What is the best Bible for Catholics?
There is a wide variety of Christian bibles with sometimes subtle but important differences. Although Catholics are generally free to choose the Bible edition which they find most helpful, some are more useful than others.
Aside from secondary issues such as size, type of binding, and supplementary information, the main thing which separates bibles is the original source and the translation. In addition, Catholic bibles include the Deuterocanonical books, a series of books from the Jewish Testament composed in Greek rather than Hebrew. (These books were not considered authentic by the Protestant reformers, but are in some cases labeled “Apocrypha” and included as an appendix in modern Protestant bibles.)
The two most highly recommended bibles for Catholic are:
• The New American Bible (NAB) first published in 1970 and the New American Bible Revised Edition
(NABRE), a revision of the NAB which is nearing completion. The New American Bible is sponsored
by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and was translated from the original languages by
scholars from the Catholic Biblical Association of America. It contains the official translation used
for the Scripture readings at Mass and therefore will sound familiar to many Catholics.
• The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) first published in 1989 by the National Council of
Churches. This translation was composed mainly by Protestant biblical scholars, with the
assistance of Jewish and Catholic translators. It is used by the Canadian Conference of Catholic
Bishops for English liturgical readings in Canada and employs language which is more gender-
neutral than the NAB. The Catholic edition of the NRSV includes the Deuterocanonical books.
• The Catholic Prayer Bible published by Paulist Press in 2010 is designed for individuals who wish to
read the Bible reflectively and prayerfully using the ancient Christian process of lectio divina (holy
reading). This bible incorporates the text of the New Revised Standard Version.
Other popular options for English-speaking Catholics include:
• The New Jerusalem Bible, published in 1985. This bible is an English translation based on the
original Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic. It is considered the most poetic translation in English and is
therefore particularly useful for personal prayer and reflection. It is approved for study and personal
devotion by Catholics and includes the Deuterocanonical books.
• The Good News Translation published by the American Bible Society in 2004. This bible is a totally
new edition of The Good News Bible (or Good News for Modern Man) and employs a more common,
contemporary English which is more colloquial and familiar to Americans. It is available in a
Catholic edition.
• The Kindred Bible series. This series of Bible books is designed for readers who are seeking a
prayful and contemplative experience of Holy Scripture. Translations are based on the New
American Bible Revised Edition.
• The International Children’s Bible (ICB) published in 1983 and 1987 and the New Century Version
(NCV) published in 1991. The original ICB was written at a third-grade reading level; the NCV, a
revision of the ICB, was written at a fifth-grade reading level. Although not available in
Catholic editions, this bible is particularly useful for children and others with limited vocabulary or
elementary reading skills. Unlike most children’s bibles this one is an actual translation and not a
paraphrase of the sacred text.
All Catholic bibles are required to have a certain amount of explanatory material, including an introduction to each book and footnotes explaining certain aspects of the text for readers who are not familiar with scripture. "Study bibles” are designed for more serious students and include more extensive explanatory material. These include:
• The Catholic Study Bible and The Catholic Bible Personal Study Edition published by Oxford University
Press
• The Little Rock Catholic Study Bible published by Little Rock Scripture Study.
• The New Catholic Answer Bible published by Our Sunday Visitor. This bible includes additional
information related to Catholic teaching or practice.
These three incorporate the text of the New American Bible or New American Bible Revised Edition.
• The Great Adventure Catholic Bible published by Ascension Press. This bible includes additional
material based on Jeff Cavins’ Great Adventure Bible Study and Cavins’ color-coded Bible Timeline. It
incorporates the text of the Revised Standard Version Catholic edition.
In addition to study bibles, bible commentaries provide even more detailed information about the context, meaning and interpretation of biblical books and individual passages. Commentaries do not usually contain the actual text of the scripture, so you have to have an actual bible available as well. Here are some good Catholic commentaries:
• The New Jerome Biblical Commentary
• The Paulist Biblical Commentary
• The New Collegeville Bible Commentary (Old Testament)
• The New Collegeville Bible Commentary (New Testament)
When choosing a bible, be aware that some books like The Way (The Living Bible Illustrated) or The Living Bible are paraphrases, not strict translations. They may be good spiritual reading but are not a reliable presentation of the sacred text.
More FAQ
• What Is the Best Way to Read the Bible?
• What Do Catholics Believe About the Bible?
Related Links
• New American Bible Revised Online
• New Revised Standard Version Online
Learn More
• Which Bible Is Right for Me?
• What Is the Best Bible for Catholics?
• How to Choose the Bible That's Right for You
• What Is the Best Translation for Catholics
• Recommended Catholic Bible Resources
Last Update: 04.26.23