It is a plural form. It’s offered through the Catholic Spiritual Treasures program.) The end result of your scripture study should not make you into a know-it-all arrogant person. However, open each one up, and you’re likely to find an even greater number of differences that could change the way you enjoy your Bible all together. Read the Bible 2. Carry your Bible with you everywhere! Browse All Plans Download the Free Bible App. In other words, the people and events of the Old Testament all point to Jesus as Messiah. It gives an accurate reading of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek original text and is a strong choice for anyone interested in serious Bible study. ", He said! One of the first things Catholics should look for is good footnotes at the bottom of the page that are indexed to other similar texts in the Bible. Since the bible says that our bodies are temples for the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 6, then we should not spend one second desecrating our temple by getting drunk, watching impure movies, having an abortion, cursing, etc. Joseph became Pharaoh's right hand man;  Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father. Note: If you’re using the book Following Christ Through The Gospels, Fr. David was also from Bethlehem (1 Samuel 17). For Bible readers on the go, the New American Bible, Revised Edition Kindle Edition is a great pick. Just as any other Christian religion has its own interpretation of the Bible, so does the Roman Catholic Church. The Douay-Rheims Bible translation is one of the oldest English translations of the Bible. By using the footnotes at the bottom of the page, you can turn to a similar verse and see how it is used. There are a number of ways to read the Bible. Where should a beginner start reading the Bible? This is what the Pharisee thought that Jesus was talking about in John 2 when Jesus said “Destroy this temple and I will rebuild it in 3 days.”  However, Jesus was talking about the allegorical sense (how the text refers to Jesus) and the fact that His Body is the new Temple. If you’re not quite sure how to choose the best Catholic Bible, here are a few things you should keep in mind. Look for Biblical types of Jesus in the Old Testament like Adam, Moses, and Joseph. Where the KJV or NIV expresses a verse in one sentence, the ERV expresses the same verse in two or three. NABRE - New American Bible Revised Edition Standard Size - Quality Paperbound, 8. The intent of the writer could mean that I never said it, but I thought it. And last, we should never put our own personal interpretation on scripture, unless it agrees with the Tradition of the Catholic Church. One of the easiest to read commentaries that include numerous articles about Catholic beliefs is the Catholic Answer Bible. The RSVCE Bible has been acclaimed for decades as the clearest, most accurate, and most beautiful modern translation of the Bible in English. In a lot of cases, the New Testament reading is prefigured in the Old Testament. And what kind of bat is it exactly? Or "You never said not to take the bat down" (but you did say to leave it alone). For instance, when one reads that Jesus’ face shone like the sun in Matthew 17, you can flip way back in the Old Testament and see that Moses’ face also shone (Exodus 34). As for the Protestants, they use a variety of them, but New International Version is actually the easiest to read and one of the most popular (NLT is also a Protestant Bible too). Beautiful, elegant, and classy, the Douay-Rheims Bible Black Genuine Leather Cover does come at a hefty price. Jesus also forgave the people who killed him. Supplementary information such as maps, dates, and many others are commonly inserted either before or after the pages of the Bible itself to enrich learning and make it easier for readers to visualize and understand the text in the scripture. For instance, Jesus is called the Son of David in Matthew 1. Bible reading is for Catholics. David was a Jewish King, Jesus is a Jewish King. The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) has become the most widely used Roman Catholic Bible outside of the United States. The innocent Joseph was thrown in jail;  the innocent Jesus was thrown in jail. Yet very few people take all four steps. 1 In the beginning, when God created the earth and sky, # 1:1 Or “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” “God” in this first section (1:1-2:3) is the most general word for God in the Old Testament. The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) is a Catholic translation of the Bible published in 1985. For example, hardbound Bibles can be used for years without worry of wear and tear. Large Print Bibles are an invaluable resource for older Catholics or for Catholics who need magnified words to read. Bible reading is for Catholics. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Without the Magesterium interpreting scripture for us through the lens of Sacred Tradition, there are all kinds of ways to misinterpret what the original authors had in mind. When Mary and Joseph lose Jesus and find Him in the Temple (Luke 2), do you seek out Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at Church when you feel lost and forsaken? Without a proper interpreter of that one sentence, it is impossible to know what the author had in mind. It could also mean, that I never said it, but he did. We offer you the Bible in Basic English to download on your phone or tablet. The stories in Scripture take place within a particular … John, who starts his Gospel out with the same 3 words that Genesis started out with “In the beginning” is trying to tell us here that Jesus is God, and that there is now a new Covenant, a new creation. Believing that our small 21rst century minds can figure out 4000 year old verses that were written in a very different language and culture, in a very different time, and with very different idiomatic expressions and meanings is the height of pride. The Catholic Study Bible Third Edition uses the New American Bible Revised Edition Bible translation, making it easier to understand and appreciate the scripture. When Jesus is blinded by his own blood and sweat following the crowning with thorns, do we realize how sinful thoughts in our own head blind us to the saving power of Jesus' blood and the water from His side at the cross? It could also mean that I expected you to pay me back with a favor instead of money. There are a number of ways to read the Bible. Dating back over 2,000 years, the Roman Catholic religion is the oldest Christian religion in the world. said Jesus). Based on their covers alone, it’s easy to see that Catholic Bibles come in a vast variety. That means if you read the Bible for just 10 minutes per day, you can easily read it in a year! The New American Bible, Revised Edition comes with navigation aids that allow readers to access specific Bible verses in seconds. Twelve colors for twelve themes. How to read the Bible: Read a little every day! The Bible is meant to be read in its entirety, and never to be taken out of context. Read the Bible like Jesus is talking to you personally. We know that after the second coming there will be a new heavenly temple (Revelation 21), and the old earth and all of its churches and temples will pass away. There are four steps to mastering the Bible so well that the Bible masters you: 1. The list is endless. 2. The Catholic Rainbow Study Bible combines easy-to-use features with the easy-to-read Today's English Version, Second Edition. He is the Father of us ALL - Muslims, Jews, Christians, Atheists, etc., and He will always do what is best for us, even if we view it as being bad. Douay-Rheims Bible (Black Genuine Leather): Standard Print Size, 4. When it all comes down to it, the The Catholic Study Bible Third Edition is more than just a Bible – it’s a personal devotional and learning tool that … Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version - Kindle edition by Various Translators, Various Translators. In a lot of cases, the New Testament reading is prefigured in the Old Testament. Orange verses are about "Faith" -- Green verses are about "Love, " etc. This is my favorite commentary too. Fourth, The Church is the Worldwide Kingdom of God on earth! St. Peter himself warns against this practice in 2 Peter 1 and 2 Peter 3. How to Begin Reading the Bible as a Catholic is the title of a new self-paced, online course that will run from August 17 through September 13. 35 full color charts and maps to help you understand the geography of Scripture; The words of Jesus printed in red; Large margins with room for your notes; Two ribbons for holding your place “All of these tools make The Great Adventure Catholic Bible easy to read, easy to follow, and easy to remember,” Jeff Cavins says. The Douay-Rheims Bible Black Genuine Leather Cover preserves this translation in a sleek, sophisticated Bible that truly encourages daily use and devotion. Download this easy to read and understand Bible on your phone: the Bible you were expecting, free on your phone! It has simpler vocabulary and shorter sentences. The third rule to follow is that no interpretation of the bible can contradict Church teaching, since the Bible is a product of the Church. Jesus Christ gave His all for you and for me, and is the only begotten Son of God. The Bible has about 775,000 words. Some take two steps. The Holy Bible is the world’s most well-known book, read by billions throughout history and reaching far and wide to every corner of the world. It could also mean that I expected a loan of money, rather than a gift. This comprehensive Catholic Bible is presented the same way as the physical version, with the exception that it includes certain features that make it much easier to navigate. Understand the Bible as never before! This Bible also includes full color maps, beautifully illustrated images of Christ, and key texts in red to enrich your worship and make every Bible reading enjoyable. A flying rodent, or a baseball bat? Some bibles are fashioned as study bibles, providing greater insight by encouraging readers to reflect on the scripture with key notes and self-guided meditation. Many people start their day by reading the Catholic Bible or take time to meditate on Bible passages during quiet times of reflection. Saint Joseph Bible-NABRE-Large Print-Illustrated, 9. The number seven (the day God rested from His Creation in Genesis) is the number of perfection. What makes this version easy to read is the expanded nature of the language. "Repent, for the Kingdom of God IS AT HAND! An important point to remember in reading the Bible is that our salvation is nothing more than Divine sonship with Jesus. There are 4 basic things to remember when you read the bible: First, one must always keep in mind that the Bible is to be read through the lens of "God IS our loving Father.". This foreshadows Jesus exactly, who was also the Good Shepherd of us all (John 10), was 30 years old when he began His public ministry (Luke 3), and who was also born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2). Leviticus: Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness - by Gordon Churchyard. After over 1600 years of Catholic Biblical history (Pope Damasus I and the Catholic Church approved the canon of the bible in the late fourth Century), the great scholars of the bible like St. Jerome, St. Augustine, and St. Thomas Aquinas have already got everything figured out for you. We see that Jesus changed the water into wine at the Wedding Feast of Cana on the seventh day of the story, in John 2. If we wish to inherit the Kingdom of God in heaven, then we have to work as sons and daughters in the family business here on earth NOW - building up the Kingdom of God on earth that Jesus established ("Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!" The average adult reads 250 words per minute. A good example of why an interpreter of scripture is needed would be the following sentence:  "I never said you didn't have to give me lots of money". Superscripts are used to help readers understand period terms and practices that may no longer be common in modern times. However, there are some Bibles that offer a few unique features that could give you greater satisfaction overall. It is based on a vocabulary of 1200 common English words. It has the imprimatur of Cardinal George Basil Hume. Read the Bible like Jesus is talking to you personally. The Church encourages Catholics to make reading the Bible part of their daily prayer lives. It should make you more like Jesus. See notes below the list. Your email address will not be published. Paperback bibles can be very flimsy, but that ultimately depends on how often you intend to use them. Study the Bible 3. Basset combines the first two steps into one.He still uses the same essential process, though. Numerology is also used in the Bible. So get a good Catholic Bible with great indexed footnotes. 1 God made use of specific people that wrote in a human language, and did so at a particular time and place in history. st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } . For instance, some Bible translations use Shakespearean English. Very few take all four steps. Below I’ve ranked the 66 books of the Bible from easiest to most difficult to read. When you combine the language translation with the cultural translation you get an amazingly faithful translation (ERV) that is easy for most people to understand. Read The Entire Bible Sequentially At Least Once. So many denominations turn Jesus into some kind of courtroom judge pronouncing us guilty or not guilty, but God is our loving Father, and a loving Father demands a lot from his sons and daughters, much more than a stern courtroom judge does. Basset combines the first two steps into one.He still uses the same essential process, though. As God’s Word to his people, the Bible exists to be read and understood. And if studying the Bible doesn’t make you a more loving, kind, and gentle person, then you are doing something wrong. See verse 26. Meditate on the Bible. The last method, the anagogical sense, refers to the heavenly sense. Basset wrote it to help people meet Christ in the Bible, understand the Gospels, and develop a solid prayer life. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version. By engaging the mind and feeding the soul, a great Bible … The literal sense is what most people stop at when they read the bible. Bible: New American Bible, Revised Edition. This in-service will take 90 minutes but can be expanded by using the optional activities. If you want to look at the Catholic version of the Bible, then their New Revised Standard Edition is actually good enough for reading. Like a science book? The intent of the writer could mean that I never said it, but I thought it. That is why the Magesterium is needed to interpret scripture. A good father disciplines his children, after all, and does not allow them to have everything they ever want! The average bible reader will be very enriched if they concentrate on the moral sense – How the bible verse applies to you personally. As Catholics, it is ubiquitous in our daily lives. One look and you’ll see that our version is easy to read and hard to put down. Choosing a study Bible is a lot easier for Catholics than it is for Protestants! It’s offered through the Catholic Spiritual Treasures program.) The ERV uses simpler vocabulary and shorter sentences while maintaining the integrity of the original texts. Free Reading Plans and Devotionals. Dr. Mary Healy’s Read the Bible in a Year Plan – This plan was created by Dr. Mary Healy, the esteemed Catholic biblical scholar, and it’s great because it has you reading excerpts from the Old Testament, Psalms, and New Testament each day. The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) is a Catholic translation of the Bible published in 1985. Since God inspired & confirmed the Bible, we had better know how to read it correctly! Deep waters covered the earth, and darkness covered the water. If you find difficult to understand the King James Bible or other versions of the Bible, you can trust on this version made in an easy language. Understand what the human author intended. Moses went up the mountain and brought down the Word of God to the people for the Old Covenant in Exodus 34; Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, which is the Word of God for the New Covenant. The Catholic Bible Complete Old and New Testaments. The number seven (the day God rested from His Creation in Genesis) is the number of perfection. Basset wrote it to help people meet Christ in the Bible, understand the Gospels, and develop a solid prayer life. Unlike a contract where money is exchanged for goods and services, a covenant bond is a family relationship, and that is exactly what God wants us to be, His Family! The Holy Bible is the world’s most well-known book, read by billions throughout history and reaching far and wide to every corner of the world. It is also the number one best seller, with five billion plus copies sold and distributed. Goliath was 6 cubits high (1 Samuel 17). An enjoyable way to pray and read a Bible passage each day is to subscribe to A Sacred Space. Jesus was also sold to the pagan authorities by his own people (Matthew 26), and stripped of his garments (Matthew 27). We read it often at … Read More Read … See our upcoming post on the updated New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE). Red texts are commonly used to indicate statements made by Jesus Christ. One of the easiest versions of the Bible to understand, the New American Bible is perfect for everyday use. The number 6 is used to imply the name of the beast in Revelation 13 (Caesar Nero). Download the free app and access your bookmarks, notes, and reading plans from anywhere. The Bible also includes 32 pages of full-color maps and images to help supplement prayer and learning. The Roman Catholic Bible comes in 19 different English versions. Ruth – short, easy to understand story (4 chapters) Jonah – easy-to-read … The number 6 is the number of imperfection. I haven’t read the Didache Bible, but since it’s recommended more than any other Bible on this website that will be the one I get next. # 1 (NLT) New Living Bible - Attempts to make the Bible easy to read for modern readers and new Christians, but the NLT still suffers from bias in places and attempts to use gender-neutral language. However, aside from the way the Bible looks, it’s also important to consider the design for its durability. It is a “meaning-for-meaning” translation – not “word-for-word”. Leather bound Bibles are very aesthetically pleasing, often much slimmer than other options making them easier to carry around with you. There are 4 basic levels of scripture to understand: The literal sense, the allegorical sense, the moral sense, and the anagogical sense. Version Information. Required fields are marked *, A Reader’s Guide to Choosing a Catholic Bible, 2. The moral sense of scripture is how the verse applies to us and our personal morality. While they all aim to teach essentially the same concepts, minor differences in these translations can make them easier or harder to understand depending on the reader. Some more general information about the Catholic Bible: An important point to remember in reading the Bible is that our salvation is nothing more than Divine sonship with Jesus. Find out which options are a cut above the rest and find the best Catholic Bible to join you on your quest to spiritual growth. As Catholics, it is ubiquitous in our daily lives. There are 4 basic levels of scripture to understand: The literal sense, the allegorical sense, the moral sense, and the anagogical sense. 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