Holy Bible: Good News Translation, Catholic Edition (Latin Vulgate Order)

I've been reading the Good News Translation as my daily reading translation of the Bible since it came out in the late '70s (the New Testament came out in the '60s, but the Old Testament wasn't finished until the late '70s). At the time, the three main contemporary versions were The Living Bible, the NIV (which had also just come out), and this one. I felt The Living Bible was too much of a paraphrase, and the NIV too formal for my tastes. This was the baby-bear just right version.Since then, there have been many new translations of the Bible, but one thing that keeps me with this one is the DRAWINGS! I like having pictures with my reading -- not photographs of Biblical places today and such -- but cute, timeless drawings that illustrate what is in the text. This is unique to the GNT.Another thing I like about the GNT is how it connects other parts of the Bible without turning into a whole study Bible monstrosity. For whole passages that are nearly identical or cover the same story, the other passage is listed in parentheses just below the section header. This makes it easy to reference the similar passage elsewhere in the Bible, and has helped me become familiar with the similarities and differences between versions of a story (i.e. the Gospels, the story of David and the census, the way some passages from Kings or Chronicles are also found in the books of the prophets.)In addition, at the bottom of each page are references to individual Bible verses. For example, in a New Testament letter where it says, "As the Scripture says..." at the bottom it gives you the Scripture book/chapter/verse. This is true also for most passages where a story from the Old Testament is referenced but no verse is directly quoted -- you can go back and read the story they are referencing.Another thing I like is that this version identifies which quotes in the New Testament come from the Septuagint (Greek) version of the Old Testament. A lot of times I'll read some New Testament passage quoting an Old Testament passage and be like, "What? That doesn't sound familiar." Then I look at the references at the bottom and see that it was quoted from the Septuagint. In the back of this version, they collect all the New Testament verses that quote from the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew.Also in the back of the Bible is a timeline showing the dates when the events in the Bible occurred, as well as showing when the prophets lived. This helps me when I want to read a prophet related to the time frame I'm reading otherwise. For example, I typically read Genesis to the end of Kings, and at the end of Kings, then I go read the prophets that were around in the time of the northern tribes' last days. After I read a number of those, then I read Chronicles, and after that read the prophets around after the fall of the northern kingdom. Last of all, I read the prophets that were around after the fall of Judah. This timeline helps with understanding the timing of the events and what was going on when the prophets were writing.As for this particular edition of the GNT, it's my second one. The cover is really nice -- it has a soft, leather-like feel, making it comfortable to hold and read. I think my last one lasted about 20 years, even with daily reading. It finally fell apart, so I was happy to find this same edition, as GNT Bibles are quite hard to find. I wanted this not only for the cover, but also because it's a Catholic edition. I'm not Catholic but I like having the extra books in the Old Testament. (Also, the print size and page thickness are good.)I'm so glad to have been able to purchase this edition. I was afraid I was going to settle for a hardcover version if I was going to get a Good News Translation Bible, but I didn't have to settle!

Exactly what I was looking for! I wish it had red letter but that’s okay. I got for my 10 year old who was having a hard time understanding the Bible. This version is much easier to understand and still accurate. Perfect for young kids

I love ready the Bible and this is a wonderful book.

The Good News Translation, Catholic Edition of the Holy Bible is a reliable translation that aims to make the message of the Bible accessible and understandable to contemporary readers. Its language is clear and easy to comprehend, which is helpful for individuals new to biblical study or those looking for a straightforward interpretation.One of its strengths is its adherence to Catholic doctrine, making it a suitable choice for Catholics seeking a faithful rendition of the scriptures. The inclusion of deuterocanonical books adds depth and breadth to the content, offering readers a comprehensive view of Catholic teachings.However, some readers may find the translation overly simplified at times, potentially losing some of the richness and nuances present in other versions. Additionally, while the clear language aids in comprehension, it may lack the poetic and literary beauty found in more traditional translations.Overall, the Good News Translation, Catholic Edition serves as a valuable tool for Catholics seeking an easy-to-understand rendition of the Bible that remains faithful to Catholic teachings, but it may not fully satisfy those seeking a more scholarly or poetic translation.

Very easy to read

The greatest story ever told

I bought what I thought was a new bible for my son. The book is in good shape, but had a message from a mom to her son written back in 2015. We are keeping it, it’s kind of funny and honestly, the book looks fine other than that. But just beware of giving as a gift that you may want to check it over. I could find nothing in the description saying it was a used book. The back says not for sale also, but as someone who buys from libraries often, this is not as uncommon to see.

Una traduccion y version muy clara de las Santas Escrituras. Sus pequeñas ilustraciones hacen mas apetecible la lectura.Libro de segunda pero en muy buen estado.