Best Bible with Apocrypha

[Alizera]

I am looking to purchase a Bible that has the Apocrypha. I do not want to buy any King James translation, though. I know there are a couple of translations that include Apocrypha with them. I have been using the NIV for my biblical readings so far and would like something similar to that. What would everyone suggest?

 

[Secundulus]

I am looking to purchase a Bible that has the Apocrypha. I do not want to buy any King James translation, though. I know there are a couple of translations that include Apocrypha with them. I have been using the NIV for my biblical readings so far and would like something similar to that. What would everyone suggest?

I would suggest the New Jerusalem version. It is a Catholic Bible that includes the apocrypha. Other than that, I think it will be hard to find any bible in the USA that includes the apocrypha. If you don't like the New Jerusalem, you can usually find the apocrypha published separately in most Christian bookstores.

If you want to read some before you have a chance to obtain the book, it is available here online.

 

[calluna]

I would suggest the New Jerusalem version.

Does it render the original texts accurately?

 

[AngCath]

The following come with the Apocrypha (though now always for some):

The Revised Standard Version
The New Revised Standard Version
The New English Bible
The Revised English Bible
The New American Bible
The Jerusalem Bible
The New Jerusalem Bible
The Good News Bible
---
If you choose the REB, RSV, or NRSV you can not only get the books in the Roman Catholic canon, but also the books included in the Eastern Orthodox canons.

 

[Secundulus]

Does it render the original texts accurately?

It is translated from the original languages. It is comparible to the NIV in that it combines literal and meaning translation.

The main issue with some is that if one were to obtain the study bible version with footnotes, it contains Roman interpretation in these notes.

 

[calluna]

It is translated from the original languages.

That doesn't mean that it was translated accurately.

 

[Secundulus]

It is accurate. Here is one person's review. I don't think this site is biased one way or the other as it speaks of and compares multiple versions. Home page of that site.

As for me, I use a variety of versions for study. The primary version I use is NASB95, primarily because my software cross references every word to Strongs. I also use ESV, KJV, and NJB heavily. The hardcover versions I use most often in discussions at Sunday School are NJB with Catholic notes and ESV - Titled "The Reformation Study Bible" with notes by R.C. Sproul. (I also highly recommend that latter version for anyone's study).

Protestant and Catholic Theology and Christology is identical. We only differ in Ecclesiology which is an extremely minor portion of the Biblical text and study notes.

But back to the OP. Very few bibles in the USA are published and sold with the Apocrypha. The only ones I have seen are "Catholic Bibles" like the New Jerusalem and Douay Rhemes. Of the two, the New Jerusalem is the newest having been translated in the 1990s. The Douay Rhemes was translated in 1582.

 

[No Swansong]

Secundulus my friend are you not familiar with the New American Bible?

 

[No Swansong]

Another possibility is the "Orthodox Study Bible" which was just completed in full and released last year.

 

[calluna]

It is accurate. Here is one person's review. I don't think this site is biased one way or the other as it speaks of and compares multiple versions.

That doesn't make it unbiased.

 

[Secundulus]

Secundulus my friend are you not familiar with the New American Bible?

No, I am not. Can you give me some information.

Mostly, I use what is in my Logos Software which I was required to purchase when I enrolled in my theology courses. It is grossly expensive, but otherwise an excellent resource. NAB wasn't included, although I can buy it for a minimal price.

 

[No Swansong]

This is the version I have. It is required as the primary source for most Theology courses at the school I am enrolled in. I have been extremely pleased with it. I find the study notes useful and reliable and the translation an easy but also accurate read. As far as I'm concerned it is useful not only for serious study but also for devotional reading.

As for a Bible sans the deutero-canonicals I have really enjoyed the Holman Christian Standard for much the same reasons as the NAB.

I own a Douay-Rheims, a NJB a number of KJV and a NASB all of which I am known to consult at times.

The NAB was initially meant for introductory Bible reading but it was discovered by many Roman Catholic universities to be reliable and accurate and quickly found its way into graduate programs and Seminaries.

 

[Alizera]

The following come with the Apocrypha (though now always for some):

The Revised Standard Version
The New Revised Standard Version
The New English Bible
The Revised English Bible
The New American Bible
The Jerusalem Bible
The New Jerusalem Bible
The Good News Bible
---
If you choose the REB, RSV, or NRSV you can not only get the books in the Roman Catholic canon, but also the books included in the Eastern Orthodox canons.

So all those Bibles have the Apocrypha and the Eastern Orthodox canons?

I just really want to go through that other books of the Bible and would love to buy a really nice Bible with my Christmas money.

Thanks again for everybody's suggestions.

 

[JasonV]

NAB and NRSV are fantastic versions easily obtainable with the Deutro-Canon.

 

[Alizera]

When you say Deutro-Canon, do you mean with Apocrypha and Eastern Orthodox books?

 

[No Swansong]

In the U.S. the only Scriptures you will find with what you are calling the "Orthodox Canon" is either a version of the Peshitta or the new Orthodox Study Bible.

 

[calluna]

When you say Deutro-Canon, do you mean with Apocrypha and Eastern Orthodox books?

The term 'deutero-canonical', meaning literally 'second canon', is used by Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox. It refers to books that Anglicans call Apocryphal.

 

[AngCath]

In the U.S. the only Scriptures you will find with what you are calling the "Orthodox Canon" is either a version of the Peshitta or the new Orthodox Study Bible.

The other books not in the Roman canon can also be found in various editions of the RSV, NRSV, and REB.

 

[AngCath]

Oh, and Lamsa's translation of the Syriac Peshitta does NOT include the Apocryphal books.

 

[No Swansong]

The other books not in the Roman canon can also be found in various editions of the RSV, NRSV, and REB.

Which ones I haven't been able to find them?