Were the NAB Commentaries Written by Protestants?

[CollegeKid]

I’ve noticed more and more lately that I end up doing double-takes when I’m reading the NAB endnotes on particular sections of the gospels or the epistles because, for example, the explanation of Luke’s narrative of the institution of the Eucharist sounds like it was written by James White. The latest transgression:

I had always taken Hebrews 13:10 to refer to the Eucharist (“We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat”).

Not so, according to the NAB: “This does not refer to the Eucharist, which is never clearly mentioned in Heb., but to the sacrifice of Christ.”

The Eucharist is the Sacrifice of Christ. We eat the Eucharist. If the author of Hebrews wasn’t referring to the Eucharist, why would he go to the trouble of asserting that “those who serve at the tabernacle,” the Jewish priests, " have no right to eat" from this “altar”? Am I missing something?

 

[CollegeKid]

What I’m trying to say is that I think that commentary from the NAB begs the question:

How do you eat from the **sacrifice of Christ **if it is not made present to you in an edible form, like bread and wine?

 

[Veritas41]

I’ve noticed more and more lately that I end up doing double-takes when I’m reading the NAB endnotes on particular sections of the gospels or the epistles because, for example, the explanation of Luke’s narrative of the institution of the Eucharist sounds like it was written by James White. The latest transgression:

I had always taken Hebrews 13:10 to refer to the Eucharist (“We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat”).

Not so, according to the NAB: “This does not refer to the Eucharist, which is never clearly mentioned in Heb., but to the sacrifice of Christ.”

The Eucharist is the Sacrifice of Christ. We eat the Eucharist. If the author of Hebrews wasn’t referring to the Eucharist, why would he go to the trouble of asserting that “those who serve at the tabernacle,” the Jewish priests, " have no right to eat" from this “altar”? Am I missing something?

I don’t think you’re missing anything, that’s the way I’ve always understood that verse. I didn’t know Jesus died on an altar

 

[Randy_Carson]

I’ve noticed more and more lately that I end up doing double-takes when I’m reading the NAB endnotes on particular sections of the gospels or the epistles because, for example, the explanation of Luke’s narrative of the institution of the Eucharist sounds like it was written by James White. The latest transgression:

I had always taken Hebrews 13:10 to refer to the Eucharist (“We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat”).

Not so, according to the NAB: “This does not refer to the Eucharist, which is never clearly mentioned in Heb., but to the sacrifice of Christ.”

The Eucharist is the Sacrifice of Christ. We eat the Eucharist. If the author of Hebrews wasn’t referring to the Eucharist, why would he go to the trouble of asserting that “those who serve at the tabernacle,” the Jewish priests, " have no right to eat" from this “altar”? Am I missing something?

You’re not alone…I bought my first copy of the NAB recently and was not happy with endnotes to each book. You might take this up in the Sacred Scripture forum, however.

 

[CollegeKid]

I don’t think you’re missing anything, that’s the way I’ve always understood that verse. I didn’t know Jesus died on an altar

Well, the cross of His crucifixion was His altar, as I’ve always understood. And, the fact that the Sacrifice of the Mass happens on an altar.

 

[porthos11]

I’ve noticed more and more lately that I end up doing double-takes when I’m reading the NAB endnotes on particular sections of the gospels or the epistles because, for example, the explanation of Luke’s narrative of the institution of the Eucharist sounds like it was written by James White. The latest transgression:

I had always taken Hebrews 13:10 to refer to the Eucharist (“We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat”).

Not so, according to the NAB: “This does not refer to the Eucharist, which is never clearly mentioned in Heb., but to the sacrifice of Christ.”

The Eucharist is the Sacrifice of Christ. We eat the Eucharist. If the author of Hebrews wasn’t referring to the Eucharist, why would he go to the trouble of asserting that “those who serve at the tabernacle,” the Jewish priests, " have no right to eat" from this “altar”? Am I missing something?

Most devout Protestants would run away from the notes in the NAB.

 

[RNRobert]

I agree. Sounds like they contracted the Jesus Seminar people to write the notes…

 

[rciadan]

The book descriptions, footnotes, and endnotes are among the major reasons I decided to get rid of my NAB. I now use the Douay-Rheims, in which the footnotes are absolutely 100% Catholic in their nature teaching and apologising for the Doctrines of Holy Mother Church. The translation I also find to be more clear and meaningful, even if I do sometimes need to get help from the dictionary to understand the meaning of a few of the words used.
Another thing I find distastful about the NAB is the section on how to read your bible. It directly opposes the teaching of Pope Leo XIII in his encyclical “Providentissimus Deus”. I am no scholar; but, I think it is clear to anyone who reads both, the “How to” section in the NAB and the Holy Fathers’ encyclical.
My advice- get a Douay-Rheims!

 

[Axion]

This set of articles is very interesting. They go through areas of the NAB and show how it defies and negates Catholic and even basic Christian teaching.

catholicintl.com/epologetics/articles/bible/nab1.htm

The notes were written by theological liberals of the worst sort - who assume as a matter of course that the theories of the liberal establishment are correct and that the Bible was written and put together by liars and con-men.

Why the Catholic heirarchy allow these appalling notes to go out in the official Catholic bible, harming the faith of millions of readers - I do not know.

For good Bible notes try the Christian community Bible - a catholic translation for the 3rd world.

 

[thommie]

I am a Protestant, and was educated at one of their more conservative seminaries (Dallas Theological Seminary).

I acquired a copy of the Catholic Study Bible about a year ago, and although I consider it a useful addition to my library, I did notice that a lot of the notes seem to espouse ideas which I was taught, in my Biblical Introduction courses, as having sprung from liberal Protestantism.

I was somewhat surprised.

 

[JeanneH]

I’ve noticed more and more lately that I end up doing double-takes when I’m reading the NAB endnotes on particular sections of the gospels or the epistles because, for example, the explanation of Luke’s narrative of the institution of the Eucharist sounds like it was written by James White. The latest transgression:

I had always taken Hebrews 13:10 to refer to the Eucharist (“We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat”).

Not so, according to the NAB: “This does not refer to the Eucharist, which is never clearly mentioned in Heb., but to the sacrifice of Christ.”

The Eucharist is the Sacrifice of Christ. We eat the Eucharist. If the author of Hebrews wasn’t referring to the Eucharist, why would he go to the trouble of asserting that “those who serve at the tabernacle,” the Jewish priests, " have no right to eat" from this “altar”? Am I missing something?

Hi
These foot notes are from the Duay_Rheims NT commentary by Fr. Haydock. So I don’t think the NAB if too far off this time. But I do agree, some of the foot notes are suspect.

Ver. 10. We, Christians, have at present an altar,[3] and consequently a sacrifice, whereof they have no power to eat, who serve the tabernacle, confiding in the law and in Moses, not in Christ and the gospel. He does not say, we had an altar. (Witham) — St. Paul has often mentioned the high priest and victim; here he tells us we have an altar, and of course a sacrifice. Let us then go out of ourselves to offer to God by, with, and in Jesus Christ, this his beloved Son, in the holy Eucharist, for this is a victim of praise worthy of God, and let us not forget to offer ourselves to our eternal Father daily, in union with our great high priest and victim, Jesus Christ; 1st, on the cross; 2ndly, in the Eucharist; and 3rdly, in heaven, the immaculate Lamb slain as it were from the beginning before the throne of God.

Ver. 11. This is commonly interpreted of the sacrifice of the Eucharist, by which is continued (though in a different manner) Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, of which he speaks in the following words, telling them that the bodies of those beasts, with the blood of which the sanctuary was sprinkled on the feast of expiation, (see Leviticus xvi. 29. and xxiii. 27. and Numbers xxix. 8.) were burnt without the camp, not eaten as the other victims. Wherefore Jesus, when he fulfilled this figure, and offered himself on the cross, a sacrifice of expiation for the sins of all mankind, and to obtain for them true sanctification, was pleased to suffer out of the gate of Jerusalem. (Witham)

Hope this helps
JeanneH

 

[Contarini]

T
The notes were written by theological liberals of the worst sort -

You obviously have limited experience of liberals if you think the NAB editors are the “worst sort”!

I don’t dispute that there are problems with the NAB. But presumably the opinions expressed in it (dubious as they may be) are legitimate opinions within Catholicism, or the Magisterium would have said something.

Catholicism is a much bigger tent than people on this board are willing to admit. Basically this board is populated by people who want to fight off the fundamentalist critique by turning Catholicism into fundamentalism in fancy vestments.

Edwin

 

[lak611]

Are there any Catholic Bibles available with just the Bible text and cross-references, no commentary at all? I noticed that it is easy to obtain Protestant Bibles with just the text but virtually impossible to find a Catholic translation without the footnotes. If anybody knows of a footnote/commentary free Catholic Bible, please let me know.

 

[Nita]

Are there any Catholic Bibles available with just the Bible text and cross-references, no commentary at all? I noticed that it is easy to obtain Protestant Bibles with just the text but virtually impossible to find a Catholic translation without the footnotes. If anybody knows of a footnote/commentary free Catholic Bible, please let me know.

My paperback RSV-CE put out by Ignatius Press does not have any footnotes with the text. They are all listed at the end - OT footnotes at the end of the OT; NT footnotes at the end of the NT. An asterisk appears in the text to indicate there is a footnote.

Nita

 

[lak611]

My paperback RSV-CE put out by Ignatius Press does not have any footnotes with the text. They are all listed at the end - OT footnotes at the end of the OT; NT footnotes at the end of the NT. An asterisk appears in the text to indicate there is a footnote.

Nita

Thank you. I sometimes prefer not having footnotes because they can be a distraction when I am reading the Bible. I like just reading the text without having to purposely ignore other stuff on the pages. That Bible you have sounds like a good one. Does it come in a genuine leather binding? I like my Bibles to be durable and don’t care for paperback or hardcover. Genuine leather is my preference over bonded leather.

 

[Nita]

Thank you. I sometimes prefer not having footnotes because they can be a distraction when I am reading the Bible. I like just reading the text without having to purposely ignore other stuff on the pages. That Bible you have sounds like a good one. Does it come in a genuine leather binding? I like my Bibles to be durable and don’t care for paperback or hardcover. Genuine leather is my preference over bonded leather.

There is a leather edition, but not sure if the footnotes are in the same place as the paperback. My Leaflet Missal Co. catalog shows it comes in Burgundy or Black leather - $44.95 plus shipping. If you don’t have a bookstore close, their phone is 1-800-328-9582. It’s a faithful Catholic bookstore.

Nita

 

[lak611]

There is a leather edition, but not sure if the footnotes are in the same place as the paperback. My Leaflet Missal Co. catalog shows it comes in Burgundy or Black leather - $44.95 plus shipping. If you don’t have a bookstore close, their phone is 1-800-328-9582. It’s a faithful Catholic bookstore.

Nita

Thanks, Nita. I could always call them and ask about where the footnotes are.