You can get a sneak peak of the CSSI Bible at the Tan Books site here. I do not see any cross-references at this point, but that seems to confirm the belief that a future edition should/needs to contain them. (Hat tip to Kenneth for the link.)
Hmmmm...when going by description it sounded a lot like the New Catholic Answer Bible and now that I see samples it confirms this point and the NCAB is much less expensive.
On the positive side I like the aertwork much better in this Bible and I noticed that the sample from Genesis was missing the (in)famous NAB notes.
But overall...I pass. Just not unique enough for me to shell out the money they are asking.
Because of your comment, I decided to look over again my old RSV NOAB in genuine leather. For being almost 30 years old, it still is a beauty in many ways. Perhaps a retro-review is in order.
It is my favorite single-volume RSV ever published; and it is still in print, as I indicated. It's a great Bible for reading, and a great Bible for studying (e.g., in a "Bible as Literature" college class.) The layout is elegant and highly readable; the paper is nicely opaque; the annotations/book introductions/essays are brief and useful.
It is a Bible that I plan to keep with me for life.
Why do we keep getting these type of bibles? How difficult is it to put together a catholic study bible?? Our separated breathren release devotional, life recovery, archeology, word study..etc bibles and this is all we can release? Is it no wonder former Catholics who become Protestants know scripture so well, look at their study bibles!! As a convert I am STILL waiting....any suggestions breathren?
It is so tempting to jump into this conversation about Catholic study Bibles. I just received as a gift this "NRSV Harper Collins Catholic Gift Bible" http://www.amazon.com/NRSV-HarperCollins-Catholic-Bible-burgundy/dp/0061451851/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290613675&sr=8-1
I have to say that while not a "study" Bible (annotations, notes, etc) it was an unexpected delight. The front section of this edition has some very unusual introductions and articles. This includes a succinct theme/author introductions to each book of OT and NT and how it relates to the liturgical year; it has a decent (though not thorough)summary and introduction to various aspects of Catholicism (prayer, sacraments, spirituality, Church...); a very interesting parallel timeline of Church and World history; and several gray-scale maps. The typical (and nice) NRSV concordance is found at the back.
I think I have finally found an edition of the Bible to give to my kids, nieces, nephews for Confirmations, Graduations, etc.
Oh I forgot to mention for those to whom it might matter: the gift edition I received was very nicely bound in a soft flexible burgundy faux (?) leather with a kind of canvas-like spine. also includes a red ribbon marker. The Bible feels great in the hand. Also has personal and family record pages and picture of B16.
I apologize for a second addendum to my post (trying to do this at work in between calls) but I also forgot to mention some other great features: several pages of OT and NT Figures of Faith giving scriptural references but also a bit of prose as to who they were and why they are models; and I think it also has (do not have it with me at this time)a kind of "How do you feel?" or "Where to look in the Bible for uplifting passages" kind of section. Wanted to include this information because I think it helps make this NRSV a great gift idea.
I think the doctrinal part is meant to be simple and basic since it's marketed for First Communion and Comnfirmation. I noticed that the intro material by Harcourt is not erroneous in what it DOES say but in some places it's that it doesn't say as much as I would like. Still...I'll take "not enough" over "dead wrong" anyday and I see it as a kind of step forward in Catholic Bibles.
I don't understand why this is bound in bonded leather. I own the RSV-CE, NAB and Douay-Rheims bibles published by St. Benedict Press and they are all bound in genuine leather. I wish they hadn't chosen bonded leather for their study bible.
$70 for a bonded leather RSV?
ReplyDeleteI can get the New Oxford Annotated Bible with genuine leather for $57 from Amazon. The NOAB has far more extras.
For a basic but nicely bound Bible, I can get the Genuine Leather RSV from for $35.
And since they are both from Amazon -- free shipping.
Hmmmm...when going by description it sounded a lot like the New Catholic Answer Bible and now that I see samples it confirms this point and the NCAB is much less expensive.
ReplyDeleteOn the positive side I like the aertwork much better in this Bible and I noticed that the sample from Genesis was missing the (in)famous NAB notes.
But overall...I pass. Just not unique enough for me to shell out the money they are asking.
Theophrastus,
ReplyDeleteBecause of your comment, I decided to look over again my old RSV NOAB in genuine leather. For being almost 30 years old, it still is a beauty in many ways. Perhaps a retro-review is in order.
It is my favorite single-volume RSV ever published; and it is still in print, as I indicated. It's a great Bible for reading, and a great Bible for studying (e.g., in a "Bible as Literature" college class.) The layout is elegant and highly readable; the paper is nicely opaque; the annotations/book introductions/essays are brief and useful.
ReplyDeleteIt is a Bible that I plan to keep with me for life.
Theophrastus,
ReplyDeleteYeah, sometimes the pursuit for the best edition for you is the one you already have but have ignored. It really is a great Bible overall.
Why do we keep getting these type of bibles? How difficult is it to put together a catholic study bible?? Our separated breathren release devotional, life recovery, archeology, word study..etc bibles and this is all we can release? Is it no wonder former Catholics who become Protestants know scripture so well, look at their study bibles!!
ReplyDeleteAs a convert I am STILL waiting....any suggestions breathren?
Maybe I'll look at the original NOAB :)
ReplyDeleteAnon,
ReplyDeleteThe RSV NOAB while a bit dated is still very good. And it comes in genuine leather and is fairly compact.
What sort of things are you looking for in a study Bible? Study aids? Binding? Translation?
It is so tempting to jump into this conversation about Catholic study Bibles. I just received as a gift this "NRSV Harper Collins Catholic Gift Bible" http://www.amazon.com/NRSV-HarperCollins-Catholic-Bible-burgundy/dp/0061451851/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290613675&sr=8-1
ReplyDeleteI have to say that while not a "study" Bible (annotations, notes, etc) it was an unexpected delight. The front section of this edition has some very unusual introductions and articles. This includes a succinct theme/author introductions to each book of OT and NT and how it relates to the liturgical year; it has a decent (though not thorough)summary and introduction to various aspects of Catholicism (prayer, sacraments, spirituality, Church...); a very interesting parallel timeline of Church and World history; and several gray-scale maps. The typical (and nice) NRSV concordance is found at the back.
I think I have finally found an edition of the Bible to give to my kids, nieces, nephews for Confirmations, Graduations, etc.
Oh I forgot to mention for those to whom it might matter: the gift edition I received was very nicely bound in a soft flexible burgundy faux (?) leather with a kind of canvas-like spine. also includes a red ribbon marker. The Bible feels great in the hand. Also has personal and family record pages and picture of B16.
ReplyDeleteI apologize for a second addendum to my post (trying to do this at work in between calls) but I also forgot to mention some other great features: several pages of OT and NT Figures of Faith giving scriptural references but also a bit of prose as to who they were and why they are models; and I think it also has (do not have it with me at this time)a kind of "How do you feel?" or "Where to look in the Bible for uplifting passages" kind of section. Wanted to include this information because I think it helps make this NRSV a great gift idea.
ReplyDeleteThe NRSV Catholic Gift Bible also has some odd things in it too (like the Catholic history timeline), and some "squishy" doctine.
ReplyDeleteIf they took the nonsense out it would be much better.
I think the doctrinal part is meant to be simple and basic since it's marketed for First Communion and Comnfirmation. I noticed that the intro material by Harcourt is not erroneous in what it DOES say but in some places it's that it doesn't say as much as I would like. Still...I'll take "not enough" over "dead wrong" anyday and I see it as a kind of step forward in Catholic Bibles.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why this is bound in bonded leather. I own the RSV-CE, NAB and Douay-Rheims bibles published by St. Benedict Press and they are all bound in genuine leather. I wish they hadn't chosen bonded leather for their study bible.
ReplyDeleteUltimately, to sell a 'study Bible' at that price, it really should be made if genuine leather and contain cross-references.
ReplyDelete