About Bible Translations
Last Updated: March 28, 2009
In our study sessions and online notes, we use a number of Bible translations:
- The New Revised Standard Version: This version was translated by an ecumenical team of scholars, including Roman Catholics, protestants, Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox, and Jews on the translation committee. This is the translation used each Sunday in some English-speaking countries, such as Canada.
- The New American Bible: This translation, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is the official translation for use in U.S. Roman Catholic churches for liturgical readings.
- The New Jerusalem Bible: This translation, another Roman Catholic English translation, updates the earlier Jerusalem Bible, one of the first 20th century translations after Vatican II.
- The Douay-Rheims: This was one of the earliest translations of the Bible into English and the first translation of the Bible sponsored by the Roman Catholics into English. It was first translated in the 17th century and then updated again, to improve its readability, in the 18th century.