Your primary bible

[Epistemes]

I know many people here have multiple translations and editions of the our beloved Scripture - but I’m curious, which translation/edition do you prefer (for personal use)?

 

[Zooey]

Either Douay Rheims or Revised Standard (CE). I use them about equally…so I voted “other”.
I love my Baronius DR, but since getting the 2nd edition of the RSV-CE, I have been using that as much as the Douay.

I have had a whole lot of Bibles in my lifetime, & these are truly the best I have ever had. I can’t imagine going back to anything else as my primary reading/study Bible.

 

[lak611]

I said “other” because I like both the RSV-CE and the Douay-Rheims. Although I have lots of Bibles, these are the two I use most. I cannot pick just one because I read both of these about equally.

 

[cgvnau]

I prefer the language of the Douay Rheims. Someday I’ll have one of my one, until then its a good that its on the internet.

 

[demerzel85]

Douay Rheims. Though I have to reference with the Jerusalem Bible a lot for the liturgy. I use the Confraternity NT, RSV-1CE and Christian Community Bible as well. Yet whatever is in the Douay Rheims supercedes the rest.

 

[puzzleannie]

I have to admit I find the DR, like the KJV, too diffictult to read for devotional use, although I consult DR from time to time to compare passages. It is also large and heavy to use, like my old Jerusalem bible, which is my favorite for devotional use. The JB is too heavy when my arthritis is acting up and print too small. I love my new RSV-CE in the pocket size edition and that is my travel, go to chapel bible, even though the print is small (and very light), but it is okay because I read short passages for lectio, and can hold it close to my eyes (no glasses).

But for study where I need the notes at hand and to flip back and forth, I like the CAtholic Study Bible Oxford edition, also big, but if I am doing that I am working at a desk, and the print is fine. For study of one book at a time in preparation for lectio, I like the one-volume Ignatius studies by Scott Hahn. Very handy and readable and by far the best study notes.

If I am preparing something for CCD or RCIA I use the NAB on-line part of the Harmony Media Welcome to the Catholic Church, because those presentations will be based on the lectionary.

I am currently working my way through the Breakthrough Bible for Young Catholics, Saint Mary’s Press (GNT) because so many of our kids have received them as gifts. Not my favorite translation, but I want to see if it can be safely used for middle graders and Spanish speakers who are still learning the language.

 

[demerzel85]

I am currently working my way through the Breakthrough Bible for Young Catholics, Saint Mary’s Press (GNT) because so many of our kids have received them as gifts. Not my favorite translation, but I want to see if it can be safely used for middle graders and Spanish speakers who are still learning the language.

Personally, I would recommend the Christian Community Bible to young catholics and those still learning the language. The CCB does keep some traditional terms but is still easy to read. It also contains substantial commentary that is easy to understand. The CCB is vastly better than the GNB.

 

[Epistemes]

Personally, I would recommend the Christian Community Bible to young catholics and those still learning the language. The CCB does keep some traditional terms but is still easy to read. It also contains substantial commentary that is easy to understand. The CCB is vastly better than the GNB.

I’ve never read the GNB, but isn’t it the same as the TEV (Today’s English Version)? If so, I think the movie “The Gospel of John” is based completely off this translation. Not a horrible movie, but Jesus is definitely made to appear less stoic and logical due to some of the phrasings.

I ordered the one-volume Haydock-Douay-Rheims yesterday evening since I’ve heard so many good things about it…and I’m coming to accept the DR more and more for personal readings. My Baronius edition already sprains my wrists - I can only imagine what the HDR will do…

 

[Fidelis]

I.m one of those that has more than a dozen translations, both Catholic and Protestant, that I use mostly for comparison purposes.

I find myself using the NAB a lot because when you prepare and lead parish level Bible studies as I do, most everything is liturgical based, and the average Catholic will usually be using that version.

My primary Bible for devotional and private study is the RSV-CE —everything I have seen points to it as the most accurate, plus in my mind the language is almost as beautiful and traditional as the KJV and DRV. Besides, most of the best Bible studies on the market today are using the RSV. This is also the version I’m raising my children with, even my 11 year old.

 

[RNRobert]

I voted for the DR, but its a toss-up between the it and the RSV-CE. The one thing I dislike about the RSV-CE is that there is no spacing, making it harder to read. One thing I like about the NAB is the spacing and topic sub-headings, which makes it nice when I’m trying to find a passage but can’t remember the verse (almost compensates for the crummy commentary ).
I also have a JB, and NRSV (which includes the deuts and the pseudigraphica); as well as three Protestant Bibles from before I became Catholic (a 35 year old RSV I was given when I attended a Methodist Sunday school as a boy, a KJV, and a NIV).

 

[lak611]

I.m one of those that has more than a dozen translations, both Catholic and Protestant, that I use mostly for comparison purposes.

My primary Bible for devotional and private study is the RSV-CE —everything I have seen points to it as the most accurate, plus in my mind the language is almost as beautiful and traditional as the KJV and DRV. Besides, most of the best Bible studies on the market today are using the RSV. This is also the version I’m raising my children with, even my 11 year old.

I have lots of Bibles too, both Catholic and Protestant. I have the original 1965-1966 RSV-CE. I never purchased the RSV-2CE because of some of the errors that were mentioned on another thread. I will probably purchase the RSV-3CE if it is ever completed and the corrections are made. DRV is another one I like, except for the Psalms and the Pauline epistles; those are just rather difficult in terms of the style, plus I don’t like the old numbering system of the Psalms. NAB is just bland.

 

[DallasCatholic]

I have both DR and the Ignatius RSV 2nd Catholic edition. The RSV 2CE is my daily reader and I use the DR as the “acid test” if I have any questions regarding translations. I also have KJV, NAB, NIV and NASB.

 

[puzzleannie]

I’ve never read the GNB, but isn’t it the same as the TEV (Today’s English Version)? If

the Good News Translation and Today’s English Version, according to American Bible Society who sells both, are two different translations, by two different groups, using different methods.

 

[puzzleannie]

Personally, I would recommend the Christian Community Bible to young catholics and those still learning the language. The CCB does keep some traditional terms but is still easy to read. It also contains substantial commentary that is easy to understand. The CCB is vastly better than the GNB.

CCB was around for a while but the pastor of my previous parish pulled it out, don’t know why, it was way too big and expensive for classroom use anyhow, unless it comes in different editions.

 

[Pug]

I truly don’t have a primary bible. I use a number of them equally. As I often make presentations based on the lectionary, I use the look up facilities of the USCCB site to see what I want nicely compiled together, and in the translation that will be familiar to Catholics.

The versions I prefer are based in the line of the American Standard bible, like, for example, the NRSV or any other one that sounds like how I memorized it as a child. Since I frequently use a computer to search by words, I need to use a translation that matches the words I have memorized. But, even so, when I do that, I have it display several versions for the answer to the lookup.

 

[lak611]

I have both DR and the Ignatius RSV 2nd Catholic edition. The RSV 2CE is my daily reader and I use the DR as the “acid test” if I have any questions regarding translations. I also have KJV, NAB, NIV and NASB.

In addition to RSV-CE and DRV, I also own KJV (one with Apocrypha and on without), KJV 1611 edition, NRSV-CE, NRSV with Apocrypha (also has books recognized by Orthodox but not Catholics), NAB, NASB, ESV, The Message, and I have the RSV with Apocrypha on order (it also has the books recognized by Orthodox but not Catholics). I plan to buy the Orthodox Study Bible when it is completed (it will be a NKJV with numerous revisions to correlate with the Septuagint). I only have the NIV bookmarked online; since I don’t care for the translation, I never purchased one. I also plan to purchase the Oxford Hebrew Bible.

 

[Jerry-Jet]

Here’s my wish list:

English version of the Nova Vulgata.

Updated Douay Rheims with English names instead of Latin ones and verses numbered so the 23d Psalm is the 23d Psalm and even a small number of changes where conservative Catholic Scholars would favor the Nova Vulgata’s translation where the Douay Rheims was in error.

3d Edition of the RSV to further eliminate Protestant bias.

Whatever versions are put out–make the print large enough to read–use real thick leather that will last–throw in some quality artwork–and spare us any of the liberal atheistic commentary or footnotes on anything that liberal or atheists believe! Ban gender inclusive language forever!

Why not just send the NAB to the Holy See and let them make whatever changes they want and then don’t argue with the Holy See–just accept the changes in humble obedience and have whatever scriptural references in the Mass Exactly match that bible!

And for people that are willing to pay make sure that no Protestant Bible in the world is better quality than a Catholic one!

 

[drafdog]

I rejected the Douay-Rheims on the basis that it is a translation of a translation. With all due respect to Hieronymus we can certainly do better than that today. More current scholarship using original-language texts, more readable English grammar, vocabulary and syntax make the RSV-CE a better choice for most purposes. I was never comfortable with the New Jerusalem text as it may be very accurate, but it doesn’t “flow.” The New American vocabulary feels “dumbed down” to the point that I feel I’m reading something written for a fourth grader.
My “favorite” non-Catholic Bible was one I bought from the college library cast-offs shelf. It was a Jehovah’s Witnesses Bible whose charm for me was the way in which the compiler had taken words and phrases from previous English translations thus destroying contextual meaning and producing a custom made Bible to suit his own agenda.
Back to my choice of reading matter. The RSV-CE is by far the best I have ever used. I’ve had mine since college days back in the late '60’s. It’s principle draw-back from my viewpoint is that I have been unable to find a concordance to accompany the text. Does anyone have a lead on one? I tried the Ignatius Press web-site but their search engine returned “not found” to a search for concordances. I think this is a serious flaw in the Church’s approach to making the scriptures available to the laity.

Matthew

 

[RWMorris]

I personally love the King James Version. The language is so evocative and beautiful!

 

[porthos11]

It’s principle draw-back from my viewpoint is that I have been unable to find a concordance to accompany the text. Does anyone have a lead on one? I tried the Ignatius Press web-site but their search engine returned “not found” to a search for concordances. I think this is a serious flaw in the Church’s approach to making the scriptures available to the laity.

Matthew

I have sought and not found The NASB concordance may be largely compatible, Deuterocanonicals excepted.

However, you may want to consider using Bible software instead.