This is one of the best modern translations around, translated by outstanding Catholic scholars. I've appreciated this translation for many years even though I'm not Catholic, but Protestant.
The translation finds a good balance between being literal word for word and a thought for thought translation. It is a very lucid translation that is somewhat similar to the New Revised Standard Version in terms of readability, but it is not gender-inclusive as the NRSV is. I actually like the NAB more than the NRSV. I prefer the NAB to recent paraphrases such as the New Living Translation and the Message.
I really enjoyed the brief introductions for each book along with the helpful study notes at the bottom. The study notes reflect more of a mainstream scholarly position: The Pentateuch is written by the Yahwist, Elohist, Priestly, and Deuteronomic sources (e.g. J,E, D, P). The Book of Isaiah is viewed as written by multiple authors: Isaiah, Deutero-Isaiah, and the disciples of Isaiah.
In Daniel 7, the study notes assert the 4 beasts represent the Babylonian kingdom, the Median empire, the Persian empire under Cyrus the Great, and then the Greek empire. For evangelical readers, this mainstream position may seem "liberal" and reflects a position that goes against predictive prophecy.
The interpretation of the Apocalypse reflects a preterist viewpoint: Babylon the Great in Rev. 17 and 18 is Rome, and the 2 witnesses in Rev. 11 is symbolic of the church. Many of the events in the book of Revelation were fulfilled in the first century.
In more conservative evangelical study Bibles (e.g. The NIV Study Bible, the MacArthur Study Bible), the Pentateuch is written by Moses and his disciples (esp. for Deuteronomy), the book of Isaiah is written by the single author (the prophet Isaiah), and the 4 kingdoms in Daniel 7 are interpreted as Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. In most evangelical study Bibles, the interpretation of apocalyptic literature such as Daniel and Revelation reflect the premillennial dispensationalist viewpoint (everything should be taken very literally and in chronological order: Israel is distinct from the church), the historical premillennial (everything is taken literally but the church is the same as Israel) or the amillennial viewpoint (everything should be taken symbolically rather than literal).
Why all the fuss about dates and authorship? In the case of the book of Daniel, it has to do with one's view of the inspiration of Scripture and whether the prophecies were predicted way in advance or not. Evangelical scholars date Daniel in the 6th century B.C. and hold to the notion of predictive prophecy; hence, the 4 kingdoms are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. The mainstream scholarly position tends to date the book of Daniel to the 2nd century B.C. and a case can be made that these scholars don't hold to the notion of prescriptive prophecy. Hence, the 4 kingdoms would be interpreted as Babylon, Median empire, Persian empire, and Greece.
Another point of interest in the NAB is the translation of the Greek term "hilasmon" as "expiation" rather than "propitiation" (NASB, NKJV, ESV) in passages such as Rom. 3:25; 1 John 2:2 and 4:10.
Despite my different position on the authorship of the prophetic books and my view of how to interpret the apocalyptic books, I found this Bible to be very helpful. I really liked the lucid translation, and the notes help me to understand the mainstream scholarly position.
I really like Catholic Bibles such as the NAB because they include the deutero-canonical books which are not included in Protestant versions, such as Judith, Sirach, Tobit, 1 & 2 Maccabees. The book of Daniel in the NAB includes the stories of Bel and the Dragon attached at the end. The book of Esther contains chapter E between chapters 8 and 9. I especially find the books of 1 & 2 Maccabees to be informative and instructive -- giving the reader much insight into the Intertestamental Period.
You can't go wrong with this Bible. This Gift/Award edition is one of the least expensive editions of the NAB available. It is also available in a a hardcover edition, along with a bigger St. Joseph large print edition (w/ pictures), and a Catholic Study Bible Edition.
I find this Gift & Award edition sufficient for my needs with the fine introductions & study notes already incorporated.
Since I have both the Gift/Award edition and the hardcover edition, I want to point out the differences between the two editions:
a) The Gift/Award edition contains the list of popes, the chronological tables of the Miracles and Parables of Jesus in the front, and the endorsement of the pope & bishops. The hardcover edition does not. The Gift/Award edition is published by World Bibles while the hardcover edition is published by American Bible Society.
b) The Gift/Award edition does not have a 3 year cycle of Sunday Mass readings and a weekday lectionary in the back, while the hardcover edition does.
c) The Gift/Award edition is available in a beautiful black or burgundy imitation leather cover with the title "New American Bible" while the hardcover edition has a burgundy cover and a paper jacket which has the words "New American Bible for Catholics". In the hardcover edition, there is a big cross in the middle of the cover. The Gift/Award edition does not have the cross (which I prefer much more).
d) The Gift/Award edition has the words of Christ in red-letter while the hardcover edition does not.
e) The Gift/Award edition has 2 maps in the back: The 12 tribes of Israel and the Ministry of Jesus, while the hardcover edition contains no maps.
What both editions really need is a concordance in the back.
To tell you the truth, I prefer the Gift/Award version because of the beautiful imitation leather cover, the helpful tables in the front, and Christ's words presented in red-letter. The Gift/Award edition is also more compact than the hardcover edition. I also prefer the "New American Bible" title by itself (and not the words "for Catholics" because I think that believers in all other Christian denominations can benefit greatly by this version. It is not only for Catholics.)
If you're looking for a quality Catholic Bible that is translated by outstanding scholars and is readable, go no further than the NAB. It is an excellent translation that all Christians can benefit from, regardless of their denominational background.
A final note: The New American Bible (NAB) should not be confused with the New American Standard Bible (NASB), which is a conservative Protestant translation of the Bible. In the search list, Amazon puts the NASB alongside the NAB.
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Reviews with images
The best travel bible!
Don’t underestimate the size of this Bible! Aside from all the books in the Bible, it has all the common prayers, notes to each book of the Bible for my Bible study and the 3-year cycle of mass reading for Sundays, weekdays as well as the church seasons and major feasts! Although the writings are small, it is to be expected however, it is also fair to mention that the quality is so good that reading them is not an issue. The only complaint I have is that the miraculous medal is not the approved one as there is one star over the top of the cross and one directly on the bottom but I can replace this. Go ahead and buy this as a gift to friends and families! Stocking up now as a Christmas present.
Top reviews from other countries
Liam Ong
An excellent translation of scripture with textual and doctrinal notes and ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2016oisingray
Excellent layout, good concise notes easily accessed
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 29, 2016