Which Bible should I buy?

So many great Catholic choices!

Buying a new Bible isn’t something you do every day, so some guidelines might be helpful.

First, be aware of the difference between a Catholic Bible and a Bible used in other faith communities. Catholic Bibles follow the Greek Old Testament Scriptures that Jesus and the apostles used and have seven books not found in the Hebrew Scriptures. These are Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach and Baruch. Catholic Bibles also include sections in the Books of Esther and Daniel that are not found in the Hebrew Scriptures. Next, add to these 46 Books of the Old Testament, the 27 Books of the New Testament.

Catholic Bibles always have had 73 books. The final list, or Canon of Scripture, was established by the Church in the 4 ^th century. First, the Council of Rome in 382 under Pope Damasus I, then at the Council of Hippo, 393, and later at the Council of Carthage 397. Eleven centuries later, another affirmation of the list of books in the Bible occurred in 1442 in Florence.

The Church was OK with these statements and did not say anything more on the subject until Martin Luther wanted to change the number of books in the Bible more than 1,000 years later. Luther’s rejection of the 12-century custom of a Bible with 73 books created so much confusion that the Church responded to these erroneous ideas by reaffirming the list of books in the Bible given in the 4 ^th century and beyond.

This reaffirming of the earlier decisions of Rome, Hippo, Carthage and Florence occurred at the Council of Trent in 1546. So, the first Bibles used, the first Bibles printed and the Catholic Bibles of today all have 73 books.

Since we do not have the original scrolls, and not everyone can read the manuscripts we do have, the Church today recommends that Catholic Bibles be direct translations from the original languages of Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. These Bible translations are called versions.

Primary recommended Catholic Vvrsions or translations in English: Our bishops’ conference has gifted us with the New American Bible Revised Edition NABRE (Used for the Lectionary). The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States, usually identified as the National Council of Churches, has prepared the Revised Standard Version of which a Catholic edition was later prepared, RSV-CE.
They also updated the translation and gifted us with New Revised Standard Version of which an updated Catholic edition also was prepared, NRSV-CE. The New Jerusalem Bible, NJB, also is a wonderful translation and made famous by Mother Angelica on EWTN. A Revised New Jerusalem Bible will be published next year. Now that you have an idea of the various versions or translations, let’s see some of the Bibles that use these translations. (See box.)

So, visit your local Catholic bookstore and compare titles. Choose the one that fits your needs best and buy it. A Bible is a Holy Book, it is God’s Book. By spending time reading, reflecting, praying and studying what is contained in its pages, we can be blessed spiritually and grow closer to the Lord, the word of life.

The Bible offers us an opportunity for grace-filled hours in union with Christ. While I know that the Bible is not a sacrament and was not instituted by Christ to produce grace, it is where we can meet God and grow in our love for him. This is the Good Book and God tells us that he loves us through it.

Dei Verbum 26 says it best: “In this way, therefore, through the reading and study of the sacred books ‘the word of God may spread rapidly and be glorified’ and the treasure of revelation, entrusted to the Church, may more and more fill the hearts of men. Just as the life of the Church is strengthened through more frequent celebration of the Eucharistic mystery, similar we may hope for a new stimulus for the life of the Spirit from a growing reverence for the word of God, which ‘lasts forever.’”

A Bible is an opportunity for loving communion with Christ. So, after spending some time picking one out and buying it, ask a deacon or a priest to bless it for you.

Hug and kiss your Bible, our best friend is there.



Which Bible should I buy?
 
Let’s start with a simple Bible with just the basics. These are great for some private quiet time with God and Lectio Divina.
 
Bibles for prayer and reflection on my night table: Any regular or devotional Bible: Catholic Men’s Bible-NABRE, Catholic Women’s Bible-NABRE, My Daily Catholic Bible-NABRE, Bible in a Year, Your Daily Encounter with God-NABRE or any Bible you will read and pray with.
 
Bibles for personal study at my kitchen table: Great Adventure Bible RSV-CE, New Catholic Answer Bible-NABRE, Catholic Scripture Study Bible-RSV-CE or The New Jerusalem Bible.
 
Bibles for group study at the classroom table: The Didache Bible – NABRE (Maroon; Especially good for an RCIA group), The Didache Bible-Ignatius Bible RSV-CE (Green), The Little Rock Catholic Study Bible-NABRE or The Catholic Study Bible-NABRE.