Which version of the Bible should I use to memorize scripture?

  • Thread starter Thread starter danzibr
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

danzibr

Guest
So I’m looking to do some serious memorization. I have a version of the Ignatius Bible but I’m not sure which is the best to memorize from. I’m also very leery of googling this because of all the protestant rubbish I’ll get.

I’d like a version which uses… somewhat old English. Like the stuff on this page. But not so old that I can’t understand it.

I found another thread or two on these forums about which version to use, but… well, I’m not sure I want a version that has the deuterocanonical books stuffed in the back, and the version I saw people promoting did exactly that. Something about that just makes me unhappy.

Thanks!
 
The Douay-Rheims clementine Vulgate.

Amen, amen I say unto you, that he who heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath life everlasting; and cometh not into judgement, but is passed from death to life. John 5:24
 
I wish I knew large chunks of the King James off by heart. It certainly has the most beautiful language.
 
Very difficult question for both Catholics and Protestants these days because there are so many translations and no agreement on which translation is the main one to use; very different from the days when the KVJ and DR were the only real options. Reflecting my own journey into the Church, I started out memorizing King James, went to the NASB, memorized Psalms from the Book of Common Prayer, and ended up memorizing from the RSV-2CE. I may start memorizing Psalms from the Revised Grail Psalter now.

Everyone will have a different opinion, so it depends on your own criteria.
 
What ever the version is that you will read, with exception to some of the seriously off the wall ones.

I have a NIV study bible that was given to me as a gift in memory of my evangelical grandmother. I usually read that one, I like the fact that I’m not struggling with word and sentence structure. I have other versions as well, RSV, KJV, Douay-Chandler

Rather than memorize scripture I have decided to memorize issues, learn what scripture says on them, and keep them all nice and tidy in a notebook. Said notebook sits right to my Laptop in its case and I am seldom far from it.
 
exquisitor said:
The Douay-Rheims clementine Vulgate.
Click to expand...
A clarification: The Douay-Rheims is in English. The Clementine Vulgate on which it is based is in Latin. Are you referring here to a parallel version of the two?
 
The most faithful, accurate and understandable recent English translation of the Bible that I’ve been able to find is the ESV, the English Standard Version.

But honestly, in the view of the Saints, what matters is knowing the meaning of Scripture, not the phraseology or the alleged beauty of the language. The Bible was not written to promote aesthetic values or give a sensual experience of language.

The Bible has only one purpose: To serve as a sort of “technology” to enable humans to connect with and draw closer to Almighty God. The Bible is just a means to an end. It is not an end in itself. And since we are not Bible Fundamentalists in the Catholic Church, we know it is not the only means for cleaving to the Creator.
 
There are a few other threads on memorizing Scripture in these forums, and someone invariably brings up the idea that we are not Bible thumping Protestants who beat people over the head with memory verses. (Nobody has done that in this thread yet, so I’m hoping to head them off at the pass).

Yes, that is true, and I myself have used Bible verses as an evangelical blunt weapon in my Protestant days. However, we should not discourage any Catholic from memorizing Scripture with good motives. The proper response to abuse is not disuse, but proper use.

I now rely on memorized scripture to help me personally such as when I get anxious about an impending earthquake and I calm myself by quoting Psalm 91 which talks about God’s protection. I actually quote Psalm 91 every night and Psalm 95 every morning. And nobody else hears.

There are so many situations where memorized Bible verses will be a tremendous help to you. God speaks with a very clear and unambiguous voice through memorized Scripture. Jesus always quoted Scripture. That’s good enough for me.

Oh yeah, to stay on topic, Psalm 91 is memorized from the RSV-2CE while Psalm 95 is from the Japanese Psalter. 🙂
 
exquisitor said:
The Douay-Rheims clementine Vulgate.

Amen, amen I say unto you, that he who heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath life everlasting; and cometh not into judgement, but is passed from death to life. John 5:24
Click to expand...
Thanks! Exactly what I was looking for.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top