WHICH BIBLE SHOULD I READ?

QUESTION? / COMMENT!

I have a question about buying a Catholic Bible online. I'd like a complete Bible, like the one that was given to me when I went through RCIA (now OCIA). Do you know where this Bible can be purchased?  I'm presuming such a Bible exists. 

ANSWER! / COMMENT!

Make sure that whatever Bible you use is a Catholic Bible because it contains the entire list of canonical books. Personally,  I am always flipping between the New American Bible (which is used in the Lectionary for the New Mass in the United States) and the Revised Standard Version-CE (which is used in the Catechism of the Catholic Church), the latter was the preference of St Pope John Paul II. The RSV-CE is also Dr Scott Hahn's preference and his colleague at the St Paul Center for Biblical Studies, it seems to be the preference of the Apologist at Catholic Answers and the preference of the Biblical scholars at the St Augustine Institute. 

I will also use the Douay Rheims Bible used in the Latin Mass. The Douay Rheims Bible has excellent Catholic footnotes on the bottom of the page, they are very helpful, the language is old English (like the way Shakespeare wrote), for me, it’s not user friendly and it’s not my preferred devotional Bible to read. However, the Douay Rheims is a translation from St Jerome's Latin Vulgate which dates back to the 4th century. The Council of Trent said that the Latin Vulgate is free from doctrinal error. That does not mean that it is a perfect translation, with no grammatical mistakes, or no possibility of improvement. Anyone who knows about the challenges of moving from one language to another knows that there is no such thing as a perfect translation.

The New American Bible has a mixture of good Catholic footnotes along with some modernist biblical footnotes, the NAB is more of a paraphrastic translation. It means the New American Catholic Bible (NACB) renders the original biblical texts using more paraphrase and contemporary-language phrasing rather than a strictly literal, word-for-word translation. "Paraphrastic" = translates ideas and sense of the original language into natural, modern English, sometimes rephrasing or expanding wording to make meaning clearer for today's readers.

·        Contrast with literal translations (formal equivalence) that stick closely to original words/structure; paraphrastic translations (dynamic equivalence or paraphrase) prioritize readability and thought-for-thought meaning.

·        Practical result: the NACB may smooth awkward syntax, clarify implied ideas, and choose contemporary expressions; this can aid comprehension but may introduce translator interpretation or lose some literal nuances of the original languages.

The RSV-CE is considered an accurate translation from the Greek manuscripts, it is a formal equivalency translation which means a literal translation from the ancient languages. I am tempted to say that the best bible translation is the one you will read but make sure it’s Catholic.

I will use the translation of the Catholic Bible that explains an issue or doctrine more clearly for purposes of explaining to another.

In AD 382, The Pope Damasus I wrote a decree listing (at the Council of Rome) all the books in the Bible which are 73 in Total.

In AD 393 the Catholic Church approved the present OT and NT books at the Council of Hippo in North Africa.

In AD 397 the local Council of Carthage (in North Africa) approved the present OT and NT canon of 73 books.

The 73-book canon was established in the Council of Trent, Session IV, in the decree titled “Decree Concerning the Canonical Scriptures” (Latin: Decretum de Canonicis Scripturis). That Session (and decree) was declared on the April 8th, 1546.