New Bible Study on James with Deacon Alex Jones

If you are looking for an introductory Bible study on James, particularly if you are home bound, this might be just what you are looking for.  It is facilitated by Deacon Alex Jones from my home Archdiocese of Detroit.  Deacon Alex Jones grew up as a devout Pentecostal, became a devoted Pentecostal minister, and later converted to the Catholic Church. Today he is a Catholic deacon who speaks at many conferences each year around the country.  You can purchase the DVD series, along with study guide for under $40.  There are a total of 13 lessons, each just under thirty minutes in length.  For more information about this series, you can go here.

Review: Oxford NABRE Concise Concordance

Although Oxford University Press dropped the ball in regards to their Catholic Study Bible NABRE by not keying the reading guides to the NABRE text, they have done a fine job with the release of the The New American Bible Revised Edition Concise Concordance. Although some retail bookstores have a publication date of mid-February, I received mine yesterday from Amazon.com. This concise concordance, printed in the USA, covers all 73 books of the Catholic canon, with 40,000 references and 5,890 key words. This is not an exhaustive concordance, like the RSV edition from Emmaus Road, but it does cover the most significant words needed for "personal and professional Bible research (v)" found in the NABRE. Also, there are capsule biographies for 435 of the most prominent personalities of the Bible.

Those of you who have the original NAB Concise Concordance will be quite familiar with this product's page layout. If you are interested in seeing this for yourself, Amazon.com does preview some pages which you can see here. It comes in a hardcover edition, with glued binding. The book's dimensions, coming in at 9.1 x 6.6 x 1 inches, make it very easy to carry with you to class or Bible study.

All in all a very good and helpful Bible study tool. While not being an exhaustive concordance, which I think the NABRE needs, it certainly is more thorough than the one found at the end of the Catholic Study Bible by Oxford. It will also be an aid for those of you who use the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible, which doesn't include a concordance. Hopefully we will continue to see more study tools released that are keyed to the NABRE.

Upcoming Releases (First Half of 2011)

Here is a short list of some upcoming releases related to Catholic Bibles, study tools, and other books:

Revised Grail Psalms (Already available)

NRSV Catholic Thinline Edition (2/1/11)

NRSV Catholic Gift Bible (black) (2/1/11)

HarperCollins UK NRSV Catholic with Grail Psalms (3/3/11)

NABRE (Multiple publishers and editions) (3/9/11)

HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (revised and updated) (3/8/11)

Jesus of Nazareth: Part II by Benedict XVI (mid-March)

New Collegeville Bible Commentary: NABRE (May)

Little Rock Study Bible: NABRE (June)

Catholic Study Bible: NABRE (Summer)

NABRE Concise Concordance (Summer)

If you see anything missing, which I am sure there are a few, feel free to comment or send me an email. Is anybody aware of anything new coming for the RSV/RSV-2CE or Douay-Rheims?

Faithful Friends Part II

Yes, I have been gifted another sizable lot of Biblical commentaries. And yes, by the same friend I mentioned before who found them for 25 cents each at the local Seminary. And yes, thank you so very much!


This set includes:
25 Volumes from the Thomas Nelson World Bible Commentary
Kasemann's Commentary on Romans
Danker's Multipurpose Tools for Bible Study


Again, many thanks to my friend who continues to enhance my Biblical studies library. I think I will need to share in these recent additions, so stay tuned for a possible contest in the near future.



"Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter:
whoever finds one has found a treasure.
Faithful friends are beyond price;
no amount can balance their worth.
Faithful friends are life-saving medicine;
and those who fear the Lord will find them.”
-Sirach 6:14-16 NRSV

Faithful Friends: Sirach 6:14-16

"Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter:
whoever finds one has found a treasure.
Faithful friends are beyond price;
no amount can balance their worth.
Faithful friends are life-saving medicine;
and those who fear the Lord will find them.”
-Sirach 6:14-16 NRSV

As Sirach points out, it is very important to have good friends. There are many obvious reasons for this, but today this was made very clear to me when a good friend of mine presented me with three boxes of Bible commentaries that he had picked off the 25 cent rack at the local seminary. (The fact that these were only 25 cents is nuts, but I am not complaining one bit.)

I had been hoping for the last few months to fill in my Old Testament library of commentaries, which wasn't very comprehensive. Of course, commentaries are not cheap, so I have been slowly building over the past few months, mostly with used editions that I had come across. However, I never thought I would be so blessed to get this lot of commentaries all at once.

The three boxes of commentaries, many of which are lightly used, include amongst others:

JPS Torah Commentary (5 volumes)

Old Testament Library Series from Westminster (7 volumes)

Interpretation Commentary Series by John Knox Press (18 volumes)

Berit Olam (12 volumes)

Many thanks to my friend Matthew, whom I will be indebted to for a very long time.....but happily so!

Book of Lamentations Bibliography

Ever since I was young, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for The Book of Lamentations. Now before you think that last sentence makes absolutely no sense, considering the subject matter of the book, let me explain. When I was attending a local Catholic high school, we were all given Catholic editions of The Good News Bible when we were freshmen. Did we ever actually use it in our religion classes? Rarely! Yeah, truly a shame. (Fortunately, this is something which I am proud to say doesn't happen at the high school I teach, where we are always using the Bible in all the theology courses we offer.) To be fair, there was, however, one religion class when I was in high school that asked each student to lead the opening prayer, with a particular Scripture passage selected, once per semester. Of course, the student was able to pick the passage beforehand, and when you are in a school full of teenage boys, the scripture we often heard ended up coming from Revelation, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel, or Lamentations. Why you ask? Well, in those books, as well as some of the other prophets, you find lots of passages dealing with the "sword, fire, and pestilence." All of this is terribly exciting for teenage boys. The teacher, of course, shook her head in dismay each day as another student would pick from one of these books, but in the end never did anything about it. In many ways, outside of Sunday Mass, this was my first real interaction with the Scriptures. So, whenever I come upon Lamentations in the Bible, I kind of get the warm and fuzzies. Strange? Probably.


So, why do I bring up Lamentations now? Well, a week or so ago I decided to re-read Lamentations for the first time in a while. As I was reading it, I began consulting some study notes in my NOAB 4th Edition and began to get really interested in doing some more in depth study. In addition, I even proposed leading a 4 week study on Lamentations at a local parish at the end of the summer, which I am waiting to hear back on. So, I wanted to see if there are any particular books or commentaries that I should consult while doing the research and preparing for this possible Bible study. So far, outside of the NOAB, I have been referencing: The Jewish Study Bible, Lamentations by Hillers (Anchor Bible), and Jeremiah 30-52 and Lamentations by Bracke (Westminster Bible Companion). The works I have been using have been primarily concerned with critical/historical/literary issue, but I am also looking for recommendations focusing on Christian interpretation. Maybe something that examines how and why Lamentations is used during Holy Week. I am interested to hear in feedback from my fine readers.

Books on Bible Versions

One thing I am always on the lookout for, yes it's sad, are books on Bible translations. Indeed, if it wasn't bad enough that I probably have too many Bibles to begin with, I also have an interest in reading about what other people think about Bible translations. So, whenever I see something new, I tend to pick it up. It could be as simple as the Bible Translations Comparison chart by Rose Publication or something a bit more substantial, like the translation books by Dewey, Metzger, or Comfort. I think one of the things I enjoy most about these books are the perspectives that they bring about a variety of the translating issues that translators face. Issues such as gender accuracy and formal vs. functional, as well as how to translate poetry will continue to be debated as more and more English language Bibles are produced.



Of all these books, the one I have found the most helpful is How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee and Mark L. Strauss. It is one of the newest to be published, most recently in 2007. So, it includes the ESV and the TNIV in the discussion. Needless to say, this book looks quite favorably on the TNIV, of which both authors served on the translation committee. This is, of course, one of those things you need to look out for when purchasing books like this, since there can be a tendency for them to serve as propaganda for their own translations. (More on that later.) Overall, this book is pretty fair IMHO. Instead of a formal or functional translation, they advocate what they term a "mediating" translation. Of those who fit into this, the book recommends not shockingly the TNIV, but also the NET and NAB translations. They also give high praise to the NRSV, which, for them, is a bit too literal, compared to the mediating translations. I also feel their translation spectrum chart is the best one I have seen. It incorporates many of the recent translations in a way which I think does justice to the translation method each subscribes to.



I would also recommend Philip W. Comfort's Essential Guide to Bible Versions. Even though it is almost ten years old at this point, it does a pretty thorough job, considering it is a one volume work, analyzing many of the most popular versions. Perhaps most helpful is the full chapter devoted to a comparative study of the prologue of John which references many translations, both Catholic and Protestant.



So, how about an updated Catholic Bible translation book? Well, there are various books out there that contain sections devoted to various Catholic Bibles, but it would be nice to have something produced along the lines of Comfort's book. Either way, I definitely recommend picking up one of these books. They have been particularly helpful to me as I have thought about the whole gender inclusiveness issue.



Are there any translation books out there to avoid? Well, I personally would avoid these two:

I would avoid both of them because they both are way too extreme in their advocating for their Bible of choice. Which Bible Should I Choose? is by TAN and advocates the Douay-Rheims. However, I never found the argument completely convincing, particularly since it fails to address the issues of recent teachings on Bible translations by the Church, as well as looking at what the Church has done with the Nova Vulgata. Again, this isn't a rant on the Douay-Rheims, which I have the utmost respect for, but rather a critique of a position which I don't think can be maintained in the 21st Century.


The second book New Age Bible Versions is a real joy to read, simply because it is so over-the-top in its defence of the KJV against all subsequent Protestant and Catholic Bible versions. A good friend of mine found this in a used book sale. He gave it to me knowing that I would get a good laugh at reading not only the KJV-only advocacy but the blatant anti-Catholic chapters. While I must say that reading a book comparing the Catholic Church to Babylon the great is always a fun read, this book's attempt to convince it's readers that the Vatican is Satan's Church due to it being located in Rome on "the seven hills" is a real hoot. Of course, when Revelation 17:9 was written, the Vatican hill wasn't considered one of the main seven hills of ancient Rome. Of course, the seven are the Aventine, Caelian, Esquiline, Quirinal, Viminal, Palatine, and Capitoline. As a matter of fact, the Vatican hill wasn't even located within the ancient city wall. I am always tempted to dump this book, but alas it is fun reading on a rainy day.

CCSS: Matthew

Just in time for the liturgical year 2011, which is year A for the Sunday Gospel readings, Baker Academic will be publishing the fifth volume of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series on The Gospel of Matthew in December. This volume will be co-authored by Curtis Mitch, known for his work on the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, and Edward Sri, known for his publications with Emmaus Road.

As the description indicates:

This engaging commentary on the Gospel of Matthew is the fifth of seventeen volumes in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture (CCSS), which will cover the entire New Testament. This volume, like each in the series, relates Scripture to life, is faithfully Catholic, and is supplemented by features designed to help readers understand the Bible more deeply and use it more effectively in teaching, preaching, evangelization, and other forms of ministry. The Gospel of Matthew is an ideal resource for those preaching or teaching on the Sunday Gospel readings from Matthew for the liturgical

year beginning in 2010.

Of course, for more information about the entire Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series, you can go here.

(I hope to post a review of Dr. Williamson's commentary on Ephesians in the coming days.)

Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament Review

Is it big? Yes! Has it taken almost 10 years to complete? Yes! Do a lot of Catholics, unless they read Catholic Bible blogs, have no idea that it has now been published? Yes! But is it good and worth the wait? Absolutely yes!

I have spent a number of hours over this past weekend perusing through the long-awaited Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament (ICSBNT). (The edition I am reviewing is the hardback one.) Simply put, it is fantastic and a great tool for Catholics. Over the past year or so, we have been blessed with an increase in the amount and quality of Bible related material and study tools, most notable are The Catholic Bible Dictionary, The Catholic Bible Concordance, The Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series, and now the completed ICSBNT. These are truly good days for Catholics to enhance their love of Scripture, which is certainly one of the main areas of focus for our current Holy Father. There really is no excuse for Catholics to not be engaged in regular Bible study, whether individually or in a group. The tools are out there!

While in many ways the ICSBNT is only a collection of the individual volumes that Ignatius Press has been producing since 2000, it is so much more. As has been noted on a number of sites, the ICSBNT is a fairly thick volume. (Matt, over at Absolutely No Spin, has some fine pictures which illustrate that point.) This isn't to say that it is as large as the Navarre Bible- New Testament Expanded Edition. However, the text is quite large and easy to read, while not technically being large print. Rather, the size of the actual volume, itself, makes the text very easy to read. In addition to it's size, the ICSBNT is printed on thick, non-glossy, paper. Again, this was a major issue I had with the original edition of the RSV-2CE, which has recently been changed. If you are looking for wide margins, the verdict is that they are OK. This is certainly not a wide-margin study Bible, like the original NAB Catholic Study Bible was, but there is still plenty of space for individual notations.

The true worth of this volume is in the amount of study notes, the 28 in-text charts and maps, the 62 word studies, and the 23 topical essays that are included. (There is also a new 9-page introduction to the Gospels, authored by Curtis Mitch co-author of the ICSBNT along with Scott Hahn, which clearly explains all the important issues related to the Gospels, most notably the relationship among the synoptics.) The annotations remain focused on not only historical info, but the helpful "icon annotation" system which singles out passages that relate to: 1) "content and unity" of the Scriptures; 2) Tradition and Magesterium (with plentiful references to the CCC); and 3) "Analogy of the faith". (See CCC 112-114 for the reasoning behind this special annotation system.) For the most part, however, there are no differences in content between this and what was found in the original single volumes. Yet, to have the study material collected in one volume makes cross-referencing the information much easier.

For me, the topical essays prove to be the most welcome feature of this study Bible. There are both timely placed, as well as substantial and fair in their presentation. For example, on pages 514-515 there is a topical essay on the issue of "Who is Babylon?" in the Book of Revelation. Is Babylon Rome or Jerusalem? Both sides of the issue are given fair treatment, as oppose to most study Bibles that simply state one or the other as fact. In the end, the essay concludes with a recognition that both sides have considerable evidence supporting each, and perhaps that the answer to this question may reflect both possible interpretations. In addition to this essay, there are additional essays that focus on important issues like The Census of Quirinius and Mary as the Ark of the Covenant.

If the ICSBNT had simply been a collection of all the NT volumes into one book, it would have been already a fine volume, but there is more to this. Perhaps one of the most surprising, yet welcome additions to this volume is the inclusion of almost 200 pages of study aids that are found at the back. While most of this section is devoted to the very sizable concise concordance, which totals some 167 pages, there are indexes which cover the parables, metaphors, and miracles of Jesus found in the Gospels, an index of Catholic doctrines found in Scripture, an index to all the charts, in-text maps, topical essays, and word studies found within the ICSBNT, and finally a new set of New Testament maps commissioned by Ignatius Press. I would just like to mention the Index of Doctrines, since is a welcome addition to this volume. It reminds me of the old St. Joseph NAB edition I own, which contained a similar feature. Both are quite valuable, but the ICSBNT version is far better organized and covers more timely issues. I can see this section being helpful to not only those looking to defend their faith or engage in apologetics, but also for those Catholics who are either new to the Church or who have recently come home.

All in all, this an outstanding study Bible. Are there additional things I would have liked to see in it? Sure, what comes to mind is an index to the weekly/Sunday readings, a couple Bible ribbons, and a copy of Dei Verbum, but these are only minor quibbles. Also, one hopes that the Old Testament volumes come out at a much quicker pace than the New Testament ones. Let's not make this project another 10 year odyssey. Let me also say that I would really like to see Ignatius Press publicize this more. How about a website devoted to this project? While it is great to see the RSV-2CE and ICSBNT in not only Catholic bookstores, but also businesses like Barnes and Noble and Borders, how about a little more publicity. It's a great resource, why not give it the promotion that it deserves!

In conclusion, the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament is a great resource that every Catholic should pick up. Oh, and by the way, these volumes are very reasonably priced. I purchased my hardback edition for $21.09 at Amazon.com, but the paperback is even cheaper. (One can also purchase the leather edition, which is due out sometime in June.) In a weekly audience dedicated to St. Jerome back in 2007, Pope Benedict XVI said: "It is important that every Christian live in contact and in personal dialogue with the word of God, given to us in sacred Scripture." I hope the ICSBNT proves to be an important tool in helping many Catholics make first and lifelong contact with the Triune God.

1951/53 "Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture"

I received this little bit of info a few weeks back from the Bible Christian Society site run by Catholic apologist John Martignoni: Hey folks, I want to let you know about an excellent new resource I’ve recently come across for Bible study. It’s a re-printed version of the 1951/53 “Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture.” I haven’t been through all of it, yet, but what I have seen of it is very, very good. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to deepen their knowledge of Scripture and of their Catholic Faith. I think Tim Staples is recommending this Commentary as well. You can find it here.

The Commentary series, which is well over 50 years old, is broken into three volumes: 1) Old Testament, 2) New Testament, 3) Articles, Maps, and Index. I acquired one of the original one volume editions from a used book store a few years back. At the time, I used it quite a bit, but now I rarely refer to it. If I remember correctly, the translation used as the base scriptural text was the original Douay-Rheims. Of course, most people are familiar with the editor, Dom Bernard Orchard, who was instrumental in the production of the Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version Bible.

Review: Essential Guide to the Holy Bible

During recent trips to some of the local Catholic bookstores in my neck of the woods, I have noticed that there has been quite a few Catholic "Intros" to the Bible books being published. A number of them have been produced by some fairly well-known Catholic authors, like Scott Hahn and Stephen J. Binz, and are of varying degrees of sophistication. One of these was recently translated and published by USCCB entitled: Essential Guide to the Holy Bible. Written by Msgr. Pietro Principe, this slender (89 pages), yet useful Libreria Editrice Vaticana publication can be purchased for only $6.95 on the USCCB website. (All readers of this blog can receive a 10% discount. All you need to do is give the promotion code “BIBLE” when you place your order.)

For it's size and affordability, this handy little volume is a wonderful introduction for those Catholics who are looking to begin consistently reading the Bible from the heart of the Church. The book is broken up into five sections: 1) The Bible; 2) The Books of the Bible; 3) Some Key Persons in the Bible; 4) How to Read the Bible; 5) The Message of the Bible. Scripture texts are taken from the NAB and Dei Verbum is referenced throughout, with occasional references to the PBC's The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church and the USCCB's Catholic Catechism for Adults.

The first section,"The Bible", discusses issues such as inspiration, the historical-critical method, and the importance of recognizing the overall "story' of the Bible. As Msgr. Principe points out: "The story of humanity and the story of salvation are rooted in two historical events: the will of God that creates the universe, and the redemptive act of Christ that saves humanity. These two events accomplish the wonderful encounter between human reality and divine transcendence (5)."

Parts two and three, which are easily the largest in this book, give brief introductions to each book of the Bible and short biographies on important Biblical people, respectively. The fourth section focuses on how to read the Bible, highlighting the importance of understanding the various "senses of Scripture". The final part concludes the book with some thoughts on the renewal in Bible reading in the Catholic Church, including it's use in the Liturgy and personal prayer.

I should also mention that there are sidebars scattered throughout the book that cover issues like the languages used in the Bible, the historical sources, the canon of the sacred books, related internet sites, the deuterocanonical/apocryphal books of the Bible, and a few others.

If you are looking for a brief introduction to the Holy Bible, from a Catholic perspective, this would be a very nice volume to pick. For anyone who had been reading the Bible for a while, then you probably are familiar with most of the material included in this "essential" guide. Overall, this is a fine addition to the USCCB publishing catalogue.

I will conclude this review, like the Essential Guide to the Holy Bible does, by quoting from Dei Verbum: "In this way, therefore, through the reading and study of the sacred books "the word of God may spread rapidly and be glorified" (2 Thess. 3:1) 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" (Is. 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:23-25)."

**I would like to thank Mary Elizabeth Sperry, from the USCCB, for sending me a review copy**

Very Cool!

Essential Guide to the Holy Bible Offer

Mary Elizabeth Sperry has offered readers of this blog a special discount on an upcoming USCCB Publishing release entitled: Essential Guide to the Holy Bible. This small publication comes from the Libreria Editrice Vaticana. In these 70 pages:

Discover the Bible's extraordinary history, its worldwide scope, and its appeal as the "inspired word" of God in this new offering from the Vatican. Learn more about interpreting, understanding, and using it through selected stories and events. Unique sidebars cover different topics including (1) languages used in the Bible, (2) historical sources, (3) canon of the sacred books (4) related internet sites, (5) and apocryphal books of the Bible that still intrigue and make for great conversation and debate.

All readers of this blog can receive a 10% discount. All you need to do is give the promotion code “BIBLE” when you place your order. Again, you can order this book here.

A special thanks to Mary Elizabeth for extending this offer.

New DVD: What Every Catholic Should Know About the Bible

I know that I am not alone in praising the work that apostolates like St. Joseph Communication have done over the past decade. When I began to rediscover my faith, a little under ten years ago, I relied heavily on the many tapes and CD's offered by St. Joseph Communication. I still remember getting a copy of Dr. Scott Hahn's talk called "The 4th Cup" and just being completely blown away by what I was hearing. I had never heard Scripture explained in that way, and it truly left me inspired and excited to study the Scriptures. I can say with all honesty, that I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today, if it weren't for the excellent talks offered by St. Joseph Communication. So thank you!

With that said, I wanted to highlight a new DVD by St. Joseph Communications entitled: "What Every Catholic Needs to Know About the Bible". I have yet to view it, but it does look very promising. If it is as good as I think it is, I can see myself using this for the first meeting of future Bible studies I help facilitate.

Here is some more info about it:

Everyone knows that the Holy Bible is the best-selling book of all time. It is available in more versions and in more languages than any other book in history. But the Bible is more than the world’s most widely distributed book. The Sacred Scriptures are really a whole library of sacred books, letters, prophecy and poetry, all of which are believed to be inspired by God by millions around the world. But many read the Bible and never stop to ask, “Where did we get the Bible?” “By what authority was it compiled?” “Where can you find the correct interpretation of the Bible?”


Respected Team of Catholic Experts
On this remarkable DVD, Matthew Arnold (Our Catholic Faith, The Miracles of Jesus) has brought together the following respected team of Catholic experts to explore the above questions and many more: author and apologist Jesse Romero, M.A.; Brandt Pitre, Ph.D., assistant professor of Scripture and Theology at Our Lady of Holy Cross College, in New Orleans; Michael Barber, M.A., professor of Scripture, Theology and Catholic Thought at John Paul the Great Catholic University, San Diego; and best-selling author, professor of theology and Pope Benedict XVI Chair of Biblical Theology and Liturgical Proclamation as St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe PA, Scott Hahn, Ph.D.

Discover the “Gospel Truth” about the Bible
Now you’ll be empowered to discover and share the “Gospel truth” about such important topics as the inspiration of Scripture, the formation of the Biblical canon, the crucial role of the Church’s Tradition in Biblical interpretation, and the history of Biblical translations from the time of Christ to today. You’ll also learn the truth about the pervasive Protestant charges that the Catholic Church banned and burned the Bible; that the Church chained the Bible and kept it in a dead language in order to keep the Scriptures from the people.

Inspiring and Enlightening
You’ll find this all-new DVD perfect for adult inquiry classes, RCIA, Confirmation and Catholic Bible study groups. With this inspiring and enlightening presentation, you’ll have a powerful and painless way to share the essential truths about the Bible and its relationship to the Catholic Church with Catholic adults and young people, the un-churched, and our separated brethren. Order now and discover What Every Catholic Needs to Know About the Bible.

DISCOVER!
How the Bible was compiled
What the words “Testament” really means
Why the Bible is primarily a “Liturgical book”
How the Holy Mass is “the Bible in action”
Why it is absolutely necessary to properly interpret the Sacred Page
How the divisions of the New Testament parallel the Old
How discovering the literary forms employed by the inspired authors helps us to understand the Bible
Why the doctrine of “the Bible alone” is unhistorical and unbiblical
What is the history of Biblical translations
How the Bible is God’s Word to you today

Scot McKnight on "Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture" Series

Popular evangelical speaker and author Scot McKnight, of the Jesus Creed blog, has posted on the new Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series that I have been promoting here on this blog. It is worth taking a look at, particularly because it is from a Protestant perspective.

The Catholic Bible Concordance RSV-CE

Just wanted to give you all a heads up that The Catholic Bible Concordance RSV-CE, with foreword by Scott Hahn, has been released and is available for purchase. This edition is published by Emmaus Road Publishing.

Below is a brief description:

The first and only concordance for the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) of the Bible. This exhaustive reference tool contains over 15,000 words and 300,000 entries, and has listings for both the first and second editions of the RSV-CE. As easy to use as a dictionary, keywords and passages makes Scripture accessible to people of all walks of life. Durable bound hardcover.

The Emmaus Road site also has a nice interview posted with the concordance compiler Christopher Lyons, which you can read here.

The Four Gospels with Little Rock

A new resource for studying the Gospels will be published this coming August from Liturgical Press, publishers of the well-known Little Rock Scripture Study series. It is entitled The Four Gospels: Catholic Personal Study Edition. This edition is created by the producers of the Little Rock Scripture Study and includes a number of helpful features. The NAB is the translation used in this volume.

The details are as follows:
The more we understand the four gospels—the distinct narrative and theological emphasis of each evangelist, the unique portrait of Jesus that each presents—the better we come to know Jesus. This knowledge, of course, is much more than an intellectual awareness or knowing about someone. When we enter into the gospels, we come to truly know Jesus the Christ in an intimate way. Through this volume readers will become familiar with the world in which Jesus lived, the cultural customs, the important geographic locations, the biblical terms familiar to first-century Christians but foreign to a contemporary audience. In addition to charts, maps, and photos, this study of the gospels provides an excellent Catholic perspective, answering such questions as: How is the Bible used in the liturgy? What is the connection between the gospels and Catholic social teaching?

From what I have been able to see so far, this resource comes in a very nice looking single-column page format. The study tools are ordered in a very attractive way, with cross-references on the side of each page, the standard NAB notes at the bottom, and quick-reference informational inserts found throughout. These inserts will contain maps, illustrations, charts, and information on Biblical themes, characters, archaeological finds, prayers, and other topics related to Catholic teachings.

At this point, it appears that this volume will only be in paperback, with a retail price of $24.95.

Catholic Bible Dictionary Review

The last major Bible Dictionary published by a Catholic for an English-speaking Catholic audience was probably done by John L. McKenzie S.J. back in 1965. (If there are others out there, I would be happy to be proven wrong on this.) That old edition is still in print today, and I regularly see it not only at Catholic bookstores, but occasionally at places like Barnes and Noble and Borders. One wonders whether the popularity of McKenzie's work was due to its usefulness or the simple fact that it was the only volume available developed by a Catholic. My guess is that the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

But, alas, there is finally a new Catholic Bible dictionary on the market. Thanks to the work of Catholic Biblical Scholar and convert, Scott Hahn, a new and updated Bible study tool is available for use. Published by Doubleday, the Catholic Bible Dictionary will prove to be a wonderful gift to many Catholics who are looking for a one-volume Catholic Bible dictionary. While smaller and less technical than the massive Anchor Bible Dictionary, this new edition I would place somewhere between the more comprehensive HarperCollins Bible Dictionary and the McKenzie edition in regards to sheer size and amount of material included.

This new volume contains more than five thousand entries, including:

*Explanations and outlines of every book in the Catholic canon

*Every significant person in the Bible, historical places, and events

*The social conventions and traditions of everyday life in ancient Israel

*Emphasis on language and imagery in the Bible

*Key archaeological sites and finds

*Church teaching, doctrine, and theology that relates the reading and interpretation of the Bible

In addition, The Catholic Bible Dictionary contains a chronology of the Old Testament and a chronology of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Included at the end of the volume is a map section with index, which is identical to the maps found in the New Jerusalem Bible. (Probably has something to do with Doubleday)

While it is difficult to evaluate any work of this nature in just one sitting, it is clear that the fact that such a volume now has been published is a very good thing. From what I have read so far, I think this dictionary could be used with the RSV, NRSV or NAB. Ultimately, time will tell as to whether it will be useful or not. I tend to think it will be, not only because it is published by a major publishing house and written by a Catholic Biblical scholar that I trust, but more importantly it incorporates recent Biblical scholarship and archaeological finds. I hope to blog more about it as I begin to use it more over the next few months. What I can say is that if you are Catholic and need a good, basic one volume Catholic Bible dictionary, this one is for you.

The Catholic Comparative New Testament

The Catholic Comparative New Testament, edited by Jean Marie Hiesberger and published by Oxford University Press, should be a standard Bible study tool that all Catholics own and use. While there have been other parallel Bibles published recently that included Catholic translations, like The Complete Parallel Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books or The Precise Parallel New Testament, this remains one of the only ones still in print.

The Catholic Comparative New Testament provides the reader with eight different Catholic, or Catholic approved, translations. The list includes the Douay-Rheims, RSV-CE, NAB, NRSV, Jerusalem Bible, NJB, Good News Bible, and Christian Community Bible. The translations are organized according to where they fit on the formal equivalence/dynamic equivalence spectrum. Thus, when you open up the book, the left page contains the DR, RSV-CE, NAB, and NRSV, while the right page has the JB, NJB, GN, and CCB. Also included are the original translators preface/foreword to each particular translation. I periodically like to compare the various translation philosophies for the different translations, so, at least for me, its nice to have them all compiled into one book.

The Catholic Comparative New Testament includes a short introduction by Hiesberger, which briefly covers topics ranging from the differences in translation philosophy to the ways of bringing the Scriptures into one's daily life. One of the best features of this parallel Bible is the design and typesetting. The type resembles the typical Oxford University Press style that one sees used in many Oxford NRSV editions. I find the overall layout of each page to be pretty good for a parallel Bible. While any such Bible edition of this design is going to be forced to use smaller text size to fit all eight translations, I think Oxford does an admirable job. This edition also succeeds in that it is not a massive book which takes up half of your backpack. While not compact, it is 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.8 inches, which makes it very portable.

Overall, The Catholic Comparative New Testament is a fine study tool for Catholics. If I had one minor complaint, it would be that I would rather have the latest Greek text and the Nova Vulgata included. Although having said that, I am not sure which two translations I would have liked to have seen removed. My guess would probably be the Good News and Christian Community Bible, which I rarely see any Catholic American reading.

The Faith Database

One investment I have yet to make is to purchase one of those $500.00+ Bible software programs. Anytime I have a little extra money in the savings account, I am tempted to finally make this purchase. A year or so ago, I was very close to purchasing the Logos Bible Software, but put it off for some reason or another.

Recently, however, I was given the Faith Database as a birthday gift. While not specifically a Bible software product, it does contain 10 Bibles, including the ASV, Darby, Douay-Rheims, ESV, a Greek Interlinear, KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NKJV, and NRSV translations. Most are included on the CD-ROM, while a few of them, accessible via the internet due to copyright restrictions I guess, are linked directly to the program itself. While the Bible study functions of the Faith Database are far less impressive than other Bible study programs like Logos, it does allow you to reference any particular Biblical verse to the early Church Fathers or other Church writings. For example, I clicked on the reference link to 1 Thessalonians 1:6, which provided, along with related Biblical passages, references to St. John Chrysostom's Homily 16 on Second Corinthians and Homily 1 on First Thessalonians. There was additional references to John Paul II's letter On the Laity and a talk given during a visit to Mexico in 1999 focusing on the sick.

In addition to the Bible translations, included in the CD-ROM are Ecumenical Council documents, Early Church Fathers, Doctors of the Church, Christian classics, Bible art, Bible maps, and more. In particular, this product offers:

*10 Bible Translations
*88 Council Documents from all 21 Ecumenical Councils
*400 Early Church writings
*165 writings from the Doctors of the Church
*74 books from John Henry Newman
*112 books from G.K. Chesterton
*1300 Papal writings/encyclicals
*The Old Catholic Encyclopedia (1200 entries and 5000 images)
*Many classics including Gibbons' "Faith of our Fathers," Thomas a Kempis' "Imitation of Christ" and John Paul II's "Theology of the Body"
*1000 Bible Art Images
*Over 100 Bible Maps
*Illustrated Church history
*Search Catechism and Code of Canon Law

As I mentioned above, the Faith Database does not have the tools and applications that are included in many of the more expensive, complete Bible software that one can purchase. However, if you would like to own a very basic Bible study software, with links to Councils, the saints, and other Church documents, then this is a pretty good option. And at $39.95, you really can't beat the price. After purchasing the Faith Database, you can also get a subscription which will allow you to download ten more books each month for a year.