Which bible? Help Needed

Notorious97

Hi all,

I have a question which im sure has probably being asked many times before, i am having trouble with the search option however so sorry to ask again!

Which version of the bible should a Roman Catholic read? I have been told the New American bible, New Jerusalem Bible are the two. I have also heard you can read the New King James Bible although it is not preferred, and i think the King James Bible is protestant?

Can somebody please explain which bible a RC should read and follow?

Thanks for your help again, really appreciate it.

Fanny Cradock

A few suggestions here. I would have thought the correct bible to read would be the Koine Greek manuscripts that all translations flow from. Baring the possibility that you actually sit down and learn to read Greek (understandable), it is important to realise that all translations are imperfect representations of an original work - this is as true for the written word as it is for the spoken. Often translations can place a subtlety different emphasis on passages and impart their own personality onto the text. In short, I would think that limiting yourself to one translation is to narrow your view. For difficult passages I would usually turn to sites like www.biblegateway.com or www.blueletterbible.com.

Notorious97

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

A few suggestions here. I would have thought the correct bible to read would be the Koine Greek manuscripts that all translations flow from. Baring the possibility that you actually sit down and learn to read Greek (understandable), it is important to realise that all translations are imperfect representations of an original work - this is as true for the written word as it is for the spoken. Often translations can place a subtlety different emphasis on passages and impart their own personality onto the text. In short, I would think that limiting yourself to one translation is to narrow your view. For difficult passages I would usually turn to sites like www.biblegateway.com or www.blueletterbible.com.

Thanks for the reply, the first website you referred me to i have been on previously looking for an answer, thats where i found out about the New American Bible, i also understand with translations comes differences.

Seems to be for me though as i look more into this i end up with more questions! Have a habit of driving myself mad.

Fanny Cradock

Notorious97 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, the first website you referred me to i have been on previously looking for an answer, thats where i found out about the New American Bible, i also understand with translations comes differences.

Seems to be for me though as i look more into this i end up with more questions! Have a habit of driving myself mad.

New questions always arise! Thankfully there is usually somebody who has put in the scholarly hours and produced something of worth to help you. What in particular is driving you mad?

Notorious97

Well it isn’t exactly driving me mad yet, i just would like to know the correct bible for a RC to read and follow, ive read some of the New King James bible (have a copy of it on my ipod!) but i just would like to know its the version i should be reading for RC, the links you provided seem to point to the New American Bible so i guess il start reading that version.

I have spent a while googling it, and then it dawned on me that Boards has a religious forum on it!

Fanny Cradock

Notorious97 wrote: »

Well it isn’t exactly driving me mad yet, i just would like to know the correct bible for a RC to read and follow, ive read some of the New King James bible (have a copy of it on my ipod!) but i just would like to know its the version i should be reading for RC, the links you provided seem to point to the New American Bible so i guess il start reading that version.

I have spent a while googling it, and then it dawned on me that Boards has a religious forum on it!

It seems to me that there isn't one correct version. I would suggest taking a read through a number of suitable candidates and seeing which you like the best.

Notorious97

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

It seems to me that there isn't one correct version. I would suggest taking a read through a number of suitable candidates and seeing which you like the best.

Thanks,
One last thing, is the New King James Bible for catholics also? Ive read some of this version and like it so far, just wondering if its approved by catholics elsewhere?

JimiTime

This might be useful:

http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/bible_versions.htm

Don't think the King James is 'approved' in Catholic circles.

Notorious97

JimiTime wrote: »

This might be useful:

http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/bible_versions.htm

Don't think the King James is 'approved' in Catholic circles.

Thanks for that, its a useful link explaining the differences, much appreciated!
Is there a huge difference in general between the NKJB and the New American bible which seems to be the approved bible by the church?

SonOfAdam

AFAIK the only 'official' RC bibles are those that include the deuterocanonical apocrypha (Macabees, Judith etc.). These are generally not found in non-RC bibles or they may be included as mysterious or esoteric writtings but I think not considered (generally) to be part of the inspired word.

JimiTime

Notorious97 wrote: »

Thanks for that, its a useful link explaining the differences, much appreciated!
Is there a huge difference in general between the NKJB and the New American bible which seems to be the approved bible by the church?

TBH, I don't know. For all intents and purposes, a bible is a bible, though there have been some spurious behaviours in some translations.
See here and here.

Overall though, these days I think alot of the differences lie in readability. There are paraphrases, such as the Good News bible, which uses VERY contemporary language and can sometimes do this at the expense of accuracy. There are literal translations, that concentrate on giving you an almost word for word translation which can sometimes be impossible to read.

I personally use the English Standard Version. I find its a good balance between the two. However, its worth noting, that its good to reference a few translations if you come accross things you don't understand etc.

philologos

OP - As far as I know the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) is approved for usage by the Roman Catholic Church. One can get it with the Apocrypha, and you can get a Catholic edition of it.

Notorious97

Thanks il just start with one get on with it. Il check out the two links in your above post too, thanks for all the help to all that replied, cleared up a good few of my questions!

Greaney

Okay, I'm just throwing this in here to give us all a bit of perspective but... there are so many translations in the English language. If you were an Irish speaker, you'd only have the choice of one (well, one and a half, there is a second translation of the New Testiment only- an Tiomláin nua)

In some countries they still haven't got a full text in their language so it may be nice to see the 'choice' as a bit of a blessing. Personally, I use two translations, The NIV and a king James. Then you can counter reference translations

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

smurfhousing

I'd recommend the New American Bible, but don't bother reading the notes, as they are very poor indeed. Read a good Catholic commentary instead. The NAB is generally accurate and easy to read.

LeprachaunPope

smurfhousing wrote: »

I'd recommend the New American Bible, but don't bother reading the notes, as they are very poor indeed. Read a good Catholic commentary instead. The NAB is generally accurate and easy to read.

Be aware of that Protestant translation which bears a similar name to this. Do not be mistaken - they are very different indeed.

Notorious97

Thanks again all, il have a look at the bibles suggested in the last few posts, really appreciate you all taking the time to help me out!

kelly1

Hello, I don't want to confuse matters but I'd recommend the Ignatius RSV bible.