What Bible Translation Does the Catholic Church Use?
The Catholic Church, with its rich history and diverse practices, has always held the Bible in high regard. The Bible is considered the Word of God and is central to the faith and worship of Catholics. However, the question of what Bible translation the Catholic Church uses can be a bit more complex than one might initially think.
The Catholic Church recognizes several Bible translations as authoritative, but the most commonly used translation is the New American Bible (NAB). The NAB was first published in 1970 and has been widely adopted by Catholic churches and communities around the world. This translation was created with the aim of being both accurate and accessible to English-speaking Catholics.
The NAB is based on the Revised Standard Version (RSV), which in turn was based on the Jerusalem Bible. The NAB includes the complete Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Book of Psalms. It also includes the Apocrypha, which is a collection of texts that are considered deuterocanonical by the Catholic Church. The Apocrypha includes books like 1 and 2 Maccabees, Tobit, Judith, Sirach, Baruch, and Wisdom.
While the NAB is the most widely used translation, the Catholic Church recognizes other translations as well. For example, the New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) is another popular translation that is often used in liturgical readings and private devotion. The NJB is based on the same texts as the NAB but has a more contemporary style and includes additional footnotes and introductions.
In addition to the NAB and NJB, the Catholic Church also accepts the Revised Standard Version (RSV), the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), and the New International Version (NIV) as legitimate translations. However, these translations are not as widely used as the NAB and NJB.
The choice of Bible translation within the Catholic Church is influenced by various factors, including the language of the congregation, the liturgical context, and the personal preference of the individual. In many cases, the translation used in Mass and liturgical readings will be the NAB or NJB, while individuals may choose to use other translations for personal study and devotion.
In conclusion, while the Catholic Church recognizes several Bible translations, the New American Bible (NAB) is the most commonly used translation. This translation is widely accepted for its accuracy, readability, and its alignment with the teachings of the Catholic Church. However, other translations like the New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) and the Revised Standard Version (RSV) are also recognized and used by many Catholics.
