<p>In the edition that I had (might have had Oxford in it), more than half the Bible was commentary. Small print, very thin paper but it was still big and heavy.</p>
<p>Try this one:</p>
<p>[Ignatius</a> Bible (Compact) - : Ignatius](<a href=“http://www.ignatius.com/IProducts/23884/ignatius-bible-compact.aspx]Ignatius”>http://www.ignatius.com/IProducts/23884/ignatius-bible-compact.aspx)</p>
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<p>Amen to this!</p>
<p>This one is my fave:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Annotated-Apocrypha-Augmented-College-Standard/dp/0195288831/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1322512681&sr=8-2[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Annotated-Apocrypha-Augmented-College-Standard/dp/0195288831/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1322512681&sr=8-2</a></p>
<p>Its the New International Revised Standard, but very well annotated.</p>
<p>Abasket, my kids use the “New American Bible” in their religion classes at their catholic high school. They have a terrific religion teacher who expects a great deal from them in their tenure at the school. Not the least of which is reading the entire bible. Old testament one semester, new the next (that’s just sophomore year). My son recommends the one below from fireside because it is small. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.tower.com/new-american-bible-burgundy-translated-from-original-languages-fireside-catholic-publishing-paperback/wapi/113392552[/url]”>http://www.tower.com/new-american-bible-burgundy-translated-from-original-languages-fireside-catholic-publishing-paperback/wapi/113392552</a></p>
<p>Yours,
Muppetmom</p>
<p>Catholics should have a Catholic bible, because it will include all the books.</p>
<p>The NABRE (New American Bible - Revised Edition) probably would be best. </p>
<p>Released on March 9, 2011, the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) is the culmination of nearly 20 years of work by a group of nearly 100 scholars and theologians, including bishops, revisers and editors. The NABRE includes a newly revised translation of the entire Old Testament (including the Book of Psalms) along with the 1986 edition of the New Testament.</p>
<p>[USCCB</a> - (NAB) - New American Bible](<a href=“http://nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/index.shtml]USCCB”>http://nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/index.shtml)</p>
<p>The Ignatius Bible mentioned above is also good. It’s the RSV version. I think that the NABRE will be somewhat similar because of the revisions. The NABRE would likely be easier for a young person to read.</p>
<p>Don’t necessarily expect good advice by phoning a specialized bookstore:</p>
<p>[Worlds</a> Stupidest Woman - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>[Christianbook.com:</a> NIV Ryrie Study Bible Burgundy, Genuine Leather, Red Letter Thumb-Indexed 1984: 9780802489234](<a href=“http://www.christianbook.com/niv-burgundy-genuine-leather-letter-indexed/9780802489234/pd/2489234/1265988474?item_code=WW&netp_id=525178&event=PPCSRC&view=details#curr]Christianbook.com:”>http://www.christianbook.com/niv-burgundy-genuine-leather-letter-indexed/9780802489234/pd/2489234/1265988474?item_code=WW&netp_id=525178&event=PPCSRC&view=details#curr)</p>
<p>My church uses the KJV, but I like this NIV Ryrie study bible to supplement. The verses are written in plainer English, the footnotes go a long way to explaining things and there are charts, outlines and timelines that compile information in a useful way (for example, all parables in the New Testament with references can be found in one chart).</p>
<p>My kids went to a Catholic HS and they used the “Catholic Youth Bible” by St. Marys Press. It has an educational twist. My H is Lutheran and he went and bought one for himself.</p>
<p>Here is a link where you can preview it. <a href=“http://www.smp.org/TheCatholicYouthBible.cfm[/url]”>http://www.smp.org/TheCatholicYouthBible.cfm</a></p>
<p>ellemenope, Ryrie was a dispensationalist, so I imagine the notes, etc. adhere to that view of scripture, which is definitely not a Catholic one.</p>
<p>Small world! It says that Ryrie was the President of Philadelphia Biblical University, which sent my son heaps of college mail for reasons we could never figure out.</p>
<p>My kids’ Catholic high also used the Catholic Youth Bible. That’s the NRSV version, which is an approved version.</p>
<p>*For many years Saint Mary’s Press has listened to an outpouring of requests to publish a Bible for Catholic teenagers. Working with the foremost experts in education, biblical studies, and youth ministry, we have spent the last four years creating The Catholic Youth Bible. The Catholic Youth Bible has been long awaited—and there has never been a Bible like this before! </p>
<p>Over 650 lively articles draw on the most current biblical scholarship and combine with the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible to address the interests and real-life concerns of today’s Catholic young people. The Catholic Youth Bible is designed to help adolescents and young adults: answer life’s important questions see themselves as a vital part of God’s saving work in the world make connections to Catholic beliefs and traditions read the Bible regularly study the Bible, pray the Bible, live the Bible! Attractively designed in two colors, The Catholic Youth Bible includes many engaging, insightful, and inspiring features: introductions to important biblical people background information about the culture and traditions of biblical times articles that trace the biblical roots of many Catholic beliefs and practices articles that share African American, Asian American, Hispanic and Latino American, and Native American cultural experiences, religious symbols,… </p>
<p>.*</p>
<p>That youth Bible sounds pretty good, as long as it isn’t too “kiddy” looking. I can say that a similar youth Bible has been helpful to some adults I know, because the notes are pretty basic.</p>
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<p>Hmmm, my religion must also be dispensationalist, although I’ve never heard of that word used to describe it as so…</p>
<p>Speaking of bible translations - the current National Geographic has an article in it about the King James bible and how it was derived and refers to a number of different translations.</p>
<p>If your church teaches the rapture, then its theology is probably dispensationalist. Dispensationalism is a complex subject: [url=<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispensationalism]Dispensationalism[/url”>Dispensationalism - Wikipedia]Dispensationalism[/url</a>]</p>
<p>No, no rapture here…but I have heard the word “dispensation” used.</p>
<p>Hoping to stop at the Catholic Book/Gift Shop today - will let you know what/if I select something!!!</p>
<p>abasket – I am Catholic too–</p>
<p>We have found the New Jerusalem Bible the best choice for our family. It will come in many sizes (I mean whether pocket or not) – you can buy monster ones too! And you can just Google it for starters, to find a size you could put in a pocket or at least a backpack. </p>
<p>The New American Bible (NAB) is the one you hear at church, but it does not read as smoothly as the Jerusalem & people have often complained the language was “dumbed down” (a matter of opinion). You can get a NJB with terrific footnotes and all that, too, if you buy a student version (they mean for seminary or other college students, not the reader who wants it in his pocket).</p>
<p>Well, here’s what I ended up buying at the Catholic Gift Shop:</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> The New American Bible: Catholic Companion Edition Librosario Decade (9781556653209): Bible: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/New-American-Bible-Companion-Librosario/dp/1556653204/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1322780231&sr=8-2]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/New-American-Bible-Companion-Librosario/dp/1556653204/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1322780231&sr=8-2)</p>
<p>Wow, I sure have an appreciation for those of you who could respond to this thread because I never knew the varieties were so complicated! I am wondering if this will be too big for him - it’s really not that large, but not exactly sure what he had in mind. He can exchange if he wishes.</p>