My struggle with bibles

[Xeno.of.athens]

When I read a Catholic Bible, I am assured that it contains the full canon of Holy Scripture as defined by ancient Church councils and definitively listed by the Councils of Florence and Trent, reaffirmed by the Second Vatican Council. If the Bible includes cross-references, then it will link passages between the Old Testament and the New Testament, including the Deuterocanonical books. If there are annotations provided by the Catholic Church or one of its faithful shepherds (a bishop), then I can trust in their reliability. However, these assurances are not present when I use a Jewish Tanakh or a Protestant Bible. For these reasons, I prefer a Catholic Bible over a Protestant or Jewish one.

 

[jas3]

If there are annotations provided by the Catholic Church or one of its faithful shepherds (a bishop), then I can trust in their reliability.

Do you include the NABRE in that? From what I've heard it has some really questionable content in the footnotes.

Edit: there are some specific examples here: Critical Notes on the NABRE’s Critical Notes

 

[chevyontheriver]

Do you include the NABRE in that? From what I've heard it has some really questionable content in the footnotes.

Edit: there are some specific examples here: Critical Notes on the NABRE’s Critical Notes

I was going to ask that same question but you beat me to it.

For the record the 1970 NAB has some tenditious footnotes too, as had the Jerusalem Bible in the big boxed version. The JB Reader's version pretty much just had the text and minimal notes.

I'm all for a Catholic produced Bible. But I use Catholic Editions of the RSV and ESV mostly. Once in a rare while a Knox Bible or a Douay/Challoner/Confraternity Bible. IF the Bible has been given an Imprimatur I'm OK with the basic text. The notes, for some things like the 1970 NAB or the NABRE I wonder how they ever got the notes approved? They would have almost had to have found a blind bishop to read the notes. IMHO.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Do you include the NABRE in that? From what I've heard it has some really questionable content in the footnotes.

Edit: there are some specific examples here: Critical Notes on the NABRE’s Critical Notes

I agree.

 

[chevyontheriver]

When I read a Catholic Bible, I am assured that it contains the full canon of Holy Scripture as defined by ancient Church councils and definitively listed by the Councils of Florence and Trent, reaffirmed by the Second Vatican Council. If the Bible includes cross-references, then it will link passages between the Old Testament and the New Testament, including the Deuterocanonical books. If there are annotations provided by the Catholic Church or one of its faithful shepherds (a bishop), then I can trust in their reliability. However, these assurances are not present when I use a Jewish Tanakh or a Protestant Bible. For these reasons, I prefer a Catholic Bible over a Protestant or Jewish one.

For the text yes. Unless it is a RSVCE or a ESVCE, which are both complete and whose texts have been approved, at least in the CE versions. But as to notes, some of them shock me. And I am hard to shock.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Do you include the NABRE in that? From what I've heard it has some really questionable content in the footnotes.

Edit: there are some specific examples here: Critical Notes on the NABRE’s Critical Notes

No, the NABre notes are scholarly rather than faithful. They can inform about various facts and offer scholarly opinions on some topics but when I want comfort and faith building pastoral care, I am not so likely to find it in the NABre notes.

 

[Clare73]

When I read a Catholic Bible, I am assured that it contains the full canon of Holy Scripture as defined by ancient Church councils and definitively listed by the Councils of Florence and Trent, reaffirmed by the Second Vatican Council. If the Bible includes cross-references, then it will link passages between the Old Testament and the New Testament, including the Deuterocanonical books. If there are annotations provided by the Catholic Church or one of its faithful shepherds (a bishop), then I can trust in their reliability. However, these assurances are not present when I use a Jewish Tanakh or a Protestant Bible. For these reasons, I prefer a Catholic Bible over a Protestant or Jewish one.

That's fair. . .even if every word is not perfect, there is more than enough in Christian Bibles for saving faith.

 

[chevyontheriver]

No, the NABre notes are scholarly rather than faithful. They can inform about various facts and offer scholarly opinions on some topics but when I want comfort and faith building pastoral care, I am not so likely to find it in the NABre notes.

That's understated.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

That's understated.

It is surprising that among the numerous faithful Catholics and Catholic institutions, so few produce Bible editions with faithful notes. It appears that scholars who favor archaeology over Sacred Tradition tend to be the ones creating annotations, and there isn't much competition. The RSV-2CE offers notes for the New Testament and seems quite faithful, and the Navarre Bible is available, although it is spread across multiple volumes. Haydock's Douay-Rheims Bible is commendable but is a substantial tome. Ideally, a NLT-CE with faithful notes for casual reading and an ESV-CE with faithful notes for study would be desirable.

 

[okay]

No, the NABre notes are scholarly rather than faithful. They can inform about various facts and offer scholarly opinions on some topics but when I want comfort and faith building pastoral care, I am not so likely to find it in the NABre notes.

Agreed. I am a protestant, but used NABRE for awhile to switch up my bible reading and thought it was quite good. I personally like the scholarly notes, but can understand why some folks aren’t fond of them. The edition I was using was actually a “youth” bible (in the house because we had a daughter in a Catholic HS) so it had all kinds of additional stuff that I found fascinating. Was my first exposure to Lectio Divina.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Agreed. I am a protestant, but used NABRE for awhile to switch up my bible reading and thought it was quite good. I personally like the scholarly notes, but can understand why some folks aren’t fond of them. The edition I was using was actually a “youth” bible (in the house because we had a daughter in a Catholic HS) so it had all kinds of additional stuff that I found fascinating. Was my first exposure to Lectio Divina.

Finding liberation through reading holy scripture as a prayer to God is a profound experience for me. My yearning for God is met with a response, yet the longing never fully dissipates. The love I have for God energizes and enlivens me, while it also reminds me of my need for forgiveness and healing. Sometimes, I wish for a Bible that includes explanatory notes to bolster faith and provide wise pastoral counsel.

 

[chevyontheriver]

It is surprising that among the numerous faithful Catholics and Catholic institutions, so few produce Bible editions with faithful notes. It appears that scholars who favor archaeology over Sacred Tradition tend to be the ones creating annotations, and there isn't much competition. The RSV-2CE offers notes for the New Testament and seems quite faithful, and the Navarre Bible is available, although it is spread across multiple volumes. Haydock's Douay-Rheims Bible is commendable but is a substantial tome. Ideally, a NLT-CE with faithful notes for casual reading and an ESV-CE with faithful notes for study would be desirable.

The Navarre is a good Bible, and the RSVCE Study Bible by Ignatius Press is also very good. I've seen Haydock Bibles and they are grand old things.

I don't mind archaeology notes but some of the Higher Criticism that got into the JB and NAB just seemed alien to the faith. A careful use of Higher Critical method can be useful but much of the results of the method are counter-productive.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Thay would be rightly removed, someone would complain. But calling Catholics idolaters and Catholicism a false religion is still acceptable in some circles.

In Kansas maybe. The Salina Journal? That noted journal of theological discourse? Ha!

 

[RandyPNW]

When I read a Catholic Bible, I am assured that it contains the full canon of Holy Scripture as defined by ancient Church councils and definitively listed by the Councils of Florence and Trent, reaffirmed by the Second Vatican Council. If the Bible includes cross-references, then it will link passages between the Old Testament and the New Testament, including the Deuterocanonical books. If there are annotations provided by the Catholic Church or one of its faithful shepherds (a bishop), then I can trust in their reliability. However, these assurances are not present when I use a Jewish Tanakh or a Protestant Bible. For these reasons, I prefer a Catholic Bible over a Protestant or Jewish one.

I think you are too tied to Catholic authority. I understand that that is a "safe place" for you. But one does not have to be a "rebel" to make God Himself your primary authority and then trust in your own studies and rational powers to determine what is right for you. Just my opinion...

 

[AlexB23]

When I read a Catholic Bible, I am assured that it contains the full canon of Holy Scripture as defined by ancient Church councils and definitively listed by the Councils of Florence and Trent, reaffirmed by the Second Vatican Council. If the Bible includes cross-references, then it will link passages between the Old Testament and the New Testament, including the Deuterocanonical books. If there are annotations provided by the Catholic Church or one of its faithful shepherds (a bishop), then I can trust in their reliability. However, these assurances are not present when I use a Jewish Tanakh or a Protestant Bible. For these reasons, I prefer a Catholic Bible over a Protestant or Jewish one.

As a Catholic, I like both the Protestant Bibles (NKJV, ESV, NIV and KJV) and Catholic Bible (NRSV-CE). Best of both words, brother in Christ. I do wish Bibles linked Deuterocanonical books though more, though I use online Bibles and locally run artificial intelligence, so I have less of a problem.

 

[chevyontheriver]

I think you are too tied to Catholic authority. I understand that that is a "safe place" for you. But one does not have to be a "rebel" to make God Himself your primary authority and then trust in your own studies and rational powers to determine what is right for you. Just my opinion...

Um, how is 'trusting in your own studies and rational powers' working out for all those who trust in their own studies and rational powers and end up disagreeing with others who trust their own studies and rational powers?

 

[Always in His Presence]

When I read a Catholic Bible, I am assured that it contains the full canon of Holy Scripture as defined by ancient Church councils and definitively listed by the Councils of Florence and Trent, reaffirmed by the Second Vatican Council. If the Bible includes cross-references, then it will link passages between the Old Testament and the New Testament, including the Deuterocanonical books. If there are annotations provided by the Catholic Church or one of its faithful shepherds (a bishop), then I can trust in their reliability. However, these assurances are not present when I use a Jewish Tanakh or a Protestant Bible. For these reasons, I prefer a Catholic Bible over a Protestant or Jewish one.

WOW! this must be really important to you to open three threads in two weeks on the subject.

 

[AlexB23]

WOW! this must be really important to you to open three threads in two weeks on the subject.

My brother, we are all brothers in Christ, so please do not go too hard on us Catholics such as @Xeno.of.athens and myself. We all believe in the Good News, that Jesus saves (John 3:16), and that God has a Trinity, regardless of denomination (except for Unitarians).

[Edited by AlexB23 to not condemn the Unitarians as harshly]

 

[Always in His Presence]

My brother, we are all brothers in Christ, so please do not go too hard on us Catholics such as @Xeno.of.athens and myself. We all believe in the Good News, that Jesus saves (John 3:16), and that God has a Trinity, regardless of denomination (except for Unitarians).

It would be nice if Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants banded together to put an end to the Unitarian Universalist church (which is not really a church, but a false teaching):

Unitarian Universalism - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

HUH?

What on earth are you talking about?

 

[AlexB23]

HUH?

What on earth are you talking about?

It can be hard to read folks on the internet. I was wondering why you were pointing out why @Xeno.of.athens made three similar posts, and assumed that you were going hard on the Catholic teachings. Sorry about that, brother. My bad, I should not have made assumptions.