Complete List of Approved Catholic Bible Versions
George Ryan blogged this helpful article, “Which Bible Should I Use? A List of Approved Catholic Translations.” George explained how a Catholic Bible needs to be authorized and approved:
To be considered a Catholic Bible, a translation has to both have a nihil obstat (Latin for “nothing hinders” or “nothing stands in the way”), a phrase meaning an official Church certification proclaiming the book is not objectionable on doctrinal or moral grounds, along with an imprimatur (from Latin ‘imprimere’, meaning to “imprint” or “impress.”), a phrase for official approval by clergy, most often the bishop. A translation also have to include the entire Biblical canon.
3 websites were found with lists of approved Catholic Bibles. You’ll notice there are differences as well as similarities in these lists. The ones that are in BOLD indicate they appear in more than one list.
This is a complete list of the translations of the Sacred Scriptures that have received the approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops since 1983.
- Books of the New Testament, Alba House
- Contemporary English Version – New Testament, First Edition, American Bible Society
- Contemporary English Version – Book of Psalms, American Bible Society
- Contemporary English Version – Book of Proverbs, American Bible Society
- The Grail Psalter (Inclusive Language Version), G.I.A. Publications
- New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)
- New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, National Council of Churches
- The Psalms, Alba House
- The Psalms (New International Version) – St. Joseph Catholic Edition, Catholic Book Publishing Company
- The Psalms – St. Joseph New Catholic Version, Catholic Book Publishing Company
- Revised Psalms of the New American Bible (1991)
- So You May Believe, A Translation of the Four Gospels, Alba House
- Good News Translation (Today’s English Version, Second Edition), American Bible Society
- Translation for Early Youth, A Translation of the New Testament for Children, Contemporary English Version, American Bible Society
This is the list of Bible versions that are approved for Catholics, according to uCatholic.com:
- New American Bible: Revised Edition – 2011 – Optimal Equivalence
- Ignatius Bible – 2006 – Formal Equivalence
- Good News Bible: Catholic Edition – 1992 – Dynamic Equivalence
- New Jerusalem Bible – 1990 – Dynamic Equivalence
- New Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition – 1989 – Formal Equivalence
- Jerusalem Bible – 1966 – Dynamic Equivalence
- Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition – 1966 – Formal Equivalence
- Douay–Rheims Bible – 1582 – Formal Equivalence
And according to maybetoday.org, this is the list of approved Catholic Translations:
- New American Bible Revised Edition
- Revised New Jerusalem Bible
- New Catholic Version/Bible
- New Community Bible
- Abbey Psalms and Canticles
- Jerusalem Bible
- New Jerusalem Bible
- Christian Community Bible
- Alba House New Testament/St. Paul Catholic Edition
- Revised Standard Version—Catholic Edition
- Revised Standard Version—Second Catholic Edition
- New Revised Standard Version—Catholic Edition
- English Standard Version—Catholic Edition
- New Living Translation Catholic Edition
- Douay-Rheims-Challoner Version
- Knox Version
- Confraternity New Testament
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Angela S
None of these lists include the New American Bible (NAB), not to be confused with NABRE. NAB is definitely approved by the Vatican and is marked with Nihil Obstat. The Vatican expressed issues with NABRE, although USCCB approved it for liturgical use.