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lanceg
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Actually, original quotes were from the Knox Bible; later editions featured the New English Bible.
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Jerry-Jet
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Lanceg: What are the official bibles of the Eastern Catholic Churches?
What is their position on the accuracy of the Vulgate?
What is their position on the accuracy of the Vulgate?
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lanceg
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Jerry,
I can only speak from the perspective of a Byzantine Catholic, and from the perspective of all Eastern Catholics.
First, there are official bibles used in liturgy, and there are what people use personally. Frankly, what most of use personally is better than what is often used officially.
The Byzantine Church has no official position on the Vulgate, that I am aware of- but Byzantine Catholics in America of course have in times past used the Vulgate-based Douay-Rheims and Confraternity Bibles, like Latin Catholics, before the publication of the New American Bible. Byzantine and other Eastern Catholics, use the same versions as the Latin Church- New American Bible, Jerusalem Bible, the Catholic RSV. The Byzantine-Ruthenian Church, of which I am a member, publishes Gospel and Epistle books using the 1970 New American Bible. There is also a version of the Confraternity Bible, amended by Melkite Bishop Raya (Described below). I have also heard of Byzantine Churches using the RSV and the New King James version. I believe that outside the US, the Jerusalem Bible has been used.
Fortunately, as I mention above, Confraternity Gospel and Epistle books are still in print for use in Byzantine Churches. My own parish uses the Confraternity-Raya for our New Testament readings. This edition of the Confraternity Bible is slightly amended by the late Melkite Byzantine Bishop Joseph Raya to fit the Byzantine Text. I like it much better than the NAB.
The official Bible for the Byzantine Church is the Received Text or Byzantine Text for the New Testament, and the Septuagint for the Old Testament. There is not an official Catholic version translated from these two sources, but there is an Orthodox Study Bible that has just come out which many of us in the Byzantine Catholic Church will use personally. I have been using the New Testament & Psalms, which were published in 1993, for some time now.
If you talk to individual Byzantine Catholics, many of us are conservative liturgically and theologically, and many of us therefore use the same versions that conservative Roman Catholics use- the Douay-Rheims, the Catholic RSV, JB, plus, as I have mentioned, many of us use the Orthodox Study Bible, which uses the New King James. Besides the Byzantine theology in the notes, the New King James is based on the Byzantine Text, so that is another reason for Byzantine Christians, Catholic or Orthodox, to use it.
The traditional readings from the Septuagint and Byzantine Text line up pretty well with the Latin Vulgate, so many of us have no problem at all with either the Vulgate or its English translations, such as the Douay-Rheims and Confraternity. One can see the similarities in such key passages as Isaiah 7.14, Psalm 51, John 3.13, John 5.4, and many others. The Vulgate rendering of such passages correspond with the Byzantine Text and Septuagint.
I have even seen every once in a great while, Orthodox priests recommend the Douay Rheims to their parishioners, although the Orthodox have used the KJV and RSV in this country for the most part. Some Orthodox have a bias against using Catholic translations. I have seen many Orthodox Christians post on internet boards that they use the Douay Rheims. I know of at least a couple of Orthodox cyber friends who use the Haydock Bible.
Finally, I have seen a copy of the Armenian Orthodox Bible, which is simply a Catholic RSV text, with the additional books of Esdras, Prayer of Manasseh, that are in the Orthodox Canon.
Byzantine Catholics, being in union with the Chair of Peter, accept the same Old Testament Canon that the Roman Catholics do.
Jerry, this is probably a longer answer than you anticipated, but I hope I have answered your questions. Thank you for your indulgence.
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lanceg
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I meant to say above, “I can only speak from the perspective of a Byzantine Catholic, and not from the perspective of all Eastern Catholics.” My apologies.
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SacredHeartFan
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The NAB is the one used in the Liturgy, and they have many NAB study Bibles! 
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Jerry-Jet
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What I’d like to see in a Bible would be the Confraternity New Testament–the Douay Haydock Old Testament–and an English translation of St. Jerome’s last psalter which came straight from the Hebrew.
Use English spellings and the modern verse numbering system and that would be a pretty good bible.
Use English spellings and the modern verse numbering system and that would be a pretty good bible.
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lak611
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That would be good! I would also change the numbering of the Psalms so that they correspond in number with all the other Bible translations.
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lak611
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The Psalms of the RNAB were rejected by the Vatican for use in the Liturgy. The inclusive language was too problematic and blurred the meaning of the Psalms to the point that they lost all Messianic references.The NAB is the one used in the Liturgy, and they have many NAB study Bibles!
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Safe_Eagle
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Douay-Rheims
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SacredHeartFan
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but all the other readings are from the St. Jospeh NAB. (in america and most english speaking countries 
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lanceg
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Not exactly- most English speaking Churches outside the US use the Jerusalem Bible, and some, such as Canada, use the NRSV.but all the other readings are from the St. Jospeh NAB. (in america and most english speaking countries
The NAB is a wretched translation, with commentary notes that represent a skeptical form of scholarship, that even occassionally contradict Church teaching.
To understand why the New American Bible is a terrible translation, see the following:
Bible Babel 2001
More on Bible Babel 2006
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Prince_Hal
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Just to add my two “penneth” worth. I use the Navarre Bible. I have the 3 volumes that make up the NT. About $100 in total. It is the RSV-CE with Vulgate. I also have the Catholic Study Bible on my PDA with the NAB, KJV and the Douay-Rhiems Challoner and Haydock.
I like the Navarre very much, the NAB the least. From your poll the NAB seems to be the most popular when you add the two columns together. But for beauty of language it is the Douay.
Whatever, people shouldn’t let their search into which one to read delay their actual reading. Coming out of a Mormon background, there is great danger in not knowing the words of the Bible. People are ensnared into Mormonism every day partly because they are unfamiliar with the Bible.
God bless,
Richard.
I like the Navarre very much, the NAB the least. From your poll the NAB seems to be the most popular when you add the two columns together. But for beauty of language it is the Douay.
Whatever, people shouldn’t let their search into which one to read delay their actual reading. Coming out of a Mormon background, there is great danger in not knowing the words of the Bible. People are ensnared into Mormonism every day partly because they are unfamiliar with the Bible.
God bless,
Richard.
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lak611
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I think the reason that the NAB is most popular on the poll is just because it is the easiest Catholic Bible to find here in the USA. I own one but do not use it. When I was first looking for a Catholic Bible, it was the translation I found in the bookstores. I later decided that I wanted to buy the RSV-CE and NJB, both of which I like better than the NAB. I had to order those on-line, since they were not available in the stores. I also have the D-R because my mother gave me hers. I have never seen a D-R in a store either; it is available on-line, though. I own a lot of Bibles, both Catholic and Protestant. I have ordered most of them on-line, since the stores tend to be limited to the NAB, KJV and NIV (a Protestant translation that is among the worst–one which I do not own but have bookmarked on-line in case I need to find a verse for use here on CAF).
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Jimmy_B
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Hello Ianceg,
I went to the link that you provided above, where I found this quote by Catholic author, John Neuhaus, describing the Catholic NAB Bible (used in the U.S. for Mass readings),
I like and I agree with much of what John Neuhaus writes. However, I do not agree with everything that Catholic authors write and this is a good example. Some Catholic Authors are a little too liberal (in my opinion) and some reject Vatican II, most though do have something positive to offer, and I think all are well intended in their own unique defense of Catholicism.
I am very familiar with the Saint Joseph’s NAB. having read it and having heard it read during Catholic Mass (English- U.S.A.) and having heard it on CD (I have the NAB Bible on CD).
I find it somewhat bizarre that anyone would describe any Bible, any Catholic Bible, or as in this case, the Catholic NAB, as “vulgar” “stilted” or “averse to literary grace”.
It is not that much different from the Catholic NRSV, which I think reads more like a “Protestant” Bible. They are both very accurate translations; however, I believe that the NAB, which may not “flow” as well the NRSV or the Jerusalem Bible, is more accurate. Among many other Bibles, I own the three described in your post and I like all three versions. The other two Bibles, the NRSV and the Jerusalem Bible, at times miss subtle details that support various aspects of Catholicism.
I think a review of the “translations” located in the respective bible footnotes and in the Catholic Study Bible will bear this out.
Moreover, I believe that the Catholic NAB Bible is the one used on the Vatican web-site as well as the USCCB web-site.
I will find the links and post them in my next post here. I am sorry that I disagree with you and John Neuhaus on this point.
Thanks Again - God Bless You.
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Jerry-Jet
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The Nova Vulgata is the juridicial text of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.
It may not be a perfect bible but it is the closest thing to an Official Catholic Bible.
It may not be a perfect bible but it is the closest thing to an Official Catholic Bible.
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lak611
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Did you notice that the Psalms are missing completely? The Psalms in the RNAB were rejected by the Vatican for use in the Lectionary, mainly due to the inclusive language, which renders Messianic references null and void.
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Jimmy_B
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Hello lak661,
The Psalms are still read, prayed and sung in Catholic Mass.
The title “Psalms” is on the web page, but I do see that the actual Psalms’ are not posted or linked yet. The 150 Psalms are a “bible within the bible” and I can only imagine, all the work involved in entering all 150 Psalms on to a web site. I believe this is most likely a logistical matter, because all 150 Psalms are in the actual Catholic NAB Bible and are listed on the USCCB web site, here. Maybe the Vatican could use some more IT people.
Remember it is the “Protestants” who like to remove books from the Bible, not the Catholic Church.
Take care and God bless you.
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lak611
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I know that the Psalms are still used in every single Mass that is said. However, the RNAB Psalms are not said at any Mass. They were rejected for the Lectionary. From this link:Hello lak661,
The psalms are still read, prayed and sung in Catholic Mass.
The title “Psalms” is on the web page, but I do see that the actual Psalms’ are not posted or linked yet. The 150 Psalms are a “bible within the bible” and I can only imagine, all the work involved in entering all 150 Psalms on to a web site. I believe this is most likely a logistical matter, because all 150 Psalms are in the actual Catholic NAB Bible and are listed on the USCCB web site, here. Maybe the Vatican could use some more IT people.
Take care and God bless you.
The reason for the absence of the Psalms on the Vatican website is not due to a lack of IT personnel; it was due to their rejection of the RNAB Psalms for the Mass.
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Jimmy_B
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Hello again my friend, lak611****,****
****I don’t know what the RNAB is. I have never heard of it. I went to the link that you provided, the “Adoremus Bulletin” and I must say, that personally, I am somewhat skeptical. I have never read or heard anything from, what I consider a “reliable” Catholic source, about removing the Psalms from the NAB Bible. ****
I always try to consider the source of any Catholic group, because I know, for instance that their exist “Catholic” groups who are apposed to, Vatican II.
At the “Adoremus” website, at the link that you provided, I found this:
I can’t tell you if this organization is right or wrong. it does however, appear to be an organization with the specific goal of, “liturgical reform”. I am not sure if this is fully supported by the Roman Catholic Church or the Holy See, I could be wrong.
****Thank you for your post, I’ll keep my eyes open for more information on this subject. ****
****I don’t have an opinion regarding my faith, I surrender myself to Christ and His Most Holy Roman Catholic Church. I am fallible. ****
Take Care.
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