I am an American Roman Catholic and the Jerusalem Bible is a very special translation to me. I had a very difficult time my first year in college and I came across a large copy of this translation in a reading room at my university's library (a Catholic college). Being American, I had never heard of or read this translation, but as I read over it the style and rendering was for some reason very comforting to me in that difficult time of my life. I've been casually searching for a Jerusalem Bible for years since then--previously unaware that it was in a way a 'banned' translation in the US--and finally came across DLT's publishing website and ordered an NJB after more than a decade of looking. God's word is continuing to reach out to me through the Jerusalem Bible translation. Thanks for this video.
The Jerusalem Bible may have been the first Bible I ever purchased. That was back in 1982, and I was fascinated by the notes and liked the English style. Still do. Used editions of the original Jerusalem Bible are still available on EBay and Amazon. A viewer informed me that the New Catholic Bible - Standard Edition is essentially the Jerusalem Bible with a different psalter, and with "Yahweh" replaced by the "LORD."
The Jerusalem Bible may have been the first Bible I ever purchased. That was back in 1982, and I was fascinated by the notes and liked the English style. Still do. Used editions of the original Jerusalem Bible are still available on EBay and Amazon. A viewer informed me that the CTS New Catholic Bible - Standard Edition is essentially the Jerusalem Bible with a different psalter, and with "Yahweh" replaced by the "LORD."
I need to buy another bible but this bible is great! I had bought in Brazil 2004 my first new Jerusalem bible pocket edition. This was my best and loved book of my life.
Another of your excellent Bible reviews. I agree, it will be interesting the choice of bindings the publisher offers, as, historically, Roman Catholic publishers do not present in premium bindings.
Thank you for performing this review. I stumbled across this searching for information on the impending U.S. release of the Study Edition of the entire RNJB. Like you, I purchased what turned out to be a contraband DLT paperback of the NT/Psalms in early 2018. I've been increasingly appreciative of the improvements in translation as I've continued to use it. I wasn't a big fan of earlier versions of the JB (particularly the NJB), but find this one much more faithful to the text, while maintaining many unique and felicitous readings. I hadn't paid much attention to the notes, and I'm disappointed to see that they are not being improved along with the translation. The binding on my paperback did not hold up well, but I'm hoping the hardcover will be of higher quality, and am looking forward to its availability. God bless you.
Thanks for commenting! I plan to get a copy of the study edition of the complete RNJB when it's published post a video review concentrating on the Old Testament. Amazon shows a release date of 3 December 2019.
Thanks for the wonderful discussion and detailed view of this product! I want to get a copy just for that nice cover and larger print! Now that some time has passed, let me ask you: in your video, I got the impression the RNJB has simply moved further away from the "original" JB, in more closely echoing the KJV/RSV traditional renderings- is this your opinion too? Peace.
I think that's an accurate assessment, though I can't claim to be an expert judge of style. It is true that the RNJB is much more literal than the JB or the NJB, at least the way I define "literal." I added three translations to my continuum chart this summer, the RNJB, the CSB, and the NET. The RNJB is the least literal of those three, but it's far more literal than its immediate relatives. If you'd like to see that chart, it's in this video at about the 26 minute 18 second point: th-cam.com/video/vBGAEBO-xU8/w-d-xo.html .
Thanks for this interesting review of the RNJB. I am curious which English translation of the Bible is your personally preferred version. Blessings on you and your work.
Thanks for the comment, Fernando Serna. I have trouble picking a single favorite. Among my favorites are the KJV, the ASV, the NRSV, the NEB, and the Jerusalem Bible. But I rarely use a single translation. Normally, I read a literal translation like the KJV or ASV alongside a more interpretive one, like the NRSV.
@@RGrantJones Thanks for your kind and quick reply. I also read various translations. Do you have a copy of the New Cambridge Paragraph Bible? See www.cambridge.org/bibles/bible-versions/king-james-version/text-editions/new-cambridge-paragraph-bible. I have on order a used copy of the Jerusalem Bible.
Thank you for this. I found it very helpful, and I'm fascinated by the footnote about Melchizidek, who is an all-round fascinating character. I wonder about one thing: the translation of "ecclesia". It seems to me that "church" is at least as problematic as "community", because in modern English the word "church" has an (almost) exclusively religious connotation, which was not true of the word "ecclesia". The use of the word "community" does recognise this, but it probably goes to far to the opposite extreme, in that it has a far broader set of connotations than "ecclesia". Maybe a word like "caucus" would be a good alternative, but somehow I don't think it will ever catch on! There may never be a solution to this, but I find it an interesting conundrum (and the principle applies to other terms too, such as hamartia, euangeliuon, baptisma, etc.).
I enjoy your videos! You've mentioned in several videos about reviewing 14 English translations, but I didn't see a video on your channel. I'm really interested in what you have to say. Which one do you think is the most accurate English translation?
Tx Jasper - the results of my study are explained with some detail at about the 20 minute point in this video: th-cam.com/video/stkOIJIzAoc/w-d-xo.html . But let me add that what I measured was "literalness," not accuracy. My method indicates what I mean by literalness. But I'm not sure everyone would agree that it's the same thing as accuracy.
I live in France where the JB is the standard for Bibles. As for the footnotes, if they follow the same principle as in France, there will be 2 versions proposed : a "compact" version and a "major" version. The "compact" is thinner and has less notes in it. The "major" version is filled with notes, but it is of course a much bigger book. The main publisher in France of the JB, proposes a nicer version for the "major" edition, with a leather cover. Also, I don't know if this is a cultural thing in France, but the "major" editions are all hardback covers. This may either be a cultural preference or a publisher's preference. Hopefully, you will have the choice between a "major" and a "compact" edition in the USA.
My review of the original Jerusalem Bible: th-cam.com/video/zKhSsImL7AM/w-d-xo.html ; The Jerusalem Bible Compact Reader's Edition in Black Sheepskin: th-cam.com/video/W9WMChIlR0Q/w-d-xo.html . Tan Books' Douay-Rheims Bible: th-cam.com/video/Rk6FE_sw5tM/w-d-xo.html .
The Greek NT I show at about the 11:38 point is The Greek New Testament, A Reader's Edition, Fifth Revised Edition, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2014. Quoting the introduction, it contains "the Greek text of the fifth edition of the UBS Greek New Testament."
I saw something somewhere recently that predicted April '19. Either way, it has been delayed. That gives me time to review the original Jerusalem Bible and the New Jerusalem Bible before the complete RNJB is published.
Thanks! I think this or a similar page may have been what misled me: www.amazon.com/Revised-New-Jerusalem-Bible/dp/0525573194 . It could be the RNJB will come out in the UK first, then appear in the US a few months later.
Penguin Random House website has april 2019: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/566253/the-revised-new-jerusalem-bible-by-translated-by-henry-wansbrough/9780525573197/
the pope came down against the practice of using the name during the liturgy several years ago... either as being too familiar and casual, or in deference to present-day Jews... perhaps that thinking came into play in this decision
R. Grant Jones Allergies are bad this year... I have them, too, so I understand, Thank you again for reviewing my fav Bible... I love the old Readers’s Editiin.
The original JB (by all accounts) relied on the French to some extant. Since Dom Henry Wansbrough took over the project for the NJB it has had no influence from the French.
@@rmarcusshort if the english translation is now really independent from the french translation, maybe they should've rebranded the english translation as a new translation.
Thanks, I remember Pope Benedict requested new translations omit 'Yahweh' and use 'O Lord' etc. Pre ordered for next year and can't wait. I was nearly tempted to buy the NT but waiting till next year.
I had heard what you say about Pope Benedict's instructions elsewhere; you're probably right. I think you'll get a nicer binding when the full Bible is published. Hopefully, a solid hardback, imitation leather, or possibly real leather -- with a sewn binding. I haven't heard anything definite. On the down side, the paper will probably be much thinner. I hope it's worth your wait.
Anthony Langford If the US version is the same as the French version, then yes, you will see "Yahweh" in some instances. They give an explanation for this choice in the general introduction. In this intro, they do state that for liturgy or when reading out loud, "O Lord" is preferred.
@@budekins542 Catholics do not use it out of respect for God. Pope Benedict XVI issued note to this effect in 2008. In Catholic bibles, it's only found (afaik) in the Jerusalem series of bibles.
Pretty interesting how Melchizedek gets called the king of righteousness when it actually means Zedek is my King. That always felt wrong for me, there is only one King, and that is Jesus.
@@davidfigueroa8188 As a Catholic I find this offensive as we are often accused of not being Christians. This is the definition of a Christian: you follow Christ. That's it.
I am an American Roman Catholic and the Jerusalem Bible is a very special translation to me. I had a very difficult time my first year in college and I came across a large copy of this translation in a reading room at my university's library (a Catholic college). Being American, I had never heard of or read this translation, but as I read over it the style and rendering was for some reason very comforting to me in that difficult time of my life. I've been casually searching for a Jerusalem Bible for years since then--previously unaware that it was in a way a 'banned' translation in the US--and finally came across DLT's publishing website and ordered an NJB after more than a decade of looking. God's word is continuing to reach out to me through the Jerusalem Bible translation. Thanks for this video.
The Jerusalem Bible may have been the first Bible I ever purchased. That was back in 1982, and I was fascinated by the notes and liked the English style. Still do. Used editions of the original Jerusalem Bible are still available on EBay and Amazon. A viewer informed me that the New Catholic Bible - Standard Edition is essentially the Jerusalem Bible with a different psalter, and with "Yahweh" replaced by the "LORD."
The Jerusalem Bible may have been the first Bible I ever purchased. That was back in 1982, and I was fascinated by the notes and liked the English style. Still do. Used editions of the original Jerusalem Bible are still available on EBay and Amazon. A viewer informed me that the CTS New Catholic Bible - Standard Edition is essentially the Jerusalem Bible with a different psalter, and with "Yahweh" replaced by the "LORD."
8polyglot Why is the Jerusalem Bible sort of "banned" in the US?
@@nerdanalog1707 It's not but many books published in the UK aren't for sale in the US for copyright reasons.
I need to buy another bible but this bible is great! I had bought in Brazil 2004 my first new Jerusalem bible pocket edition. This was my best and loved book of my life.
Another of your excellent Bible reviews. I agree, it will be interesting the choice of bindings the publisher offers, as, historically, Roman Catholic publishers do not present in premium bindings.
Could you speak louder?
Thank you for performing this review. I stumbled across this searching for information on the impending U.S. release of the Study Edition of the entire RNJB. Like you, I purchased what turned out to be a contraband DLT paperback of the NT/Psalms in early 2018. I've been increasingly appreciative of the improvements in translation as I've continued to use it. I wasn't a big fan of earlier versions of the JB (particularly the NJB), but find this one much more faithful to the text, while maintaining many unique and felicitous readings. I hadn't paid much attention to the notes, and I'm disappointed to see that they are not being improved along with the translation. The binding on my paperback did not hold up well, but I'm hoping the hardcover will be of higher quality, and am looking forward to its availability. God bless you.
Thanks for commenting! I plan to get a copy of the study edition of the complete RNJB when it's published post a video review concentrating on the Old Testament. Amazon shows a release date of 3 December 2019.
Awesome
Excellent review as always brother, wow.... You were trespassing on Private Property when reading that Peter note😂
Thanks for the wonderful discussion and detailed view of this product! I want to get a copy just for that nice cover and larger print!
Now that some time has passed, let me ask you: in your video, I got the impression the RNJB has simply moved further away from the "original" JB, in more closely echoing the KJV/RSV traditional renderings- is this your opinion too? Peace.
I think that's an accurate assessment, though I can't claim to be an expert judge of style. It is true that the RNJB is much more literal than the JB or the NJB, at least the way I define "literal." I added three translations to my continuum chart this summer, the RNJB, the CSB, and the NET. The RNJB is the least literal of those three, but it's far more literal than its immediate relatives. If you'd like to see that chart, it's in this video at about the 26 minute 18 second point: th-cam.com/video/vBGAEBO-xU8/w-d-xo.html .
Thanks for this interesting review of the RNJB. I am curious which English translation of the Bible is your personally preferred version. Blessings on you and your work.
Thanks for the comment, Fernando Serna. I have trouble picking a single favorite. Among my favorites are the KJV, the ASV, the NRSV, the NEB, and the Jerusalem Bible. But I rarely use a single translation. Normally, I read a literal translation like the KJV or ASV alongside a more interpretive one, like the NRSV.
@@RGrantJones Thanks for your kind and quick reply. I also read various translations. Do you have a copy of the New Cambridge Paragraph Bible? See www.cambridge.org/bibles/bible-versions/king-james-version/text-editions/new-cambridge-paragraph-bible. I have on order a used copy of the Jerusalem Bible.
Thank you for this. I found it very helpful, and I'm fascinated by the footnote about Melchizidek, who is an all-round fascinating character. I wonder about one thing: the translation of "ecclesia". It seems to me that "church" is at least as problematic as "community", because in modern English the word "church" has an (almost) exclusively religious connotation, which was not true of the word "ecclesia". The use of the word "community" does recognise this, but it probably goes to far to the opposite extreme, in that it has a far broader set of connotations than "ecclesia". Maybe a word like "caucus" would be a good alternative, but somehow I don't think it will ever catch on! There may never be a solution to this, but I find it an interesting conundrum (and the principle applies to other terms too, such as hamartia, euangeliuon, baptisma, etc.).
Thanks for the kind comment, Malcolm! You make excellent points.
Does anyone have any insight on how this translation would compare to the Revised English Bible?
I enjoy your videos! You've mentioned in several videos about reviewing 14 English translations, but I didn't see a video on your channel. I'm really interested in what you have to say. Which one do you think is the most accurate English translation?
Tx Jasper - the results of my study are explained with some detail at about the 20 minute point in this video: th-cam.com/video/stkOIJIzAoc/w-d-xo.html . But let me add that what I measured was "literalness," not accuracy. My method indicates what I mean by literalness. But I'm not sure everyone would agree that it's the same thing as accuracy.
I live in France where the JB is the standard for Bibles. As for the footnotes, if they follow the same principle as in France, there will be 2 versions proposed : a "compact" version and a "major" version. The "compact" is thinner and has less notes in it. The "major" version is filled with notes, but it is of course a much bigger book. The main publisher in France of the JB, proposes a nicer version for the "major" edition, with a leather cover.
Also, I don't know if this is a cultural thing in France, but the "major" editions are all hardback covers. This may either be a cultural preference or a publisher's preference.
Hopefully, you will have the choice between a "major" and a "compact" edition in the USA.
My review of the original Jerusalem Bible: th-cam.com/video/zKhSsImL7AM/w-d-xo.html ;
The Jerusalem Bible Compact Reader's Edition in Black Sheepskin: th-cam.com/video/W9WMChIlR0Q/w-d-xo.html .
Tan Books' Douay-Rheims Bible: th-cam.com/video/Rk6FE_sw5tM/w-d-xo.html .
What version of the New Testament in Greek are you using in the video?
The Greek NT I show at about the 11:38 point is The Greek New Testament, A Reader's Edition, Fifth Revised Edition, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2014. Quoting the introduction, it contains "the Greek text of the fifth edition of the UBS Greek New Testament."
As far as I recall, that's the only Greek NT I used in this video. It also appears at about the 15:48 point.
The complete RNJB with OT might be out feb 2019.
I saw something somewhere recently that predicted April '19. Either way, it has been delayed. That gives me time to review the original Jerusalem Bible and the New Jerusalem Bible before the complete RNJB is published.
Publisher website has feb 2019: dltbooks.com/titles/2240-9780232533620-revised-new-jerusalem-bible-study-edition
Thanks! I think this or a similar page may have been what misled me: www.amazon.com/Revised-New-Jerusalem-Bible/dp/0525573194 . It could be the RNJB will come out in the UK first, then appear in the US a few months later.
Penguin Random House website has april 2019: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/566253/the-revised-new-jerusalem-bible-by-translated-by-henry-wansbrough/9780525573197/
The 2018 reads very similar to the Douay-Rheims (apart from the old English obviously).
For the Revised Psalms, does it keep "Yahweh" for the name of God, as did it predecessors?
Clayton - no, I don't find "Yahweh," but I do see "LORD" (all caps).
Hopefully not.
Why not?
the pope came down against the practice of using the name during the liturgy several years ago... either as being too familiar and casual, or in deference to present-day Jews... perhaps that thinking came into play in this decision
Could you please talk a bit louder? I am struggling to hear your excellent review.. Thank you.
I wish I could, but if I speak loudly my voice won't last. Allergies. Thanks for the kind comment.
R. Grant Jones Allergies are bad this year... I have them, too, so I understand, Thank you again for reviewing my fav Bible... I love the old Readers’s Editiin.
I heard some criticisms that the rnjb relies too much on the french rather then hebrew and greek.
The original JB (by all accounts) relied on the French to some extant. Since Dom Henry Wansbrough took over the project for the NJB it has had no influence from the French.
@@rmarcusshort if the english translation is now really independent from the french translation, maybe they should've rebranded the english translation as a new translation.
Does the new translation use the name 'Yahweh?'
Anthony - we'll know for sure in a few months (April 2019) when the Old Testament is published, but I think not.
Thanks, I remember Pope Benedict requested new translations omit 'Yahweh' and use 'O Lord' etc. Pre ordered for next year and can't wait. I was nearly tempted to buy the NT but waiting till next year.
I had heard what you say about Pope Benedict's instructions elsewhere; you're probably right. I think you'll get a nicer binding when the full Bible is published. Hopefully, a solid hardback, imitation leather, or possibly real leather -- with a sewn binding. I haven't heard anything definite. On the down side, the paper will probably be much thinner. I hope it's worth your wait.
Anthony Langford If the US version is the same as the French version, then yes, you will see "Yahweh" in some instances. They give an explanation for this choice in the general introduction. In this intro, they do state that for liturgy or when reading out loud, "O Lord" is preferred.
@@nerdanalog1707 It's a UK rather than USA version I believe.
Sorry to have to correct a bookish person like you, but typographic 'leading' is pronounced 'ledding', not 'leeding', even in America.
Thank you for the correction!
@@RGrantJones Thank you very much for all your valuable work.
I love the original 1960s Jerusalem Bible, lovely Bible to read for Catholics. Didn't like the use of Yahweh in the revised edition.
In light of the discovery of the word "Yahweh" in an Egyptian temple in Sudan dated to 1400BC why are you against the Name.
@@budekins542 Catholics do not use it out of respect for God. Pope Benedict XVI issued note to this effect in 2008. In Catholic bibles, it's only found (afaik) in the Jerusalem series of bibles.
Pretty interesting how Melchizedek gets called the king of righteousness when it actually means Zedek is my King. That always felt wrong for me, there is only one King, and that is Jesus.
I did not write this. I am the King of New Jerusalem's Heavens, and the Author of Salvation. Jesus.
Alan TenBroeck ?????????????
I wish the term "Protestant" would go away. It's almost 2019.
Fraevo10 It’s an accurate term.
It would make sense because you certainly cannot find the term in the New Testament, however you can find another one (Acts 11:26).
Larry McClain Protestants are not true Christians. Change my mind.
@@davidfigueroa8188 As a Catholic I find this offensive as we are often accused of not being Christians. This is the definition of a Christian: you follow Christ. That's it.
There isn't another term to describe well Protestants. We're all Christians and it's a good description to describe non-Catholic Christians.