Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Advent Contest

This will be the final contest for 2012!  The question associated with this contest is tied to a recent poll on this blog about which translation should become the official translation used in quoting from Scripture.

The winner of this contest will receive the following prize pack:
Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith
 (hardcover book) by Fr. Robert Barron

A Pocket Guide to Catholic Apologetics by Patrick Madrid

Where is that in the Bible? 2 DVD set by Patrick Madrid


So here are the contest rules:
1) If you have a blog, please advertise this contest on your site. (If you don't, you can still enter the contest.)

2) This contest is only for people who are in North America.  The reason is that I will be paying the shipping cost, and shipping overseas is not possible right now.

3) The question you need to answer in the comment box:
In thirty words or less, which translation should become the official translation of the Catholic Bibles Blog?

4) The contest ends on Saturday December 15th @ 11:59PM EST.

5) One entry per person. You must leave a name at the end of your comment.

6) I will announce the winner on Sunday December 16th or Monday December 17th.


18 comments:

ThisVivian said...

The ESV, because non-American CCBs are adopting it for the lectionary, it is beautiful and "essentially literal", and generally doctrinally accurate; these remarks mostly translate to the RSV-2CE, but that translation seems to have little future.

ThisVivian said...

Sorry: Name, CJA Mayo (it's my handle as well).

Christopher W. Speaks said...

Tim,

Any idea what Bible Mr. Madrid is using in the DVD? I'm sure it's the RSV-CE, but which one?

Timothy said...

I have wondered that myself, but I don't know of any RSV-CE that is of the size that he is using.

Christopher W. Speaks said...

While my entry is not for the prizes, I do hope it's for the win:

The NABRE because it is solid Catholic biblical scholarship, it is a commensurate English idiom of the Greek-Hebrew idiom, and, for the majority of your readers, it is closest to what we will hear in the lectionary for the forseeable future.

More than 30 words, but as long my case has been made!

Unknown said...

The Revised Standard Version – CE

English translations of Pope Benedict the XVI’s works uses the RSV.

If it’s good enough for the Vicar of Christ, it’s good enough for me.

Unknown said...

Sorry, that was by Jose Grajo.

Biblical Catholic said...

ESV, it follows the Tyndale-KJV-RSV tradition its wording is very traditional and familiar. I believe it will become the ecumenical Bible of the 21st century.

Michael

Anonymous said...

I think it should be the NAB/NABRE. It's the only one most Catholics in this country will ever hear at Mass or even read/study on their own. The Liturgy of the Hours also uses the NAB. I understand that the psalter is a different story; e.g., the Grail, the Revised Grail, and the 1945 version still used at Mass.
Don't get me wrong, I like the RSV.

Anonymous said...


Well, considering that your blog is in the United States and the contest is for those in the United States. Than the Bible you use, should be the one the Bishops have chosen for the United States.

The NABRE.

It's a good translation and everybody will be on the same page.

Pax,
John


Theophrastus said...

I'm not entering the contest, but I wanted to put in my two cents.

I don't think your blog needs an "official translation" -- it seems to have done quite well for several years without one. In particular, you often contrast multiple translations, and let readers argue for strengths and weaknesses of each translation, and it seems that sheds more light than an absolute appeal to an "official translation."

However, if you feel it is absolutely necessary designate a particular translation as "official," I suggest you choose a more recent translation such as the NABRE or NRSV. The RSV-CE is now nearing its fiftieth year. In fact, the RSV-CE appeared the same year as Dei Verbum. If we think that Dei Verbum had a dramatically positive effect on Catholic biblical scholarship (I certainly would argue that), then we should support those translations that have benefited from the fruits of Dei Verbum.

Timothy said...

Theophrastus,

I will still be doing the comparison of translations, but plan to use a single translation for devotional, apologetic, or liturgical posts.

Biblical Catholic said...

Not to be a nitpicker but Dei Verbum pre-dates the RSV CE by about a year...Dei Verbum was one of the last documents of Vatican II to be published because it was highly controversial from the beginning and is the product of much debate. It was published on November 18, 1965. The RSV CE came almost a year later, on Sept 30, 1966.

Theophrastus said...

Michael (Biblical Catholic) -- thanks for your correction. I should have been more specific and said the "RSV-CE New Testament."

In fact, I read a claim (repeated on Wikipedia) that the RSV-CE New Testament was completed in 1956, but imprimatur was delayed by almost a decade by Bernard Cardinal Gray's untimely death. As is well-known, Gordon Archbishop (later Cardinal) Gray finally gave imprimatur to the RSV-CE in 1965.

Personally, I think Dei Verbum made a difference. I love many pre-Dei Verbum Bibles, but I think that translation is an ongoing process -- not one that was frozen in 1966.

Biblical Catholic said...

I love the RSV but it is a bit out of date, both in language and in the underlying scholarship....which is why I favor a more modern translation such as the ESV...I wish I could say the NRSV but the language in the NRSV is just not as elegant or beautiful as the RSV...in way too many passages the wording is ruined due to excessive concern for inclusive language....

Stuart said...

I would agree with people who say NABRE, as it is the one most US Catholics will recognize.
Stuart

Daniel Norman McNamara said...

Dear Timothy,
I would vote for the NABRE. It is likely to be the one most Catholics in the USA hear and are reading. I think that counts for much. We all have additional translations we like for various reasons. That will likely continue to be the case anyway. Daniel Norman McNamara

Anonymous said...

Tim I am not entering the contest but writing to respond to a question concerning the bible on the cover of Mr. Madrid's book. My bible I use daily looks alot like the one in the picture. I use the Oxford RSV-CE (large print) made in a synthetic duo-tone cover. The bible is sewn and not glued and is a very large bible. The print is advertised as large but it must be at least a 14 and that is what makes the bible as large as a study bible. It has very few notes and no references but does have the complete Sunday and weekday lectionary and maps in the back. This is a wonderful bible for anyone with vision problems. Merry Christmas! Sharon in Waxahachie