Why is the NAB still being used at Mass?

[007]

It has become very apparent to me that most people here are not a fan of the NAB because of vertical inclusive language, so rather than waiting a long time for a new revision to fix the problems, why not just eliminate it completely and switch to one of the other approved Bibles?

Here are some benefits

1. Time and effort on duplicate work can be eliminated
2. The resources used to revise the NAB can be saved for other purposes
3. We don’t have to wait a long time for a new revision of the NAB
4. Maybe all the English Catholics can unite under one translation

 

[NotWorthy]

I think the biggest complaint against the NAB is the commentary. The translation is not really that bad, from what I understand.

 

[tobinatorstark]

It has become very apparent to me that most people here are not a fan of the NAB because of vertical inclusive language, so rather than waiting a long time for a new revision to fix the problems, why not just eliminate it completely and switch to one of the other approved Bibles?

Here are some benefits

1. Time and effort on duplicate work can be eliminated
2. The resources used to revise the NAB can be saved for other purposes
3. We don’t have to wait a long time for a new revision of the NAB
4. Maybe all the English Catholics can unite under one translation

I don’t care for the NAB myself. I prefer to use the Douay-Rheims and the Latin Vulgate (Clementine edition). The Commentary is horrid and very liberal and the Psalms are moderate in inclusive language. We have no authority to decide what is used at mass. If you don’t care for the NAB, but I still use the NAB for Liturgy of the Hours. Then reread the passages when you get home in the Catholic Bible of your choice. I personally would like to revert back to the Douay-Rheims at mass, but that is me and it will not happen. I truly understand your concerns about the NAB, but we don’t decide what is read at mass so we have to deal with what we got.

 

[mattwcu]

One of the main reasons the NAB is used at Mass still is because of copyrights.

But the commentary in is wretched. If someone asked me what Bible to buy as a Catholic I would steer them away from the NAB primarily because of it. Nevermind its ease of use, its not worth it with the RSV, Jerusalem, and Confraternity versions all written in a relatively ease to read style.

 

[Crumpy]

Well, if you read the cover pages in the NAB, you will see that it was a translation that was financed and authorized by the National Conference of U.S. Catholic Bishops. So There!!

So, you can see that this translation carries a lot of weight.

I too objected the commentary in the NAB and now I’m not so critical of it, after years of study.

Protestants say the NAB is just a bad translation – what would you expect them to say?

The usual versions of the NAB have footnotes, introductions, and cross-references, which are all nice features in any bible.

I’m using the RSV-2CE. No matter what, keep studying the Bible. The NAB is a useful starting point. If you loathe the comments, that’s good in a way. It gives you something to do, looking up other translations and finding a better commentary, if you think there is one.

When you accept the fact that there is no one absolute and final translation and no one and final absolute commentary – it may discourage you, but it should instead tell you that there are more “riches” ahead if you keep on studying! The Church doesn’t have a single commentary to throw at you as being “final” in any sense of the word. Rather, the Church says that the Bible, God’s word, is an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Learn this the easy way or the hard way, whichever you prefer.

 

[mattwcu]

I too objected the commentary in the NAB and now I’m not so critical of it, after years of study.

This is exactly what is wrong with the commentary. After years of study, you no longer objected. What about the person who doesn’t or can’t study scripture and then loses their faith because their bible commentary stole it away from them?

Is it appropriate to have a Bible translation sanctioned by the bishops which says “This didn’t really happen” after every other verse? This is meant for your average everyday layman, not for a hardened Biblical scholar who knows his faith well.

 

[007]

One of the main reasons the NAB is used at Mass still is because of copyrights.

But the commentary in is wretched. If someone asked me what Bible to buy as a Catholic I would steer them away from the NAB primarily because of it. Nevermind its ease of use, its not worth it with the RSV, Jerusalem, and Confraternity versions all written in a relatively ease to read style.

Could you expand on this for me?

Universities switch from one textbook to another all the time.

Why would the Catholic Church be forced to use the NAB for copyright reasons? Did the publishers threaten to sue?

I understand that this website doesn’t have the power to just change to one of the other approved Bibles at Mass. Perhaps my question should rather be what reasons are there for not to changing to one of the other approved Bibles?

Commentary stating “this never really happened” (as it was pointed out above) sounds pretty bad. How could this be?

 

[NotWorthy]

Could you expand on this for me?

Universities switch from one textbook to another all the time.

You may have noticed that the Catholic Church does not have the tendency to rush to change.

Why would the Catholic Church be forced to use the NAB for copyright reasons? Did the publishers threaten to sue?

I understand that this website doesn’t have the power to just change to one of the other approved Bibles at Mass. Perhaps my question should rather be what reasons are there for not to changing to one of the other approved Bibles?

Commentary stating “this never really happened” (as it was pointed out above) sounds pretty bad. How could this be?

But the commentary isn’t read during the Mass. The NAB lends itself to public reading much better than say the D/R. The RSV is good, however.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

. . .

Why would the Catholic Church be forced to use the NAB for copyright reasons? Did the publishers threaten to sue? . …

I think the Catholic Bishops hold the copyright. **

 

[CalCatholic]

I think the NAB is here to stay, lets hope that the upcoming revisions to the O.T. and the Psalms will at least maker better than it is now. The Catholic Bishops own the rights to it so it isn’t going anywhere soon.

 

[Mattapoisett64]

And of course, it’s not the “physical Bible” that’s read from at Mass, but rather the Lectionary, typically in 5 volumes, 3 for the A, B, and C Sunday cycles, and 2 for the weekday cycles, so any switchover would mean many thousands of sets of Lectionaries to be printed and paid for – as opposed to just reaching on the shelf for a different Bible version. Certainly not an insurmountable obstacle, but a consideration. (Maybe the Canadian publishers could make us a deal on their RSV-based version - I think.)

 

[CalCatholic]

And of course, it’s not the “physical Bible” that’s read from at Mass, but rather the Lectionary, typically in 5 volumes, 3 for the A, B, and C Sunday cycles, and 2 for the weekday cycles, so any switchover would mean many thousands of sets of Lectionaries to be printed and paid for – as opposed to just reaching on the shelf for a different Bible version. Certainly not an insurmountable obstacle, but a consideration. (Maybe the Canadian publishers could make us a deal on their RSV-based version - I think.)

The Canadian version is based upon the NRSV that has been ‘tweeked’. The U.S. Bishops have already agreed on using the Revised Grail Psalms for the Lectionary and probably the revised NAB NT (1986) and they newly revised OT.