The Bible
Preferred Translation: New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition
We preface this with the notion that there is no substitute for the original Greek and Hebrew texts. However, it is understood that this is not a reality for the masses. Therefore, we must seek the most accurate and true to the original translation.
We have selected the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
The translation team included scholars from Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant denominations, and Jewish representation for the Old Testament. It is an “essentially literal” translation that strives for word-for-word accuracy, while leaning toward “dynamic equivalence” or thought-for-thought translation.
The NRSV uses gender-inclusive language and gender-neutral language, such as “brothers and sisters,” rather than just “brothers,” when the meaning is clearly for both genders. However, it includes a footnote to show “sisters” was added in. It uses gender-neutral language, such as “people” instead of “man,” when the Hebrew or Greek word is neutral.
Why the Catholic Edition? This edition is the same as all NRSV translations except it includes those books from the Old Testament that were part of the Greek Septuagint. These were removed in Protestant Bibles because several centuries after Christ they were removed from the Jewish texts, however these were maintained in Catholic and Eastern Bibles. There is, however, scholarly evidence that the Septuagint was widely referenced by the biblical authors as well as quoted by Jesus.
Therefore we chose to include them because the Septuagint (LXX) was the Hebrew Scriptures that was used by Christ and his disciples/followers.
Preferred Translation: New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition
We preface this with the notion that there is no substitute for the original Greek and Hebrew texts. However, it is understood that this is not a reality for the masses. Therefore, we must seek the most accurate and true to the original translation.
We have selected the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
The translation team included scholars from Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant denominations, and Jewish representation for the Old Testament. It is an “essentially literal” translation that strives for word-for-word accuracy, while leaning toward “dynamic equivalence” or thought-for-thought translation.
The NRSV uses gender-inclusive language and gender-neutral language, such as “brothers and sisters,” rather than just “brothers,” when the meaning is clearly for both genders. However, it includes a footnote to show “sisters” was added in. It uses gender-neutral language, such as “people” instead of “man,” when the Hebrew or Greek word is neutral.
Why the Catholic Edition? This edition is the same as all NRSV translations except it includes those books from the Old Testament that were part of the Greek Septuagint. These were removed in Protestant Bibles because several centuries after Christ they were removed from the Jewish texts, however these were maintained in Catholic and Eastern Bibles. There is, however, scholarly evidence that the Septuagint was widely referenced by the biblical authors as well as quoted by Jesus.
Therefore we chose to include them because the Septuagint (LXX) was the Hebrew Scriptures that was used by Christ and his disciples/followers.
