The New American Bible

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.

Best price on the internet for this item during AMAZON PRIME sales days. Fast delivery. Quality purchase for this wonderful Catholic version (authorized, with ecclesiastical approbation), NEW RESISED STANDARD VERSION. Much SMALLER print than the other editions available on-line from Amazon. Slip-cased, with genuine leather cover and place keeping ribbon.

This review is for the Oxford Genuine Leather Edition of the NABRE, ISBN 978-0195298109.The Oxford New American Bible Revised Edition, Large Print Edition, bound in black genuine leather, is a real treasure for any person who is in the market for a Bible that is at once both readable and sturdy. Let's start with the cover. This Bible is bound in black genuine leather. So many Bibles these days - especially in this translation - are bound in imitation or bonded leather. Those covers will wear out quickly with moderate use. Genuine leather is the way to go. Very traditional and long-lasting, even with heavy use. The genuine leather cover is thick and tough and yet very pliable. The size is just about right, not too big and not too small. This Bible just feels great in your hands. When you hold it open in your hands you feel like you are holding a real Bible made in the old tradition. And it smells great, too!The binding is smyth-sewn and will open flat after a little breaking in and some gentle use, which is really outstanding if you like to study at a desk or table. The page edges are gilded with gold and the Bible comes with a black ribbon marker. These days, almost all genuine leather Oxford Bibles come with thumb index. I would actually prefer that Oxford gave us the choice of thumb index or not, but they do not. The thumb index is nice if you need it or are used to it. I actually prefer my Bible without the index, though.The paper is nice. Smooth, opaque, strong, and non-glare, so it doesn't tire the eyes. The print is quite large - 12 point, I'd guess - and is extremely readable. This is a "readers" Bible with references and copious study notes which follow each book of the Bible rather than interrupting the flow of the text. It is surprising just how many study notes are included; this really turns this edition into a study Bible for anyone who wants to use all the notes and references. There are also concise introductions at the beginning of every book. There is no concordance in this edition, however, and there are no maps.The New American Bible (2011 Revised Edition) is one of the most accurate translations available. It is a joy to compare this translation with others. I've found that in most cases I prefer the rendering of a verse as it is given in the NABRE.If you appreciate traditional Oxford quality, you will love this Bible. Easy to read, well-bound and designed to last a lifetime with normal use and care, this Bible is worth every penny you spend.

This Bible has been a really solid choice for someone who needs it. It's holding up great to daily use, which is super important. The print is easy to read, and the binding seems pretty durable too. It's been a meaningful gift that's clearly being put to good use. Definitely a good buy for this situation.

I am not one to be easily daunted with small text. I have other bibles and a few dictionaries which have small text that didn't give me any trouble. I knew that this was a compact edition. It's the reason I bought it after all, for travel. There's a 5-W LED bulb in the photo for an idea of the book's relative size. But I was still surprised to see the text being so tiny in person. I can read it with reading glasses, but barely so. The biblical text, though, is genuine NABRE, right down to the incisive study notes and cross references, both of which were placed after their respective section. It includes common prayers, which serves me well as I have forgotten some of them and their text size is large. The book contains a complete list of the scholars and collaborators who worked on it. You'll find the papal encyclical Dei Verbum, a Vatican II document for guidance on Scripture studies. The zipper runs smoothly and the leather-like cover is smooth to touch. It really is a handy Bible that won't take up space in your bag. It takes no effort at all to hold with one hand while you recline on a sofa or bed.I'd recommend it as a travel Bible provided you have a very good eyesight. If you're already using glasses to read I can't say if text this small will still be legible to you. The photos are magnified for details only and does not demonstrate the actual legibility of the text. I deducted a star to alert you to this. I'm keeping the Bible though as I can still manage reading its tiny text.

Great Bible, perfect for taking with you everywhere (Mass, retreats, Bible studies, evangelizing etc.)If it says compact edition, naturally, you have to assume, the text size will be small as well. Its size can be compared to the Ignatius Press RSV version (which is not leather bound like it says in the description, but rather duradera, just like this one). The only difference between text size is that it seems slightly more compressed than the Ignatius version which has the paragraphs a little more spaced out. It is possible that the NAB font size is one size smaller than the Ignatius press version. I would advise you look that version up to get an idea of what the text size is like:Ignatius Catholic Bible-RSV-Compact ZipperLike the Ignatius RSV Bible, this NAB Bible features:- slim, portable size as the description says; easy to take anywhere though certainly not small enough to put in your pocket.-glossy family record pages,- a picture of Christ the Teacher (2nd glossy page)- protective duradera zipper cover that keeps Bible and its pages clean and protected.-a miraculous medal zipper pull with a gold finish on it which may likely turn silver over time.-glossy pages of Prayers and Devotions of the Catholic Faith (the Ignatius Bible is not glossy and is featured in the back of the Bible; this has the pages in the front)-Measures and Weights in the Bible-Dei VerbumOnly in this NAB version:-Preface to the NAB Old Testament, New Testament-A section on the Pentateuch-Introductions for each book of the Bible (description of each book, themes etc.)- No footnotes in the bottom of the page, they are located after each book instead of looking at footnotes and at an appendix-ribbon markerCons:-Ribbon Marker is a bit too long, and it can get stuck in the zipper. Like another reviewer suggested, it's best to snip off the ribbon a bit to shorten its length.-Duradera cover is a little stiff as is the zipper. I find the Ignatius version to have a softer feel on the cover and the zipper is much easier to close.I just decided to due this quick comparison as there are many who are quite familiar with the Ignatius RSV version, because they are somewhat similar (It's Oxford Press after all). If you don't mind reading small text and like to take your Bible with you, I suggest this one. But if you struggle with vision problems (especially aging eyes), I recommend you try a less compact version. Hope this helps. Feel free to add anything else I missed.

I recently bought two of these Saint Joseph Edition New American Bibles (NAB) in hardcover, by Catholic Book Publishing Corp., one in green cloth ISBN 978-0-89942-963-2, No. 611/67, the other in black cloth: Saint Joseph Bible-Nab-Large Print-Illustrated, ISBN 978-0-89942-964-9, No. 611/22. I have had one of these for about two decades and it is finally falling apart. I like these editions for my own personal use. They are rugged, have nice sewn bindings, they can take quite a beating. They have large print. They open nicely and stay opened without pages flipping back or forth.The translation is the one that people hear each Sunday in the Catholic Church at Mass. I believe this makes it the preferred one to use in Bible Study in the parish. Besides the Sacred Scriptures, these editions come with what I believe is one of the essential Vatican II documents supporting the study of Scripture, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation: Dei Verbum: Solemnly Promulgated by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on November 18, 1965, (Documents of Vatican II). It also has a very nice section, "How to Read the Bible." There are a fair number of good illustrations, maps and other tables. It has a basic Bible Dictionary, lists the Readings for Sunday Mass for the entire 3-year Cycle, and has a useful Doctrinal Index wherein the Scripture texts underlying Church Teachings can be found.The Saint Joseph Edition of the NAB is very reasonably priced. Having bought both new Bibles as "used" in "very good" condition, they were only a fraction of the normal price, arrived in excellent condition looking like new Bibles, with the durability to last another 10-20 years with lots of use, I say these are a real bargain anyway you look at it.

I need large print. This large print edition was hard to read. It took a lot of research to find out that the print size is only 12pt. 12pt type is NOT considered large print! It is only standard print. 14pt to 16pt is called enlarged print. Large print is supposed to be 18pt. I was surprised to find out that Oxford Univ press was using misleading terms. This Bible is not good enough for me to read or study comfortably. IF YOU NEED LARGE PRINT, DON'T BUY THIS BIBLE. The thin paper is difficult to turn the pages.

An excellent translation of scripture with textual and doctrinal notes and extensive cross references. The translation is in modern formal American English, with formal equivalence being the general translation principle. The seventy-three books are found in their canonical order, each prefaced with an introduction on contents and authorship. This edition is in beautiful imitation leather, bound with a ribbon bookmark. It comes in a hard cardboard sleeve. The pages are thin and strong, and have gilded edges. Presentation pages and common Catholic prayers are included on glossy paper. A copy of the dogmatic constitution on divine revelation, Dei Verbum, specially translated into English for this edition, and a complete list of readings used at the Mass (including major feasts) are also included. This being the compact edition, the main text is in small print (capital letters 1,500 micrometres in height) while the notes and cross references, which are found at the end of each book, are in very small print (capital letters one millimetre in height, which I still find readable) (Both measurements are to the nearest 500 μm.).

The envelope has a whole and the corner of the bible are damaged.

È l'edizione del 1991 e non del 2011

I really like that it can be zipped up and protected.

Traducción y comentarios/notas excelentes. Nada de rígida o trasnochada doctrina. Al contrario: rigor, belleza y precisión.El formato es ideal para llevar encima y la edición completisima , lo que no es frecuente en estos formatos. Si la letra es algo pequeña es porque es inevitable. Pero con 63 años que tengo y la presbicia que corresponde a mi edad, lo leo bien con luz adecuada y, si alguna vez no es así por falta de luz una lupa común de lectura es suficiente. Las notas son las que tienen la letra más pequeña, pero como digo no es problema frente a la ventaja de poder llevar encima una excelente biblia