Everyone should have at least 1 Bible on their shelves! Why not 2 or 3? The more translations of the Bible you own, the more insights you are likely to gain by comparing the different ways in which the same passages are rendered. If you can read more than 1 language, it is especially useful to compare translations in multiple languages.
While there are literally dozens of English translations of the Bible (and most of them are quite good), you cannot go wrong with either of these:
Catholic Study Bible - this is the best scholarly edition of the New American Bible (NAB) translation that all Catholic churches in the U.S. read from in their liturgies.
New Jerusalem Bible - a superb translation reflecting top biblical scholarship; includes excellent notes.
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Invest in a really great bible! As a college sophomore, I took “Intro to Old Testament” and “Intro to New Testament” in back-to-back succession. The Catholic Study Bible was the recommended translation, and I’ve been using it ever since. I highly recommend it for its thorough introductions, extensive footnotes, cross references, full color maps, glossary, and lectionary guide. I’ve used this bible to prepare for teaching RCIA, for lector preparation, for countless graduate school papers, and to facilitate personal prayer.
ReplyDeleteMy only precaution is this: As a cash-strapped college student, I debated at length whether to invest in a hard-cover copy or stick with the (cheaper) paper back version. The worn cover and twisted corners are proof that this bible has been put to good use. Buyer beware, the sacred scriptures are priceless, but paperback bibles do wear out. If I had to do it all over again, hard cover or leather bound is the only way to go!