Suitable Catholic bible recommendations

  • Thread starter Thread starter SPONP4US
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

SPONP4US

Guest
Hello Brothers and Sisters, peace be with you all.

So Basically, can anyone recommend a suitable grown up and Catholic version of the Bible containing all NT and OT books and psalms please? I have been getting by with a Good News (School study version) for some time now, but obviously this version is aimed at school kids to be taught in Catholic school, and though helpful for me when I was ‘Less informed’ on scripture … At 36 years old, I need something more comprehensive and truer in terms of translation, and historic language e.t.c (lots of the words are changed to modern phrases and the meaning is somewhat reduced and indistinguishable as a result). I’m interested to know also the Greek translation of the English, but this is not a major concern.

I don’t have alot of money right now so would prefer not to spend a fortune online for some fancy looking gold gilted leather bound “Brick” which I’ve seen online and in some gift shops … But I do want to purchase a quality one, and one that is more historically aqurate in terms of wording, and is most in line with the Latin Catholic Church and it’s teaching.

Any suggestions much appreciated.

Thanks
 
Last edited:
The Douay Rheims (DR) Bible is a classic Catholic Bible. Highly recommended
 
Last edited:
the Revised New Jerusalem Bible is about to be released, I would wait for that one.
 
My personal favorite is the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV-2CE i.e the Ignatius Bible) from Ignatius Press.
The Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) is also very good and is available from Ignatius Press, St. Benedict Press and Oxford University Press.

The Jerusalem Bible is also good, but avoid the New Jerusalem Bible.
 
Last edited:
I’m doing a course on Catholic studies and we were given a Bible for study it was the NRSV (new revised standard version) which our teacher said is best for translation (she speaks both the (koine) Greek and Hebrew) so that’s why I think it might suit your purposes. She is very learned and is the teacher of the men in our local seminary, I feel blessed to be being taught a few modules by her. It’s fairly inexpensive and you can buy a version with the added Grail psalms and readings at mass if you like - that is just showing years ABC etc. (which I had previously - cost me about £17).
 
Last edited:
You can choose from recent editions of the ff.


You can probably get a cheap, hardcover edition of NABRE with textual and historical criticism and a cheap, hardcover NRSV-CE Lectio Divina edition for prayer and reflection while waiting for the NRSV Updated Ed. and the future revision of NABRE which will be allowed for personal use, catechism, and liturgy.
 
The USCCB has this list: http://www.usccb.org/bible/approved-translations/index.cfm

USCCB Approved Translations of the Sacred Scriptures for Private Use and Study by Catholics​

1983 - Present

The 1983 Code of Canon Law entrusts to the Apostolic See and the episcopal conferences the authority to approve translations of the Sacred Scriptures in the Latin Catholic Church (c. 825, §1). Prior to 1983, Scriptural translations could be approved by the Apostolic See or by a local ordinary within a diocese.

What follows is a complete list of the translations of the Sacred Scriptures that have received the approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops since 1983.
In addition to the translations listed below, any translation of the Sacred Scriptures that has received proper ecclesiastical approval ‒ namely, by the Apostolic See or a local ordinary prior to 1983, or by the Apostolic See or an episcopal conference following 1983 ‒ may be used by the Catholic faithful for private prayer and study.


Books of the New Testament, Alba House

Contemporary English Version - New Testament, First Edition, American Bible Society

Contemporary English Version - Book of Psalms, American Bible Society

Contemporary English Version - Book of Proverbs, American Bible Society

The Grail Psalter (Inclusive Language Version), G.I.A. Publications

New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)

New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, National Council of Churches

The Psalms, Alba House

The Psalms (New International Version) - St. Joseph Catholic Edition, Catholic Book Publishing Company

The Psalms - St. Joseph New Catholic Version, Catholic Book Publishing Company

Revised Psalms of the New American Bible (1991)

So You May Believe, A Translation of the Four Gospels, Alba House

Good News Translation (Today’s English Version, Second Edition), American Bible Society

Translation for Early Youth, A Translation of the New Testament for Children, Contemporary English Version, American Bible Society
 
I already have my copy of the New Jerusalem Bible it has already been published.
 
Douay rheims is the best in my opinion, every time. It is very Catholic. You can just hear Catholic all through it.
 
40.png
Is this Bible a good one? Sacred Scripture
The answer is: it all depends. In this case, it all depends what you want to do with it. The Douay is certainly lovely and historic. If it’s what you’ll read and enjoy, go for it. It’s great for devotional reading if you can handle the older English. But as a translation, if you’re wanting to do serious textual study, it’s not preferable. It’s a translation of a translation, i.e. it was translated from the Latin Vulgate, which itself was translated from the Hebrew and Greek texts available to …
 
English Standard Version and KJV are good Protestant books and are the ones you should use if you’re using your phone, not a physical book. The NIV, NRSV, and NABRE may have modernist biases, such as gender inclusive language.

I’d go to a good used book store. Get an RSV or NAB or Douray Rheims Bible that’s like 40 years old. You won’t be disappointed. These are truly authoritative Catholic Bibles. If you get a Douray, I’d combine it with an ESV for readability.
 
Last edited:
I have a Douay Rheims Bible on my phone, and I can use RSVCE through the EWTN app on my phone. My personal Bible is the RSVCE, second edition, although I have access to RSVCE, NABRE, KJV, NAB, Good News Bible, and The Living Bible, my local library, to my surprise, has a Jerusalem bible, it is in very bad shape, if they ever get rid of it I’ll probably be the first person there to buy it. I’m kind of glad in a way, because it means people are actually reading it.
 
Last edited:
How is Douay Rheims not on that list? That is a travesty and all of those translations on that list use the Protestant Psalm numbering.
Nevermind those are all Bibles since 1983.
It has to do with the way Catholic Bibles are now approved.

Before 1983, they were approved via an Imprimatur from a Bishop. After 1983, they were approved by a national bishops’ conference.

Any Catholic is free to use any Bible that has an Imprimatur or approved by ANY national bishops’ conference.
 
Not that I am aware of. It does contain the revised grail psalter which
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has purchased the copy rights to.
 
The number of Bible’s, translations, study Bibles, I have on my Kindle is almost embarrassing 🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top