The Navarre Bible versus the Ignatius Bible

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eternalrest

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Which of the two (Navarre Bible vs. Ignatius Bible) would you choose and why? 🙂
 
The Navarre Bible has an inferior translation (RSV-CE), but far, far superior notes dealing with many spiritual applications and readings of the text, instead of nearly purely critical questions. It also is complete, in both Old and New Testaments. It relies heavily upon the spiritual writings of St Josemaria Escriva from The Furrow, the Forge, and Christ is Passing By, so the spirituality has a decidedly Escrivan slant (this can be viewed as a positive or negative, depending on the man reading). However, a complete Navarre is over $400 (for the ten-volume hardcover issue; slightly cheaper, maybe, for the seven-volume OT and 12-volume paperback NT). It also has the Latin of the Nova Vulgata in a tiny font on each page, which adds probably 400-500pp. to the entire work. The Latin is so small as to be unusable if one reads Latin fluently (although it is fine for reading small portions), and I use the Clementina Vulgata in any case.

The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible only has the New Testament, Genesis, and Exodus, is much cheaper (around $30-50 for all of it), has more orthodox notes when it comes to text-critical issues, and is in a superior translation (RSV-2CE). The notes are written in a large part by Scott Hahn and Edward Sri, and deals with text-critical issues in some cases more thoroughly than the Navarre. It will likely be published in two volumes when completed.

I own and use both. They are complimentary to one another.
 
I have to answer in a complicated manner. I have both and use both. It is always nice to be able to compare and contrast two different sources.

Both are excellent study bibles. I would heartily recommend you get both if you can. 🙂
 
If you want to sample the Navarre go to Google groups and join Catholic Faith List, you will get the daily Mass readings w/annotations from the Navarre.
 
If you want to sample the Navarre go to Google groups and join Catholic Faith List, you will get the daily Mass readings w/annotations from the Navarre.
Thanks I did not know that, I will definelty be going there. 🙂
 
Both are wonderful. I like the Ignatius for the conciseness in the footnotes, and the Navarre I like for the all around sources, Papal quotes, Church Fathers and Saints, etc. I love the cheap price that I got the NT Ignatius Study Bible. Either way you can’t go wrong!
 
I would start with the’ Ignatius Catholic Study Bible - New Testament’ first since it is cheap, then I would slowly collect the Navarre Bible (hardback) volumes starting with ‘The Gospels and Acts.’ 👍
 
Regarding the translation, I would not call the RSV-CE inferior and the RSV-2CE superior. The translation itself is based on the same underlying original language texts, and nothing was added or subtracted. The differences are limited to updating some of the English language such as eliminating thee and thou, and also making word changes so it could conform to Liturgiam Authenticam (and some have questioned whether they met this goal).

Some people prefer the RSV-CE, especially those who were raised in an era when it was common to use Thee and Thou in prayer (and not just the Lord’s Prayer). For them, the RSV-CE is a more comfortable fit.

So I don’t think the translation itself should be a deciding factor unless you have a personal preference. I use both translations, but I tend to use the RSV-CE more often (straight text and not a Study Bible) since it also comes in a compact size.
 
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