What is a Chronological Bible?
A Chronological Bible attempts to order the readings of the Bible in the sequence of time ie chronologically. They are usually set to a yearly calendar with certain readings for each day as to help someone read through the whole bible in a year.
I ran a web search on Chronological Bibles and found to my surprise quite a large number and variety being offered with a wide range of prices. Most of the best-selling translations seem to have a chronological version. Do you recommend one version in particular, and could you comment on its value? By curious coincidence, I started my own list just a few days ago wondering why the Church would permit/endorse so many versions. Jerusalem, New Jerusalem, Navarre, St Ignatius, RSV, NAB, Didache, Douay, Challoner-Rheims...
Am I right to suspect the CB quoted is one of the most widely variant (other than the Message and some common English versions)?
The Didache Bible is my personal study Bible of choice as its commentary is from the Magisterium ie the Catechism and Papal Audiences. I also am a fan of the New Jerusalem and the Saint Ignatius but I have less experience working with them.
As someone who has studied the original Hebrew and Greek of the Bible, the translation of the Bible is an artform. The words used in Hebrew have many meanings, this also occurs with the Greek but less often. The Word of God is said to be polysemous which means that it has multiple meanings. Having studied the science of translation and the Tradition of interpretation of the Scripture it makes sense that the Word of God is expressed in numerous translations. The Church endorsement of any translation means that they do not contain any theological or moral errors but there can be spelling errors such as in the Douay-Rheims or even in one New Catholic Bible that I own.
From the USCCB website on Approved Translations
"The 1983 Code of Canon Law entrusts to the Apostolic See and the episcopal conferences the authority to approve translations of the Sacred Scriptures in the Latin Catholic Church (c. 825, §1). Prior to 1983, Scriptural translations could be approved by the Apostolic See or by a local ordinary within a diocese."
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