wonderful, but it would be nice to have it in one volume and affordable that way. The Ignatius Study Bible is also top notch!

My ideal study Bible would be

One Volume

1. an updated version of the DR with a good variant apparatus.
2. footnotes that are layed out and as good as the Navarre Bible.
3. softback price around $15 hardback $35
4. maps and cross references and concordance

 

[Bible_Reader]

There’s the Navarre Bible. There’s a one volume edition for the New Testament coming out (it now says it will be out in early October). Click here to see info about it. It’s based on the RSV-CE, which is the best English translation.

While this looks like a fine edition, I notice that the commentary is quite a bit abbreviated compared with the original Navarre. One advantage that this edition has is that it has the Vulgate and English on the same page, instead of putting the Vulgate at the back of the Bible.

 

[mccorm45]

While this looks like a fine edition, I notice that the commentary is quite a bit abbreviated compared with the original Navarre. One advantage that this edition has is that it has the Vulgate and English on the same page, instead of putting the Vulgate at the back of the Bible.

I would imagine the commentary will be more than the compact edition, but less than the standard one. Also, the 75 dollar price is a bit hefty in my mind. I would really like to see them do the entire Bible in one colume, with the notation format that the Jerusalem Bible uses. It already is very similar in its single column layout anyways. I think it could be done and done well. I would really like to have the option of carrying around a one volume edition of the Navarre Bible. There is one in Spanish.

 

[Bible_Reader]

I would imagine the commentary will be more than the compact edition, but less than the standard one. Also, the 75 dollar price is a bit hefty in my mind. I would really like to see them do the entire Bible in one colume, with the notation format that the Jerusalem Bible uses. It already is very similar in its single column layout anyways. I think it could be done and done well. I would really like to have the option of carrying around a one volume edition of the Navarre Bible. There is one in Spanish.

The Navarre Bible actually was a new translation in Spanish. I suspect (but am not sure) that the “one volume” edition is primarily the new translation with a minimal number of notes. The standard Spanish edition is in five volumes and costs about $350 from this supplier.