All Didache Bibles on Sale at MTF

Thanks to Eric for pointing out that all Didache Bibles (both the RSV-2CE and NABRE) are on sale at Midwest Theological Forum.  Follow this link for more information.  You can preview the content of the Didache Bible here.

Didache NABRE Sale

*Please note that the 20% discount applies to retail price.

*Go here for more info.

Jeff's Rebind Project: Combined Didache and Compendium

Jeff is a regular commentor here on the blog.  He recently commissioned a truly unique rebind, which brought together The Didache Bible and The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  Yep!  He put them together and bound them into one book.  Here are the details:

While reading the Catholic Bibles Blog I began to notice a nice trend of readers sharing their bibles rebound in genuine leather and cowhide. I decided it was something I wanted to do, but I reasoned, if they can rebind a bible, could they maybe combine the bible with another book? I called the two companies most frequently mentioned on the website, Leonard’s and AA Leather. They both said they could in fact combine two books, as long as the books were the same size.

One afternoon I was reading the Compendium and I noticed something interesting. I had my bible out when I realized how close they were in size. I grabbed my tape measure out and sure enough, they were both 6”x9”!

“Eureka!” I said, (or at least would have if I were this was a movie). I would combine the Didache Bible, with the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church! These are the two books I carry around with me all the time anyway when I study my bible, it makes sense to place them under the same roof!

I boxed them up  and off they went to sunny South Florida at the headquarters of AA Leather. I patiently waited each day by my mailbox. After only two short weeks, the mailman knocked on my door and handed my a big package!

I chose forest green as the color with leather cowhide. And couldn’t be more happy with the work Andrew and the whole gang at AA Leather did for my bible. I love it so much, I want to just place it on my shelf and not touch it! We all know that’s not going to happen!

If you would like to see more, head on over the Jeff's site here.

Differences in the Didache

Thanks to Jonny for sending along some pics and commentary on a recently purchased edition of the Didache Bible.

I just received new copies of the hardback and leather editions of the Didache Bible. The latest run of each is a little better than the original print, so I thought you might like to check it out.

1. The hardback:  The cover is a deeper forest green compared to the original olive drab. The new book is thinner: about 1 3/4" compared to the original 2". And finally, there is one green and one gold ribbon now instead of the two blonde ribbons, and the new edition uses a smaller font on the spine.

2. The leather covered hardback:  The book is also now thinner than the original, 2" compared to 2 1/4.  The gold edging is a bit darker and shinier in the new edition.

3. About both editions: The book blocks are thinner. The pages look the same on the inside, no more bleed through, although the new ones look nicer. The pages are a brighter white and looks higher in quality when placed side by side with the original. Also, although the binding was good on the originals, the new ones are even tighter. It is still the same sewn binding typical of Ignatius Press.  I could not find any indication of where these books were printed, except in the original hardback which states "Printed in India."

Offer: Rebound Didache NABRE

This offer is now closed.

Over the past couple of weeks I have received requests from a number of long-time readers of this blog who would like to offer their Bibles for sale/donation.  While this is not a marketplace for Bibles, those who have approached me are really only concerned with getting these bibles into the hands of those who will read them.  So, over the course of the next few weeks, I will be posting about various bibles that are being offered to you in various ways. 

Today, reader Max is offering his beautifully rebound Didache Bible NABRE.  It is majestic and probably the most premium NABRE ever made!  He is not looking to make any money off this, except that a donation be made to Catholic Student Organization at Texas A&M-Commerce.  If you are interested, particularly after reading and seeing the images below, please contact: SOLD

Here is Max:

I would like to give my rebound Didache Bible away to anyone who wants it on two conditions: 1) that they will read from it frequently, and not treat it as a decorational item. I think it's beautiful, but I made it to be used for years...I just can't bring myself to do it. 2) that they will make a donation to the Catholic Student Organization at Texas A&M University-Commerce. It can be any amount that they can afford, I would value the Bible at $350 but if they can only give a tenth of that then it's still okay. Really, I just want someone to both treasure and use it, and at the same time help the Catholic students in Commerce. I don't need to know how much they donate; I will send them the contact information of the CSO treasurer and let him know to expect someone to get in touch with him.  

For more on this bible, go here for a full review of what Max had done.

Rebound Didache NABRE

I am happy to share with you a few photos from Max's recent rebinding of his Didache NABRE. This may be the most premium NABRE in existence! Enjoy!  

It only took two weeks from the day I mailed it to AA Leather to the day I held the completed project in my hands. I am very happy with the final result, although there are a few things I would have liked differently. The book block was too stiff to properly curve the spine, perhaps a 1/2 yapp would have been less surprising at first. Also, I entirely forgot to specify forest green endpages.

Details of the entire project:

1) MTF Didache NABRE Bible 

2) 24K gilt edges with red dye underneath

3) Black goatskin cover with forest green leather liner (AA Leather)

A Didache Rebound

You knew it was going to happen soon, right?  Well, veteran of the comment box and reader of this blog, Rolf, had his Didache Bible (RSV-2CE) rebound by Leonard's.  I know there are more of you out there who are contemplating doing the exact same thing.  I hope this helps your discernment!

Thanks Rolf for sharing a few words and these great pictures with us:

This is my second Bible rebind from Leonard's. As many of you know, last July I had my Oxford NABRE large print Bible rebound (see review) and has been my main Bible for most of last year. 
In January the Didache Bible (RSV-2CE) was published and I really like that Bible and use it as much (maybe more). So since it has been a year since I rebound the NABRE, I thought I would rebind the Didache Bible as well. I chose a forest colored pebble grain cowhide and added one forest green ribbon marker to the two existing markers. The genuine cowhide is not only soft but very flexible! The Bible lays flat in all positions. It is one of the leathers that Leonard's recommends for larger size Bibles. 

These are the two Bibles that I use everyday so I feel that the extra expense is worth it! I don't spend money on much else.  Unfortunately Catholic book publishers have not figured out that we also would like to have a nice Bible! At least offer genuine leather, but few even offer that? So some of us have to take a different route, and Leonard's is a good choice! 

Didache NABRE (Leather) First Look

Here are a few pictures of the Didache NABRE (Leather) Edition I received today.  I love the page layout, which is quite readable and full of information.  They really did a great job getting both the NABRE and CCC annotations onto each page, without any real loss of readability.  (It is almost 500 pages bigger!)  The CCC annotations are adjusted to the translation differences found in the NABRE.  The size, while certainly big, is not nearly as big as I thought it might be.  My only complaint is with the bonded leather cover, which is a hardcover.  It is not advertised as being a hardcover, but as some of our commentators have mentioned over the past few days, it is definitely a bonded leather over boards.  May be a good candidate for a rebind.

Didache NABRE Discount Ends Tomorrow!

The Didache NABRE will begin shipping on Friday.  If you want the discount through MTF, you need to pre-order by tomorrow!  Pre-order here.

This edition uses the New American Bible, Revised Edition translation of the complete text of Sacred Scriptures, Old and New Testaments.The Didache Bible also includes numerous apologetical inserts to assist the reader in understanding the Church’s teachings on current issues.  

After publishing the books of The Didache Series, Midwest Theological Forum set out to fill a need for a Catholic edition of Sacred Scripture with explanatory and apologetical commentaries based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The publication of the Didache Bible, based on these principles, fulfills the desire of Pope St. John Paul II as expressed in his Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith. (no. IV)

The Didache Bible is a valuable resource for students and those participating in Scripture studies. Ideal for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith and intended to be accessible by all Catholics in its level of scriptural scholarship.       

• It uses the New American Bible, Revised Edition translation 
• Features 27 full-color biblical maps, including the journeys of Jesus Christ 
• More than 100 apologetical explanations that help to answer common questions about the faith 
• Includes a comprehensive, 43-page glossary and a topical index 
• The font size for the text of Scripture is 9.5 points which is comparable to the font size used in most business letters. 
• The font size for the text of commentary is 8.5 points.
• For the leather edition, the pages are gilded and the page corners are rounded.  

Pre-Order: Didache NABRE

Didache Bible: NABRE Edition

Preview available on website

Introductory pre-sale price for leather edition of $51.99 and $35.99 for hardcover

This edition uses the New American Bible, Revised Edition translation of the complete text of Sacred Scriptures, Old and New Testaments.The Didache Bible also includes numerous apologetical inserts to assist the reader in understanding the Church’s teachings on current issues.  

After publishing the books of The Didache Series, Midwest Theological Forum set out to fill a need for a Catholic edition of Sacred Scripture with explanatory and apologetical commentaries based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The publication of the Didache Bible, based on these principles, fulfills the desire of Pope St. John Paul II as expressed in his Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith. (no. IV)

The Didache Bible is a valuable resource for students and those participating in Scripture studies. Ideal for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith and intended to be accessible by all Catholics in its level of scriptural scholarship.       

• It uses the New American Bible, Revised Edition translation 
• Features 27 full-color biblical maps, including the journeys of Jesus Christ 
• More than 100 apologetical explanations that help to answer common questions about the faith 
• Includes a comprehensive, 43-page glossary and a topical index 
• The font size for the text of Scripture is 9.5 points which is comparable to the font size used in most business letters. 
• The font size for the text of commentary is 8.5 points.
• For the leather edition, the pages are gilded and the page corners are rounded.  

Editorial Board for The Didache Bible: 

Rev. James Socias, publisher; Jeffrey Cole, editor; Gerald Korson, contributing editor; Rev. Prof. Andreas Hoeck, SSD; Rev. Prof. Carlos Jodar-Estrella, STD; Rev. Peter Armenio, PhD; Rev. Paul Mankowski, SJ, PhD (Gospels) 

Pre-order discount available until 04/30/15.

Orders will start to ship out on 05/01/15

(Thank you to Corey and Mary and Mike for the email!)

Update on Leather Didache RSV (Updated)

From reader Dominic (and Eric), who received the following info via an email from Ignatius:

Please be advised that the leather Didache Bible should now be available in mid-May. Our co-publisher found a printer whose quality was satisfactory and they should be shipping from the printer at the end of April.

Update: Ignatius is taking pre-orders. 

Didache Bible: NABRE Edition

It is happening and will be released later this year.  I was informed about this by a representative from Midwest Theological Forum.  Official announcement will be made in the next month or two.

Guest Review: The Didache Bible: Ignatius Bible Edition

I am happy to share with you a guest review from longtime reader Eric:

I received my copy of the Didache Bible a couple weeks ago (thanks Rose at Ignatius Press!), and I have been very impressed.  As with my other reviews, this one is written from the everyman-in-the-pew perspective.

First, out of the box...  I think Ignatius/MTF hit a home run with the physical size of this Bible:  it fits in the hand comfortably, isn't too big or too small, and has two ribbon markers (thanks!  ribbons good!).  The binding is nice and tight and has survived multiple trips to work in my briefcase for lunchtime reading.  I do like the synergy with it and the Catechism (both covers are a 
similar color), but the glossy cover on the Didache Bible isn't my personal cup of tea.  I would have preferred a hardcover material like on their regular Second Catholic edition hardcovers (a more matte simulated leather - I seem to remember it being called skivtex or something like that).  But, it's only a cover, and what's on the inside is what's important.  No worries anyways, I'm planning to pick up a leather-bound copy once they become available.

Physically, the interior layout is much improved over the regular Ignatius second Catholic edition.  I like the cross-references separated from the text by a red line, and separated by another from the footnotes.  I'd suggest maybe another half-point thicker on the line so it stands out more, but otherwise it's great!  The ghosting is well controlled, and I'm not sure what the difference in font or paragraph spacing are, but I do like it better than the regular 2CE. It's very comfortable on the eyes to read, and I don't think I would have had a problem before getting my bifocals.

We've had the RSV-2CE translation for almost a decade, so nothing more needs to be said about the it.  What really makes this edition even better is the footnotes.  And, here is where the Didache Bible truly shines.  For lack of a better term, the notes are theological.  They don't really go into textual variants from what I've seen (although they do address Is 7:14 virgin/young woman issue quite nicely).  They explain the 'why' quite nicely.    The apologetics inserts are very helpful; they give enough information to get the reader going on the subject, without trying to go into overwhelming detail.  I haven't had a chance to read through too many of them yet, but they reference both scripture and catechism.  The notes don't go into a lot of of the more historical explanations like other study Bibles, but do point out the symbolism behind various passages (such as explaining Jesus appearing to the poor and the pagans when discussing the visit of the wise men in Matt 2).  And much of it is based on the Catechism, but also references some saints and early church fathers along the way.

In many ways, this is the study Bible that a lot of Catholics have been waiting for.  I think this Bible fits nicely in the spectrum of RSV-2CE offerings; we have a very portable devotional NT & Psalms; a still portable mainly text Bible, a theological treatment of scripture, and the full-bore study Bible (well, NT plus parts of the OT).  This will be a great resource to help teach CCD students about the Bible by relating it directly to church teaching.  I think pairing the Didache Bible with either the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible or one of the NABRE or Jerusalem Bibles would make a truly powerful tool for a Bible study, by pulling scripture out of a vacuum and integrating it directly with church teaching.  Maybe we'd have to call it Bible-and-Church study if this is used.

Some other good features:
- Maps.  Lots of maps.  Easy to understand maps.  Non-boring maps.  Awesome!
- Book intros - a perfect length.  
- Indexes and glossaries to reference important terms and the apologetics inserts.

One thing I wish would have been included would be the actual Didache.  I know this may seem silly, but to me, if you're going to name a Bible after the Didache, it would be nice to actually have the Didache in there (as a back of the book appendix would be fine).  I also hope that in the future, they would do a Didache Bible using the NABRE.  Why?  Not because I'm a fan of the NABRE (I'm not, despite my enjoyment of the Little Rock study Bible), but since it is the translation I think all the US Dioceses use for CCD, attaching it only to the RSV-2CE will keep it out of a lot of parish classrooms, where I think it would excel.

Overall, I think Ignatius and Midwest Theological Forum hit a home run with this.  I look forward to the leather edition.  (When I asked Rose at Ignatius,her reply was the leather version was several weeks or months away, and that could always change.)  Either way, if you don't have the RSV-2CE translation, this is a great and unique version.  Even if you do, it would be a great addition, as the commentary is great and much needed and appreciated.  Five stars out of five (if it came in a premium leather, six stars out of five).

And, a second thank you to Rose at Ignatius Press for providing me a review copy for this review.

Review of The Didache Bible: Ignatius Bible Edition

Of all the "upcoming" Bibles that my readers have been waiting for over the past year, The Didache Bible: Ignatius Bible Edition ranks as likely one of the highest in anticipation.  Of course, as often happens with such eager expectations, one may feel let down when the final product is finally in their hands.  Sometimes, particularly in the area of quality Catholic Bibles, anticipation often is greater than the delivery.  Fortunately, this is not the case with The Didache Bible.  In almost every way, this Bible delivers on what it was promised to be.  Those who have wished for a Bible that incorporated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in a comprehensive, yet readable way with the inclusion of useful study aids will be utterly satisfied.  Those who have wanted commentary and annotations for a full one-volume edition of the RSV-2CE, they need not wait any longer.  The Didache Bible is a great achievement and many will be thanking Midwest Theological Forum (MTF) and Ignatius Press for a long time.

One aspect of reviewing Bibles that has become more important for me over the years is page presentation and layout.  Content is, of course, important, but if I am not led or drawn into the text, it will ultimately serve no real purpose.  The Didache Bible excels in how the Biblical text, cross-references, and annotations are presented on the page.  I don't think the RSV-2CE has ever looked so good.  The white page against the dark black type really makes the text pop.  Between the scriptural text and the commentary is placed the cross-references, which are bracketed off with a thin red line.  This serves as an aesthetically beautiful break between the two.  It is subtle, but I think it really works, much like the use of red in the HarperOne NABRE.  The commentary, which in the New Testament is quite extensive, is only slightly smaller in size that the scriptural text.  The paper does not lend itself to ghosting, although it is by no means opaque.  If you have ever owned a prayer book or missal from MTF you will notice a similarity in this regard.  One last point that I wanted to highlight about this edition is its size.  I don't know why, but I was expecting it to be much bigger.  However, it is remarkably compact for a study Bible.  Its size reminds me of the NOAB RSV published back in the late 70's and still available today.   What this means is that not only do you have a fine study Bible, but also one that you could take with you pretty much everywhere.  All in all, this is a beautiful Bible to read.  I think its size and page layout are the real highlights of this Bible.

The edition I am reviewing is the hardcover one.  The bonded leather edition is due out later this year, although I think this Bible deserves to be bound in a nicer genuine or goatskin cover.  However, I will be sure to let you know when I receive confirmation on a date for the bonded leather one.  The hardcover edition is quite sturdy and opens up flat from the first day.   It came with two bible ribbons, which is a nice touch.  This bible was advertised as having a sewn binding, which I still believe it has.  However, they have enhanced the binding with some glue, which at a few spots is clearly noticeable.  I would like to hear back from some of my readers as to what they think about this.   This edition was printed in India.

Now, as for the content found in this book.  As mentioned earlier, the translation is the RSV-2CE.  I am not going to spend any time discussing translations, which we do here so often anyways.  However, since I am a theology teacher who uses MTF's Didache Semester Series in my classroom, I will say that this serves as a perfect compliment to that classroom text which utilizes the RSV and NRSV in the textbooks.  

The introductory material includes a foreword from emeritus Cardinal-Archbishop of Chicago Francis George, followed by an introduction by Fr. James Socias.  What follows are a couple of short essays by the editors explaining how Catholics read the Bible.  Here you find reference to Dei Verbum and those early paragraphs of the CCC which discuss the literal and spiritual reading of the Bible.  Following that, there is a "Brief Summary of Sacred Scripture" which gives a very short overview of the main theme(s) of each Biblical book.  The introductory material concludes with a chronology of Old Testament and New Testament events and a list of passages of scripture for personal meditation, including the parables and miracles of Christ.  These opening aids are more geared toward the beginner, but can be consulted by a seasoned Bible reader.  I could see them being extremely helpful to someone in RCIA.

Looking at the commentary based off the CCC, you will immediately notice that a lot of work has been put into adapting the CCC to work in this format.  For the most part, there are not direct quotations found in the annotations.  To be sure, there are indeed some, but most have been re-worded in order to make them applicable to a particular biblical passage.  Each of them, however, contains a direct reference to the CCC paragraph that has been re-worded.  And there are plenty of these CCC cross-references!  I should say that you often don't realize that it has been edited, since what you read sounds like it is coming directly from the CCC.  I would imagine that this took the bulk of the editors time.  Some of the pages, primarily in the New Testament, you will find that the CCC-based commentary takes up over half the page.  While most of the pages are concerned with referencing the CCC, there are numerous annotations that point the reader to connections with the Liturgy, occasional quotes from recent Popes and the Church Fathers, analysis of lexical issues, and allegorical interpretations of OT passages.  I found the liturgical connections to be very helpful and insightful.   For example, there is a note in Daniel 6:10 which connects Daniel praying three times a day to a passage in the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours.  There will be much to consider and pray about for years in these commentaries.  As you might guess, there is more commentary, per page, in the NT than in the OT.  Certain places, like in portions of the historical, wisdom, and prophetic books, have less than a quarter of a page of commentary on them.  Judith would be a perfect example.  Let me also say that if you are looking for commentary that is more historical in nature, as found in more academic study Bibles, the Didache Bible is not for you.  One last study help, in regards to the commentary, that the editors of The Didache Bible included are these occasional red in-text boxes which are found at the bottom of certain pages.   For example, there are two of these found in Genesis 3, where they explain the "Rebellion of Satan and His Angels"  and "Sin, Suffering, and Death."  These are not found on every page, but do pop-up and provide some helpful insights which are always references to, you guessed it, the CCC.

I should also note that each biblical book comes with an introduction, which looks at authorship, dating, audience, and main themes.  I would call the content of each generally conservative, but not without acknowledging difficult issues relating to authorship and dating.  You see this most notably in the intros to the books of the Pentateuch.  Overall, I think it strikes a good balance.  They are not as extensive as found in the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible or those in the most of the entries in the NABRE.

There are also over 100 apologetical explanation pages that are scattered, without any real order, throughout the Bible.  I breathed a big sigh of relief when I found out that they were not printed on glossy paper, but instead the same paper that the other pages are printed on.  While I think a Bible like the New Catholic Answers Bible is great, all those glossy pages make it difficult for the Bible to open flat.  These apologetics pages are comprehensive, yet not overwhelming.  They provide ton of scriptural cross-references, as well a referring to the CCC.  The issues range from the importance of the Protoevangelium to the Rosary.  In the end, this make this Bible not only the best CCC-based Bible on the market, but also the best apologetics one.  (The info in the index also assists those engaged in apologetics.)

Looking at the study aids in the back of the Bible, I think the maps provided may be the best in any Catholic edition I have ever seen.  There are a total of 27 unique maps that are both colorful and full of great information.  These maps cover everything from Abraham's migration to 7 Churches of Revelation, including the period of the Maccabees. Most helpful are the numerous maps showing the journeys during the patriarchal period of Genesis.  They are printed on glossary paper, and the only curious thing about the set of maps, is that they are placed immediately after Revelation, but before the rest of the material in the appendix which is printed on regular paper.  I wonder why the glossy maps weren't just placed at the end of the Bible?  Whatever the case, following the maps section is a helpful 43-page glossary of names, places, and terms.  Each entry contains about a sentence or two of information, including scriptural references.  There are then indexes to the apologetics materials, which are scattered throughout the Didache Bible.  At the very back is a 20-page subject index, including biblical names, which includes a ton of scriptural references and cross-references.  One noticable omission would be a table of Sunday and Feast Day readings from the Lectionary.

Again, this is a wonderful resource in a truly compact size.  As I mentioned above, there will be many people who are going to be excited to get their hands on this.  In particular, if you are interested in apologetics and studying the three-fold spiritual sense of Scripture, as outlined in Dei Verbum and the CCC, you will have a lot to love in the content of this Bible.  I have included some photos of this Bible on a previous post.  You can also go to MTF for a sneak peak.

I would like to that Ignatius Press for providing a review copy. There was no pressure in me providing a positive review of this Bible.

First Look: The Didache Bible

I received my hardcover copy of The Didache Bible earlier today, and I must say it is quite an impressive volume.  I will provide a proper review in the coming weeks, but I will say that a couple things stand out:

* The page layout is very clear and readable.  Ghosting does not seem to be an issue at all

* I was surprised by the size.  I really thought it would be bigger.  Someone mentioned in a comment that it was like the Navarre Compact NT.  When I read that I thought they were kidding, but it really is only a bit bigger than that.  Very impressive

* This may contain the best collection of Bible maps that I have ever seen in a Catholic Bible

* The Apologetic pages are nicely integrated into the text, printed on the same paper as the Biblical text

* I appreciate not only the CCC references, but also the frequent connections to when particular passages are read in the liturgy

Didache Bible: Your Initial Impressions

Some of you have already received it and have shared your comments on a previous post.  I thought I might start a new post here for those who would like to comment.  I should be getting mine within the next day or so.

Here are a few comments so far:

Jeff:
It's very attractive in its physical appearance. It's pretty much meat & potatoes without attempt to look fancy. By the way, it really does have 1960 pages even though the last page is numbered 1818. Here's the explanation: the roman numeraled pages are 34 in number. Then there are two un-numbered pages not counted as any number leading into Genesis. Genesis itself starts as page 1. So that brings us to 1854 pages. And the mystery is resolved by noting - which I did by lucky accident - that in between pages 14 and 15 are two pages (one on each side of a physical sheet) of Apologetics. And those pages are un-numbered and do NOT count in the page numbering as you'll easily see by inspection. So then on a hunch, I looked in the Table of Contents which would be page "v" but the first six roman numeral pages don't have the roman numeral there. But if you count the pages manually starting with the title page as "i" , it would be roman numeral "v". Anyhow in the Table of Contents it refers to "Index of Apologetical Explanations by Title" on page 1784. (going to there you find pages numbered 1784,1785,1786 have 34,38,34 listings for a total of 106 pages of Apologetics and so 1854 + 106 = 1960. A feature I found to by visually attractive is the use of bold-face dark red for theheadings of the 106 Apologetic pages and also the title of each book of the Bible. 

Luke:
- It is about the size of the Navarre New Testament Compact Edition, maybe a little larger. Definitely not a brick.
- The hardcover is pretty average. I am going to put a cover on it or get it rebound.
- The sewn binding lays flat from cover to cover
- The print is dark and easy to read
- Paper is neither to thin nor too thick
- The black and red design is similar to the ESV Reader's Bible
- Each book has a one page introduction that is like a paired down version of those found in the ICSB
- Modern scholarship seems well represented as to authorship of books (Documentary hypothesis is presented without mention of Mosaic authorship, Deuteronomistic history, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Isaiah etc. Traditional authorship of Gospels and Epistles affirmed but modern theories mentioned)
- The commentary appears as advertised - mostly tied to CCC (but many other Magisterial documents are cited) as well as canonical / Christological interpretation of OT.
- Brief introduction to Catholic teaching about Scripture, how to read the bible, brief summary of Scripture, chronology of OT and NT at the front of the book are a nice touch
- Apologetic material appears to be somewhat randomly dispersed throughout but there is an index in the back
- The commentary seems to be much better geared to the "average Catholic" picking up the bible than the NABRE notes. I think this will definitely fill a much needed niche for Catholics interested in delving deeper in to Scripture without getting bogged down in the historical-critical weeds

Vladimir998
I got my copy just minutes ago (Monday afternoon, the 12th). It is generally what we expected. No dust jacket - a true hard cover book. As Luke said, it is not a brick. Quite reasonable in size. Print quality seems good to my eyes. I am able to read it even without my glasses - though I would never do that for more than a few minutes. 
The apologetics articles seem to be very good. 
One the ribbons had glue on the end and was sticking to the page (1 Sam 14:18). Yikes! Luckily I was able to unstick it without damaging the page or ribbon. I had to cut the ribbon to remove the gluey part. The other ribbon was already slightly frayed at the end! By the way, the ribbons are really long. That will be useful over time if they get frayed and need to be cut away.
The Brief Summary of Sacred Scripture at the beginning of the Bible will be very useful for telling people what each book is about in as little as one sentence (or several if need be). Shortest Example: "2 Samuel: The reign of David". 

Didache Bible Interview and Preview

Follow this link for some sample pages. (Thanks to Michael and Corey for the link)

Didache Bible Q&A

Interview of Fr. Jim Socias by Liam Ford 

Why did Midwest Theological Forum decide to publish the Didache Bible?

The primary inspiration for the Didache Bible was the address given by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in 2002 on the tenth anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In this address, Cardinal Ratzinger strongly defended the use of Scripture in the Catechism as a means to explain the faith and emphasized how it was important to read Scripture within the living tradition of the Church.   

While the Catechism has greatly benefitted from its many references to Sacred Scripture, we found it surprising that there was nothing that would allow the reader to go the other way around; that is, a Bible with commentaries that referenced the Catechism.  Such a Bible would facilitate a better understanding of how a particular verse or verses are directly related to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

In reflecting on this, we came to see that a Bible with commentaries based on the Catechism would be a good companion to the Didache Series textbooks, which are also based on Scripture and the Catechism. This, in effect, was our inspiration to publish the Didache Bible.

What is the importance of consulting the Catechism when reading the Bible?

As Cardinal Francis George says in the preface, the Second Vatican Council “affirmed the importance of Sacred Scripture in the life of faith.” The Deposit of Faith, which is contained in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, is safe-guarded and transmitted by the Magisterium of the Church, and the Catechism is the basic summary of this great wealth of Catholic teaching. Catholics who desire to understand the faith more completely will naturally want to study the Catechism and read the Bible on a regular basis.

By basing the commentaries on the Catechism and by referencing the relevant parts Catechism, the Didache Bible provides the reader with a means to better understand how the teachings of the Church are based on Scripture and how the living tradition of the Church interprets those verses of Scripture.

How does the Didache Bible respond to the Second Vatican Council’s call to renew the Catholic faith in the modern world?

In Dei Verbum (no. 10), the Second Vatican Council taught that the task of authentically interpreting the Word of God has been entrusted to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. By basing the commentaries of the Didache Bible on the Catechism, we show both how the Church has interpreted the different parts of Scripture and how that Scripture has become part of her magisterial teaching.

Additionally, Guadium et spes (no. 58) speaks of how the Gospel of Christ renews the modern world and advances culture, perfecting them in Christ. By promoting the Word of God and its authentic interpretation, we hope to assist the Church in her mission of renewing the faith in the modern world.

How did you determine which paragraphs of the Catechism to include with the different commentaries?

As a first step, we looked at which verses of Scripture were quoted or referenced in the various paragraphs of the Catechism and worked backwards. We then looked at how these verses were explained in the Catechism and incorporated these teachings into the commentaries as appropriate. 

Subsequently, these draft commentaries were carefully reviewed by a team of Scripture scholars, such as Fr. Paul Mankowski of the University of Chicago and Fr. Andreas Hoeck of St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver. As part of their work, the team not only corrected the commentaries but drafted new material as appropriate and made suggestions as to other relevant paragraphs of the Catechism that should be included.

What are some of the elements that comprise the Didache Bible?

In addition to the commentaries based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Didache Bible provides references to additional paragraphs of the Catechism. This enables the reader to go back to the original source and see what further information on a particular topic the Catechism offers.

Another important element of the Didache Bible is the apologetical explanations. These 105, one-page explanations cover topics that help the reader to understand the faith better and to explain the faith to others.

When speaking with non-Catholics, it’s not enough just to say the Catechism tells us these things.  Therefore, the apologetical explanations are based not only on the Catechism but also rely heavily on Sacred Scripture, which is useful when speaking with non-Catholic Christians. When possible, they are also based on natural reason, which is useful when speaking with non-Christians. Sample topics include such Catholic beliefs and practices as honoring or venerating the Blessed Virgin Mary, going to Confession, and believing in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  

The Didache Bible also offers a comprehensive glossary of Biblical terms, a topical index, numerous maps of the various places mentioned in the Bible, Introductions to the books of the Bible, timelines of Biblical events, and other helpful information, such as how to read the Bible.

How can the Didache Bible be useful to teachers and students?

For teachers and students—whether in Catholic high schools, parishes, homeschools, or in a family setting—the Didache Bible can be a useful instrument to help understand how the Word of God is interpreted by the Magisterium and how Scripture, along with Sacred Tradition, is the foundation of Catholic teaching.

Although it was developed as a companion to our Didache Series textbooks, the Didache Bible is really accessible to anyone. For example, it is great for parents, who are the primary educators of their children.  It is also ideal for Bible study programs and anyone wanting to learn more about their faith and Sacred Scripture.

How can the Didache Bible be of use to someone trying to study the Bible in-depth?

The Didache Bible is a great tool for Bible study. For those wanting a more in-depth understanding of Sacred Scripture, the commentaries will help them to understand what the Bible says in the light of the teachings of the Church and how this Scripture helps to form the faith. The other elements of the Didache Bible will assist in better understanding the historical context of different parts of the Bible, the meanings of biblical terms and concepts, and the relationship between the different books of the Bible.  The commentaries also help the reader to see how the Bible is a unified whole and how the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New.

The Didache Bible not only helps the reader have a better understanding of Scripture but also of the Catechism, which is the surest interpretation of the faith. In short, the Didache Bible makes evident how the Catechism and Sacred Scripture complement each other.

What are some tips on reading the Bible for a person who is trying to grow in his or her spiritual life?

The Church highly recommends that Catholics read the Bible regularly. The practice of lectio divina or the prayerful reading of the Scripture makes a good place to start. In this traditional practice, you slowly read a selection of Bible verses, re-reading them, if necessary, and then meditate on what has been read, pondering what the Word of God is trying to say to you. Next, you pray that God will speak through his Word and, finally, place yourself in God’s presence and contemplate on what God is saying.

Understanding what God is trying to say to us through Sacred Scripture is much easier and more fruitful when we have the Church as our guide. For example, in the Didache Bible commentaries you can read what the Catechism has to say about a particular verse or selection of verses. 

Of course, in addition to lectio divina, there are many different methods of reading the Bible. Sometimes, as in a Bible study group, a book or books of the Bible can be studied methodically from beginning to end. Other times, a person might want to know what the Bible says about a particular topic.  In this case, he or she can look up the term in the topical index and read the relevant Scripture passages about this topic. In both instances, the Didache Bible will help the person better understand what the Church has to say about these verses or selections of Scripture.

It is always a good idea for Catholics to make a resolution to read the Bible each day, at least for a few minutes. Doing so helps us grow in our relationship with God and helps us to understand our faith better. Of course, it is important for Catholics who want to grow in their understanding of the faith to study the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Didache Bible helps in both these regards.

Being more familiar with the Bible and the Catechism gives us the tools to be an effective witness of the faith and to defend the faith when needed. 

Thank you to Ignatius Press for giving me permission to publish this full interview.  The Didache Bible is due to be published later this month.