The Catholic Comparative New Testament by Oxford University Press

Overview:

The Catholic Comparative New Testament features eight Catholic translations of the New Testaments in one convenient volume. Comparing translations is a simple task with this edition, due to its side-by-side layout. This edition contains four formal equivalent translations - the Douay-Rheims, the Revised Standard Version Catholic Bible, the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Bible, and the New American Bible. These translations are referred to as "word-for-word" translations due to the fact that great care was taken during translation, to render the original wording of the New Testament into English.  This edition also contains four functional equivalent translations - The Jerusalem Bible, the Good News Bible, the New Jerusalem Bible, and the Christian Community Bible. These translations are referred to as "thought-for-thought" translations. The purpose of these translations is to emphasize on the intended meaning of the original text, and adapt its meaning in English syntax and grammar, making it easier to understand. 

"A wide spectrum of people - including new and experienced Bible readers, homilists, and teachers - will gain from having this resource on their bookshelves." - Catechetical Leadership

The Binding and Cover:

The cover of this edition is a traditional hard backed cover, which offers durability at an economical price. This edition’s binding is sewn and glued adding stability, and durably.  

Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.8 inches

What’s inside?

The layout of this edition helps readers to compare verses at a glance, making verse comparison a simple task.  Four translations are laid out on each page allowing for quick cross-referencing as well.  This edition features an easy-to-read typeface, paragraph/subject headings, and helpful information about each of the translations. The paper used in this edition is thin, yet very high quality. There is a fair amount of ghosting (seeing the text that is printed on other side of the page), but this does not interfere with readability.  

In the Front

• Acknowledgments 
• Books of the New Testament in Alphabetical Order
• Introduction to the Catholic Comparative New Testament
• Preface to the New American Bible
• Preface to the Revised Standard Version
• Preface to the New Revised Standard Version
• Preface to the Jerusalem Bible
• Preface to the New Jerusalem Bible
• Preface to the Good News Translation
• Preface to the Christian Community Bible

In the Back

• Appendix 1: Explanatory Notes to the Revised Standard Version
• Appendix 2: List of Changes in the Revised Standard Version 

The Translations:

All of the translations in the Catholic Comparative New Testament have the Imprimatur showing the Church's approval of these translations. Below is a brief description of each translation.

New American Bible:

• The New American Bible (NAB) is the official Catholic translation approved for both Lectionary, and private use in the Untied States for Public.  Most recent editions of the NAB contain the 1970 Old Testament, 1991 Psalter, and 1986 New Testament. While this translation is the translation we hear every week during Mass, you will notice small differences.  Inclusive language that appears in controversial places has been replaced in the Lectionary, so that no inclusive language is used during Mass. At this time the inclusive language still remains in all other editions of this translation. For more information check out http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/index.shtml

Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition

• The Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) is an adaptation of the Protestant Revised Standard Version (RSV) for use by Catholics. This translation is widely used by conservative Catholic scholars and theologians, and is accepted as one of the most accurate and literary Bible translations. 

Douay-Rheims 

• The Douay-Rheims (D-R) is an English translation of the Bible translated from the Latin Vulgate by members of the English College, in Douai. The New Testament was published in Reims, France in 1582. This translation was updated by a revision undertaken by Bishop Richard Challoner in 1752. Bishop Challoner's revision of the Douay-Rheims Bible, added readably and poetic rhythm to the translation. The King James Version was used as its base text, which Bishop Challoner rigorously checked with the Clementine edition of the Latin Vulgate.  "Although the Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible (in the United States), the Revised Standard Version, the New Revised Standard Version and the New Jerusalem Bible are the most commonly used in English-speaking Catholic churches, the Challoner revision of the Douay-Rheims is still often the Bible of choice of English-speaking Traditionalist Catholics.

New Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition

• The New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE) is an edition of the NRSV adapted for the use of Catholics with the approval of the Catholic Church In accordance with the Code of Canon Law  825.1, the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, has the imprimatur  of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (USA) and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops granted on 12 September 1991 and 15 October 1991 respectively. The NRSV-CE is one of the versions of the Bible used in English editions of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Jerusalem Bible

• The Jerusalem Bible (JB or TJB) is a Roman Catholic translation of the Bible which first was introduced to the English-speaking public in 1966 and published by Darton, Longman & Todd. As a Roman Catholic Bible, it includes the deuterocanonical books along with the sixty-six others included in Protestant Bibles, as well as copious footnotes and introductions. In 1943 Pope Pius XII issued an encyclical letter, Divino Afflante Spiritu, which encouraged Roman Catholics to translate the Scriptures from the original Hebrew and Greek, rather than from Jerome's Latin Vulgate. 

New Jerusalem Bible

• The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) is a Catholic translation of the Bible published in 1985 and edited by The Reverend Henry Wansbrough, O.S.B., monk of Ampleforth Abbey in North Yorkshire and former Master of St Benet's Hall, Oxford. Like its predecessor, the Jerusalem Bible, this version is translated directly from the Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic.

Good News Translation- Catholic Edition

• The Good News Translation (GNT), is an English translation by the American Bible Society. This translation has been endorsed by many Christians Churches such as the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, the Lutheran Church, Episcopal Church, and the Presbyterian Church. Excerpts from the New Testament were used extensively in evangelistic campaigns, such as the Billy Graham crusades and others, from the late 1960s through to the early 1980s. In the Philippines, the GNT is the most popular version of the Bible for both Catholics and Protestants. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines used this translation for the English version of their Basic Ecclesial Community Bible.

Christian Community Bible

• The Christian Community Bible was published in1986 as an answer to Rev. Alberto Rossa (a Claretian missionary in the Philippines) need for an English version of the Bible that reaches out to ordinary readers, particularly those in Third World countries. The primary feature of this translations is its use of common English. Editors of the Christian Community Bible consider it to be a very accurate translation from the Hebrew and Greek biblical texts.

References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_American_Bible
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douay-Rheims_Bible
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Standard_Version
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Revised_Standard_Version
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_Bible
6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jerusalem_Bible
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_News_Translation
8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Community_Bible

My Personal Opinion:

The Catholic Comparative New Testament is one of my favorite tools for studying God's Word.  Eight Catholic translations placed side by side, makes comparing translations quick and easy. As someone who enjoys comparing translations, I have to say that this edition is the most helpful Catholic tool I have had the pleasure to review. I highly recommend this edition. 

 The edition featured in this review can be found on the following website.

ChristianBook.com: The Catholic Comparative New Testament Gathered together are the Douay-Rheims Bible, RSV, NRSV, and New American Bible, which are formal equivalent ("word for word") translations; along with the Jerusalem Bible, Good News, NJB, and Christian Community Bible, which are dynamic equivalent ("thought for thought") translations. 1800 pages, hardcover. Oxford University Press.

The Clementine Vulgate & Rheims New Testament: by Loreto Publications

About the Binding & Cover
The cover of this New Testament is hardbound burgundy bonded leather, hardbound books are sturdy and with proper care will last for many years. The binding appears to be sewn and glued, which makes this edition very durable.

What’s inside?
The text of this edition appears to be 8.5 pt printed in a clear, easy to read typeface. This New Testament is a Black letter edition printed on thick quality paper. The layout of this Bible is double column format, with paragraph/subject headings. What makes this Bible unique is that the English and Latin translations are side by side, useful with comparing translations. This edition includes a golden yellow ribbon marker.

Free 13 Page Preview of The Clementine Vulgate & Rheims New Testament

http://loretopubs.org/downloads/VulgateNT.pdf

In the Front

1. Preface
2. Providentissimus Deus Encylical of Pope Lei XIII on the Study of Holy Scripture
3. Books of the New Testament in Canonical Order
4. Books of the New Testament in Alphabetical Order

About this Translation: The Clementine Vulgate
The Vulgate is an early Fifth Century version of the Bible in Latin, translated by St.Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382. It became the definitive and officially promulgated Latin version of the Bible of the Roman Catholic Church. In the 13th century it came to be called versio vulgata, which means "common translation". After the Reformation, the Vulgate was reaffirmed in the Council of Trent as the sole, authorized Latin text of the Bible. The Clementine Vulgate of 1592 became the standard Bible text of the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church until 1979. The Clementine Vulgate (Biblia Sacra Vulgatæ Editionis Sixti Quinti Pontificis Maximi iussu recognita atque edita) is the edition most familiar to Catholics who have lived prior to the liturgical reforms following Vatican II.

The Vulgate and other Translations: Before the publication of Pius XII’s Divino Afflante Spiritu, the Vulgate was the source text used for many translations of the Bible into vernacular languages. In English, the interlinear translation of the Lindisfarne Gospels as well as other Old English Bible translations, the translation of John Wycliffe, the Douay-Rheims Bible, the Confraternity Bible, and Ronald Knox’s translation were all made from the Vulgate.

The Vulgate's Influence on the English language: The Vulgate had a large influence on the development of the English language, especially in matters of religion and the Bible. Many Latin words were taken from the Vulgate into English nearly unchanged in meaning or spelling: creatio (e.g. Genesis 1:1, Heb 9:11), salvatio (e.g. Is 37:32, Eph 2:5), justificatio (e.g. Rom 4:25, Heb 9:1), testamentum (e.g. Mt 26:28), sanctificatio (1 Ptr 1:2, 1 Cor 1:30), regeneratio (Mt 19:28), and raptura (from a noun form of the verb rapiemur in 1 Thes 4:17). The word “publican” comes from the Latin publicanus (e.g., Mt 10:3), and the phrase “far be it” is a translation of the Latin expression absit (e.g., Mt 16:22 in the King James Bible). Other examples include apostolus, ecclesia, evangelium, Pascha, and angelus.

About this Translation: The Rheims New Testament
The Rheims New Testament is a translation of the New Testament from the Latin Vulgate into English, it was originally published in 1582. This translation was revised by Bishop Richard Challoner in 1749, 1750, and 1752. Most 20th century printings, and online versions of the Douay-Rheims Bible are Bishop Challoner's earlier New Testament texts of 1749 and 1750.
Although the New American Bible and the Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition are the most commonly used in English-speaking Catholic churches, Bishop Challoner's revision of the Douay-Rheims is still often the Bible of choice of English-speaking Traditionalist Catholics.

The Douay-Rheims Bible can be found online at http://www.drbo.org/

My Personal Opinion
This is a very interesting edition, I like the parallel text which would be a good study tool for someone learning Latin or for someone who likes to compare translations. The Clementine Vulgate & Rheims New Testament would make a great gift for a traditional Catholic.

If your looking for a parallel Catholic New Testament with traditional translations this edition would be a good choice. This Edition can be found at the websites below.

Revised Standard Version Catholic Bible Large Print Edition: Published by Oxford University Press

About the binding & cover

This hard backed edition is very sturdy, and durable. The cover is constructed from binders boards covered with coated paper. The cover is stiff, durable, and moisture- resistant. The pages are sewn not glued, which greatly adds to the durability. This Bible is made from high quality materials, and is meant to hold up to regular use.

What’s inside?
Oxford Bibles are printed on high quality lightweight paper chosen for its strength and opacity to gain the greatest readability on the thinnest paper. This edition is printed in Korea, which is well known for their high quality printing. The text size of this edition is 13.5 point type, which is good for older readers or those who have impaired vision. This text size is also good if you plan on doing hours of study, the larger text is easier on the eyes. 13.5 point type falls in the category of extra large, which is not to be concussed with giant print. If you would like to high light in this Bible I recommend color pencils, not highlighters.

In the Front
The Imprimatur, which shows that the Catholic Church approves this translation.
Forward from the Archbishop of Westminster
Introduction to the RSV-CE
Table of Contents- Books of the Bible in Canonical Order
Abbreviations
The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verum 18 nov 1965.

In the Back
Appendix 1 Explanatory Notes
Appendix 2 List of changes to New Testament for the Catholic Edition
Prayers and Devotions of the Catholic Faith
The new 3-year cycle of reading for Sunday Mass
Reading for the major feasts of the year
Weekday Lectionary
Nine detailed maps

About this Translation.
The Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition is widely used by conservative Catholic scholars and theologians, and is accepted as one of the most accurate and literary Bible translations suitable for Catholic use. This translation uses some archaic language. This translation does not use gender-inclusive language. The Revised Standard Version stands within the tradition of the Authorized King James Version, which was updated in 1885 in the UK as the Revised Version, with an American edition known as the American Standard Version published in 1901. The latter version was revised in 1952, and known as the Revised Standard Version. The National Council of Churches, publishers of the Protestant RSV Bible, made arrangements with the Catholic Biblical Association of Great Britain to print a Catholic RSV Bible. In 1965, the RSV-CE New Testament was published and in 1966, the full RSV-CE Bible. The editors of the Catholic Edition made no changes to the Old Testament text; all they did was include the seven Deuterocanonical works (also known the Apocrypha) in their traditional Catholic order. There are certain passages in the New Testament that were changed to fall inline with the Latin Vulgate. For a full list of these changes check Appendix 2 in the back of the Bible.

My Personal Opinion
I am very impressed with the quality of this Bible. I'm also impressed that Oxford guarantees this Bible against manufacturing defects, which is another testament to the quality of this Bible. I highly recommend this Bible, it costs more, but it's worth the extra money.

This Edition can be found at the following link.

Revised Standard Version Catholic Bible, Large Print Edition, Hardcover

The Bonded Leather Edition can be found at the link below.

Revised Standard Version Catholic Bible, Large Print Edition, Black Bonded Leather The Revised Standard Version dramatically shaped the course of English Bible translation work in the latter half of the twentieth century. The RSV Catholic Edition is the official English-language Bible of the Catholic Church--the translation used in official Church pronouncements and the basis for the scriptural text used in the Catechism of the Catholic Church . This superb Large Print Edition offers older or visually impaired churchgoers a highly readable Catholic Bible, with large type, clear page layout, and opaque papers. The Revised Standard Version has the traditional language beloved by Christians of all faiths, the books of the Bible are in Catholic order, and the text carries the Imprimatur of the Catholic Church. The RSV features a Presentation Section, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum ), a section of Prayers and Devotions of the Catholic Faith, a table of Weights and Measures in the Bible, and a full-color map section. The Large Print Edition also comes in multiple bindings appropriate for church use, personal study, or gift giving. Bound in durable bonded leather, the Large Print Edition of the RSV Catholic Edition is both an attractive and thoughtful gift and a lifesaver for anyone who has trouble reading. Features: Large, 13.5-point type Selection of prayers and devotions of the Catholic Church that will be familiar to all Catholics A 16-page map section An 8-page presentation and family history section Bonded leather, black Thumb-indexed Ribbon marker

The GNT Catholic Bible: Published by The American Bible Society

About the binding & cover The cover is made of an artificial leather called Leatherette. Leatherette is a form of artificial leather, usually made by covering a fabric base with plastic. The fabric can be made of a natural or a synthetic fiber which is then covered with a soft PVC layer. The cover on the Bible is very pliable, but it doesn't feel quite as leathery as some over types of artificial leather. (Personally I don't see this as an issue) I love the two tone design of this Bible it's nice to see a Catholic Bible with a more modern design. Over all the cover & binding seem to be very good quality. The Size of this Bibe is 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Whats in side?
In this edition of the GNT the deuterocanonical books are arranged in the order most familiar to Roman Catholics. (Which I find to be a blessing, it can be so frustrating trying to find Daniel 13 in some Catholic editions.) At the front of each book you'll find Book Introductions and Outlines. Through out the GNT Catholic Bible are illustrations by Annie Vallotton. I found myself flipping through the pages to see the illustrations. As you can see from my photos the illustrations are simple yet interesting. There is over 600 of Annie Vallotton's Illustrations in this edition. The text is a comfortable size at 9 points. This Bible has subject headings in bold lettering. The paper is very thin, I do not recommend using highlighters in this Bible. The paper also has a semi-transparent quality, which can make reading difficult in certain lighting. The pages have silver gilted edges, which matches the design of the cover & the built in ribbon marker very well.


In the Front

1. The Imprimatur
2. Forward to the Catholic edition of the Good News Bible
   
3. Preface (I recommend reading this section)
4. Table of Contents

In the Back

1. The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verum 18 nov 1965
2. The New 3-Year Cycle of Readings for Sunday Mass
3. Readings for the Major Feasts of the Year
4. Weekday Lectionary
5. Word List
6. Chronology of the Bible
7. Subject Index
8. 3 pages of black and white maps

About this Translation.
The Good New Translation was previously known as the Today's English Version (TEV) and as the Good News Bible (GNB). The GNT is a Dynamic equivalence translation it's very easy to read, making ita very good translation for someone who is learning English or for a young person. Dynamic equivalence translations are also helpful when studying hard to understand passages.
I find it very interesting how both Protestants & Catholics have made use of this translation, its nice to see Protestants & Catholics working together. The below text was found on Wikipedia

"The GNB has been a popular translation. By 1969, Good News for Modern Man had sold 17.5 million copies. By 1971, that number had swelled to 30 million copies. It has been endorsed by Billy Graham and Christian groups such as the Roman Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, and the Presbyterian Church (USA) [2]. The GNB is one of the authorized versions to be used in the Episcopal Church.^[3] Excerpts from the New Testament were used extensively in evangelistic campaigns, such as the Billy Graham crusades and others, from the late 1960s right through to the early 1980s. In 1991, a Gallup poll of British parishioners showed that the GNB was the most popular Bible version in that nation. In 2003, the GNB was used as the basis for a film version of the Gospel of John. In 2008, Swedish group Illuminated World paired the text of the GNB with contemporary photography for the English translation of Bible Illuminated: The Book.^[4]In the Philippines, it is the most popular version of the bible for both Catholics and Protestants as it is the cheapest bible available. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines used this translation for the English version of their Basic Ecclessial Community Bible."

My Personal Opinion
This so far is the only Catholic edition of an Dynamic equivalence translation I had the opportunity to review. I like this Bible because it's easy to read & very direct. I recommend this Bible to any one who is looking for a Dynamic equivalence translation.

This Edition can be found at the links below.

NAB Catholic Companion Edition Giant Print : Published by Fireside Catholic Publishing

My husband gave me this Bible in Aug of 2007. This is a very nice Bible but I would like to point out that a Companion Edition isn't the same as a study Bible. The notes of a study Bibles are way more in depth than that of a Companion Edition. Personally I didn't find the notes to be very helpful in this edition. That said this is a very fine quality Catholic Bible.

About the binding & cover
The cover is a new type of flux leather, its very soft like the high quality genuine leather Bibles.
This Bible has a very nice, high quality feel. The Crucifix on the front & the Rosary on the back are embossed into the cover. Fireside Catholic Publishing is the only company that publishes Bibles with a Pray-along Rosary embossed in the cover.

Whats in side?
The text is 14 point GIANT print. The pages are make of high quality paper, with Gold-gilded edges & Silk Ribbon Marker.

In The front

1. A page with Photos & quotes from Pope Benedict XVI, Pope John Paul II & Pope Pius XII
2. Three Imprimaturs for one for the Old Testament, the revised Psalms, & the revised New Testament.
   
3. Table of Consent: Books of the Bible in order & A list of the books of the Bible alphabetically arranged.
4. The Bible- A Catholic Perspective
5. The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation

In The Back

1. Table of Weekday Lectionary Readings
2. Table of Sunday and Feast Day Lectionary Readings
3. The Basic Tenets of the Catholic Church
4. A list of The Ten Commandments
5. The Stations of The Cross
6. The Seven Sacraments
7. The Seven Deadly Sins
8. The Spiritual works of mercy
9. The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
10. The fruits of the Holy Spirit
11. The Cardinal Virtues
12. The Theological Virtues
13. The four Marks of the Catholic Church
14. The Last Things
15. The Precepts of the Catholic Church
16. The Beatitudes
17. All four Mysteries of The Rosary
18. A list of the Holy days of Obligation for the USA & Canada.

About this Translation.
This Bible is the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Psalms. This is the most popular Catholic Bible translation..The New American Bible is an English Bible translation that was produced by members of the Catholic biblical scholars in cooperation with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The original languages were translated into English by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine according to the principles of Vatican II for use in the liturgy.

I highly recommend this Bible to all my Catholic friends

,

Leather Bound Edition

The Ignatius Bible Revised Standard Version- Catholic Edition: Published by Ignatius Press

To view the photos at their full size click on "see full album". Then move your mouse over the photo, your mouse pointer will look like a little magnifiglass, then click the photo. The photos at their full size are pretty detailed. These photos were taken the date I published this article. I've owned this Bible for almost a year, and it still looks brand new. I've been using this Bible several times a week, along with my Chronological Study Bible for study. I'm impressed that this tiny Bible has held up so well.

About the binding & cover
The cover is made from Bonded Leather, Bonded leather is tiny bits of leather reformed to make one sold sheet of leather. Bonded leather doesn't last as long as Genuine Leather. But does certainly out last paperbacks, & has a nice leathery feel. This is a travel size Bible, as you can see from the photos there is a zipper along the sides to protect the pages from getting bent, or torn. This makes carrying the Bible in my purse a lot easier. I also like that the publisher added a Miraculous Medal for a zipper pull (Very Cute Idea)

Whats in side?
The text size isn't too small, please note that this is in comparison to other small travel Bibles. The paper is thin, I wouldn't recommend using high lighters in this Bible. I use Crayola color pencils they have a smother edge & don't rip the pages. I am kind of disappointed that there isn't any subject headers for each chapter, like in many Bibles. But there are spaces in between each subject so you could write you own titles if you have a small hand writing.

In the front of this Bible you'll find

1. Table contents
2. Tables explaining the weights & measures of the Bible
3. Places to write family records/history
4. A page explaining the abbreviations that you'll find at the bottom of some pages.
5. The Imprimatur, which show that the Catholic Church approves this translation.
6. An introduction the RSV-CE
7. The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verum 18 nov 1965.
   

In the back you'll find

1. Appendix 1 explanatory notes for the New testament. (The Old Testament Appendix is placed at the end of the Old Testament)
2. Appendix 2 list the changes in the RSV the New testament for the Catholic Edition
3. The Last three pages are of Catholic Prayers and Devotions (I really love this Idea)

About this Translation.
The Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition is widely used by conservative Catholic scholars and theologians, and is accepted as one of the most accurate and literary Bible translations suitable for Catholic use. This translation uses some archaic language. This translation does not use gender-inclusive language. The Revised Standard Version stands within the tradition of the Authorized King James Version, which was updated in 1885 in the UK as the Revised Version, with an American edition known as the American Standard Version published in 1901. The latter version was revised in 1952, and known as the Revised Standard Version. The National Council of Churches, publishers of the Protestant RSV Bible, made arrangements with the Catholic Biblical Association of Great Britain to print a Catholic RSV Bible. In 1965, the RSV-CE New Testament was published and in 1966, the full RSV-CE Bible. The editors of the Catholic Edition made no changes to the Old Testament text; all they did was include the seven Deuterocanonical works (also known the Apocrypha) in their traditional Catholic order. There are certain passages in the New Testament that were changed to fall inline with the Latin Vulgate. For a full list of these changes check Appendix 1 in the back of the Bible.

This Bible can be found online at the following links.

Ignatius Catholic Bible (RSV): Compact Edition - Imitation leather, Burgundy with Zipper at ChristianBook