Which of the "newer" Catholic Bibles do you prefer?

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Greetings. As a collector of Catholic Bibles - especially hardcover or leather-bound ones - I’ve had occasion to read several of the “newer” ones.

By “new” I mean those published after 1980. I’m using this (arbitrary) cut-off because most of the Bibles I own post-1980 use inclusive language to a greater or lesser extent, and tend to use historical-critical (“higher critical”) methods in a lot of their introductions and footnotes. The following four would come into this category:
  1. The New American Bible (1986 NT and NABRE)
  2. The New Jerusalem Bible
  3. The New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition
  4. The Christian Community Bible
Now, I know that, as far as strict orthodoxy is concerned, the Douay-Rheims notes are probably the most in line with Catholic tradition and teaching, followed perhaps by the RSV, 2nd Catholic Edition (the “Ignatius Study Bible”). I don’t own the Navarre Bible, so I can’t comment on it, though I’ve heard nothing but good about it.

But having said this, if you use any of the aforementioned “new” versions, which one do you think is the best - both in terms of the translation, and the footnotes / explanatory material?

My personal vote is the New Jerusalem. Its use of inclusive language is far less obtrusive than the NAB or NRSV, it’s less “politicized” than the CCB, and it actually takes a (relatively) stronger stand on matters of authorship and historicity, as well as traditional interpretations, than all the other three. (The French Bible de Jerusalem is even better, but I’m sticking to English versions here.)

What do you, the faithful readers at CAF, think about this?
 
I use the Jerusalem Bible, it’s my preferred translation of those I’ve encountered so far. I don’t actually like the NJB, I find the language very awkward.
 
PerfectTiming said:
I use the Jerusalem Bible, it’s my preferred translation of those I’ve encountered so far. I don’t actually like the NJB, I find the language very awkward.
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I fully agree with you on the JB, which I read from cover to cover last year. It was quite the experience. :yup:

There are some places where the NJB does read a bit better, though. Examples are the ending of 2 Maccabees (JB has “trashy and mediocre”, NJB has “worthless and mediocre”; the latter is a bit more dignified) and 1 Corinthians 7:2 (JB has “sex is always a danger” - yikes! - while NJB has “to avoid immorality” which is much neater). But in terms of orthodoxy, the JB is superior.
 
My favorite CE bible is the one I happen to be reading at any given moment!😃
 
My favorite is certainly the RSV-CE. If I want one with a commentary, them I prefer the Navarre Bible (same translation BTW). And I have heard the ignatius study bible is excellent also (same translation again, iirc)
 
Church_Militant said:
You left off my personal choice which is the
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** The Ignatius Bible: Revised Standard Version - Second Catholic Edition**

New Revised has inclusive language and I don’t care for the way it reads,

I do like my Douay-Rheims Bible too, but the RSV-CE is the one I use most.

I have a JB which I’ve had for many years and also like. The New JB…I looked it over and decided against it for much the same reasons as the NRSV.
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For instance, our Lord never said, “Who do people say that I Am?” To alter the Lord’s words assumes that the ancient culture was somehow “unfair” and that ours is not.
 
How do you know which English version is right? I’ll stick to the Latin version.
 
Off your list, I said the NJB, which is what I’m reading at the moment.
Also have an NRSV, a JB, DR(Challoner), KJV (Finally gave in and bought one last year, though a version of the original 1611 with all the books;), to compare against the DR)
I also have a CTS Bible, with JB text and Grail Psalms, because this accords with what is used in the Lectionary over here. Nice to have some consistency with what’s in the Liturgy.
While different editions are nice to compare, times I really wish the Church would come down on 1 approved.🤷
 
RPRPsych said:
Greetings. As a collector of Catholic Bibles - especially hardcover or leather-bound ones - I’ve had occasion to read several of the “newer” ones.

By “new” I mean those published after 1980. I’m using this (arbitrary) cut-off because most of the Bibles I own post-1980 use inclusive language to a greater or lesser extent, and tend to use historical-critical (“higher critical”) methods in a lot of their introductions and footnotes. The following four would come into this category:
  1. The New American Bible (1986 NT and NABRE)
  2. The New Jerusalem Bible
  3. The New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition
  4. The Christian Community Bible
Now, I know that, as far as strict orthodoxy is concerned, the Douay-Rheims notes are probably the most in line with Catholic tradition and teaching, followed perhaps by the RSV, 2nd Catholic Edition (the “Ignatius Study Bible”). I don’t own the Navarre Bible, so I can’t comment on it, though I’ve heard nothing but good about it.

But having said this, if you use any of the aforementioned “new” versions, which one do you think is the best - both in terms of the translation, and the footnotes / explanatory material?

My personal vote is the New Jerusalem. Its use of inclusive language is far less obtrusive than the NAB or NRSV, it’s less “politicized” than the CCB, and it actually takes a (relatively) stronger stand on matters of authorship and historicity, as well as traditional interpretations, than all the other three. (The French Bible de Jerusalem is even better, but I’m sticking to English versions here.)

What do you, the faithful readers at CAF, think about this?
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I agree for the most part. I frankly do not care to much for the JB. I rarely read from it.
 
The Ignatius Cathloic Study Bible. The first verse that I turn to in any bible is (Luke 1:28) and the Hail Mary Prayer. The Ignatius comments on Mary are awesome. However, I like the KJV wording better for (Luke 1:28) there is more of the Hail Mary in the KJV Verse 28.
 
For everyday preference I use the “CTS New Catholic Bible”, which new in that the current edition is published after 1980 though the original text dates back to the 1960s.

If I want to read more formally, I use the Challoner Douay-Rheims.

 
The Ignatius Bible: Revised Standard Version - Second Catholic Edition

The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible - New Testament. I buy the Old Testament study book by book as they are released.
 
RSV-CE or RSV-CE 2nd Edition, not the “New RSV” wich has serious problems.
 
Quite an interesting set of responses there. Thanks to all who’ve replied so far!

To all who’ve written about the RSV-2CE - this happens to be one of my translations of choice, too. The reason I left it off the list is that:
  1. It’s a corrected version of a Bible that’s been around since 1966 (the RSV-CE)
  2. It doesn’t make any “new” changes in terms of language or notes - in fact, it’s an orthodox version.
I guess my point in posting this poll - I am phrasing this a bit uncharitably, but bear with me 😃 - is to ask: “Among the set of (rather unsatisfactory) “new” Catholic Bibles, which is the ‘best of a bad lot’?”

A bit surprising to see the number of votes for the NRSV, though. I always got the impression that it never quite caught on… 😛
 
Another new is Today’s’ English Version - Catholic (1992). It is a very dynamic translation.

Of all the new Bibles you list I pick the more literal with higher reading level which is NRSV, otherwise the NAB which is more conservative but with lower reading level.

But I don’t own either of those but the 1970 NAB, the Douay-Rheims-Challoner, and the King James. (I also have a 1986 NAB that I don’t use.)

Luke 11:34

(KJV 1611)
The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light: but when thine eye is euill, thy body also is full of darkenesse.

(KJV 1769)
The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

(DRC)
The light of thy body is thy eye. If thy eye be single, thy whole body will be lightsome: but if it be evil, thy body also will be darksome.

(NAB, NABRE)
The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is sound, then your whole body is filled with light, but when it is bad, then your body is in darkness.

(RSV-CE)
Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is sound, your whole body is full of light; but when it is not sound, your body is full of darkness.

(NRSV, NSRV-CE)
Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness.

(NJB)
The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is clear, your whole body, too, is filled with light; but when it is diseased your body, too, will be darkened.

(GNTCE)
Your eyes are like a lamp for the body. When your eyes are sound, your whole body is full of light; but when your eyes are no good, your whole body will be in darkness.

(CCB)
Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye sees clearly, your whole person benefits from the light; but if your eyesight is poor, your whole person is without light.
 
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