The Bible.....so many to choose from?

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Mamaof10

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I am a convert to the Church and there are so many choices for choosing a Catholic bible, can anyone explain why there are so many different versions and how I should decide which to use?
 
Super long history about the bible, even longer than 2,000 years! Torah! Septuagint! Nicea! Trent!

So much rich history, but to answer your question, the “Catholic Approved” bible would be the New American Bible Standard Edition or New American Bible Revised Edition, or otherwise commonly called NAB or NABRE. If I remember correctly, the bible readings from Mass are from the NAB.

Also, on the first few pages, if not the inside of the front cover, there will be an “approval” of sorts that says the doctrine of faith or some other authoritative body has approved this bible for catholics.
 
Different translations from different points in time, or by different groups. As our study has advanced so has our ability to be exact with the language, which results in newer editions being published.

I’m a fan of the Ignatius Press’ edition (Especially their New Testament study edition)

Ignatius Bible, Second Edition
 
If you’re more of a NIV person, the NAB or NABRE is the way to go
if you’re KJV, then the Douay-Reims is probably ideal
 
KatyCatholic said:
the “Catholic Approved” bible would be the New American Bible Standard Edition or New American Bible Revised Edition, or otherwise commonly called NAB or NABRE.
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there are other Catholic Approved Bibles too.

RSV-CE
RSV-2CE
NRSV-CE << tough I don’t like that one
Douay-Rheims Bible
NAB-1986 (1986 Second Edition NAB - also known as the RNAB-1986). Stay way from the original 1970 NAB and the 3rd edition 1991 NAB (also known as RNAB-1991)
Confraternity Bible
NABRE

Also, great Catholic editions of the Bible are:

Didache Bible - RSV-2CE version
Didache Bible - NABRE version

God Bless
 
Thank you all for your responses! I wish there weren’t so many choices:joy: As a Methodist I just had a KJV and everything we did with scripture had the same readings no matter what, this is all new to me, I feel like I will always be reading something different depending on whether I am at Mass, at a Bible study, or trying to follow an online study.
 
The primary rule: First, get one that has 73 books in it. Those missing books from Protestant bibles (only 66 books) are utterly amazing scriptures.

Next, what is your reading level? If it is 6th grade +/-, the NAB or NAB/RE will be fine - they are written down to the 6th grade level. If you read (and desire to read) at a higher level, then the Revised Standard Version either 1st or second Catholic Edition will be fine. The Catholic Living Bible or the brand new Catholic New Living Translation are contemporary translations that are pretty free in their rendering of verses. The NLT is better, IMO. The Douay-Rheims is the grandfather of English Catholic bibles, but its archaic language can be a challenge.

I rather like the Revised English Bible w/Apocrypha (Deuterocanon - i.e. Catholic books) is a very good read, and available used/excellent for a song. For a pocket New Testament, as advised by the Holy Father, the 1941 Confraternity New Testament is the finest English/American translation of the scriptures to my eyes. The footnotes and introductions are very solid and confidence inspiring. That cannot be said for certain “other” bibles.

Visit a Catholic bookstore or snoop around online and read a few sample pages. One will speak to you. Still, bibles are so utterly inexpensive in pre-owned (usually unread) condition, that one may build up a small library of them for very few dollars. Having a variety of translations at hand is an aid in determining the true sense of the passages in many cases.

If you have an NIV, it is a very good time to retire it, as its translation is rather muddy and controversial among even Protestants.
 
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If KJV is your history, then your natural Catholic choice is the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, first or second.
 
I’m a former Baptist and LOVED my KJV. Unfortunately, my church moved on to NIV and other versions. Now I use the NABRE which was given to me at confirmation.
 
This is simply the best Catholic Bible available. I use this and the Douay-Rheims exclusively. The Didache Bible really brings both Scripture and the Catechism to life, without the modernist tendencies of the New American Bible commentary.
 
Blessings,
Newer translations will tend to be more accurate b/c translating skills have improved. The Dead Sea Scrolls are used now in translations. Get a Catholic Bible b/c of our extra books. As you mature, you may buy more Bibles to cross reference things. Some translations were done by a group of scholars from original languages and Latin translation w Greek translation. The groups had Jewish Rabbis, Catholic translators, Protestant scholars. I find that encouraging. Most messages are the same. Words used for simplicity, not to change meanings.
In Christ’s love
Tweedlealice
 
The New American Bible’s language is very friendly to beginners in the faith. It was my Bible of choice until about a year ago, when I tried the RSVCE. That would serve you well- just don’t pay much heed to the horrifying footnotes. 🤢 Not a fan.

Generally, if it has 73 books, it’s going to be A-Okay.
 
A lot of people are listing off different Bibles, but based on your question it seems you already know there’s a lot of different Bibles and what you’re really trying to do is decide which one to get. I could list some too (I own more than one Bible myself), but instead I’ll just help you with what you really want.

Based on what you’ve said about yourself and your history with the KJV, my suggestion would be to get an RSV2CE Bible, and specifically as a convert you will probably get the most out of The Didache Bible from Midwest Theological Forum and Ignatius Press. You can find this Bible easily online or probably any decent bookstore, and there’s various choices of covers to choose from (but that’s a personal preference you’ll have to make yourself). What’s great about the Didache is it has references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, so if you have a copy of that (the 900+ page Second Edition) you can very easily understand how the Catholic Church interprets scripture and uses scripture as the basis of its beliefs. The Didache Bible is highly respected in Catholic circles, as is the RSV2CE translation.

Not to confuse you too much, there is also a Didache Bible in the NABRE translation. People around here like NABRE less, generally, because the language is a lot more dynamic, and I think coming from the KJV, you would not enjoy it as much. Some people also criticize the notes included in NABRE Bibles. Just be aware that the green covered Didache is RSV2CE, and the red covered Didache is NABRE. If I were you, I’d stick with the green one.
 
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Mamaof10 said:
I am a convert to the Church and there are so many choices for choosing a Catholic bible, can anyone explain why there are so many different versions and how I should decide which to use?
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The $1,000,000 question. 😁 If you’re like me, the style, size and look of your bible is just as important as the translation. If you plan on taking it with you to read at church or bible study, than having a large, hardcover study bible probably isn’t ideal.

I think the New American Bible is probably the one translation that will be the easiest to come by and has the most options when it comes to different sizes and styles. However, the NAB is also the most criticized for its translation and poorly written notes. The version of the NAB that you’re most likely to find in stores today is that of the NAB revised edition (NABRE). Which is basically a new translation of the OT and Psalms, the NT is the same version that was introduced in 1986.

If you plan on doing a lot of bible study or reading books from many of today’s top Catholic apologists and theologians, then perhaps the Revised Standard Version is more to your liking. I say that because, most catholic authors today, use the RSV in their writings and it seems to be the most often recommended bible for study and daily reading. You can either get the RSV Catholic Edition (RSVCE) or the RSV 2nd Catholic Edition. The second edition is nearly identical to the first, but has taken out archaic words such as Thee and Thou.

And of course you can’t leave out the Douay Rheims bible! Of all the Bible’s in print today, the DR is unapologetically Catholic in just about every aspect. If you’re familiar with the Bible already and have a good understanding of many of its passages, then you’d be hard pressed to find a better Catholic translation of the Bible. However, if you’re just starting out trying to read the Bible and you aren’t familiar with many of its meanings then you may want to hold off making this your first choice. It’s archaic language can be a huge challenge to overcome and you may find yourself constantly reaching for a more modern version to make sense of what you just read in the DR.
 
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