What English Bible Do You Read?

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' post='1510142' date='Apr 26 2008, 04:22 AM']I usually read the [i]Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece [/i]and the Tanakh translation of the Old Testament ([i]The Jewish Study Bible[/i]) but sometimes I pick up my RSV-CE.[/quote]
I need to get back in the habit of reading my Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia.

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' post='1510235' date='Apr 26 2008, 07:25 AM']I don't believe in a 'perfect' translation of the Bible, this just isn't possible. I don't even believe in a perfect language or the perfect linguistic transmission of ideas much less a perfect translation of a text from a slew of source manuscripts that involve a great many uncertainties. Although I suppose resting the worth of a translation upon the dogmatic authority of the Church would be preferable to the authority of the latest little clique of fallible biblical scholars.[/quote]
I agree. If I'm having trouble finding a word in the Hebrew, I'll pick up an NASB just because it's fairly literal. In general, though, I read the NRSV-CE or the Jerusalem Bible.

[Knight of the Holy Rosary]

Hey L_D would you recommend that Latin/Greek Bible you use? I will be learning Greek next semester...and have been looking for a good Greek NT to learn from (insofar as practicing with it). I am still learning Latin, (I have just completed my first year of it) but figure this would be a good way for me to both keep up with Latin and Greek at the same time (as I learn more).

Any comments would be appreciated.

Pax Christi

Chris

(Sorry if this post doesn't make much sense...in a hurry)

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='Knight of the Holy Rosary' post='1510340' date='Apr 26 2008, 11:20 AM']Hey L_D would you recommend that Latin/Greek Bible you use? I will be learning Greek next semester...and have been looking for a good Greek NT to learn from (insofar as practicing with it).[/quote]
Yeah, it is a very decent Greek New Testament:

[url="http://www.amazon.com/Greek-New-Testament-B-Aland/dp/1598561715/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209228939&sr=8-2"]http://www.amazon.com/Greek-New-Testament-...8939&sr=8-2[/url]

There is another edition that has a lexicon in the back that is useful for people new to reading Greek and it is actually a good bit cheaper since it has faux leather binding instead of the bonded leather of the above edition:

[url="http://www.amazon.com/Greek-New-Testament-Introduction-dictionary/dp/3438051133/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209228705&sr=8-13"]http://www.amazon.com/Greek-New-Testament-...705&sr=8-13[/url]

I would probably recommend the latter for one interested in a beginners Greek Bible.

I've seen "reader's" Greek Bibles here and there but I've never used them and can't say if they are good or not. Zondervan publishes one that I am aware of for example. Might be something to look into since they may have helpful footnotes for students of Biblical Greek and stuff like that.

[Laudate_Dominum]

Here is the Zondervan reader's N.T. that I was thinking of:

[url="http://www.amazon.com/Readers-Greek-New-Testament-Burgundy/dp/0310273781/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209228939&sr=8-3"]http://www.amazon.com/Readers-Greek-New-Te...8939&sr=8-3[/url]

Since I've never used I can't officially recommend it but you might read people's comments on the page and decide if it is something you're interested in.

Cheers.

[Deo Iuvente]

I use the Confraternity version. It's a good translation, and not hard to understand. Plus, many of the books I have use the old names and divisions for the books, and not the newer ones I used the NAB for approximately 30 minutes, then I locked it in the basement. I personally, can't agree that it's a good translation,besides the heretical foot notes. I'm looking for a RSV-CE, because I've heard it doesn't have as much inclusive language as the RSV-SCE.

[Knight of the Holy Rosary]

Thanks L_D!

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='JesusIsMySuperHero' post='1510088' date='Apr 25 2008, 11:08 PM']Too many errors compared to what?

Don't you think God can't keep the message pure no matter what honest attempt at translation is made?[/quote]
heavens no, have you seen some of the new translations?

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' post='1510235' date='Apr 26 2008, 03:25 AM']I enjoy reading the KJV and have a little pocket version that I carried around for years. Many of the modern renditions such as the NIV just rub me the wrong way. For devotional reading I think the KJV is a fine translation. Of course the fact must be faced that by today's standards it is quite problematic. The other big issue with it is that it lacks the complete canon of Scripture (unless you find an edition with the so-called apocrypha).

I don't believe in a 'perfect' translation of the Bible, this just isn't possible. I don't even believe in a perfect language or the perfect linguistic transmission of ideas much less a perfect translation of a text from a slew of source manuscripts that involve a great many uncertainties. Although I suppose resting the worth of a translation upon the dogmatic authority of the Church would be preferable to the authority of the latest little clique of fallible biblical scholars.[/quote]
Have you ever read the catholic New English Bible? I can't remember which trans it is, since its borrowed out.

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' post='1510825' date='Apr 26 2008, 04:54 PM']Have you ever read the catholic New English Bible? I can't remember which trans it is, since its borrowed out.[/quote]
I am aware of it and I may have read a few things from it but I've never read the entire Bible in that particular translation. Btw, I believe the NEB is actually a distinct translation carried out by English scholars at some point in the past (maybe the 1950's or 60's?). I've never heard anything bad about that translation but I suppose it reflects the state of Biblical scholarship at that time so a serious critic might have a thing or two to say. I suppose it would not reflect the inclusive language fads of more recent times which I would actually consider to be a good thing. hehe.

I hope we have the same translation in mind because I'm quite certain that the NEB was produced by Protestants.

[JesusIsMySuperHero]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' post='1510818' date='Apr 26 2008, 04:52 PM']heavens no, have you seen some of the new translations?[/quote]
I said an honest attempt at translation. I don't think many of the new translations are honest attempts. If it has the words Zondervan written on a Bible, I won't read it.

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='JesusIsMySuperHero' post='1511141' date='Apr 26 2008, 10:59 PM']If it has the words Zondervan written on a Bible, I won't read it.[/quote]
I hear ya! The translators of Zondervan's TNIV Bible certainly took some liberties one might say. hehe.


I'm tempted to boycott modern Bibles altogether and just get a sturdy edition of the Septuagint and forget about it. Hmm... Maybe I'll just switch to the venerable Syriac Peshitta.

[CatherineM]

They use the NRSV in the lectionaries here, and the inclusive language just ruins some of the passages.

[johnnydigit]

[quote name='Charms717RM1' post='933494' date='Apr 2 2006, 05:39 PM']I bought the NAB because it's what is used for readings at mass. At the time i didn't know what other Catholic versions there were, so i went out and got this one. I've heard some people complain about it, but I really wouldn't know the difference because this is the only one I've ever picked up and read.[/quote]

my biggest beef so far with the NAB is that it uses "Hail, favored one" instead of "Hail, full of grace". i still have not been able to find an official or valid reason why the bishops chose to change the wording on something so valuable to us and find it such a disservice to Our Lady..


nevertheless i stick to the NAB because it's so common and what they use in the Mass, for many Bible studies, etc. it smells of elderberries to study from when everyone else has different versions and aren't able to follow along with you as well. i use the net to quote from the DR for more eloquent language, or other versions to compare. don't think i can settle on any single one to buy just yet..

it's also tough when i want to memorize a quote, but with so many versions, you have to consider who the quote is most likely for and when you would use it.. basically the context so you can decide which wording would be best to remember. if only there was a more universal translation.. at least we have the universal Church!

[Adrestia]

I own and/or use several translations:

Douay-Rheims Version (DRV)
Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Jerusalem Bible (JB)
New American Bible (NAB)
-with Revised New Testament and St. Joseph's Edition
King James Version (KJV)
New International Version (NIV)
New American Standard Bible (NASB)

anyone else read the:
Dead Sea Scrolls, English Translation (don't know the acronym)?

It's so awesome!!!!!!! I can't believe I'm the first to mention it on this thread...

Edited April 27, 2008 by tgoldson

[Adrestia]

[quote name='shortnun' post='942035' date='Apr 10 2006, 10:00 AM']Well I don't want to make a huge generalization, but I'd figure that most of us got copies of NAB bibles for 8th grade graduation and then again for confirmation. I know that's how I acquired mine.[/quote]
I was confirmed during 8th grade... and our pastor, Fr. Amey, gave everyone a St. Joseph's Edition of the NAB. He begged us to read them. He said that he wanted us to come to him in a few years asking for another one because the pages were so tattered and torn from use. He was a great pastor.

[goldenchild17]

[quote name='tgoldson' post='1511436' date='Apr 27 2008, 11:23 AM']anyone else read the:
Dead Sea Scrolls, English Translation (don't know the acronym)?

It's so awesome!!!!!!! I can't believe I'm the first to mention it on this thread...[/quote]

I have a copy of it but haven't read it yet, just looked through.

[picchick]

I've got the Douay-Rheims Challoner Edition. Some have told me to get a new bible. I am partial to mine since it accompained me through highschool and served me well. The only problem with it is the fact that my psalms don't line up very well with other bibles. I work through it though.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' post='1511102' date='Apr 26 2008, 11:46 PM']I am aware of it and I may have read a few things from it but I've never read the entire Bible in that particular translation. Btw, I believe the NEB is actually a distinct translation carried out by English scholars at some point in the past (maybe the 1950's or 60's?). I've never heard anything bad about that translation but I suppose it reflects the state of Biblical scholarship at that time so a serious critic might have a thing or two to say. I suppose it would not reflect the inclusive language fads of more recent times which I would actually consider to be a good thing. hehe.

I hope we have the same translation in mind because I'm quite certain that the NEB was produced by Protestants.[/quote]
Mine is the Catholic edition . It is an elegant translation, unlike the NAB, and reminds me of the Douay.

[JesusIsMySuperHero]

I can't wait for my next paycheck, because I have more than enough now for the first year of college, I am going to get a new genuine leather Thompson Chain Reference version of the King James Bible. I love the KJV, it just testifies through the spirit so amazingly. Nothing better than a KJV to let the spirit talk to you, and testify to you.

[johnnydigit]

[quote name='JesusIsMySuperHero' post='1515504' date='Apr 30 2008, 07:03 PM']I can't wait for my next paycheck, because I have more than enough now for the first year of college, I am going to get a new genuine leather Thompson Chain Reference version of the King James Bible. I love the KJV, it just testifies through the spirit so amazingly. Nothing better than a KJV to let the spirit talk to you, and testify to you.[/quote]

so.. that would mean in the poll you voted for,

N. A Protestant bible which I havent burned yet, though I know the Catechism instructs me to ?