What makes a Bible 'Catholic'?

A Catholic Bible contains all 73 books of the canon, including the 7 Deuterocanonical books (Tobit, Judith, 1 & 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch) that are absent from Protestant Bibles. It should also have a nihil obstat and imprimatur from a Catholic bishop, indicating it has been reviewed for doctrinal accuracy.

Can Catholics use Protestant Bibles?

Catholics can read Protestant Bibles for study purposes, but they should be aware that Protestant Bibles lack the 7 Deuterocanonical books. For liturgy, prayer, and official Catholic use, a Bible with the full 73-book canon and a Catholic imprimatur is required.

What Bible is used at Mass in the United States?

The Lectionary used at Mass in the United States is based on the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE). The Revised Grail Psalter is used for the Psalms. This is why the readings you hear at Mass may sound different from your personal Bible if you use a different translation.

Is the RSV-CE the same as the RSV?

No. The RSV-CE (Revised Standard Version — Catholic Edition) is a Catholic adaptation of the Protestant RSV. It adds the Deuterocanonical books and makes minor textual adjustments for Catholic usage, most notably translating Isaiah 7:14 as 'virgin' (following the Septuagint and the Vulgate) rather than 'young woman.'

Why does the Douay-Rheims use 'thee' and 'thou'?

The Douay-Rheims was translated in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, when 'thee' and 'thou' were standard English second-person singular pronouns. The Challoner revision (18th century) retained this archaic language. Many traditional Catholics appreciate it for its solemnity and its connection to the Church's liturgical tradition.

Best Catholic Bible Translations: RSV, NAB, Douay-Rheims Compared

The best Catholic Bible translations in English include the NABRE (U.S. liturgy), RSV-2CE, Douay-Rheims (traditional), and Jerusalem Bible — all include the deuterocanonical books Catholics accept. Choose based on readability for study vs devotion; avoid Protestant-only translations that omit Tobit, Wisdom, and Maccabees.

Why Translation Matters for Catholics

The Bible was not written in English. The Old Testament was written primarily in Hebrew (with some Aramaic), and the New Testament in Greek. Every English Bible is a translation — and every translation involves choices: how literally to render the original, which manuscripts to use, how to handle idioms and poetry, and how to balance accuracy with readability.

For Catholics, there is an additional consideration: the canon. The Catholic Bible contains 73 books, while most Protestant Bibles contain only 66. The seven additional books — called the Deuterocanonical books — are Tobit, Judith, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Wisdom (of Solomon), Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), and Baruch. These books are found in the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint) and were part of the Bible used by the early Church.

When Martin Luther compiled his German Bible in the 16th century, he removed these books (placing them in an appendix called the "Apocrypha"), following the Hebrew canon of the rabbis at Jamnia. The Catholic Church, at the Council of Trent (1546), formally defined the 73-book canon as the authentic Scripture. Any Bible that omits these books is not a complete Catholic Bible.

The 7 Deuterocanonical Books: What They Contain

Before comparing translations, it helps to know what these seven books actually contain — because they are some of the most spiritually rich texts in all of Scripture:

Tobit — A beautiful story of faith, family, and the role of angels in human life. Contains the prayer of Tobias and Sarah, and the teaching on marriage.
Judith — The story of a courageous widow who saves her people from an Assyrian general. A meditation on faith and courage.
1 Maccabees — A historical account of the Maccabean revolt against Greek oppression (2nd century BC). Contains the origin of Hanukkah and prayers for the dead (2 Macc 12:46).
2 Maccabees — A theological reflection on the same period, with key texts on resurrection, intercession of the saints, and prayers for the dead.
Wisdom (of Solomon) — A profound meditation on wisdom, justice, and the afterlife. Contains the famous "souls of the righteous are in the hand of God" (Wis 3:1).
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) — A practical wisdom book covering family life, friendship, prayer, and virtue. One of the most quoted books in Catholic tradition.
Baruch — A short book attributed to Jeremiah's secretary, containing a prayer of confession and a poem on wisdom.

The Major Catholic Bible Translations Compared

1. Douay-Rheims Bible (1582/1610)

The Douay-Rheims is the oldest complete English Catholic Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate by English Catholic scholars in exile. The New Testament was published in Rheims in 1582; the Old Testament in Douai in 1610. It was later revised by Bishop Richard Challoner in the 18th century, and this Challoner revision is the version most commonly used today.

Strengths: Extremely literal and faithful to the Latin Vulgate. Rich, formal language that many find conducive to prayer. Beloved by traditional Catholics and those attached to the older forms of the liturgy. Contains all 73 books.

Weaknesses: The archaic English (thee, thou, doth) can be difficult for modern readers. Some translations are now considered less accurate than those based on the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. Not used at Mass in the United States.

Best for: Traditional Catholics, those who pray the Traditional Latin Mass, devotional reading, and those who appreciate the beauty of formal English prose.

2. Revised Standard Version — Catholic Edition (RSV-CE)

The RSV-CE is widely considered the gold standard for Catholic Bible study. The RSV was a major Protestant translation (1952) that updated the King James Version using modern scholarship. The Catholic Edition (1966) added the Deuterocanonical books and made minor adjustments to bring the text into conformity with Catholic usage (most notably, translating Isaiah 7:14 as "virgin" rather than "young woman").

Strengths: Excellent balance of accuracy and readability. Formal equivalence translation (word-for-word where possible). Widely used in Catholic scholarship, apologetics, and catechesis. The Ignatius Bible (RSV-CE) is one of the most popular Catholic Bibles in America. The Second Catholic Edition (RSV-2CE) made further revisions for liturgical use.

Weaknesses: Not the translation used at Mass in the United States. Some find the language slightly dated compared to more recent translations.

Best for: Bible study, apologetics, theological reading, and anyone who wants a reliable, scholarly translation for personal use.

3. New American Bible (NAB) and NABRE

The New American Bible (NAB) is the translation used at Mass in the United States. It was produced by the Catholic Biblical Association of America and first published in 1970. The New Testament was revised in 1986, and the Old Testament was revised in 2011, producing the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE).

Strengths: The translation you hear at Sunday Mass. Excellent footnotes and introductions that reflect modern Catholic biblical scholarship. Accessible, contemporary language. Approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Weaknesses: Some of the footnotes have been criticized for reflecting overly skeptical historical-critical assumptions. The 2011 Old Testament revision made some translation choices that traditionalists find problematic (e.g., translating almah in Isaiah 7:14 as "young woman" rather than "virgin"). The dynamic equivalence approach sometimes sacrifices precision for readability.

Best for: Following along at Mass, parish Bible studies, and those who want a contemporary, accessible translation with strong scholarly apparatus.

4. Jerusalem Bible and New Jerusalem Bible

The Jerusalem Bible (JB) was published in 1966, translated from the original languages with reference to the French Bible de Jérusalem produced by the Dominican scholars of the École Biblique in Jerusalem. It was the first major Catholic Bible translated directly from the original languages into English (rather than from the Latin Vulgate). J.R.R. Tolkien contributed to the translation of the Book of Jonah.

The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) (1985) is a thorough revision that is more literal than the original JB. It is widely used in England and is the translation used in many English-speaking countries outside the United States.

Strengths: Literary quality is exceptional — the JB is often praised as the most beautifully written Catholic Bible in English. Excellent introductions and footnotes. The NJB is more accurate than the JB.

Weaknesses: The JB uses "Yahweh" for the divine name (which the Church has since directed should not be used in liturgy). The NJB corrects this. Neither is used at Mass in the United States.

Best for: Literary readers, those who appreciate beautiful prose, and those who want a translation with strong scholarly introductions.

Which Bible Should You Choose?

For Mass and parish life: NABRE — it's what you'll hear at Mass in the US.

For serious Bible study: RSV-CE (Ignatius Bible) — the best balance of accuracy and readability.

For traditional devotion: Douay-Rheims — the classic Catholic Bible with centuries of use.

For literary beauty: New Jerusalem Bible — exceptional prose and scholarship.

For beginners: NABRE or RSV-CE — both are accessible and well-annotated.

For apologetics: RSV-CE — widely respected across Catholic and Protestant traditions.

The best advice is to own more than one translation. Use the NABRE to follow along at Mass. Use the RSV-CE for study and apologetics. Keep a Douay-Rheims for traditional prayers and devotions. The Word of God is inexhaustible — reading it in multiple translations only deepens your understanding.