Customer Reviews

Gift and Award Bible-NABRE

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the best modern translations around, translated by outstanding Catholic scholars. I've appreciated this translation for many years even though I'm not Catholic, but Protestant.

The translation finds a good balance between being literal word for word and a thought for thought translation. It is a very lucid translation that is somewhat similar to the New Revised Standard Version in terms of readability, but it is not gender-inclusive as the NRSV is. I actually like the NAB more than the NRSV. I prefer the NAB to recent paraphrases such as the New Living Translation and the Message.

I really enjoyed the brief introductions for each book along with the helpful study notes at the bottom. The study notes reflect more of a mainstream scholarly position: The Pentateuch is written by the Yahwist, Elohist, Priestly, and Deuteronomic sources (e.g. J,E, D, P). The Book of Isaiah is viewed as written by multiple authors: Isaiah, Deutero-Isaiah, and the disciples of Isaiah.

In Daniel 7, the study notes assert the 4 beasts represent the Babylonian kingdom, the Median empire, the Persian empire under Cyrus the Great, and then the Greek empire. For evangelical readers, this mainstream position may seem "liberal" and reflects a position that goes against predictive prophecy.

The interpretation of the Apocalypse reflects a preterist viewpoint: Babylon the Great in Rev. 17 and 18 is Rome, and the 2 witnesses in Rev. 11 is symbolic of the church. Many of the events in the book of Revelation were fulfilled in the first century.

In more conservative evangelical study Bibles (e.g. The NIV Study Bible, the MacArthur Study Bible), the Pentateuch is written by Moses and his disciples (esp. for Deuteronomy), the book of Isaiah is written by the single author (the prophet Isaiah), and the 4 kingdoms in Daniel 7 are interpreted as Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. In most evangelical study Bibles, the interpretation of apocalyptic literature such as Daniel and Revelation reflect the premillennial dispensationalist viewpoint (everything should be taken very literally and in chronological order: Israel is distinct from the church), the historical premillennial (everything is taken literally but the church is the same as Israel) or the amillennial viewpoint (everything should be taken symbolically rather than literal).

Why all the fuss about dates and authorship? In the case of the book of Daniel, it has to do with one's view of the inspiration of Scripture and whether the prophecies were predicted way in advance or not. Evangelical scholars date Daniel in the 6th century B.C. and hold to the notion of predictive prophecy; hence, the 4 kingdoms are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. The mainstream scholarly position tends to date the book of Daniel to the 2nd century B.C. and a case can be made that these scholars don't hold to the notion of prescriptive prophecy. Hence, the 4 kingdoms would be interpreted as Babylon, Median empire, Persian empire, and Greece.

Another point of interest in the NAB is the translation of the Greek term "hilasmon" as "expiation" rather than "propitiation" (NASB, NKJV, ESV) in passages such as Rom. 3:25; 1 John 2:2 and 4:10.

Despite my different position on the authorship of the prophetic books and my view of how to interpret the apocalyptic books, I found this Bible to be very helpful. I really liked the lucid translation, and the notes help me to understand the mainstream scholarly position.

I really like Catholic Bibles such as the NAB because they include the deutero-canonical books which are not included in Protestant versions, such as Judith, Sirach, Tobit, 1 & 2 Maccabees. The book of Daniel in the NAB includes the stories of Bel and the Dragon attached at the end. The book of Esther contains chapter E between chapters 8 and 9. I especially find the books of 1 & 2 Maccabees to be informative and instructive -- giving the reader much insight into the Intertestamental Period.

You can't go wrong with this Bible. This Gift/Award edition is one of the least expensive editions of the NAB available. It is also available in a a hardcover edition, along with a bigger St. Joseph large print edition (w/ pictures), and a Catholic Study Bible Edition.

I find this Gift & Award edition sufficient for my needs with the fine introductions & study notes already incorporated.

Since I have both the Gift/Award edition and the hardcover edition, I want to point out the differences between the two editions:

a) The Gift/Award edition contains the list of popes, the chronological tables of the Miracles and Parables of Jesus in the front, and the endorsement of the pope & bishops. The hardcover edition does not. The Gift/Award edition is published by World Bibles while the hardcover edition is published by American Bible Society.

b) The Gift/Award edition does not have a 3 year cycle of Sunday Mass readings and a weekday lectionary in the back, while the hardcover edition does.

c) The Gift/Award edition is available in a beautiful black or burgundy imitation leather cover with the title "New American Bible" while the hardcover edition has a burgundy cover and a paper jacket which has the words "New American Bible for Catholics". In the hardcover edition, there is a big cross in the middle of the cover. The Gift/Award edition does not have the cross (which I prefer much more).

d) The Gift/Award edition has the words of Christ in red-letter while the hardcover edition does not.

e) The Gift/Award edition has 2 maps in the back: The 12 tribes of Israel and the Ministry of Jesus, while the hardcover edition contains no maps.

What both editions really need is a concordance in the back.

To tell you the truth, I prefer the Gift/Award version because of the beautiful imitation leather cover, the helpful tables in the front, and Christ's words presented in red-letter. The Gift/Award edition is also more compact than the hardcover edition. I also prefer the "New American Bible" title by itself (and not the words "for Catholics" because I think that believers in all other Christian denominations can benefit greatly by this version. It is not only for Catholics.)

If you're looking for a quality Catholic Bible that is translated by outstanding scholars and is readable, go no further than the NAB. It is an excellent translation that all Christians can benefit from, regardless of their denominational background.

A final note: The New American Bible (NAB) should not be confused with the New American Standard Bible (NASB), which is a conservative Protestant translation of the Bible. In the search list, Amazon puts the NASB alongside the NAB.

If you are looking for a small Catholic Bible for yourself or as a gift, this an excellent and affordable choice.

Some of the features:

Words of Christ in red

List of Popes

Introductions to each book

Footnotes and cross-references

List of Christ's parables and miracles in chronological order and where they can be found

The pages are thin, most likely due to the compact size, and the text may be small for some people, 9 pt according to some sources on the Internet. Neither of these are a problem for me, hence the five star rating. They may be a more determining factor if you or the person receiving this Bible have poor vision or would have a problem turning the thin pages.

Love this translation in a durable imitation leather binding which will be much longer lasting than the paperbound edition. The Bible is lightweight and compact.

This Bible is excellent. (By the way, the New American Bible translation is the translation that is used and read at Mass. Important FYI for Catholics.) This Bible is in a nice size size, so you can carry it with you and read along in Church, or even if you are waiting in line for the dentist, or even at home when you are sitting at the table eating by yourself. I mention this, because this is the Bible I think is great for Catholics to carry around and read so they know God's Word very well, and they understand more around them. It's also durable to carry around in this fashion; I've been carrying mine around like that for a year, and I read it when I'm on the train, and I read along in Mass, and it's great. Even if you're just "curious" about the Bible, or about the Catholic Bible, please read so you can understand the faith and understand God!! You will be so happy. If you want to learn how to love, how to love God, how to love your neighbor, how to deal with a horrible co-worker, how to deal with problems in life, read the Word of God. Read Proverbs, Sirach, read the New Testament - open up different sections, open random sections! You will never regret this purchase, and keep your Bible with you and displayed prominently so you and your children can read it whenever you wish.

Delivery was in only a few days and it arrived in perfect condition to the person it was a gift for. No problems or complaints.

First, not happy with this translation at all. Had to buy a copy as part of an RCIA program. There are much better translations out there but Catholics consider this one the one for their members, so that being said on to the book.

The construction id nice for the price, would make a nice gift bible for someone entering or exiting RCIA, or to a loved one that might be lacking in the faith that is showing an interest in renewing their relationship with God.

Text was well worth the price.

Not much to say it is an OK starter Bible. I ended up buying a different one that has more history , explanations etc . I gave this Bible to someone who didn't have one at all.

God's word in a format easy for all to read. The notes provide excellent background incite. Reading it makes you want to pray for those who's book reviews are tainted by Satan's awfull power.