Question for Series Catholic Christians: *"What are you thoughts on the....?

Question

the Jerome Bible Commentary ?"

I also sincerely hope that "Father K" also has the time to answer this question. I may have to post it again tomorrow morning. If so, that is fine.

Do you use this version of the bible, more than any other.
*The Jerome Bible Commentary is a Catholic Bible.

Was just curious on any thoughts, respectfully from only "Catholic Christians"
and no other Christians out there.

Greatly appreciate everyone respecting this wish that only Catholic Christians answer this.
Respecting this request is an act of Unconditional Agape Love.

Thank You for all your intelligent, and most encouraging answers.

Have a fantastic week, and coming weekend.

Answer 1

I have read the Jerome Commentary. It seems fine. I do know that the "New Jerome Commentary" is the official Catholic commentary, but I question some things in it, in regards to it's 'modernized viewpoint".

However, I own one that is called "The Great Commentary" by Cornelius a Lapide.

http://www.archive.org/details/commentary00lapiuoft

It has everything, in fact one I found interesting was St. Robert Bellermine's commentary on Psalms. It was really quite beautiful, insightful and...a bit legalistic, just like St. Bellermine!

A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture is another I have, it's really excellent goes a bit deeper in more of a cultural aspect the publisher is Thomas Nelson & Sons (TAN)

My brother in law who is a professor of Theology at a Jesuit institution uses Haydock's. I have only looked briefly at it, and was engrossed...but alas, I was visiting his home, didn't need to be snooping around his library. Here is an online link:
http://haydock1859.tripod.com/

My personal opinion is to stay with things that have an Imprintapur before 1968. Why? Because if you notice some supposedly "Catholic" works are not really Catholic, recall the book by a homosexual priest in the 1980's who said it was okay to be a homosexual??? it had an Imprimatur from Philadelphia, yuck! So, the same applies here when it comes to commentaries. When in doubt, err on side of caution, and go where it was KNOWN to be truly Catholic, hence my date year.

Blessings to you in this beautiful Lenten Season!

Answer 2

The Jerome Biblical Commentary is definitely better than the New Jerome Biblical Commentary. The latter claims to take into account the most modern discoveries of biblical scholarship, which, in itself, is not so bad. However, the problem lies in the fact that the NJBC has a modernist slant to it, particularly in the sense of a rationalizing slant. The original JBC is more respectful of the biblical text, I believe.

Although such commentaries can prove useful for biblical scholarship and studies, I do not personally find them very profitable if you are seeking a spiritual reading of the Sacred Scriptures. In this regard, the Fathers of the Church are definitely much superior. Also, the Fathers take into account (and use very profoundly) the riches of Sacred Tradition, whereas the modern biblical commentaries like the JBC and NJBC seem to promote a reading of the biblical text that is independent of the Church's Tradition.

St. Thomas Aquinas' commentaries on the Scriptures are also very good. In fact, they dig very profoundly into the Mysteries of the Faith. However, they can be somewhat difficult in terms of accessibility, especially for those who do not have a solid philosophical (Aristotelian) foundation. However, if you do, by all means, use St. Thomas. More easy to read than his personal scriptural commentaries is his Catena Aurea or Golden Chain, which strings together texts from the Fathers of the Church in a masterful way, to provide a complete commentary of the four gospels.

Good luck in your search! I hope this post helps a bit.

Answer 3

Actually, being Anglican, I prefer the KJV and the RSV, although the Bible given to me at my Ordination is a RSV, Catholic Edition by Ignatius Press.

My copy of the "New Jerome Bible Commentary" is right here next to my desk. It was a major purchase in seminary (I think it was $75.00 back in 1994) The older versions were better, but hard to find.

There is another one I like - it's downstairs in the library. I can't remember what it's called - but it's Pre-Vatican II and really reliable.

Answer 4

Are you seeking a Cathoic answer as in the Catholic Church? Because Father K is an Anglican Rite which is technically a schizm and would not hold the Cathoic view beyond the first 7 ecumenical councils or use the same bible as Catholics. He may be catholic but he is not Catholic.