Legacy of the RSV-CE and JB

It was around 50 years ago that two influential English language Catholic Bibles were published.  They are, of course, the Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition and the Jerusalem Bible.  Both of these Bibles were fruits of the Second Vatican Council and each, in their own way, continue to have a following even today.  The RSV-CE represents a more formal translation in line with its KJV heritage, while the Jerusalem Bible, known for its thorough notes, maintains a more dynamic style.  Each has been further updated/revised, yet each is still available and is in use in various places.

So, I want to hear from you, my gentle readers, as to what you think the legacy is for these two translations and what the future holds for them?

Guest Review: Jerusalem Bible (Salvador Dali Illustrated Edition)

A special thank you to long time reader of this blog Rolf for this review of the Dali Jerusalem Bible.

The Jerusalem Bible (Salvador Dali illustrated) edition is a Bible that I had been 'watching' on ebay for a very long time. It was published in 1970, but it makes frequent appearances on ebay usually for $150.+ I was able to obtain this copy at auction in new like condition  for about $65. shipped.

This is a huge Bible:  12 x 8 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches and it weighs a little less than a smart car! The Bible is bound in red (bonded, genuine or faux?) padded leather over boards. I am not sure, I have read that it is leather and faux leather but the slightly padded hardcover looks nice and works well with this big Bible!

The Salvador Dali illustrations are all full page and there are 32 of them. Dali's illustrations can be strange, but they always make you think when you see them.

The real reason I wanted this Bible was for a chance to read a large print Jerusalem Bible! I have three other Jerusalem Bibles, two with size 9 print and a compact with size 7 print. When I found out that this Bible had size 11 (well spaced) single column print, I had to get one!  The paper is thick and bleed through is very well controlled! The illustrations are on much heavier paper and are quality prints. It comes with two very nice and wide red ribbon markers.

This is a table top/ lap type Bible, but it is a great reading/ devotional Bible (with minimal notes/reference numbers at bottom of the page)! Is it worth $150.? In excellent condition I think it is! With high end Bibles now selling for $250-$300.+ and bonded leather study bibles nearing the $100. mark, I would say yes! But maybe with a little looking around it could be found cheaper!

Psalm 23 in the Jerusalem Bible

Yahweh is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  In meadows of green grass he lets me lie. To the waters of repose he leads me; there he revives my soul. He guides me by paths of virtue for the sake of his name. Though I pass through a gloomy Valley, beside me your rod and your staff are there, to hearten me. You prepare a table before me under the eyes of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, my cup brims over.  Ah, how goodness and kindness pursue me, every day of my life, my home, the house of Yahweh, as long as I live! 

-Psalm 23 (JB)

Jerusalem and New Jerusalem Bible's

I wanted to offer a little space here to hear from those who love and read either the Jerusalem and New Jerusalem Bible's.  If I had time, I would love to do a bit of research into these great translations, but that is not possible at this point in life.  So, what I would like to do is to hear from those of you who actually use the JB or NJB on a daily basis.  Why do you like it?  What edition do you use?  

History of the Jerusalem Bible

Thanks to Gerald for passing along this helpful essay on the history of the Jerusalem Bible.  Any original 1966 Jersualem Bible readers out there?  Would love to hear from you!

Guest Review: Jerusalem Bibles

Thanks to reader Eric on this fine guest review of these two Jerusalem Bibles. 

I have used the original 1966 Jerusalem Bible as my primary study Bible for several years.  I’ve enjoyed the nice way it reads and the notes and cross-references.  However, the weight and size of what I like to call Big Red is uncomfortable for me to hold for long periods of time, and I’m not a set-it-on-the-table-and-read-it type of guy.

 

So, I’ve been seeing something called the thin paper edition (hereafter referred to as the TPE) on E-Bay and been curious as to how it would compare to Big Red.  I’ve thrown a few bids around and been outbid every time, so apparently I’m not the only one who likes the idea of a thinner version of Big Red.  Well, as luck would have it, I found a seller on AbeBooks who had a copy still in the box, which was aggressively priced (i.e., so inexpensive that I almost felt guilty buying it, and using a 10% off coupon code to make it even more affordable… ALMOST).  Well, it arrived yesterday and Tim said he would love to have a compare/contrast between the two editions.

First, the outside….

 

The cover is what the box calls ‘flexible binding.’  What it feels like to me is a textured cardboard that’s meant to look like leather.  The feel on the hand is underwhelming – Big Red’s cloth hardback feels nicer on the skin.  BUT, the fact that the TPE is about half as thick as Big Red, the weight savings and being able to comfortably wrap my hands around the spine, more than makes up for the lame cover material.  The cover does flex, and there is a definite flex mark along the spine.  Page edges are gilded and it comes with a ribbon marker.  Other than the cover material, win-win all the way around.  This would be a prime candidate for a Leonard’s rebind to something nice (Love, are you reading this?  Leonard’s gift certificates make wonderful Christmas gifts… hint hint). 

Now, the inside….

 

The paper is thinner, with significantly more ghosting on the TPE than Big Red.  Also, it has a less-than-smooth feel that more recent bible papers have.  I don’t know if it’s related to the thinness or just age, but it is something that makes me want to tread slowly when turning its pages.  The thickness feels to me similar to the paper that comes on the Oxford compacts or the Little Rock Study Bible hardback (just not as smooth).  While the ghosting is much more noticeable, it is no worse than the Darton Longman Todd Popular Edition of the Jerusalem Bible I also have (as a traveling/casual reading copy).  Contents are identical between Big Red and the TPE, right down to the page numbers.

 

So, to summarize some thoughts here….

 

If you want to get ready for the ‘gun show’ but not hit the weights, get Big Red.

 

If you want to be able to hold your Jerusalem Bible comfortably in one hand, yet still have all the notes, get the TPE.

 

Of course, if you just want the text of the Jerusalem Bible that can be comfortably held in one hand and don’t care about all the notes, just get the Doubleday Reader’s/DLT Popular Edition.

 

For me?  I’m keeping the thin paper edition (and trying to treat it gently until I can save up some cash and get it rebound).  I’ll probably keep the DLT Popular Edition I have for awhile (besides, the resale value on them stink on E-Bay) and maybe let my kids use it as a starter Bible.  But, after a wonderful journey with Big Red, it’s going to go online and hopefully travel somewhere in the USA to another reader who would like a good copy of the full Jerusalem Bible and nice biceps to boot.

Guest Review: The Jerusalem Bible Compact Readers Edition

Thanks to reader Rolf for this guest review of The Jerusalem Bible Compact Readers Edition.

I was in the market for a leather Reader's Edition of the Jerusalem Bible (which has minimal notes), but I was not looking for a compact. It has been my experience that most compacts have a print size so small (and cramped) that I can read it for more than a few minutes at a time. It takes a lot of looking around to find anything in this category for the Jerusalem Bible.

I was online on Amazon a couple of days ago scanning through listings (most were out of print - unavailable). I found a listing for a Jerusalem Reader's Edition, near new in black leather. This was what I was looking for, but there was no mention of it being compact. The price was $38 plus $4.99 shipping. I received the Bible in a couple of days and after my first initial concern at the size of the Bible, I was presently surprised. 

This Compact Reader's edition is published by DoubleDay (ISBN# O 385 15565 4), but it looks a lot more like a Cambridge Bible! 

The Bible (see photos) measures roughly 7 1/2 inches x 5 inches x 1 1/4 inches (measurements taken on leather cover. In comparison, I have a compact 1970 NAB in leather and it measures 6 3/4 inches x 5 inches x 1 1/4 inches.

The leather has a similar texture and is a little bit softer and more flexible than my Cambridge NRSV Bible in French Morocco leather, but it is not as flexible as those goatskin Bibles that I have seen online.I checked google for the ISBN # and one of the listings came back as a compact in sheepskin leather black (but I can't find that listing after checking for it again). So I am calling it genuine leather for now.

The front and end pages are very similar as to what is in my Cambridge Bible. The book block is sewn  not glued The Bible paper has nearly the same feel and color as the Cambridge Bible, but slightly thinner. And of course slightly thinner means slightly more bleed thought but it is very well controlled. The print is in single column form, it is approx 7- 7 1/2 font size and is dark and very well spaced!

There is one black ribbon marker. There are brief introductions to all of the Bible books, and brief footnotes at the bottom of the right side facing page (which include referenced verse numbers for quotes from other Bible books).

Like I said before, I am not a fan of small print Bibles( less than size 8), but I found this one surprising easy to read (see photos). This one is a joy to carry around in you hand due to the size and the semi-yapp leather cover, which make it comfortable to carry from either end. The quality is nice and it is a good looking Bible!

Unfortunately these leather Reader's Edition Jerusalem Bibles are hard to find, and the information online can be sketchy.

New Line of CTS Bibles

Thank you to reader Michael who pointed out the new line of CTS Bibles from the UK.  The New Catholic Bible contains the Jerusalem Bible (minus the use of Yahweh) with the Grail Psalter.  While these look wonderful, one has to wonder why these are being published if the UK Lectionary will be changing to the ESV sooner rather than later.  Hmm.....



They include the following:

New Testament and Psalms
Book of Psalms
New Catholic Bible Compact Flexi-Bound
New Catholic Bible Flexi-Bound Blue
New Catholic Bible Flexi-Bound Red
New Catholic Bible Paperback

A Thank You

I wanted to send a quick thank you to recent international contest winner Roman.  Roman, who won the compact RSV-CE, was very generous in sending me a Chech language edition of the Jerusalem Bible.  While it is unlikely that I will ever be able to actually read it, I will certainly treasure this beautiful little Bible for years to come.  So, thank you Roman!

Guest Review: CTS Bible

Many thanks to reader Geoffrey for the following review of the CTS Bible:

The Jerusalem Bible, literarily speaking, is perhaps one of the best English translations available (and the fact that Tolkien worked on it adds bonus epic-awesome-points). Obtaining its text is worth any deficiencies a certain printing has, especially if said printing contains the Grail Psalter. And make no mistake, the Catholic Truth Society edition has many deficiencies.

Rather than presenting the full document of Dei Verbum, this Bible contains only a resume which at certain points raises the reader's concern that biases of the editor are seeping through. Even though I tend to share the editor's views on a more limited inerrancy pertaining to Scripture, it is improper to force such an opinion on the common faithful or project it onto Vatican II documents, which are at best ambiguous concerning the subject.

Matters degrade even faster when it comes to the historical commentaries and book introductions. Often, the editor (or commentator, or whatever you wish to call him) dates books by assuming their prophecies were always made after the fact. Especially annoying is his continual insistence that the historical basis of the Bible may be unreliable in the most basic sense. In the introduction to the books of Samuel he suggests Saul might have been an "important innovator" whose reputation was blackened by David. Later, he accuses the Chronicler of blatantly re-writing and misrepresenting history, offering little or no thought to justify his accusations or relate them to Christian tradition. Moreover, he seems rather tone death to the actual portrayal of Biblical characters in the text, suggesting substantial differences in perspective between authors where none exist (cf. 2 Kings 15:1-7 and note 26b on 2 Chronicles 26).

Although the footnotes sometimes offer insight, this a rare occasion. Typically, the editor's hubris derails him at the exact moment he is about to enter into an interesting topic. Take, for example, note 2b of Luke 2. Rather than discussing the fascinating debate involving Luke's famous/infamous census passage, he simply asserts that Luke got his dates wrong and then almost jeeringly offers the possibility that Mary and Joseph always lived in Bethlehem as a solution to getting them to the City of David. He clearly rejects the historicity of much of Luke, a fact to which he alludes in the introduction by mentioning his belief that Luke changed certain details of the Jesus narrative specifically to cull favor with Rome (i.e. clearing Pilate and Herod of guilt, which for the life of me I can't see in the actual text). Now, if I stretch my mind and heart enough, I can imagine how one might possibly still adhere to Christianity and reject one of the two birth narratives of Christ (and to our editor's credit he seems to believe Matthew). But this is not a view one should impose on a Bible for the common faithful. The editor is just hotdogging and strutting his historical-critical chops, not providing the reader with any useful material to understand the text. He has not created a scholarly work here. For a good example of how historical critical methods should be used in Christian scholarship, see the NIV Archeological Study Bible.

Not everything about this Bible is bad. The one column format is very attractive, the maps are useful, the text is clear and easy to read, the Divine Name has been removed (the use of YHWH is extremely offensive to the Jews and it's an ecumenical travesty we ever used it), the liturgical notes are expertly done, and the theological commentary is solid and very insightful. There is little business to distract from meditative reading. The book is a pleasure to peruse.

I would recommend the CTS Bible to those who wish to obtain the text of the Jerusalem Bible or want a text that's in a format conducive to meditation. For people looking for a good study Bible, look elsewhere. For those seeking tools to share their faith, be forewarned that the missionary imperative of Dei Verbum has once again gone unheeded. The CTS Bible has almost nothing to offer people wanting to learn more about Christ and Catholicism. I cannot see it being useful in the field of evangelism or apologetics. If the Catholic Truth Society was trying to make a Bible for the everyday believer, they failed. But God bless them anyway, cause it sure looks pretty!

If you would like to see some of my previous comments on the CTS Bible, go here.

CTS New Catholic Bible

Well, here is something that recently was published in England. It is the CTS New Catholic Bible. For those of you in the English speaking Catholic world, outside the USA, this may be the Bible for you. It contains the original edition of the Jerusalem Bible, with the Grail Psalms inserted in place of the JB ones. Also, this new edition alters the divine name, YHWH, and has replaced it with the standard English use of LORD, in conjunction with Pope Benedict's recommendations. I commend the Catholic Truth Society for publishing this edition; it would be nice to see what the USCCB does in the future, since it adopted the Grail Psalms for the liturgy. Why not have a Bible that Catholics in American could use at Mass on Sunday and for private study and devotions? Seems like a no-brainer! It also comes in four different editions.

Below are some of the other features of the CTS New Catholic Bible:

-New specially commissioned introductions, one for each book, giving the biblical and historical context

-New specially commissioned liturgical introductions placing each book of the Bible in the Church’s liturgical year

-New footnotes following the latest scholarship

-New marginal references helping you get the most out of each passage.

-New layout – using clear and modern fonts in easy-to-read single-column format

-New text alterations, replacing the word ‘Yahweh’ with ‘the LORD’ as requested by Benedict XVI for all new Bibles

-New directories of references for readings used in the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours, including the fuller two-year cycle for the Breviary.