Which Catholic Bible Version should I use?

[jmoburg]

As much as I want to enjoy reading the Bible in easier to understand language, my girlfriend (non-denom Christian) has been a Bible only Christian and I’ve undergone the task of apologetics. Recently, I’ve been pouring time into different CDs, Books etc to help me argue points within my Catholic stances vs. her sola scriptura (thanks to recommendations many of your have given me)

I’m looking for a Bible I can highlight, write in, one to learn with, so we can use it in discussions. I need to have accurate text, so that when we’re going verse for verse, I want to make sure I have that which is closest to the actual translations - incredible footnotes would also be appreciated in that. (I was just listening to an apologetic CD that was going over the verse of Peter, & Rock, and the Hebrew & Aramaic ? translations… & how it differed from loosely translated Protestant versions)

While at a Catholic Bookstore, I found a few different types
St. Joesph Version, some that said Holy Roman Catholic …
& one that I think had different names for the books of the Old Testament … I was totally confused.

Any suggestions? Thanks so much! (again, I’m always so lucky to have people who have meaningful answers in addition to helping educate me-- all of this has just steadily increased my knowledge of the Catholic Faith, my personal faith level, and really has put a powerful shift in my life, thank you!)
-jmoburg

 

[Fidelis]

You’re not going to find a version of the Bible that satisfies everyone, and some people are very picky on what they consider a “good” as compared to a “bad” Bible. For example, just as you have “King James-onlyists” among Protestants, you have “Douay-Rhiems-onlyists” among Catholics. What ever version you decide upon will likely be criticized by someone out there, including your girlfriend.

With that in mind, my recommendation would be to use the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition. Even though, there is a subgroup of Protestants who sniff at it because it is too “liberal” because of one or two interpretations they don’t like, most serious Bible readers consider it unsurpassed in both beauty of language and accuracy.

 

[Malcolm_McLean]

I’m looking for a Bible I can highlight, write in, one to learn with, so we can use it in discussions. I need to have accurate text, so that when we’re going verse for verse, I want to make sure I have that which is closest to the actual translations - incredible footnotes would also be appreciated in that. (I was just listening to an apologetic CD that was going over the verse of Peter, & Rock, and the Hebrew & Aramaic ? translations… & how it differed from loosely translated Protestant versions)

You need a commentary, not a Bible. Commentaries are rather expensive, thick books, with every single Bible verse glossed and the main issues discussed, including disputed translations.

The King James Bible is excellent, however.

 

[Subrosa]

As much as I want to enjoy reading the Bible in easier to understand language, my girlfriend (non-denom Christian) has been a Bible only Christian and I’ve undergone the task of apologetics. Recently, I’ve been pouring time into different CDs, Books etc to help me argue points within my Catholic stances vs. her sola scriptura (thanks to recommendations many of your have given me)

Are you sure you want to do this? She may not be your girlfriend for very long if you do!

I’m looking for a Bible I can highlight, write in, one to learn with, so we can use it in discussions. I need to have accurate text, so that when we’re going verse for verse, I want to make sure I have that which is closest to the actual translations - incredible footnotes would also be appreciated in that. (I was just listening to an apologetic CD that was going over the verse of Peter, & Rock, and the Hebrew & Aramaic ? translations… & how it differed from loosely translated Protestant versions)

Man, you are serious! You’re gonna need more than just a bible!

While at a Catholic Bookstore, I found a few different types
St. Joesph Version, some that said Holy Roman Catholic …
& one that I think had different names for the books of the Old Testament … I was totally confused.

The protestant bibles have less books in them than the Catholic bible. This is a point of contention between the two. It is a good jumping of point for your apologetics!

Out of the one’s you mention the St Joseph’s is the one I would recommend because it is a study bible.

You can get a New Amercan Bible and do the same thing without all the graphics.

NOTE: some people around here knock the NAB, but it is the one used at every mass in the US, and it is published on both the USCCB and Vatican websites. Obviously the Church thinks it’s OK.

Any suggestions? Thanks so much! (again, I’m always so lucky to have people who have meaningful answers in addition to helping educate me-- all of this has just steadily increased my knowledge of the Catholic Faith, my personal faith level, and really has put a powerful shift in my life, thank you!)
-jmoburg

You got my suggestions. I hope this website will be a learning experience for you. If you have any questions come here to ask them. You will get much help.

God bless,
Subrosa

 

[kentuckyliz]

Apologetics w/non-Catholic girlfriend–she’s may suspect a Catholic translation, so RSV CE is the way to go. Ignatius Press publishes it; blue cover for first edition with 1966 typesetting ick! or with icons of Christ and the Four Evangelists on the cover for the retypeset 2nd ed. These aren’t really study bibles though and there’s not much white space for notes.

The Ignatius Study Bible individual NT books are really good for notes and articles. Scott Hahn/Curtis Mitch. Uses RSV CE.

If you like archaic language, Elizabethan English (Protestant), get a KJV “with Apocrypha” (Deuterocanonicals) if possible. Is such a volume printed? If it’s difficult to understand, you can get a parallel translation of KJV/NKJV with archaic and modern English printed side by side.

Some folks are superstitious about the KJV and think King James was the 15th Apostle during Jesus’ time, lurking in the background of Jesus’ life taking notes. Ha.

The New Catholic Answer Bible is great for having apologetical insert articles in a NAB translation (but your gf might not accept that Catholic translation). I give this to catechumen and candidate friends. This is now available with a leather cover with a rosary imprinted on the back! A tactile rosary! It’s waaaaay cool.

What Bible does she use? Use her Bible. Just be aware how “dynamic” translations and paraphrases tend ever further to the interpretation according to the beliefs of the translator.

Consider also the “Bible Thumper” v. 1-2 by Ascension Press.

 

[Mannyfit75]

I recommend the RSV-CE Bible along with the Narrare Bible Commentary. Second, I would favor reading the Douy Rheims Bible.

 

[Jerry-Jet]

I recommend you get a Confraternity Bible form the early 50’s that only had the New Testament and the Psalms modified from the Challoner Douay Rheims.

That way you’ll get the maximum amount of positive changes with the least amount of negative changes.

That Bible won’t be perfect but I’d like to hear from anyone here how any other bible in English would be more accurate in terms of Catholic Doctrine.

 

[runandsew]

It helps to show the catholic faith in the other persons bible.

If it is the King James then this tape set might be helpful.
I have not listened to it sounds like it might be helpful.

[Bible Basics: Demonstrating Catholic Truth from the King James Bible by Jesse Romero. In this series, Jesse demonstrates that Catholic doctrine is easily found within the pages of this ancient Protestant Bible. Jesse takes you through practical, basic apologetics, including the Papacy, the sacraments, and many other Catholic doctrines and practice, which are clearly taught from this version of the Bible. You will also discover the history of the development of the

New Testament by the auspices of the Catholic Church and be provided with two dozen reasons why the “Bible Only” theory is ahistorical and easily refuted with the King James Bible.

       $17.95 (3 Audio Tapes](http://www.lcchristianword.com/heaven.htm))

The page is alphabetical, and this tape set is about a third of the way down the page.

Catholic Answers also have apologetic bible tabs which you can mark up your bible for quick locations of passages.

 

[lak611]

If you like archaic language, Elizabethan English (Protestant), get a KJV “with Apocrypha” (Deuterocanonicals) if possible. Is such a volume printed?

Yes it is printed. I have this one. I also have this one. The 1611 edition is in an even more archaic form of English. For example, here’s Genesis 1:1-5 from the KJV that most people know (which was revised in 1769):

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Here’s Genesis 1:1-5 from the 1611 edition KJV:

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the Heauen, and the Earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without forme, and voyd, and darkenesse was vpon the face of the deepe: and the Spirit of God mooued vpon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God diuided the light from the darkenesse.
Gen 1:5 And God called the light, Day, and the darknesse he called Night: and the euening and the morning were the first day.