Catholics largely rely on popular Christian Bible versions like the New American Bible (NAB), New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), Revised Standard Version (RSV), New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), New Living Translation (NLT), and English Standard Version (ESV). The best Catholic Bibles (according to the Church) include the whole 73-book canon. The first English version to meet the canon law, the Douay-Rheims Bible, was printed in 1582. The most recent version to be accepted by the Church was the Revised New Jerusalem Bible (RNJB) in 2019.
With this in mind, the editors at Lord’s Library assembled this list of the best Catholic Bibles to consider. The one that is right for you will largely depend on your level of Biblical study and which features you are most looking for in a Bible version. Each listing includes author and publisher information, some basic facts about the edition, and links to any alternative versions that may be available.
Note: We only included the best Catholic Bibles with a 4-star or better ranking and a minimum of 500 reviews. We ranked them according to different buyer motivations like most popular, top-rated, and best value. We also included a Best of the Rest section with additional titles listed below.
The Best Catholic Bibles
Most Popular: The Ignatius Bible: Revised Standard Version – Second Catholic Edition
Author/Publisher: Ignatius Press
Material: Hardcover
Key Features:
- Wide margins
- Improved line-spacing
- 9 reference maps in color
- Gold-edged pages on leatherbound version
From the publisher: “A completely new design and typeset edition of the popular Ignatius Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition Bible, with minor revisions to some of the archaic language used in the first edition. This revised version is a contemporary English translation without dumbing-down the text. Now the only Catholic Bible in standard English is even more beautiful in word and design!”
Top-Rated: NRSV, Catholic Bible, Gift Edition, White, Comfort Print
Author/Publisher: Catholic Bible Press
Material: Imitation leather
Key Features:
- Deuterocanonical books
- Anglicized text
- Bible book introductions
- Smyth-sewn binding
From the publisher: “This beautiful edition of the Catholic Bible is the perfect gift for special milestones in every Catholic’s journey of faith, such as Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, or RCIA. Extra helps—including reading plans and prayers, book introductions, a timeline of Catholic and world history, a glossary of important terms, a concordance, full-color maps, and more.”
Best Value: The New American Bible (With the Revised Book of Psalms and the Revised New Testament)
Author/Publisher: World Bible Publishing
Material: Imitation leather
From the publisher: “Affordable edition of the New American Bible translation with features designed especially for students.”
Best Full-Color Bible: The Great Adventure Catholic Bible
Author/Publisher: Jeff Cavins, Mary Healy, Andrew Swafford
Material: Leather bound
Key Features:
- Full-color with eye-catching design
- Color-coded thumb index
- Timeline charts
- Articles highlighting each period of salvation history
From the publisher: “The Great Adventure Bible makes the complexity of reading the Bible simple. The narrative approach gives the big picture of salvation history and shows how everything ties together. This is the only Bible that incorporates The Great Adventure’s color-coded Bible Timeline learning system, a system that has made The Great Adventure Bible study resources the most popular and influential in the English speaking world.”
Best Youth Bible: The Catholic Youth Bible, 4th Edition, NABRE
Author/Publisher: Saint Mary’s Press
Material: Paperback
From the publisher: “Make The Catholic Youth Bible your own! This teen Bible is designed for you to personalize by drawing, coloring, highlighting and journaling as you reflect on scripture. Plus, The Catholic Youth Bible includes special features, tools, and articles.”
Best Compact Bible: The Revised Standard Version Catholic Bible
Author/Publisher: Oxford University Press
Material: Imitation leather
Key Features:
- Protective two-piece box
- Zipper closure
- Presentation section
- Catholic prayers and devotions
From the publisher: “The Revised Standard Version dramatically shaped the course of English Bible translation work in the latter half of the Twentieth Century. This beautiful compact bible is available at a surprisingly affordable price. It also features a protective two-piece box. The Compact Edition is perfect for travelers, students and hospital visitors, and readers on the go.”
Best Journaling Bible: The Catholic Journaling Bible
Author/Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor
Material: Hardcover
Key Features:
- Single column
- Wide margins
- Hand-lettered quotes
From the publisher: “Discover a beautiful, personal way to engage with Scripture through The Catholic Journaling Bible. The first of its kind for Catholic women, this journaling bible is the perfect companion as you dive deeper into the Word of God. Ideal for gift-giving, this beautifully bound bible invites Catholic women to immerse themselves in God’s Word like never before.”
Best Coloring Bible: Tyndale NLT Inspire Catholic Bible: Catholic Coloring Bible
Author/Publisher: Tyndale
Material: Hardcover
Key Features:
- Flexible LeatherLike cover
- Rose gold finish
- 450 Scripture illustrations
- High-quality white Bible paper
From the publisher: “Introducing the newest addition to the Tyndale Inspire line: the first – and only – Catholic coloring Bible with over 450 illustrations to color. This beautiful single-column, wide-margin, New Living Translation art journaling Bible was created specifically for coloring and creative journaling. This Tyndale Bible has become a treasured legacy for many.”
Best Large Print Bible: NRSV, Catholic Bible, Standard Large Print, Leathersoft, Red
Author/Publisher: Catholic Bible Press
Material: Imitation leather
Key Features:
- Deuterocanonical books
- Anglicized text
- Bible book introductions
- Smyth-sewn binding
From the publisher: “Featuring large, readable print, this beautiful Catholic Bible features line-matched Scripture layouts, Smyth-sewn binding; an extensive concordance; and more. With the easy-to-read Comfort Print typeface, exclusively designed for the NRSV, this is one of the most readable editions of the Catholic Scriptures available—perfect for all who desire to spend time in the Word of God.”
Best Standard Size Bible: NRSV, Catholic Bible, Standard Personal Size, Leathersoft, Black, Comfort Print
Author/Publisher: Catholic Bible Press
Material: Imitation leather
Key Features:
- Translators’ notes
- Cross-references
- Smyth-sewn binding that lays flat
- Full-color maps
From the publisher: “This beautiful edition of the Catholic Bible invites you to read Scripture daily and hear the voice of Jesus. Small enough to carry with you to work or school, yet exceptionally readable thanks to the special typeface designed exclusively for the NRSV, the Catholic Bible, Personal Size Standard Edition is perfect for all who desire to spend time in the Word of God.”
The Best Catholic Bibles – Best of the Rest
The Didache Bible: With Commentaries Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Author/Publisher: Ignatius Press
Material: Hardcover
From the publisher: “The Didache Bible (RSV-2CE) presents extensive commentaries, based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, for each of the books of the Holy Bible. The Didache Bible also includes numerous apologetical inserts to assist the reader in understanding the Church’s teachings on current issues.”
New Catholic Answer Bible: New American Bible Revised Edition
Author/Publisher: Paul Thigpen, Dave Armstrong
Material: Paperback
From the publisher: “No book in the history of the world has wielded as much influence on humankind as the Holy Bible. What makes The New Catholic Answer Bible so unique is the answers to questions about Catholic beliefs and practices and their foundation in Scripture. The New Catholic Answer Bible is a wonderful gift for a family member or friend who is in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) or has recently joined the Church.”
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