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MiserereMei25
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Which is more reliable? NRSV, NABRE, or Douay Rheims?
I have the NRSV Didache Bible.
I have the NRSV Didache Bible.
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Scott84
Guest
My personal choice is Douay-Rheims.
But, it depends if you are looking for a dynamic or a literal translation. By literal translation you get a translation that is a word-for-word translation, even if it sounds very clunky in English. For example in the Douay-Rheims, which was translated from the Latin Vulgate, in Genesis Chapter 1 it reads: “Be light made.” This is a literal translation of the Latin used. In the NABRE which was translated from the original tongues it reads “Let there be light.” That’s because the NABRE is a dynamic translation. A dynamic translation flows better with English, but doesn’t use the same literal words in the original script, but the translators preserve the point the original author was intending, even if it means they have to change the wording to make it sound good in English.
I personally own both the Douay Rheims and NABRE. I tend to prefer the Douay Rheims Bible over the NABRE, but that is because I have some issues with the translation. For example, Mary isn’t full of grace, Paul doesn’t forgive sins Persona Christi, but only rather “in the presence of Christ”, it has much more gender neutral language, among other things.
Also the NABRE was done to be at a 7th grade reading level. It really doesn’t have much of the beautiful poetic language you’d find in say the Douay-Rheims. And don’t get me started on the footnotes of the NABRE (the footnotes are borderline heretical at times). The overall dynamic language in the NABRE is just too anti-sceptic for me at times.
I don’t know if you prefer a literal or dynamic translation, but if you want a dynamic translation I wouldn’t recommend the NABRE. There’s a reason the Vatican rejected its use for the lectionary at Mass. What is read at Mass is an edited version Rome made of the 1970 NAB Old Testament with 1986 revised New Testament, but with a different psalter. The situation is a mess if you ask me. The USCCB is currently working on yet another revision to the NAB hoping this time the Vatican will approve it for use in the lectionary, that way we can have one Bible used for private study, lectionary, and catechizing.
But, it depends if you are looking for a dynamic or a literal translation. By literal translation you get a translation that is a word-for-word translation, even if it sounds very clunky in English. For example in the Douay-Rheims, which was translated from the Latin Vulgate, in Genesis Chapter 1 it reads: “Be light made.” This is a literal translation of the Latin used. In the NABRE which was translated from the original tongues it reads “Let there be light.” That’s because the NABRE is a dynamic translation. A dynamic translation flows better with English, but doesn’t use the same literal words in the original script, but the translators preserve the point the original author was intending, even if it means they have to change the wording to make it sound good in English.
I personally own both the Douay Rheims and NABRE. I tend to prefer the Douay Rheims Bible over the NABRE, but that is because I have some issues with the translation. For example, Mary isn’t full of grace, Paul doesn’t forgive sins Persona Christi, but only rather “in the presence of Christ”, it has much more gender neutral language, among other things.
Also the NABRE was done to be at a 7th grade reading level. It really doesn’t have much of the beautiful poetic language you’d find in say the Douay-Rheims. And don’t get me started on the footnotes of the NABRE (the footnotes are borderline heretical at times). The overall dynamic language in the NABRE is just too anti-sceptic for me at times.
I don’t know if you prefer a literal or dynamic translation, but if you want a dynamic translation I wouldn’t recommend the NABRE. There’s a reason the Vatican rejected its use for the lectionary at Mass. What is read at Mass is an edited version Rome made of the 1970 NAB Old Testament with 1986 revised New Testament, but with a different psalter. The situation is a mess if you ask me. The USCCB is currently working on yet another revision to the NAB hoping this time the Vatican will approve it for use in the lectionary, that way we can have one Bible used for private study, lectionary, and catechizing.
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ahs
Guest
The small amount of research I’ve done (and I mean VERY small), suggests that the NRSV is more accurate in regards to expressing the original meaning of the original words; while the others are more accurate in regards to the actual words. I prefer the NRSV-Catholic Edition, but my personal study Bible is an NAB translation (Little Rock Study Bible). I have heard that the Didache Bible is super-duper excellent.
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nightshade
Guest
I have recently been reading the Ignatius Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition my wife gave me for Christmas. I have really enjoyed it. I also want to get a Douay Rheims red letter edition. I just really love bibles. I also have a couple King James Versions, which is what I was raised on.
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babochka
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For serious study, I would recommend using a number of Bibles and comparing the way that they are rendered in each translation. Translation is not an exact science and two translators can easily take the same original and come up with different translations. Even with a literal translation, this problem comes up because a word can mean more than one thing. Sometimes a literal translation makes no sense whatsoever . Comparing more than one translation is a way to get a more complete picture.
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bobperk
Guest
RSV-2CE is my preference. NAB and NABRE are not very good.
Douay-Rheims is good for my devotional reading, but I do not use it to study.
I would love to see an updated D-R with the same translation but updated footnotes.
Douay-Rheims is good for my devotional reading, but I do not use it to study.
I would love to see an updated D-R with the same translation but updated footnotes.
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MagdalenaRita
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Douay Rheims!!
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1ke
Guest
Well, what do you mean by “reliable”? They are all approved translations.
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StudentMI
Guest
If it’s approved it’s fine. I like the Jerusalem Bible, RSVCE and Douay Rheims myself. I’ve been reading the latter recently more than the others. Wasn’t raised KJV but the scripture I heard on Sunday had a bit of that old fashioned wording to it.
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GospelOfMatthew
New member
I have the New Revised Standard Bible which I have marked up with all sorts of tabs, sticky notes and such. For one of my college classes though (Biblical Studies, I’m studying for a Bachelors in Religious Studies as well as Political Science - I’m hoping to get a masters in Theology down the road 
) I have The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha. I would reccomend NRSB and I’d say to stay clear of KJV.
) I have The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha. I would reccomend NRSB and I’d say to stay clear of KJV.
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po18guy
Well-known member
I much prefer any of the 1941-1969 Confraternity bibles. The OT ranges from pure D-R to a blend of D-R and Confraternity translations. The NT is the 1941 Confraternity translation and is simply excellent, as are the notes and intros. It puts the, um, current Catholic bibles to shame, IMO.
The Knox is pure British and purely beautiful.
Both are revisions of the Clementine Vulgate, which traces back across the centuries to Saint Jerome’s work. That is more than good enough for me!
Honorable mention goes to the Oxford/Cambridge Revised English Bible (with Deuterocanon/“Apocrypha”) as it is a good read and was translated in conjunction with the Catholic Church in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
The Knox is pure British and purely beautiful.
Both are revisions of the Clementine Vulgate, which traces back across the centuries to Saint Jerome’s work. That is more than good enough for me!
Honorable mention goes to the Oxford/Cambridge Revised English Bible (with Deuterocanon/“Apocrypha”) as it is a good read and was translated in conjunction with the Catholic Church in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
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phil19034
Guest
- the Didache Bible is NOT the NRSV translation. It’s actually the RSV-2CE translation - which is really just an update of the RSV.
- I like all three (RSV-2CE, NABRE, and Douay Rheims) but the I think I like the RSC-2CE the best. But honestly, I don’t mind the NABRE - if you ignore the notes, the NABRE is not bad and easy to understand (though there are a few translations which bug me - like the lack of Full of Grace)
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phil19034
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Check out the RSV-2CE when you can. It’s what all Catholics wished the NRSV would have been when it came out.I have the New Revised Standard Bible which I have marked up with all sorts of tabs, sticky notes and such. For one of my college classes though (Biblical Studies, I’m studying for a Bachelors in Religious Studies as well as Political Science - I’m hoping to get a masters in Theology down the road
GospelOfMatthew
New member
Now that I think about it, I think I have one, Ignatius RSV-2CE from when I got Confirmed 3 years ago as a gift. I’ll have to check it out
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nightshade
Guest
So far that has been my favorite translation. (RSV CE) It keeps some of the traditional English forms of you, has non feminized language, but is still a bit easier to understand than some of the older translations. To me it’s the best of both worlds, it reads like a traditional bible but with easy to understand vocabulary without the influence of modern translations that have attempted to use feminized inclusive language.
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ELCore
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The Didache Bible is available in RSV-2CE (Ignatius Bible) or NABRE editions. The former has a green cover; the latter, a brown cover.
Midwest Theological Forum: Bibles
Midwest Theological Forum: Bibles
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Brendan_64
Guest
I think the Didache study Bible is RSV, not NRSV. At least that is what my one appears to state.
I think the Didache is a very good study Bible. But my preference on Bible version would probably be the Douay Rheims.
A drawback, I think, of the Douay Rheims is that it is written verse by verse, rather than as a narrative, but I still prefer the language and text of the Douay Rheims to the RSV. If only someone would produce a Douay Rheims study Bible.
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Dovekin
Guest
The Douay Rheims is not a reliable translation if you mean one that reliably conveys the meaning of the original. It is a translation of a translation, giving more opportunities for mistakes. In an example given earlier, it keeps the Latin word order but that is not the Hebrew word order, or even the Greek.
The NRSV was translated by an ecumenical group of scholars. It translates from the original language, but like their earlier RSV, it looks to the KJV for its use of English. It is a high quality translation, though some people do not trust scholars and the choices they have made. They prefer the older RSV, which does not incorporate insights from the Dead Sea scrolls and other discoveries of the last 70 years.
The NABRE is a translation from the original languages, sponsored and overseen by the US conference of Catholic Bishops. It is the English translation on the Vatican website. If “reliable” means approved by the Church’s hierarchy, this may be what you want.
The USCCB has a list of translations approved in the last 40 years. Translations that were approved earlier, like the RSV (1950s?) or Douay Rheims (16th century?), can also be used.
The NRSV was translated by an ecumenical group of scholars. It translates from the original language, but like their earlier RSV, it looks to the KJV for its use of English. It is a high quality translation, though some people do not trust scholars and the choices they have made. They prefer the older RSV, which does not incorporate insights from the Dead Sea scrolls and other discoveries of the last 70 years.
The NABRE is a translation from the original languages, sponsored and overseen by the US conference of Catholic Bishops. It is the English translation on the Vatican website. If “reliable” means approved by the Church’s hierarchy, this may be what you want.
The USCCB has a list of translations approved in the last 40 years. Translations that were approved earlier, like the RSV (1950s?) or Douay Rheims (16th century?), can also be used.
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