Setting Up a Personal Bible Study

[Rawb]

Ok, I’m sure you’re all tired of this question, but it has a slightly different twist on it and I’m lost.

I’m setting up my Christmas List, and I decided that I would ask for a Bible as my ‘big’ item. Everyone in my family gets a $50.00 gift every year, and I decided I’d ask for a nice Bible. I then decided to ask for maybe a commentary or Bible study book to go along with it.

I have no idea when it comes to translations. I like that the Douay-Rheims has the tradition behind it, and comes with the ‘extras’ like the Family Registery (I’m 19 and single, so not really necessary, but still cool to have) and the pictures and maps, but I find it a bit difficult to read. I think I’m leaning towards the RSV-CE, but I really like the Old English too.

I’d like to have a good, serious study every now and then, so here’s my main question. What Bible Translation would you recommend, with which Study Guides, or Commentaries, etc. etc. I don’t want a Protestant version, and if the Commentary or Guide or whatever has references to the Early Church Fathers and Church Documents all the better.

I definitally don’t want the NAB.

Any suggestions? (Not too picky…right?)

 

[DCD]

Rawb,

I have too many translations to list. IMO and I have a son who is sixteen, the best translation/commentary you could get for under $50 would be the Navarre New Testament readers edition. The only problem is it covers only the Gospels and Acts. However it would be a nice start in a collection for you. It is easy to read and the commentary is faithful.

I can also recommend the D-R but it is going to cost you $100. With either one of these suggestions you will not be disappointed and you will find your Bible study very rewarding.

One more suggestion. You could get a simple bible translation such as the Ignatius RSVCE to read. Along with that you could purchase one of two books that would supplement your study. The first is A Guide to the Bible: by Antonio Fuentes, or An Introduction to the Bible: by Father John Laux, both are good and give a background to the Bible as a whole and each individual book. I use both of these to teach my oldest son. All of this is within your stated budget

Peace,
David

 

[MarcoPolo]

I like the RSV-CE myself. That’s also what most of the apologists with Catholic Answers recommend.

The Douay is also very good, I just usually refer to the online Douay.

For commentaries, you can also save a buck and use the online Haydock Commentary.

Thomas Aquinas’ comments on several books are also online.

If you want to spend some money on a commentary, (like $400+ after shipping) I’ll have to appeal to Father Corapi and recommend the Navarre complete set. Here is the cheapest I found online a few weels agp. A local bookstore may be able to get you a deal too. But that sounds beyond your $50 budget.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

The New Testament (Hardcover)
by Nicholas King (Translator)

 

[Rawb]

I probably shouldn’t have mentioned the $50.00…, that was sort of me rambling, LoL. While $50 what I can expect for one gift, the Bible and books can be more than that (the $50 will be from my cousin, my parents could supplement the gift if what I really wanted was more than that).

I hadn’t even heard of Navarre, I’ll look into that one. Thanks everyone for the commentary suggestions! Keep them coming!

 

[victus]

For a Bible I recommend the RSV-CE or the RSV-SCE (Second Catholic Edition)

I also recommend the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible to go along with the Bible you get, which have commentary for most of the books of the New Testament. You can order these books for the Study Bible separately. Also look at The Lambs Supper by Scott Hahn for a look into the Book of Revelation.

getfed.com/discount-catholic/471/Ignatius-RSV/?page=1

 

[Nita]

If you get the Navarre or Ignatius Study Bible, they contain the Scripture texts of the RSV-CE. (The Navarre has all of the NT books and a lot of the OT. It will be pricey though.) If you purchased a Douay Bible and then began collecting the Navarre, you would end up with both translations and a great commentary.

Nita