Your Ideal Study Bible

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mccorm45

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I was in the local bookstore yesterday and began looking at various study Bibles out there. One of the things that bothered me was that we as Catholics are in need of a really good study Bible. I was looking at the NIV study Bible, which is done so well, with maps, diagrams, crossreferences, a concordance, etc… Zondervan also publishes various editions of the NIV, like the archaeology Bible, Men’s and Women’s Bibles…etc…all of which are very well done, beautiful, and are a pleasure to read!

I know that Ignatius Press is working on their study Bible, but it would be nice to have it by the end of this decade! I really think that we would have more Catholic reading the Bible if the materials for study were much better and more attractive.

So, I wanted to start a thread to see what things you all would like to see in a Catholic Study Bible. Some things to consider: translation, notes, maps, diagrams, etc…

I am interested in your responses! God Bless!
 
mccorm45 said:
I was in the local bookstore yesterday and began looking at various study Bibles out there. One of the things that bothered me was that we as Catholics are in need of a really good study Bible. I was looking at the NIV study Bible, which is done so well, with maps, diagrams, crossreferences, a concordance, etc… Zondervan also publishes various editions of the NIV, like the archaeology Bible, Men’s and Women’s Bibles…etc…all of which are very well done, beautiful, and are a pleasure to read!

I know that Ignatius Press is working on their study Bible, but it would be nice to have it by the end of this decade! I really think that we would have more Catholic reading the Bible if the materials for study were much better and more attractive.

So, I wanted to start a thread to see what things you all would like to see in a Catholic Study Bible. Some things to consider: translation, notes, maps, diagrams, etc…

I am interested in your responses! God Bless!
Click to expand...
The Douay-Rheims with Haydock commentary, maps, notes etc.
 
I do own the Haydock DR Bible and appreciate it for spiritual reading, but I am not too sure it is meant for exegetical study, particularly with all the insights that have been made in modern Biblical scholarship. (That is not to say that all modern scholarship is good, certainly not.) Discoveries like the Dead Sea Scrolls are essential I think.

I am more looking at seeing people’s thoughts of an ideal study Bible, not looking at what is already available.
 
I agree with you mccorm.
One of my favorite bibles (for layout) is the Harper Study Bible - an RSV edition that is no longer available as far as I know. What I really like is that the cross reference verses are given in a column alongside the verse they concern - and in PRINT LARGE ENOUGH to read without a microscope! Don’t know of any Catholic Bible that has that feature.

Nita
 
Just off the top of my head:
  • RSV-CE translation
  • Indexed color maps
  • wide margins for making notes
  • sturdy construction
  • clear type, with major section headings
  • Orthodox, non-speculative or skeptical commentary
  • Useful tables, comparative charts and timelines of Bible events and themes
  • Major articles on the biblical books, salvation history, the four senses of Scripture
  • Smaller, insert, articles on specific instances of typology, biblical personalities, biblical theology, and apologetics
  • Recommended Bible reading plans, from several methods (thematic, with the Catechism, apologetical, historical, life application, etc, etc.)
 
Orthodox, non-speculative or skeptical commentary
Just curious, since there Church has no official teaching on most of the Bible, what do you consider non-speculative?

IMHO the value of multiple Bible commentaries is giving us things to think about, to jump-start our minds. You should read the introduction to the Pope’s upcoming book (due in March), he states specifically he hopes for debate and disagreement about his thoughts on Jesus. This is how our knowledge of revelation grows, by open and honest discussion. The scholars (including the Pope) understand this.

If commentaries were limited to comments that the Church has specifically commented on in Magisterium teaching, you will have virtually no notes at all.
 
awalt said:
Orthodox, non-speculative or skeptical commentary
Just curious, since there Church has no official teaching on most of the Bible, what do you consider non-speculative?

If commentaries were limited to comments that the Church has specifically commented on in Magisterium teaching, you will have virtually no notes at all.
Click to expand...
The Church’s “official” teaching isn’t quite that restricted. All one needs to do is read the Catechism and see the many uses of Scripture in connection with Catholic teaching.

When there has been a definitive statement regarding a Scripture passage, my understanding is that it just means the passage cannot be understood in a way that would contradict (or exclude it from upholding) a specific teaching of the Church. (For example, John 3:5 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” That passage speaks of the sacrament of baptism and is not to be understood in a way that excludes baptism by water. It doesn’t mean that you can’t have other insights in addition to the defined one - say, regarding the symbolism of water; it’s use in connection with the Holy Spirit, etc.)

I use the above passage just as an example - and am not even sure if it is one of the few that have been infallibly defined.

Would appreciate comments from others who may know more about the passages where the Church spoken definitively - and the language used in its official statement.

Nita
 
My fantasy bible:

small enough to hold
clear print
acid free paper that won’t go musty and yellow
major headings to sections
deuteros in proper place
strong cover and binding
maps
cross-references
decent margins
double-columned, not single
no gender inclusive hooey messing up the meanings
consistent translation of certain words
a modern translation toward the literal end of spectrum
decent footnotes, not stuff about J and E
a good quantity of footnotes in the OT
extensive timeline (so it includes all the kings, etc.)
a listing of major places and names and the relevant verses (like you could look under Elijah and it would give a list of major events, like the whirlwind and where to find it)
perhaps a listing of the daily mass readings to use as a plan of reading
3 ribbons
does not waste space on boxed information that is only useful once
a few blank pages at the end for notes
 
Nita said:
The Church’s “official” teaching isn’t quite that restricted. All one needs to do is read the Catechism and see the many uses of Scripture in connection with Catholic teaching.

Would appreciate comments from others who may know more about the passages where the Church spoken definitively - and the language used in its official statement.

Nita
Click to expand...
Hi Nita

cathinsight.com/apologetics/verses.htm
Infallibly-Interpreted Bible Verses

Genesis 3:15 (“I will put enmity between thee and the woman”), and Luke 1:28 (“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee”) contain at least implicitly the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Deuteronomy 6:5 and **Matthew 22:37 **(“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and souls and mind and strength”) do not require a love so spiritual and out of this world as to exclude all human emotional feelings and desires based on devotional sentiments

**Isaiah 7:14 **(“Behold a virgin shall be with child, etc.” [sic]) must be regarded as prophetic of a Redeemer to come.

**Malachi 1:11 **(“From the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles; and in every place there is sacrifice”) is a prediction of the Sacrifice of the Mass.

**Matthew 16:16-19 **(“Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church”) and **John 21:15-17 **(“Feed my lambs . . . Feed my sheep”) contain the doctrine of Papal Supremacy.

**Matthew 18:18 **(“Whatsoever you shall loose upon earth shall be loosed also in heaven”) and **John 20:23 **(“Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them”) prove the Sacrament of Penance and the power of priests to forgive sins in confession

Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-29, demand the literal and not merely a symbolical interpretation of our Lord’s words at the Last Supper: “This is my body,” “This is my blood,” so that we must hold they teach the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist or Blessed Sacrament.

Luke 22:19 and I Corinthians 11:24, recording our Lord’s words at the Last Supper: “Do this for a commemoration of me”, indicate the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the apostles being ordained as priests to offer the Sacrifice of the Mass or Holy Eucharist.

**Luke 22:32 **(“I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not and do thou . . . confirm thy brethren”) must be interpreted as providing a basis for the doctrine of Papal Infallibility.

**John 3:5 **(“Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”) shows the necessity of the Sacrament of Baptism with water.

**John 6:54-57 **(“unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood”) does not require Communion in both kinds instead of under the form of bread only.

**Romans 5:12 **(“By one man sin entered into this world”) refers to original sin.

**I Corinthians 4:7 **(“What hast thou that thou hast not received”) proves divine grace to be a sheer gift of God.

**Philippians 2:6 **(“Christ Jesus, being in the form of God, did not prize being equal with God, etc.” [sic]) refers to the existence of the person of Christ as the Second Divine Person of the Holy Trinity before He became man in the Incarnation.

**James 5:14 **(“Is any man sick . . . let him bring in the priests of the Church . . . anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord”) teaches the existence of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. .

==========================

Whose theological understanding is Church’s Official Teaching.

No one individual, outside of the Pope. I don’t care what any theologian or any scholar says, and you shouldn’t either. All you should care about is what the Church says. Read the Catechism

I Also, I highly recommend a book called, “The Sources of Catholic Dogma,” by Denzinger. And, “Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma,” by Ludwig Ott. Both of these give you information that is quoted straight from Church Councils, encyclicals, or other such official Church documents.

John Martignoni​

Official Language of the Church - I’ve always been taught that it is “LATIN”
 
richardeekw said:
Hi Nita

cathinsight.com/apologetics/verses.htm
Infallibly-Interpreted Bible Verses

Genesis 3:15 (“I will put enmity between thee and the woman”), and Luke 1:28 (“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee”) contain at least implicitly the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Deuteronomy 6:5 and **Matthew 22:37 **(“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and souls and mind and strength”) do not require a love so spiritual and out of this world as to exclude all human emotional feelings and desires based on devotional sentiments

**Isaiah 7:14 **(“Behold a virgin shall be with child, etc.” [sic]) must be regarded as prophetic of a Redeemer to come.

**Malachi 1:11 **(“From the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles; and in every place there is sacrifice”) is a prediction of the Sacrifice of the Mass.

**Matthew 16:16-19 **(“Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church”) and **John 21:15-17 **(“Feed my lambs . . . Feed my sheep”) contain the doctrine of Papal Supremacy.

**Matthew 18:18 **(“Whatsoever you shall loose upon earth shall be loosed also in heaven”) and **John 20:23 **(“Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them”) prove the Sacrament of Penance and the power of priests to forgive sins in confession

Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-29, demand the literal and not merely a symbolical interpretation of our Lord’s words at the Last Supper: “This is my body,” “This is my blood,” so that we must hold they teach the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist or Blessed Sacrament.

Luke 22:19 and I Corinthians 11:24, recording our Lord’s words at the Last Supper: “Do this for a commemoration of me”, indicate the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the apostles being ordained as priests to offer the Sacrifice of the Mass or Holy Eucharist.

**Luke 22:32 **(“I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not and do thou . . . confirm thy brethren”) must be interpreted as providing a basis for the doctrine of Papal Infallibility.

**John 3:5 **(“Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”) shows the necessity of the Sacrament of Baptism with water.

**John 6:54-57 **(“unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood”) does not require Communion in both kinds instead of under the form of bread only.

**Romans 5:12 **(“By one man sin entered into this world”) refers to original sin.

**I Corinthians 4:7 **(“What hast thou that thou hast not received”) proves divine grace to be a sheer gift of God.

**Philippians 2:6 **(“Christ Jesus, being in the form of God, did not prize being equal with God, etc.” [sic]) refers to the existence of the person of Christ as the Second Divine Person of the Holy Trinity before He became man in the Incarnation.

**James 5:14 **(“Is any man sick . . . let him bring in the priests of the Church . . . anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord”) teaches the existence of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. .

"
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Hello Richard,

Thanks for the list. I’m going to run a copy off and keep it in my Catechism.

Nita
 
Well, It’s the NT only, but the best study bible I’ve had so far is the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. It’s available at a good price at getfed.com/displayproduct.cfm?JP=1001916 and other places. There are separate booklets for each of the Gospels, The Acts, Romans, and Revelation. The letters are grouped together, 2 or three to a volume. Each book is about $9.00 or you can get the whole set for about $90.00. Each book contains the Revised Standard Version of the scripture, and is then just jam packed with wonderful, easy to follow commentary by the Church fathers, and Scott Hahn. There are maps and special articles as well. Almost every line in the bible has commentary. My only complaint is the smallness of most of the commentary text. Still, to be fair, I’m due for a prescription upgrade on my glasses. The commentary is unsurpassed. It’s as good as anything I’ve read since starting on this path of Catholocism. I just can’t say enough about it. I’m hoping to find this level of commentary somewhere for the OT as well, if anyone can suggest something there.
 
mccorm45 said:
I was in the local bookstore yesterday and began looking at various study Bibles out there. One of the things that bothered me was that we as Catholics are in need of a really good study Bible. I was looking at the NIV study Bible, which is done so well, with maps, diagrams, crossreferences, a concordance, etc… Zondervan also publishes various editions of the NIV, like the archaeology Bible, Men’s and Women’s Bibles…etc…all of which are very well done, beautiful, and are a pleasure to read!

I know that Ignatius Press is working on their study Bible, but it would be nice to have it by the end of this decade! I really think that we would have more Catholic reading the Bible if the materials for study were much better and more attractive.

So, I wanted to start a thread to see what things you all would like to see in a Catholic Study Bible. Some things to consider: translation, notes, maps, diagrams, etc…

I am interested in your responses! God Bless!
Click to expand...
I would like to see a good Bible study computer program produced on the cheap. Protestants have some great computer Bible Study Programs.
Example a free mid grade Protestant Bible Program can be obtained at
e-sword.net/ contains numerous resources such as strongs, thayers, naves etc. Vines is availbable for nominal fee of $15, and theological word study for I believe $29 as add on modules. Most modules are free.

I would Include a Greek-English Interlinear/Hebrew Interlinear
such as this one here
One can obtain a Greek-English interlinear from scripture4all.org/ It is also free

I would include the Catechism
I would include a number of Catholic Bible commentaries such as the ones below, particularly the Navarre, Haydock, Ignatius Bible study

Catholic bible commentaries
haydock1859.tripod.com/
bible.claret.org/bibles/index.html
groups-beta.google.com/group/dailyword/topicsgroups.google.com/group/CIN-Daily-Word?lnk=lr biblia.com/jesusbible/

I would include the church fathers with a scriptural index like the one here from a protestant site
church fathers with scriptural index to obtain church fathers commentary
ccel.org/fathers.html

I would include something like is being done at the next two sites.
Church fathers quotes on Catholic Doctrine
cin.org/users/jgallegos/contents.htm

excellent Catholic exegesis of Scritpture
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/

I would include a godd Catholic Concordance similar or better than the next two sites
catholicapologetics.net/bible.htm
cegguam.org/combat/combatadd.htm

I would include a good Catholic Encyclopedia like what New Advent has
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/index.html
 
Michael_G said:
I would like to see a good Bible study computer program produced on the cheap. Protestants have some great computer Bible Study Programs.
Example a free mid grade Protestant Bible Program can be obtained at
e-sword.net/ contains numerous resources such as strongs, thayers, naves etc. Vines is availbable for nominal fee of $15, and theological word study for I believe $29 as add on modules. Most modules are free.

I would Include a Greek-English Interlinear/Hebrew Interlinear
such as this one here
One can obtain a Greek-English interlinear from scripture4all.org/ It is also free

I would include the Catechism
I would include a number of Catholic Bible commentaries such as the ones below, particularly the Navarre, Haydock, Ignatius Bible study

Catholic bible commentaries
haydock1859.tripod.com/
bible.claret.org/bibles/index.html
groups-beta.google.com/group/dailyword/topicsgroups.google.com/group/CIN-Daily-Word?lnk=lr biblia.com/jesusbible/

I would include the church fathers with a scriptural index like the one here from a protestant site
church fathers with scriptural index to obtain church fathers commentary
ccel.org/fathers.html

I would include something like is being done at the next two sites.
Church fathers quotes on Catholic Doctrine
cin.org/users/jgallegos/contents.htm

excellent Catholic exegesis of Scritpture
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/

I would include a godd Catholic Concordance similar or better than the next two sites
catholicapologetics.net/bible.htm
cegguam.org/combat/combatadd.htm

I would include a good Catholic Encyclopedia like what New Advent has[
newadvent.org/cathen/index.html](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/index.html)
Click to expand...
I forgot it would probably worthwhile to include some of the Protestant Lexicons-greek and hebrew dictionaries such as strongs, vines expository on scripure, Robertson word pictures, theological word study, some these have material which shows the truth of Catholic interpretation…
 
Pug said:
My fantasy bible:

small enough to hold
clear print
acid free paper that won’t go musty and yellow
major headings to sections
deuteros in proper place
strong cover and binding
maps
cross-references
decent margins
double-columned, not single
no gender inclusive hooey messing up the meanings
consistent translation of certain words
a modern translation toward the literal end of spectrum
decent footnotes, not stuff about J and E
a good quantity of footnotes in the OT
extensive timeline (so it includes all the kings, etc.)
a listing of major places and names and the relevant verses (like you could look under Elijah and it would give a list of major events, like the whirlwind and where to find it)
perhaps a listing of the daily mass readings to use as a plan of reading
3 ribbons
does not waste space on boxed information that is only useful once
a few blank pages at the end for notes
Click to expand...
I would add a nice genuine leather binding. I like nice leather Bibles, something that looks and smells good! Plus the leather is much more durable than anything else, so it would last for years.
 
awalt said:
Orthodox, non-speculative or skeptical commentary
Just curious, since there Church has no official teaching on most of the Bible, what do you consider non-speculative?
Click to expand...
Sorry, I should have been clearer. By “non-speculative,” I meant notes *by *scholars and for scholars that include higher critical postulation as stated fact, such as those that dispute Church teaching or call into question the supernatural character of biblical miracles. These things are fine for scholars to discuss in their ivory towers, but have no place in a popular level study Bible aimed at your average lay-person. I think the NAB notes are a notorious example of this. If you have following the threads on that issue, 'nuff said.
IMHO the value of multiple Bible commentaries is giving us things to think about, to jump-start our minds. You should read the introduction to the Pope’s upcoming book (due in March), he states specifically he hopes for debate and disagreement about his thoughts on Jesus. This is how our knowledge of revelation grows, by open and honest discussion. The scholars (including the Pope) understand this.
Click to expand...
As I said, that is great for scholars, and that is why they have terrific scholarly journals and books about this. That is where that type of questioning and speculation belong, not in a popular study Bible.
If commentaries were limited to comments that the Church has specifically commented on in Magisterium teaching, you will have virtually no notes at all.
Click to expand...
Au contrair, to cite one example, the Navarre Bible commentaries have managed to do just that – and people complain that they are too thick! 😃

Anyway, thanks for the chance to clarify.🙂
 
Did you look into the following?

The New Interpreter’s Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version With the Apocrypha (Hardcover)
by Walter J. Harrelson (Editor)

amazon.com/New-Interpreters-Study-Bible-Apocrypha/dp/0687278325

The Net Bible which is working on the Apocrypha part

bible.org/netbible/index.htm

The Word from 26 translations

thewordbible.com/

I wish someone would follow the Word from 26 translations format for the Apocrypha.

The Complete Parallel Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version BL Revised English Bible BL New American Bible BL New Jerusalem Bible (Hardcover)
amazon.com/Complete-Parallel-Bible-Apocryphal-Deuterocanonical/dp/019528318X

Christian Community Bible: Catholic Pastoral Edition (Hardcover)

amazon.com/Christian-Community-Bible-Catholic-Pastoral/dp/8428520496

bible.claret.org/bibles/

There is a Catholic Good News Bible from American Bible Society out there too.

Someone published a Catholic edition of the Formation Study Bible, see it at borders bookstore.

Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible: New American Standard Bible: Unlocking the Riches of God’s Word (Bonded Black Leather binding) (Leather Bound)
by Spiros Zodhiates (Editor)
amazon.com/Hebrew-Greek-Key-Word-Study-Bible/dp/0899576877
 
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