A Catholic Family Bible from 1960 -- Confraternity and Douay

[@ma-mo]

Found this video review while trying to find information on the Benzinger Brothers 1961 edition of this Bible. Your review is very thorough, and I appreciate all the work you put into this. Thank you.

[@lj8428]

Thank you for that great review. I've wanted more information about this Bible and your review did so very nicely.

[@RGrantJones]

Thanks for the kind comment, L J!

[@manfredcaranci6234]

Another excellent review, Grant; many thanks. Now, some more background on the Confraternity OT: After the NT, a revision of the Challoner-Rheims and translated from the Vulgate, appeared in 1941, work began on the OT. However, whatever work was done on the OT (translated from the Vulgate) was halted and eventually scrapped in response to Divino Afflante Spiritu in 1943. Thus began work on the "new" Confraternity OT, which was translated from the ORIGINAL languages, and released in four volumes: Vol. 1 Genesis to Ruth, 1952 Vol 2 Job to Sirach, 1955 Vol 3 The Prophets, 1961 Vol 4 The Historical Books, 1969 When the NT of the NAB was finished, the above four volumes were incorporated into the 1970 NAB, but not before the following was done: (1) Genesis of 1952 was scrapped and translated anew, and (2) the spelling of the OT names was made to conform to that used in Protestant Bibles (e.g., Haggai instead of Aggeus). The NAB, the RNAB, the NABRE are all pretty much abysmal compared to this edition you've acquired, or to the RSV-CE, IMHO.

[@RGrantJones]

Thanks for commenting! Very informative.

[@stringsandverses6898]

Grant, I was shopping for a Confraternity Bible on eBay, and I noticed several of this issue available. One of the listings of this exact bible I saw on eBay had a slip of paper indicating that this was a bible for folks on a tight budget...the bible was purchased over time in about 5 parts, hence the pin binding, where the family could install the section they recieved in the mail as they arrived. I also saw essentially the same bible for sale by Little & Ives, but in the KJV and without the lives of the saints at the end.

[@dalecaldwell]

Ah. That was what I expected.

[@johnwilderspin1633]

My Dear Sir, thank you for a fine review. I was unfamiliar with the binding method of this text & found your discussion most helpful. Several years ago l taught myself Ecclesiastical Latin to read the Vulgate & better understand Jerome’s comment on Scripture. During those yrs l quickly discovered that there are far fewer resources for the Latin student than for the Heb or Gk student, however l try to keep my Latin up as time permits. I also enjoyed Jerome’s quote below regarding ignoring Scripture is comparable to ignoring Christ. Blessings, John

[@philipguzman9321]

So excited to read this review!! I am a big fan and follower of your wonderfully meticulous bible reviews. However, this one was especially meaningful to me as I have the SAME Douay/Confraternity of Christian Doctrine translation bible (not the big Family version but a smaller hardback version) published by a different publisher -- Benzinger Brothers, Inc, (dated 1961). BB Inc. notes that they are the printers to the Holy Apostolic See and the Sacred Congregation of Rites. The copy that I have was my Catholic high school bible in the early 60's. It went with me through college and everywhere since. It's very special to me for that reason and I am in the process of having it redone in goatskin. The notes are exactly the same as those you pointed out and reviewed. I was actually going to ask you about this bible and, low and behold, you put forth this review. More than coincidental. . . It has made my bible even more special to me!. . . My thanks to you! Cheers! . . . P.S. Love the translation of both Douay and CCD. . Formal, yet very readable. I enjoy my time reading Scripture with this bible. There is a very good review of the version that I have seen on Amazon (I believe).

[@rachelkarslake7787]

Thank you for another good review. This is a really nice Bible. It has a lot of beautiful artwork. I did not know that some of the Catholic family Bibles had the excerpt from Butler's Lives of the Saints in the back. It is, actually, a pretty nice feature to have at home, since the four-volume set is quite expensive. I also like this review because this is a Bible that could be found at a library sale or Catholic-based thrift shop quite easily (or one like it) for a very low price, making the purchase attainable for many viewers. I see similar large-family Bibles at St. Vincent DePaul all of the time. Now, I am going to take the time to actually look through them!

[@RGrantJones]

Thanks for the kind comment, Rachel! Given how little family Bibles tend to be used (in my experience, at least), I think the chances of finding a copy in good condition are likely quite high -- though perhaps the family record section will be filled out.

[@williammurray85]

Very neat! The manner of binding is interesting, and the art prints are very nice. I've sometimes wondered what the purpose of these large and somewhat unwieldy "family Bibles" was. It seems like it would be difficult to sit down and read it for an extended period of time, and I could never really see myself purchasing one. Perhaps that is because I usually read my Bible in a chair or on the couch, and don't like to read things lying flat on a desk. (Hurts my neck!) If you're like me in that way, then Bibles like this in particular would seem hard to sit down with, and might even deter you from reading. You could always put it up on a stand and sit at your desk, of course, but that again makes reading a family Bible a bit of an event. Nice Bible though, and great review!

[@RGrantJones]

Thanks for the comment, William! We had a family Bible at home when I was small, and I don't anyone read it very often. It sat on an end table near the couch and was consulted for the family record section mostly.

[@gbantock]

The Confraternity Version, totally complete, was published, from what I gather from reading some sources, in the Philippines Ii.e., the Philippine Islands). The translation as published in segments, in individual volumes, was complete, including the last compled portion of the Old Testament. These editions are quite scarce and difficult to find, in the case of the mult-volume edition, as a full set.

[@RGrantJones]

Thanks for commenting, Gerald! Very informative, as usual.

[@HandJvlogs]

My understanding is that what was released as the “Confraternity Bible” in the Philippines still contained portions of the Douay Old Testament. catholicbibletalk.com/2020/08/guest-review-of-the-catholic-readers-bible-new-testament-from-sophia-institute-press/

[@wingsofmight6148]

Do have a link to the copy for purchase

[@RGrantJones]

No, sorry. I recommend searching sites like eBay.

[@MAMoreno]

I'm a little put off by the inconsistency in the verse number formatting, but otherwise, I'm trying not to drool while looking at this gorgeous Bible.

[@alchshell]

awesome!! what is the best catholic study bible?

[@RGrantJones]

I think the Ignatius Study Bible will likely be the best option when it's complete. I'm a fan of the Didache Bible myself. But I'm not a Catholic. Perhaps a Catholic viewer will make a recommendation.

[@williammurray85]

I agree with R. Grant Jones that the Didache Bible is one of the best.

[@jaqian]

I bought the Didiache RSV2CE. I also use the Haydock Commentary (it's online) and I like the notes in the New Community Bible Catholic Edition by At Paul Press. It's available as an app, which is nice for reading along and cross references.

[@davidfigueroa8188]

Ignatius Study Bible is good, as is the Didache Bible, although the Didache Bible contains some problematic notes and introductions in the Old Testament. The Great Adventure Bible is also good.

[@carole4136]

Have you reviewed the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible?

[@RGrantJones]

Thanks for the question, Cicie. It was recommended to me. I took a look at the layout and was favorably impressed. But after reading some of the preface, I became less enthusiastic. It seemed to take a skeptical tone toward Divine inspiration.

[@allancarmichael835]

The whole Confraternity was finished with the 1970 New American Bible. The final section was printed as is, while the other books were lightly revised. (Genesis was wholly retranslated from hebrew, not latin.) The Confraternity is available on eBay if you get a 1966 Confraternity-Douay and a 1970 New American Bible. I know you collect as many bibles as possible, so just thought you'd like to know how to get it without searching the rare individual volumes. As for me, I'll stick with either the Challoner or Knox.

[@gtgodbear6320]

The shepherds inspecting the unblemished Lamb set for sacrifice. There's so many things I want to comment about. I could have left 30 different comments.

[@gtgodbear6320]

Catholic Bible? I thought I had a lot of Bibles with 8. 6 different versions with 2 KJV's. A BELL 1979 Edition The Lost Books of the Bible book.

[@colonyofcells]

Interesting for me are: Israelite Samaritan Version of the Torah, dead sea scrolls, old testament pseudopigrapha, new testament apocrypha, gnostic bible, tanakh jewish study bible, jewish annotated new testament nrsv, complete jewish study bible, Tree of Life Version, A Faithful Version by Fred R Coulter a follower of Herbert W Armstrong, peshitta Parallel New Testament: Comparing Three Popular Translations in Parallel Columns (J W Etheridge, James Murdock, George Lamsa), EOB new testament, 1599 geneva bible with anti catholic notes, original real rheims douay bible with anti protestant notes, challoner rheims douay, nab little rock catholic study bible, literal standard version, wuest expanded translation, Fully Translated Bible by former catholic and atheist William Harwood (a shorter collection for protestants is called Protestant Bible Correctly Translated).

[@loveisall5520]

Catholic Bibles pre-Vatican II were notorious for their poor workmanship, particularly the 'family' Bibles. Why? They really weren't intended to be used! Amazing how many of these from the fifties with Pius XII's photo, still in their original purchase boxes...

[@anthonylogiudice9215]

The Pre-1960 translations are sought after because they haven't been changed after Vatican 2 by Vatican 2 Catholic scholars/supporters who were partial to Protestant theology.