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Can a Catholic read and study from the NIV translation of the Bible?

I lead an inter-denominational Bible study once a week and I wanted for all of us to use the RSV. My Protestant friends don’t want to budge from the NIV. I’m the only one who doesn’t use the NIV.

Should I or can I give in and use the NIV?
 
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Mokey:
Can a Catholic read and study from the NIV translation of the Bible?

I lead an inter-denominational Bible study once a week and I wanted for all of us to use the RSV. My Protestant friends don’t want to budge from the NIV. I’m the only one who doesn’t use the NIV.

Should I or can I give in and use the NIV?
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Several issues come to mind.

As a Catholic your Bible of choice should only be an approved Catholic translation. Period.

Since it seems you have elected to make this Bible study “inter-denominational” you have set yourself up for inevitable tension. What if you want to cite 2 Maccabees or Wisdom? Are you going to be shut down because their truncated translation doesn’t have those books?

All Bible translations have a bias built in. The NIV has a pronounced Protestant bias. It may be OK for a Protestant to use, but resign yourself to being prepared to have to defend the Catholic position if it conflicts with the NIV.

It often happens that when Protestants agree to “inter-denominational” studies, they often do so with the (seemingly reasonable) proviso that “we all agree to stick to the essentials.” That almost always means that all specifically Catholic perspectives – Mary, the saints, the visible Church, the Catechism, the Rosary, the Pope, etc. – are off-limits. This would include the seven books that Protestants have removed from their Bibles. If this is the case, this is a patently unacceptable position to put yourself in, as far as I’m concerned. In that case, you’d be better off taking your leave of this group and starting a Catholic study.
 
It doesn’t seem necessary for you to use the NIV. There are several Protestant versions of the Bible printed (ranging from those in Old English to much more modern versions). I don’t see why there would be a problem for you to use the RSV in your Bible Study(although you miss out on the wonderful Deuterocanonical books like Sirach 😦 ). However, considering that it is Inter-denominational, it is only reasonable to assume that they will do their readings from such Bibles as the NIV. If you were leading a Catholic Bible Study I would say, yes, definetally RSV, but in this situation (unless you, as leader of the study require readings from the RSV) I would say you need to take into account the fact that the study is interdenominational. Hope this helps,

God bless,
Kate
 
I meant to put these on my first post, but here are some articles that may be helpful for you. They are by my favorite Bible teacher and apologist, convert Steve Ray:

Non-denominational, Ecumenical Bible Studies?
Catholics are Welcome if they Keep Quiet!
catholic-convert.com/Portals/57ad7180-c5e7-49f5-b282-c6475cdb7ee7/Documents/EcumenicalBibleStudy.doc

Are All Bible Translations Created Equal?
The Protestant Bias of the NIV
A Study of the Word "Tradition"
catholicconvert.com/Portals/57ad7180-c5e7-49f5-b282-c6475cdb7ee7/Documents/NIVbias.doc

Bible Study: How to Start a Parish Bible Study
catholic-convert.com/Portals/57ad7180-c5e7-49f5-b282-c6475cdb7ee7/Documents/ParishBibleStudy.doc
 
Although a Catholic certainly should use a Catholic version, due to the inclusion of the 7 Deutero-Canonical Books, perhaps you could use the RSV or even NRSV, even though it contains inclusive language.

I tell you what though, I have looked at the NIV study Bibles, and they are nicely put together. Hopefully we as Catholics will have one soon in the future.
 
I would never consider using a Bible that was missing some books. I wouldn’t use the NIV for that reason.
 
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