With the Oscars still in mind, in the "Always the last to know" category, I received a phone call from the local Fox Network affiliate to talk to me about the revised edition of the New American Bible, except they knew more about it than I. Their slogan “Wake up with Fox 9” now takes on symbolic meaning for me. Now, though, armed with the trusty “Google” I have searched the Internet for news of the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE). It turns out that the revised edition is basically a revision of the Old Testament, with the 1986 revision of the New Testament remaining intact. Interestingly, though, this revision is not approved for use in Mass, but for private reading and study. The Mass readings will be those from the modified text of the NAB which are currently in use.
News outlets have shown most interest in the translation changes from “booty” to “spoils of war” and from “holocaust” to “burnt offering,” but the most significant change that I have discovered in my recent searches has been the shift to “young woman” (from the Hebrew almah) in Isaiah 7:14 from “virgin” (in the Septuagint Greek parthenos, as in Matthew 1:23).
You know my views of translations, at least some of you might, but I would be interested to hear from you as, and if, you begin to use this revised edition of the NAB. Oh, and by the way, in the “Scholars will lend their expertise even to things they do not know” category, I will be interviewed for the Fox 9 news tonight on the NABRE. I suggested to them that they might want to find someone more familiar with the translation, which will be available for purchase only on March 9, 2011, but they assured me I would do and we would just discuss biblical translation in general. Let’s hope so!
UPDATE UPDATED: It turns out that God is looking out for me and so is Mary Elizabeth Sperry, Associate Director for Bible Utilization for the USCCB. She called after reading the blog post today and filled me in on some of the key aspects of the new revisions and sent me some of the new translations. It was helpful and kind and allowed me to prepare for the interview. Thanks to Mary for this help!
"For those in the Twin Cities area, the interview will run on the Fox 9 News at 9:00 pm tomorrow (March 3, 2011) not tonight." That's what I thought yesterday, but now it will run on Fox 9 News on Friday, March 4, 2011. This is what I have been told today.
John W. Martens
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God Bless