What Bible translation is your favorite and why?

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Odell

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I would like to know what bible the majority of our members use. Becaue you all seem very well versed in scripture and im sure you guys could give me advise on the best option for me to use.

I mean if Karl or James Aiken or Scott Hann told me what bible they prefer I more than likely would use the translation they use.

If the translation you use is not on here chose none and tell me what you do use.

also what is the best apologest bible?

anyway thanks It will be enteresting

well I wanted to make this a poll but I messed this up

here are some choices NAB, NAS, NIV, JB, NJB
 
My favourite isn’t here. It’s the RSV (CE). It is the most faithful to the original texts.

I’m also fond of the (original) Jerusalem Bible. (Don’t care for the new version at all.) The notes with it are superb, and although not well suited to a rigourous study, it is an excellent and faithful presentation of Holy Scripture.

Blessings,

Gerry

PS: In a lecture I heard him give, Dr. Peter Kreeft, when asked about translations, said, “Never trust a translation with ‘New’ or ‘American’ in the title.” I have to agree.

GH
 
I own about a dozen translations, but the best Catholic translation for my money is one you didn’t list: the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (or RSV-CE).

Being a student of the Bible for 20 years, I find it to be the most accurate, literate, and inspiring translation out there. Here is a sample
From: John 1:1-18
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Prologue​

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God; [3] all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The lightshines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
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[6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] He came for testimony to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. [8] He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
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[9] The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. [10] He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. [11] He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. [12] But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; [13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
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[14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the father. [15] (John bore witness to him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.’”) [16] And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. [17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [18] No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.
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Most of today’s top Catholic speakers and apologists prefer the RSV-CE and most of the best and exciting Catholic Bible study material these days also is based on it.

There is, as yet, no good Catholic study Bible based on this translation, but there is one in progress by Ignatius that promises to be a great one. You can already get most of the books of the New Testament from this work in process in individual booklet form.

Finally, the RSV-CE is the Scripture translation that is used in official Vatican documents when they cite Scripture.👍

Check the Catholic Answers “Shop” area for more information, or visit my website, linked below.
 
NJV, because I want to be taken seriously in the marketplace of ideas.
 
richardwy said:
Douay.

Language, history, doctrine.

Haydock Bible rocks!
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I would second, third and fourth that. Catholic Treasures offers the one-volumn Hard Cover at $125. It is such a great source of info. The quantity of commentary exceeds the text. Good stuff.
 
MrS said:
I would second, third and fourth that. Catholic Treasures offers the one-volumn Hard Cover at $125. It is such a great source of info. The quantity of commentary exceeds the text. Good stuff.
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I like to point out All Catholic Books as well for the Haydock. They’re quite a bit cheaper. 🙂
 
The ones I read the most are The Jerusalem Bible and The New Jerusalem Bible. I have first editions of both.
 
For everyday reading: King James Version (I like the older-style English).

For study, New King James Version (has the textual variants listed for comparison).

When my everyday reading gets to a Deuterocanonical book, I read it in the Douay-Rheims (again because of the older-style English, and its more word-for-word translation philosophy).

When I’m into serious study, I’ll use the NKJV as my primary text, but will check numerous other translations as well.

If I were to stick strictly with a Catholic translation, the Douay-Rheims would be the front-runner by a long shot.
 
Like someone else said previously, I too have about ten different translations and/or editions. Nothing special, I guess, I just picked them up along the way.

I like the KJV because it is the basis for Strong’s concordance and for the Matthew Henry’s Commentary. It’s hard to chase a word with the Catholic publications that I know of.

For example, is the verse properly rendered “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” ? or “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ” ?

I would think that this would be settled, but I see it both ways. Most protestants would give the former.

And, then, according to the RSV-CE footnote, there are several equivalent renderings of the Shema Israel, “hear O Israel, the Lord is God, the Lord alone” (which is one of the alternative variants in one of the rare footnotes in that edition).

I can’t say I’d have a good commentary in my hands, unless I had a good, well-accepted Jewish commentary on the OT, one that wasn’t reactionary and polemical against Christianity.

I’ve set the RSV-CE compact edition aside, because it’s hard to read that small print.

HEY, I have to agree somewhat with the RSV-CE. It renders Ps 2:12a as “Kiss his feet” which is the clearest of the NAB and KJV that I was using for a study of the first psalms. And, glancing around, I don’t see the words “just” and “righteous” which the NAB and KJV use with some academic bias.

I’ve gotten a lot of satisfaction with the (expensive) NIV study bible (you just don’t trip up on the words) and the good old NAB (for its cross-references and, yes, the footnotes).
 
I like the Confraternity New Testament the Best and the Douay Rheims Haydock Old Testament the best.

The Confraternity New Testament is a readable as you can get without chunking the Vulgate.

The Douay Rheims Haydock Old Testament spells Sinai correctly so I like it over the Douay Rheims Challoner Old Testament.

I think the Psalms from 1950-1954 that were English translations from the Latin but were not the Douay or the Olinger Psalms are the best.
 
I picked up a copy of the Knowing Jesus Bible, an adaptation of the NIV, which has a lot of nice essays on the messianic and prophetic and christological aspects of the scripture. This is a nice version for meditation.
 
Odell said:
I would like to know what bible the majority of our members use. Becaue you all seem very well versed in scripture and im sure you guys could give me advise on the best option for me to use.

I mean if Karl or James Aiken or Scott Hann told me what bible they prefer I more than likely would use the translation they use.

If the translation you use is not on here chose none and tell me what you do use.

also what is the best apologest bible?

anyway thanks It will be enteresting

well I wanted to make this a poll but I messed this up

here are some choices NAB, NAS, NIV, JB, NJB
Click to expand...

I use​

  • the 1881-85 Revised Version - for its chain references
  • the 1970 New English Bible - for everyday purposes
  • the 1970 Revised Standard Version - for quoting in posts
  • the 1985 Tanakh - as a Jewish corrective to possible Christian bias in translations of the OT
  • the Translator’s New Testament - as a basic text for the nuances of the meaning of the NT
  • the Authorised Version - usually for quotations
    • and, last but certainly not least, the translations of the texts in various commentaries: both the New International Commentary series & the Fortress Press Continental Commentary series (neither of them complete 😦 :)) provide translations of the text being commented on
      Both are Protestant, but the NIC (which is broadly Evangelical) will probably be closer to what most people on these fora are at ease with; the Continental Commentary series are much more academic. The NIC series, like the Continental Commentaries, use critical methods: with others, as they should.
The NIC commentary on Ezekiel by Daniel L. Block is outstanding. It’s extremely thorough, and - as it happens - immensely helpful for providing background to the NT & the Liturgy. Ezekiel is frequently used in the Johannine writings, so understanding the background in Ezekiel 47 to John 7.37, 38 (for instance) helps to illustrate the Church’s use of water. We lose a very great deal, needlessly, if we don’t know the Biblical background to why the Church worships as she does: this has far less to do with apologetics, than with with appreciating what God has given us. Ignorance of the Bible is not only ignorance of Christ - it is also ignorance of Catholicism. 😦

There is a variety of editions of the NT text in Latin & Greek, with various helps to the meaning of the Greek text.

A good brief guide to OT commentaries is that by Tremper Longman III - christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=031230&netp_id=452333&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW

As for apologetics - I believe that apologetics can never be be better than the people doing it. If apologetics is another form of evangelism, information is far less important than the quality of the person witnessing. So I can’t answer your question 🙂

I like the NEB because it’s the first version I heard that made St.Paul sound as though he were talking about something that meant something; the older versions do him a great disservice, because they do not mediate his meaning. Their strengths are shown, not in the parts of the Bible that set out ideas & doctrines, but in the accounts of what people did.
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Crumpy:
It renders Ps 2:12a as “Kiss his feet” which is the clearest of the NAB and KJV that I was using for a study of the first psalms.
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The variation in the translations - “Kiss the son/the shining one/ his feet”/etc., is caused by the uncertainty of the text; as so often. :o 🙂 “His feet” has the advantage of fitting the context of what does seem to be an enthronement-hymn.​

 
MrS said:
I would second, third and fourth that. Catholic Treasures offers the one-volumn Hard Cover at $125. It is such a great source of info. The quantity of commentary exceeds the text. Good stuff.
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MrS.

I have the softcover edition but I am considering the hardback edition. How clear is the typed print on the page?

Peace,
David
 
The New American Bible. The revised psalms seem to be in inclusive language :nope:

But other than that, it’s the only version I read because it’s the version used at Mass.
 
DCD said:
MrS.

I have the softcover edition but I am considering the hardback edition. How clear is the typed print on the page?

Peace,
David
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The print is just fine, although I wish the notes were in slightly larger type, because my eyes aren’t very good. But I don’t think they would be a problem for most people, and I love the Bible. Be sure to get the one from All Catholic Books (use the link that Cranch provided), it’s about $40 cheaper than anywhere else, and is exactly the same Bible.

The Haydock Douay-Rheims is definitely my favorite Bible. As a convert, I grew up with the KJV, and the DR language has a similar “feel”–and that doesn’t even mention the great notes…👍
 
Greetings,

I have the RSV CE from Ignatius Press. I believe it is the second edition, as indictated by the fine print on the first few pages. It has worked well for me.

I believe in sticking with a version that is reliable, as directed from reliable sources, marking it up, and highlighting it liberally. Use the Bible as much as possible. There are plenty of new copies available when you need one. Keep your old copies as if they are valuable souvenirs from battle.
 
The Catholic Childrens bible, because it has a lot of pictures.
🙂
 
I love “zipper” Bibles for the portability…right now I use the Ignatius RSV-CE zipper Bible…I recently found I really like the flow of the translation.

I always loved the KJV for the poetic language, and I love the versions with Christ’s words in red…

I wish there was a zipper RSV-CE with Christ’s words in red!

👍
 
savedsinner said:
The Catholic Childrens bible, because it has a lot of pictures.
🙂
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👍 Those pictures always come to mind when I picture someone from scripture. I kinda wish there was a “grown up” Catholic bible that included them.
 
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