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I need some help re OFFICIAL Bible translations to be used in Church.

Our UGCC Parish started to read the readings twice last week - first in Ukrainian and then in English

I had spotted a notice in English in the Porch as I went in today saying that they had noticed an increase in numbers of non-ukrainian people attending and would be looking for volunteers to read in English - emphasising that Ukrainian would be used first.

The lady who read today used her own Bible - and I did not like the translation - it seemed rather stilted and inelegant I had as usual printed out the readings [ not knowing of this change ] and have to say I found my King James version much easier to understand. Her Bible was the one that she and her husband had been given on their marriage in Canada a good few years ago and as far as I could see it was the NAB .

Now I have QuickVerse on my Computer but the NAB is not one of the versions on the Mac QuickVerse.

Does anyone know if there is an Official translation to be used in UGCC Churches if English is to be used ?

On QuickVerse I have the American Standard version, the English Standard version, the International Standard version , the King James and the New King James , the New RSV and some others which I really do not like.

the ASV strikes me as rather 'old fashioned' and somewhat difficult for young people

the ESV is good straightforward English

the ISV is also straightforward

the King James is of course very familiar to me

the New King James again I feel a good translation - and I would happily use this

the New RSV - again easy to understand

To be honest I have looked at them all using today's Epistle Reading - which when I heard the NAB version made me realise that it was not an easy to understand translation - the Reader had problems with it too

My own preference would be either the new King James or the new RSV but I would like to know if there is an Official version which I should use.

I have already been 'volunteered' to read on the Sunday starting Great and Holy Week.

Now come on folks - help me out here - I've obviously been accepted and I do NOT want to drop any clangers.

Anhelyna

Anhelyna,

The only English versions approved for use in Liturgy are the Jerusalem Bible, RSV-CE, and NAB. The NRSV was specifically rejected for liturgical use. The New JB does not have approval. A corrected Revised NAB was recently approved.

As for Byzantine Gospeland Epistles Books: The Ukrainians here in America use the old NAB, published by the Stamford Eparchy. The Pittsburgh Metropolia uses the old NAB and these are available from the Byzantine Seminary Press. The Melkites have their own original translation available from Alleluia Press.

Fr. Deacon Lance

One of the Melchite Priests here was very critical about the Gospel from Alleuia Press, said is was worse than bad translation.

ICXC
NIKA

Anhelyna,

This is not a simple issue. As far as I know the UGCC does not have a formally announced �official version� for the English language. It is most likely that the NAB was used as the �Catholic Bible� in the USA when the editors of the various Gospel and Epistle books were prepared. Even if the UGCC in America has established an official version for the USA it would not be binding outside the USA as each local bishop may has some freedom here.

I recommend that you ask the pastor of the parish for his direction in the matter. If he gives you freedom in matter, then you are free to choose.

I recommend the RSV-CE. No one can argue against your using the RSV-CE.

You might also consider the English Standard Version. The ESV is a good update to the RSV (although the ESV is not yet approved for Catholic use).

If you are more comfortable with the KJV go ahead and use it. It is well known in the United Kingdom (it was produced in England, you know!). Many of the Orthodox Churches use the KJV.

But, again, ask the pastor for his guidance.

A good website with many translations of the Holy Scriptures is www.biblegateway.com. [biblegateway.com.]

A suggestion: If you are printing the readings from the web or a computer program, take the assembled pages and somehow work them into a binder or book. Appearance is not unimportant. Someone reading from a book comes across much better than someone reading from a single sheet of paper.

Admin

Well as I can't be there next week , I will not be able to check what version the young Reader will be using .

I will just prepare from the New KJV , print it off and put it in a nice black folder and use that.

I , though I am happy enough about reading - it doesn't worry me at all - do prefer to be able to prepare it properly.

And from having heard Sunday's English version - and seen the Large Bible and noted that the font size was what I would call tiny [ may be as large as 10 point] since at least half the page was taken up by foot notes , I would hate to be faced by an unfamiliar translation that was difficult to read.

The New KJV wins - unless I am told differently.

And we can't get guidance from our Bishop - You have him in Stamford now.

Anhelyna,

The Orthodox Study Bible mught be a good choice if you want to use the NKJV. It uses the NKJV text and has the Sunday Lectionary listings:
http://conciliarpress.bizhosting.com/the_orthodox_study_bible.html


Also here is a link to the GOA Apostolos, I think it is KJV or NKJV:
http://store.holycrossbookstore.com/lisebo.html

Here is another GOA Apostolos that use the KJV perhaps the same as above:
http://www.light-n-life.com/shopping/order_product.asp?ProductNum=EPIS610

Fr. Deacon Lance

Thanks for that Fr Deacon

I do have all the Lectionary listings - GodPapa saw to that for me

I'm slowly building up a wee liturgical library here - you should have seen what went to France with us the other weekend - and we cut it down quite a bit - so ended up sharing books at times - weight could have been a problem with flying over to France

Readings will have to be printed out - getting books from the US is for me horrendeously expensive as I discovered last year

I'm not worried about the printing - that's really the least of my problems , and I have been doing that since last year - my SF told me to do that - and when I'm in Lourdes he expects to see the readings in my hand

As far as I know, the UGCC Eparchy of Edmonton (Canada) typically uses the "old NAB" Gospel just as Deacon Lance mentioned.

Metropolitan Lawrence (then my Bishop) told me to buy this one for my parish.

I could be wrong, but I think the Epistle Book is also NAB. I will go back to the parish tonight and check.

I am not a scripute schollar, but I will ask a friend of mine who is, and who knows our Church very well. If his answer is usefull for you I will pass it on.

Good question.

Fr. Bo (Bohdan)

Most of the NAB NT sems like a cut and paste of the RSV. OT is a different story. I really like the Moffat version, and it was used in the refectory on a Dominican house I know. The institution narrative has some really protestant bits inserted whch are also incorrectly translated I think, but the rest of it is really goos, and far more elegant that KJV or NKJV. In many ways it was designed to remedy errors in Greek translation in the KJV, and does so better than RSV>Anyway, if you cna get it thesedays, have a look.

N

Douay Rheims anyone?

GMMcNabb, the Douay-Rheims version is the only one [as far as I know] to refer to "our daily bread" as "our supersubstantial bread. My son thinks the other versions are a Protestant ploy to take away the meaning of the Holy Presence in the Eucharist.
Any thoughts anyone?

Matthew 6:9-11

9 Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our supersubstantial bread.

There is a very interesting article (Bible Babel)posted at the Adoremus website written by Fr. John Neuhaus regarding the NAB use in the lectionary etc...

http://www.adoremus.org/0306BibleTranslations.html

james

Irlanda,

Most mainstream Protestants do believe in the Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, albeit differently than Catholcis and Orthodox do, so I don't think there is any conspiracy here.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Fr. John can rest easy for Latin Catholics willing to be disobedient to the USSCB but obedient to the Holy See's directive, Ignatius Press now offers the Roman Lectionary using the RSV-CE 2nd Edition in two volumes:

Volume 1: Sundays and Solemnities of the Lord and the Triduum.
Volume II: Proper of Seasons, Proper of Saints, and Votive, Ritual, and Funeral Massess.

It is currently the only English Lectionary reviewed by the Congregation for Divine Worship and approved by them as in conformity with Liturgiam Authenticam. It was also approved by the Antilles Bishops Conference

It has a ery nice red cover with gold stamped icon of Christ, the Light of the World and the symbols of the 4 Evangelists.

The RSV-CE 2nd edition gets rid of archaic language but does correct the Old Testament, which the original RSV-CE did not. Isaiah now reads virgin rather than young woman for example.

Now if some can talk them into producing a Byzantine Gospel and Epistle Book...

http://www.ignatius.com/ViewProduct.aspx?SID=1&Product_ID=2812&Category_ID=185&

Deacon Lance,

Have you ever read Samuel II chap:11, verse 2 in the NAB ? You can take a view of it at the USCCB site if you don't have a copy handy...maybe they were translating for Spanish use...

Is there any wonder why Rome is questioning this version...

I rather be in compliance with Rome...

james