Bible Study Resources for Catholics:
The Basics and a Bit Beyond

Below is a list of suggested Bible study resources for Catholics looking to either begin their study of Scripture, or take it to the next level.

The first section lists suitable Bible versions with links to potential sources for various editions. The version descriptions are very brief, but the Bible name links to more detailed assessments elsewhere on this site.

The remaining sections provide concise summaries of worthwhile resources under various categories, with links to sources for print and/or electronic editions of the works.

New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) 2011, USCCB

This is the current version of the American Catholic Bishops’ quasi-official Bible. It contains the 1986 NAB Revised new Testament and the 2010 NAB Revised Old Testament.

Standard print editions:

Catholic Bible Press

Our Sunday Visitor

St. Benedict Press

Editions from other publishers

Study editions:

Didache Bible, NABRE Edition (Midwest Theological Forum)

Catholic Study Bible (Oxford Univ. Press)

Catholic Bible: Personal Study Edition (Oxford Univ. Press)

Little Rock Study Bible (Liturgical Press)

Anselm Academic Study Bible (St. Mary’s Press)

Electronic editions:

Logos/Verbum (available with an optional Reverse Interlinear)

Accordance

Olive Tree

BibleGateway (free web and/or mobile app only - no eBook)

YouBible (free web and/or mobile app only - no eBook)

New American Bible with Revised New Testament [and Psalms] (NAB) 1986/1991, USCCBNew American Bible with Revised New Testament

Although superseded by the 2011 NABRE, these older NAB versions are still valuable to possess for their alignment with the readings in the current edition of the Lectionary for Mass (which was published in 1998/2001).

Standard/Study print editions:

Out of print since 2011, but available new and used from used booksellers.

Electronic editions:

No longer published electronically.

Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) 2006, Ignatius Press

Lightly modernized version of the 1966 Catholic Edition RSV, the most accurately literal English Catholic Bible for the prior 40 years.

Standard print editions:

Ignatius Press

Study editions:

Didache Bible Ignatius Edition (Midwest Theological Forum)

Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament (Ignatius Press, Logos/Verbum)

Great Adventure Catholic Bible (Ascension)

Electronic editions:

Logos/Verbum (available with an optional Reverse Interlinear)

Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) 1966, Catholic Biblical Association of Great Britain

Literal English translation of the Bible in the King James tradition, modified for Catholic use.

Standard print editions:

Ignatius Press

St. Benedict Press

Oxford University Press

Electronic editions:

Logos/Verbum (available with an optional Reverse Interlinear)

BibleGateway (free web and/or mobile app only - no eBook)

Revised Standard Version, Second Edition New Testament, with Expanded Apocrypha (RSV) 1977, National Council of the Churches of Christ (USA)

Ecumenical edition of this literal translation in the King James tradition.

Standard print editions:

None

Study editions:

New Oxford Annotated Bible, RSV (Oxford Univ. Press)

Electronic editions:

Logos/Verbum (available with an optional Reverse Interlinear)

Accordance

Olive Tree

YouVersion (w/ 1957 Apocrypha, not 1977 Expanded; available as free web and/or mobile app only - no eBook)

New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE) 1992, National Council of Churches of Christ (USA)

The literal RSV updated for modern sensibilities, as used by the Canadian Catholic Church.

Standard print editions:

Catholic Bible Press

Oxford University Press

Study Editions

Word On Fire

Electronic editions:

Logos/Verbum (available with an optional Reverse Interlinear)

BibleGateway (free web and/or mobile app only - no eBook)

New Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha (NRSV) 1989, National Council of Churches (USA)

The literal RSV updated for modern cultural sensibilities, in an ecumenical format. Note that this version is beginning to get harder to find since the publication of its "Updated Edition" replacement version in 2021, known as NRSVue. The NRSVue is unlikely to ever appear in a Catholic edition or receive an imprimatur.

Standard print editions:

Oxford University Press

Hendrickson

Study editions:

New Oxford Annotated Bible, NRSV (Oxford Univ. Press)

New Interpreter’s Study Bible

HarperCollins Study Bible

Electronic editions:

Logos/Verbum (available with an optional Reverse Interlinear)

Accordance (available with optional Strong’s tagging)

Olive Tree (available with optional Strong’s tagging)

YouVersion (free web and/or mobile app only - no eBook)

English Standard Version, Catholic Edition (ESV-CE) 2019, The Augustine Institute

A 21st-century revision of the RSV with traditional sensibilities, recently released in a Catholic edition.

Standard print editions:

Augustine Institute (US)

SPCK (UK)

Electronic editions:

Logos/Verbum (available with an optional Reverse Interlinear)

Revised New Jerusalem Bible (RNJB) 2019, Henry Wansbrough

An excellent recent formal equivalence translation in the JB/NJB literary tradition.

Print editions:

Darton, Longman & Todd (UK) , or Image (US)

Electronic editions:

Kindle (Amazon) or ePub editions only.

New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) 1985, Henry Wansbrough

An update to the Jerusalem Bible conforming to modern sensibilities, slightly more literal in style.

Print editions:

Doubleday

Electronic editions:

Logos/Verbum (Readers Edition) or (Standard Edition with full notes)

Accordance

Jerusalem Bible, [with Grail Psalms] (JB) 1966, Catholic Truth Society

A more interpretive, literary translation, for many years used in the Lectionaries of England, Ireland, others.

Print editions:

Catholic Truth Society) (New Catholic Bible, with Grail Psalms)

Image [Readers Edition only, with original JB Psalter]

Electronic editions:

None

New Catholic Bible (NCB) 2019, Catholic Book Publishing

A fresh, independent translation in a literal style, published for private, non-liturgical use. Useful annotations.

Print editions:

Catholic Book Publishing

Electronic editions:

Biblegateway.com (free web and/or mobile app only - no eBook)

New Community Bible (NCB) 2012, Alba House

A simplified, easy-to-read translation, originally published in India for non-native English speakers. Fully annotated.

Print editions:

Alba House

Electronic editions:

None

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition. USCCB, 2000.

A must-have Bible study companion. When looking for a print edition, be sure to get an edition that says: “contains glossary and analytical index”, as the included Index of Citations is invaluable for studying the Bible with the mind of the Church.

It is available electronically for Accordance (but only within a package), as well as for Logos, where it is offered either as a stand-alone book, or as part of a any of several packages, including their Catechism of the Catholic Church Collection, which is far and away the best starter-level (~$50) package of electronic study tools for Catholics available.

Dei Verbum. Second Vatican Council, 1965.

The Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation presents the Church’s mature teaching on the Word of God in twenty-six numbered paragraphs. The constitution is readily available on the Vatican website, and is often printed in Catholic Bibles. It can be studied in Logos within a two-volume set of Vatican II documents translated by Austin Flannery, or in the Vatican translation, contained within the Catechism of the Catholic Church Collection.

Verbum Domini. Pope Benedict XVI. 2010.

Pope Benedict XVI’s Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, On the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church, is an important reflection and teaching on the importance of Scripture in Catholic life. It is readily available on the Vatican website. It is available electronically for Logos.

The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church. Pontifical Biblical Commission, 1993. 135 pgs.

This is a comprehensive, non-magisterial treatment of the question of Biblical interpretation in the modern world, contrasting both “fundamentalist” and various “liberal” interpretive approaches to the characteristics of Catholic interpretation. This is a standard text in many Catholic university Bible courses. It is available electronically for Logos.

The Bible and Morality: Biblical Roots of Christian Conduct. Pontifical Biblical Commission, 2008. 240 pgs.

This non-magisterial work of the PBC is a thorough treatment of the normative and revelatory character of the Biblical witness to both timeless moral truths and practical contemporary moral problems. It is readily available on the Vatican website, and is also available in a Logos edition.

The Inspiration and Truth of Sacred Scripture. Pontifical Biblical Commission, 2014. 204 pgs.

A response to Pope Benedict XVI's plea in Verbum Domini (n. 19) for renewed and updated theological articulation of the nature of the Biblical text, this non-magisterial work of the PBC responds to contemporary challenges to the reception of Scripture as inspired and as the divine revelation of truth. It is not available on the Vatican website in English at this time. Full title: The Inspiration and Truth of Sacred Scripture: The Word that Comes from God and Speaks of God for the Salvation of the World.

What Is Man? A Journey Through Biblical Anthropology. Pontifical Biblical Commission, 2019. 240 pgs.

At the behest of Pope Francis, the PBC produced this non-magisterial exploration of Sacred Scripture's holistic teaching on the meaning of human existence, and of what it means to be a human being: created by God in His image. It is a comprehensive study that impinges upon some of the most urgent social and moral questions confronting the Church today. It is not available on the Vatican website in English at this time.

The Scripture Documents: An Anthology of Official Catholic Teachings. Dean P. Bechard, ed. Liturgical Press, 2002. 368 pgs.

This is a handy collection of roughly a century of formal Catholic teaching on Scripture, dating from Pope Leo XIII's Providentissimus Deus (1893) into the reign of Pope John Paul II.

The Church and The Bible: Official Documents of the Catholic Church, Revised and Enlarged Second Edition. Dennis J. Murphy, ed. Alba House, 2007. 1144 pgs.

For the completist, this well-indexed reference work contains essential texts from 178 authoritative Catholic documents dealing with Scripture, from antiquity into the papacy of Benedict XVI, presented chronologically. Note that publication preceded Verbum Domini and the documents which followed.

Catholic Bible Dictionary. Scott Hahn, ed.  Doubleday, 2009. 1008 pgs.

Hahn’s Bible Dictionary is excellent, drawing not only on current historical scholarship, but also on ancient witnesses in the Church tradition. This should be a priority resource, unless you already have access to a good Bible Dictionary. Available for Logos.

Dictionary of the Bible. John L. McKenzie, ed. Macmillan, 1965. 954 pgs.

Prior to the publication of Hahn’s dictionary, McKenzie’s was the go-to one-volume Catholic Bible dictionary in English. It is slightly dated, but compact and useful, and relatively inexpensive, even in new condition. It can be found used in good condition for $5-$6, delivered. It is not available electronically.

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. David Noel Freedman, ed. Eerdmans, 2000. 1480 pgs.

This is a comprehensive one-volume work of ecumenical scholarship, with contributions from a very large body of professional Biblical scholars, spanning the theological spectrum. Keyed to the NRSV, it is available electronically for Accordance, Logos, and Olive Tree.

This volume replaced the Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (1987, Allen C. Myers, ed.), which had been based on a translation of a leading international Bible dictionary, and was keyed to the RSV in English. The older work is out of print but is widely available used for short money, and is a rarity among one-volume Bible dictionaries in providing pronunciation guidance for each entry - consistent with the priorities of the RSV editors. It is also available for Logos.

HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (3rd ed.) Mark Allan Powell, ed. HarperOne, 2011. 1168 pgs.

Another broadly-sourced ecumenical work, based on the NRSV, the HarperCollins dictionary was produced under the auspices of the Society for Biblical Literature. It is available electronically for Logos.

Many students of the Bible preferred the previous, 2nd edition of this work, edited by Paul Achtemeier (1996, 1280 pgs.).

The first edition, called Harper’s Bible Dictionary, also edited by Paul Achtemeier (1985, 1168 pgs.), was keyed to the RSV, and provided pronunciation guidance. It is widely available used at low prices, and is also available for Logos.

Dictionary of Biblical Theology (Updated 2nd ed.) Xavier Leon-Dufour, ed. P. Joseph Cahill, trans. Word Among Us Press, 1995. 712 pgs.

Originally published in French in 1962, this work differs from other Bible dictionaries in its scope. omitting much of the typical people, places, and things detail to focus on theologically important Biblical words and concepts. So the work goes deeper than typical dictionaries on important topics, but lacks much of the information they typically provide. The 70 article contributors reflect a who's who of French-speaking Catholicism around the time of the Second Vatican Council. The work has been translated into 20 languages. Available in reprint from Word Among Us Press, it is unfortunately not available electronically.

The New Jerome is the most highly regarded single-volume Catholic commentary, and is one of the more highly-regarded volumes in its class outside the Catholic world as well. It was edited by three of the leading Catholic Biblical scholars of the late 20th century, and is quite academic for a one-volume commentary, which is both a pro and a con.

It is a commentary on the original language texts, rather than on an English translation, although it does not use any Greek or Hebrew script. Biblical books are treated in an idiosyncratic order, rather than in canonical order, which necessitates the use of a unique numbering scheme for internal referencing. Beyond commentary on the full Catholic canon, it also includes articles on many Biblical-related issues.

It has been sometimes criticized for failing to adequately interpret Scripture from within the context of the faith as handed down in tradition. Somewhat expensive compared to similar works, it replaced a 1968 work called The Jerome Biblical Commentary, edited by the same scholars, which can also still be found used. Neither edition is available electronically, although the 1968 edition was included in a very early Logos package (Libronix format), which can sometimes still be found on the used market.

A third edition from new editors was published in 2022 by Bloomsbury, entitled The Jerome Biblical Commentary for the Twenty-First Century. It is not clear if the 3rd edition is an improvement over its predecessors, but its existence has driven down the price of used copies of the 2nd edition.

Paulist Biblical Commentary. Chiu, et al., eds. Paulist Press, 2018. 1686 pgs.

The Paulist Biblical Commentary (PBC) is a recent international collaboration of more than seventy scholars. Contains modest introductions and commentary on all 73 books of the Catholic canon. The editors claim the work is primarily directed toward those in pastoral ministry, indicating that it is not overly academic in character. Electronic editions are available on Kindle and as an ebook from the paulistpress.com website, which is likely either an ePub or a PDF. Logos has also recently released a Logos Reader Edition release of the book. Each section and passage is treated necessarily briefly, but generally manages to include helpful context or background observations.

Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Bernard Orchard, ed. Nelson, 1953. 1326 pgs.

Fr. Orchard’s commentary has been out of print a long time, but was recently republished in Logos electronic format, which is well-worth owning as a fairly concise commentary resource on the full Catholic canon (as well as containing numerous other articles). It is respectful of modern scholarship as it existed at mid-century, while remaining firmly convinced of traditional Catholic/Christian teaching concerning Biblical inspiration, Church authority, and the ultimate unity of all truth. Note that the work is based on the Douay-Rheims-Challoner translation of the Latin Vulgate, not on a translation from the original languages, which means that some proper names are given slightly differently (e.g. the Minor Prophet we know as Hosea is called Osee). A 1969 updated version of this commentary, edited by Reginald C. Fuller, has also been out of print for many years, but can sometimes be found in used print copies.

New Collegeville Bible Commentary. Daniel Durkin, ed. Liturgical Press, 2017. 1552 pgs.

This series, begun in 2005, replaces the original 1980’s-era Collegeville Bible Commentary series edited by Bergant & Karris, improving upon it somewhat. The New Collegeville commentary, like its predecessor, is a lightweight effort, suitable for beginners, but not particularly rich in religious content. It provides basic background information, points out parallels, clarifies storylines, and such. Echoing a problem with the annotations in the NAB/NABRE itself, the commentators place a level of emphasis on historical-critical theories that seems out of place in a work addressed to the average person in the pew. The commentary is available in an affordable single volume, or as two volumes, or in 36 fascicles (booklet form). The fascicles contain both the commentary and the Revised NAB text it is based upon. Both the Collegeville and the New Collegeville series have served as the commentaries for Liturgical Press’ popular Little Rock Bible Study program. Both versions are available for Logos.

Navarre Bible: New Testament. Navarre Univ. Scepter/Four Courts Press, 2008. 1,200 pgs.

This one-volume New Testament commentary is a revision of the commentary included in the 12-volume “standard” edition of the Navarre Bible New Testament, which was originally published in English in the late 1980s. Both editions draw on the writings of the Church Fathers, Magisterial texts, and works of Catholic spiritual writers, including Opus Dei founder St Josemaría Escrivá. The 2008 edition is more concise, relies less on the writings of Escrivá, and provides references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which had been published after the completion of the original Navarre edition. This is an excellent Catholic New Testament commentary. It is available for Logos.

New Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary. Gaventa & Petersen, eds. Abingdon, 2010. 1068 pgs.

A wide variety of authors offer an ecumenical perspective, providing an overview, outline, and section-by-section summaries and analysis for each book. It follows the NRSV translation, covering all the books in the various Christian canons (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant). Like other works in this genre, it also includes several general articles. The volume is somewhat large format at 7.5x10.25x2.5”, which supports an easy-to-read font size. It is available for Accordance and for Olive Tree. An older print edition (Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary on the Bible. Buttrick & Laymon, eds. 1971) can also be found used at low prices, although this older edition lacks articles on those few books belonging only to the canons of various Orthodox Churches.

HarperCollins Bible Commentary. James L. Mays, ed.  HarperOne, 2000. 1232 pgs.

Similarly to the New Interpreter’s, the HarperCollins single-volume commentary is an ecumenical venture, providing commentary on all the books (and parts of books) of the various Christian canons. It was produced under the auspices of the Society for Biblical Literature, drawing on a wide array of mostly North American Biblical scholars of varying religious backgrounds. It does not utilize any specific translation, but the authors comment from their knowledge of the original language texts, and generally provide their own translations when quoting passages. The work’s focus is academic, not confessional. This edition replaces a 1988 volume called Harper’s Bible Commentary, which it largely reproduces without change. Both editions are widely available used at low cost. The older edition is available in Logos. 

Navarre Bible. Scepter/Four Courts, 1985-2005

Begun in 1985, this set is a translation of a Spanish-language commentary produced by scholars at the University of Navarre, at the behest of the school’s (and Opus Dei) founder St Josemaría Escrivá. The New Testament was published in twelve volumes, and the Old Testament in seven volumes. The commentary is accompanied by the text of the Latin New Vulgate, and the English text of the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. The commentary draws on the writings of the Church Fathers, Magisterial texts, and works of Catholic spiritual writers, including Escrivá. Several editions of most volumes have been published over the years. It is available for Logos in a 19-volume set, or as an OT set in 7 vols, with the NT volumes available either individually or in a 12-vol NT set.

Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Baker Academic, 2008-2019.

This is a good New Testament commentary series for clergy or the ambitious lay person, based on the NABRE translation. The New Testament is covered in seventeen volumes. The series aims at interpreting Scripture in its canonical context, and in the light of Catholic tradition and of the analogy of faith. It features verse-by-verse exegesis, as well as brief reflection and application sections on each pericope. Cross-references link each passage to the Catechism, the Lectionary, and to related biblical texts. Sidebars present information on the background of the text, and on how the text has been interpreted by the Church. Abundant quotations from saints and Church Fathers enable readers to glimpse the continuity of Catholic tradition. It is available for Accordance (17-vol set), Logos (as a 17-vol set, or as individual volumes), and Olive Tree (individual volumes or 17-volume set). Due to the favorable reception for this NT series, Baker Academic has begun work on a corresponding OT set, the first two volumes of which should be released in early 2024.

Sacra Pagina. Liturgical Press, 1991-2008

An 18-volume New Testament commentary authored by an international slate of Catholic Biblical scholars, the goal of the series is to “present basic introductory information and close exposition”, thus focusing more on the text and less on the background. The authors employ a diverse range of interpretive and methodological perspectives, aiming to “provide sound critical analysis without any loss of sensitivity to religious meaning.” It is available electronically for Accordance. (set only) and for Logos (as a set or as individual volumes).

Berit Olam: Studies in Hebrew Narrative and Poetry. Liturgical Press., 1996-2003

Writing for a broad audience, and eschewing the usual historical-critical commentary methods, this series focuses on literary analysis of the texts as received, using techniques such as rhetorical criticism. Authors come from a variety of religious and professional backgrounds, so this is not really a Catholic series, even though it is published by a Catholic publishing house. In fact, there are no signs that the series intends to include the Deuterocanon. Begun in 1996, 15 volumes have been published out of at least 24 planned, although the project appears dormant. Accordance and Logos both offer the series electronically (in Logos, volumes can be purchased individually as well).

Anchor Yale Bible. Yale University Press, 1956-2018

Highly academic, critical commentaries from a wide range of writers: Catholics, Jews, and many Protestant traditions. It is a rarity among major modern technical commentary series in that it covers the Apocrypha/Deuterocanon. The English translation is produced by the authors of each volume. Greek/Hebrew terms are transliterated, but it is still a very technical work, often engaging in extensive critical discussion of original language manuscripts and fragments. It is available electronically for Accordance (in various sets or subsets only), Logos (in sets or as individual volumes), and Olive Tree (as a full set or as individual volumes). Whether in print or electronically, these tend to be expensive volumes.

New Interpreter’s Bible. Abingdon Press, 1994-2002

Originally published in twelve volumes between 1994-2002 featuring the NRSV and NIV (or NAB for the Deuterocanonicals) Biblical texts in parallel columns before the commentary for each section, Abingdon re-released this set in ten volumes of commentary only in 2015 as The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary. It is a well-respected critical commentary of ecumenical authorship, providing a moderate level of detail in its commentary – a good level for many purposes. Interestingly for a non-Catholic effort, it includes treatment of the Deuterocanonical books, but not the other books of the Protestant Apocrypha. In the 2015 edition, all the Deuterocanonical content except Baruch is found within a single volume (Vol. VI). It is available electronically – as a full set only – for Accordance, Logos, and Olive Tree.

New Collegeville Bible Commentary Series. Liturgical Press, 2005-2015

This lightweight commentary, mentioned above among the one-volume commentaries, is also available as a series of 36 booklets, which unlike the consolidated one-volume option include the text of the New American Bible Revised Edition positioned above the commentary text. The NABRE text is marked with indicators of where the Catechism of the Catholic Church makes reference to a passage. The booklets include a handful of discussion questions for each major section, and an index of passages cited by the Catechism.

Ignatius Study Bible Series. Ignatius Press, 2001-2017

These large-format booklets are not so much commentaries as fascicles containing excerpts of the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, but the study notes are as thorough as any light commentary, and they provide excellent insights in the light of Catholic tradition. The notes run underneath the text of the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition. The booklets provide numerous discussion questions for each chapter. 13 volumes cover the New Testament. 9 Old Testament volumes currently cover 14 Old Testament books

Catena Aurea (The Golden Chain). Thomas Aquinas, ed. John Henry Newman, trans. Various publishers.

This is a collection of Patristic quotes relating to the Gospels, curated by St. Thomas Aquinas, and arranged as a commentary on each Gospel. Typically sold in print in 4 volumes, it is widely available electronically, both on the web as well as for Accordance and Logos.

You Can Understand the Bible: A Practical and Illuminating Guide to Each Book in the Bible. Peter Kreeft. Ignatius, 2005. 328 pgs.

This work differs from the others listed here in that the author is not a professional Biblical scholar, but a popular philosophy professor and Catholic apologist. The author explicitly states that this is a book for beginners. Kreeft largely ignores the scholarly debates over things like dating and authorship, and instead provides a series of short, conversational chapters summarizing the major themes and content of each Biblical book. Oddly for a book aimed primarily at Catholics, the Deuterocanonical books are not treated in their canonical order like the rest of the books, but instead are handled together briefly in a concluding chapter to part one of the work. Part two, covering the much shorter New Testament, is about as long as part one. Kreeft does a nice job of summarizing the Bible in a modest-sized book. It is available for Logos.

Inside the Bible: A Guide to Understanding Each Book of the Bible. Kenneth Baker. Ignatius, 1998. 373 pgs.

Fr. Baker’s Guide is a survey of each book of the Catholic Bible in canonical order, written is his typical no-nonsense, concise style. He gives short attention to matters like dating, authorship, and historical context, and instead presents each book’s theme, a summary of its content, and a short reflection on its theology. He refers to his purpose as providing a birds-eye view of each book of the Bible. It is aimed at believers without a lot of experience with the various Biblical books.

Guide to the Bible. Antonio Fuentes.  Four Courts Press, 1987. 262 pgs.

This work, written by one of the editors of the Navarre Bible, provides a concise guide to the content, character, and significance of every book in the Catholic Bible. The typical concerns of Introductions (dating, authorship, etc.) are treated relatively lightly in favor of exploring how each work is situated within salvation history, and its reception and significance in the Church. Unfortunately out of print, inexpensive copies can still be found used.

Introduction to the Bible. John Laux. TAN, 1932 (Reprint, 1990). 352 pgs.

Fr. Laux was an early 20th-century American high school teacher who created his own religious studies curricula, which have been republished by TAN. His Introduction to the Bible, rooted in the traditional teaching of the Church, aims to equip the student “to acquaint himself with those general notions about the Bible which are prerequisite for the profitable reading of the Sacred Text itself”. The work provides “an account of the content and structure of the [Bible], together with an indication of its general character and aim, the main points of its teaching, the principal proofs of its canonicity, and the difficulties it offers to the reader”. At almost a century old, the book’s language is somewhat dated, particularly in the use of older [i.e. Latin] forms of Biblical proper names, but it is stylistically clear, and well-organized. The work is suitable for a lay person looking for a general understanding of the Bible from a traditionalist perspective.

Understanding the Scriptures: A Complete Course on Bible Study (Didache Series). Scott Hahn. Midwest Theological Forum, 2005. 548 pgs.

A very different kind of resource than the others listed here, this is a large-format, modern high school-level textbook, which includes hundreds of color photos, maps, charts, and depictions of sacred art. Almost half of the 30 chapters deal with the New Testament. The work does not present the books of the Bible per se, but traces out salvation history as depicted in Scripture. The focus, then, is on the narrative aspects of the Bible, leading to sparse treatment of other elements, such as Wisdom literature. The work is easy to use, and useful for grasping the big picture of Scripture, but it largely overlooks the Bible as literature, barely distinguishing one book from another.

Essential Bible Handbook: A Guide for Catholics. Thomas Santa. Liguori, 2002. 289 pgs.

Less of a traditional Bible handbook than a handbook to the Bible in Catholic life, this small book is good for what it proposes to do, but at the cost of containing very little guidance to the actual content of the Scriptures, which is summarized in less than 60 pages. It contains sections on Scripture within the life of the Church, the background and structure of the Bible, the links between Scripture and the sacraments, links to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the relationship between Scripture and prayer, etc.

Scripture Source Book for Catholics. Peter Klein. Our Sunday Visitor, 2001. 426 pgs.

This work is similar to Fr. Santa’s book from Liguori in that it focuses on the Scriptures in the life of the Church. It does not survey the books of the Bible themselves, but is truly preliminary, discussing revelation and inspiration, the emergence of God’s Word in Scripture, salvation history and the covenants, translations, interpretation, Scripture in the liturgy, Scripture in the prayer life, etc. It covers numerous doctrinal questions in their Scriptural settings. This is a highly informative book that provides extensive background information on the Bible and its relation to the Catholic faith that every catechist should be knowledgeable of.

Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament. Bergsma & Pitre. Ignatius, 2018. 750 pgs.

A new work from two engaging Catholic scholars introducing each book of the Old Testament from historical and cultural perspectives, as well as drawing on the New Testament and the Catholic faith to provide a theological interpretation. The treatment of each book includes an examination of where it is drawn upon in the liturgical calendar. It is available in a Logos edition, which is included in most of the current Verbum base packages. Highly recommended

Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction; 2nd Edition. Lawrence Boadt. Paulist Press, 2012. 528 pgs.

This is a substantial work that focuses heavily on historical background and context. It treats the Old Testament chronologically, as history of the Hebrew people. One consequence of this is that the Wisdom books get relatively little treatment, as do the Deuterocanonicals. Boadt includes a helpful chapter explaining the methods of modern Biblical scholarship, the conventions of which he accepts here uncritically. The first edition was published in 1984, and was widely used in higher education as a textbook. The second edition was published two years after Boadt’s death, with some updating. The second edition is available electronically for Logos.

Consuming Fire: A Christian Guide to the Old Testament. Michael Duggan. Our Sunday Visitor, 2010. 688 pgs.

Originally published by Ignatius Press in 1991, it was republished with minor updates in 2010 by OSV. As the title would indicate, one of Fr. Duggan’s purposes is to help the Christian reader understand the various Old Testament books in the light of Christ and the New Testament. The books are grouped according to literary type, and then treated chronologically within each grouping, although the Deuterocanonical books are their own grouping. The historical context of each text is given, followed by an examination of major themes. It largely follows scholarly convention concerning dating & authorship and such.

Introduction to the New Testament. Raymond E. Brown. Doubleday (later: Yale), 1997. 878 pgs.

Brown was the leading Catholic critical Biblical scholar of the late twentieth century, and this is arguably his most respected work. It is intense and comprehensive, as the page count suggests. A standard in critical scholarship, this work may be overkill for less experienced readers of the Bible, and Brown’s exclusionary embrace of historical-critical method and theories may not age well. The work is available electronically for Accordance, Logos, and Olive Tree.

In 2016, Yale published a 376-page Abridged Edition, edited by Brown protégée Marion Soards, which makes the work more accessible while retaining much of Brown’s thought. The abridged edition is available electronically for  Accordance and Olive Tree.

Reading the New Testament: An Introduction; 3rd Edition. Pheme Perkins. Paulist Press, 2012. 336 pgs.

A typical work of mainstream, liberal Catholic scholarship from the late 20th century, which adopts popular theories of source criticism as if they were established fact. More or less a companion volume to the Boadt Old Testament volume from Paulist Press. Popular as a textbook, the work is professional and competent, as evidenced by its long shelf life and multiple editions (1st Edition: 1978, 342 pgs.; 2nd Edition: 1988, 350 pgs.). It might also be less expensive than comparable works. It is not available electronically.

Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation, 3rd Edition. Luke Timothy Johnson. Fortress Press, 2010. 544 pgs.

One of the more engaging works in this genre, Johnson’s work has been widely used as a textbook for advanced students for more than three decades. Proceeding from an interest in both the history and psychology of religion, Johnson proposes an understanding of the New Testament documents seen through an historical interpretive lens he calls a "dialectic of experience and understanding”. The first edition was originally published by Fortress in 1986 (618 pgs.). A Revised [2nd] Edition was published in 2002 (Fortress, 656 pgs.), which is available electronically for Logos.

New Testament: A Very Short Introduction. Luke Timothy Johnson. Oxford, 2010. 146 pgs.

This small and short book is as concisely professional as most of the other entries in the “Very Short Introduction” series from Oxford. Geared more toward a general reader with an interest in the Bible as religious literature than toward a believer seeking insight into God’s Word, but still useful as a preliminary introduction.

Introduction to the New Testament, 2nd Edition. Carson & Moo. Zondervan, 2005. 784 pgs.

Written by two leading Evangelical scholars, not Catholics, it is on this list of resources for Catholics because it is a superior New Testament Introduction. A very comprehensive work, academic theories are treated as theories and given a fair argument, rather than being treated as pseudo-dogmas to be taken as fact. The authors effectively defend the integrity of Scripture against various popular theories skeptical of its character as Divine Revelation. This work is thorough, professional, informative, and faithful to Revelation. It is available electronically for Accordance & Logos It was originally published a quarter-century ago in a significantly shorter format (537 pgs. Zondervan, 1992), which was co-authored with Leon Morris.

Perhaps more useful to less experienced readers would be a 176-page abridgement of this work published by Zondervan in 2010 under the title: Introducing the New Testament: A Short Guide to Its History and Message, which is available electronically for Logos & Olive Tree.

Divine Armory of Holy Scripture. Kenelm Vaughan. Aeterna Press, 2015 (reprint). 328 pgs.

Originally published in 1894, this is a topical concordance to the Bible, where the topical structure follows that of a traditional catechism, with supporting Scriptural references provided for the various doctrinal statements. Thus, it is a Scriptural catechism, providing the Scriptural foundations of Catholic doctrine and liturgy. It displays results as references only. It is also available electronically for Logos.

Complete Topical Guide to the Bible. Manser, et al. Baker, 2017. 656 pgs.

Formerly published as Dictionary of Bible Themes (1997, 2009). It is organized doctrinally under 9 major headings typical of works of systematic theology (God, Jesus Christ, Humanity, etc.), which are subdivided into multiple sub-layers, each assigned a catalog number supporting extensive cross-indexing, including a complete Scriptural index. Also includes an alphabetical index of the 2,000+ themes/topics. Results are displayed as references only. This is a very useful volume, especially in electronic format, except that it is limited in scope to the Protestant canon. Available electronically for Accordance, Logos, and Olive Tree.

Nave’s Topical Bible. Orville J. Nave. Various publishers, since 1896.

This is a standard topical index in the English-speaking world of Bible study, and is widely available. It covers 20,000+ topics, cataloging 100,000+ references. It is indexed alphabetically from Aaron to Zuzim, displaying results as references only. It is limited in scope to the Protestant canon, and focuses on topics of interest to Protestants. It is available electronically for Accordance, Logos (in an updated & expanded edition), and Olive Tree.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. R. A. Torrey. Hendrickson, 2002 (reprint). 784 pgs.

Originally published in 1836, this work constituted the most comprehensive collection of Biblical cross-references available anywhere, providing over half a million references. Although it contains some commentary of dubious value, it mainly consists of a voluminous listing of primarily lexical-based cross-references, keyed to the text of the King James Version Bible. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always catalog even clear typological references. Its scope is limited to the Protestant canon. Several enhanced editions have been printed. This is a standard work in the electronic Bible study arena, both in commercial products and shareware/freeware packages. It is available electronically for Accordance (in an enhanced edition), Logos, and Olive Tree.

Gospel Parallels: A Comparison of the Synoptic Gospels, New Revised Standard Version. Burton Throckmorton. Nelson, 1992. 212 pgs.

Originally published in 1949 using the Revised Standard Version text, this 1992 NRSV-based 5th edition will presumably be the last edition (Throckmorton died in 2009). The work combines the stories of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke into a single, continuous narrative, assigning section numbers to each pericope, and presents the story in order (primarily following Matthew), using as many parallel columns as is required to present the texts of the various Gospels for each section, as applicable. The result is a clear comparison of how the three synoptic Gospel writers treat each pericope. The work also provides references to other related passages, canonical and non-canonical, and contains several useful indexes and a helpful guide to understanding the documentary annotations. This is a very useful tool for studying the Gospels.

The 1979 4th edition of this work, still readily available and often cheap, uses the 2nd edition of the RSV New Testament (1971) for its text, which may be a preferable option for those who prefer the RSV text to the NRSV.

Synopsis of the Four Gospels, Revised Standard Version. American Bible Society, 2010. 361 pgs.

This volume represents the English components of Kurt Aland's 1985 Gospel parallel work Greek-English Synopsis- Quattuor Evangeliorum, using the 1966 RSV-CE as the English New Testament text. It includes a running apparatus providing alternate readings from the literary antecedents of the RSV: the American Standard Version, the English Revised Version, and the Authorized (or King James) Version. It lacks most of the documentary cross-references of the Throckmorton synopsis, but unlike Throckmorton, it incorporates the Gospel According to John in the synopsis.

The Catholic Comparative New Testament. Oxford University Press, 2006. xxxviii + 1762 pgs.

This compilation from OUP presents eight catholic or Catholic-approved New Testament translations across facing pages (four versions per sheet in a dual four-corners arrangement), making it an excellent secondary tool for students looking to glean insight into the text by comparing translations. The typeface is on the small side, but clean and sharp. Combined with good line matching in the page layout, it overcomes the thinness of the paper required to retain readability while keeping this 1800-page book a very manageable size. The presentation has four more or less formal NT translations on the left-hand page (Rheims, Revised NAB, RSV-CE, NRSV-CE), set against four looser functional equivalence translation on the right-hand page (Jerusalem Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Bible, Christian Community Bible). Annotations are minimal. The result is a very usable and handy study tool, especially useful for students who lack electronic Bible study tools capable of constructing ad-hoc parallel views of multiple versions.

The Complete Parallel Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books. Oxford University Press, 1993. 3300 pgs.

This compilation of English Biblical texts from OUP presents the full canon of Sacred Scripture in four translations, in four columns across facing pages. The left-hand pages contain two Protestant/Ecumenical translations: the 1989 New Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha and the 1989 Revised English Bible with Apocrypha. The right-hand pages contain two Catholic translations: the 1991 New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms, and the 1985 New Jerusalem Bible.

It is a hefty volume at 9.25" x 6.75" x 2.5" and the 3300 pages are thin, but fitting these four texts still required the use of a small typeface (perhaps 8pt) which, while sharp, clear, and darkly printed can nonetheless be difficult to read due to poor line matching in the page layout, so that visible bleed-through from the opposing pages tends to cloud up the white space between lines of text. The NAB annotations are not included, and the NJB notes are those of the 1990 Reader's Edition. The translators notes from the NRSV and REB are likewise minimal. This volume is notable for its presentation four side-by-side versions of the Deuterocanonical books, although they are placed corresponding to their placement in the NRSV version, not integrated into the Old Testament (or into their respective Old Testament books) as one finds them in Catholic Bibles.

Carta Bible Atlas, Fifth Edition Revised & Expanded. Y. Aharoni, et al., eds. Carta Jerusalem, 2011. 232 pgs.

Formerly known as the Macmillan Bible Atlas, this large format book provides 300 maps of Biblical lands throughout the Biblical period, including the secular history of the entire area, from ancient civilizations to modern nation-state boundaries.

Oxford Bible Atlas 4th Edition. Adrian Curtis. Oxford Univ. Press, 2009. 240pgs.

A slightly over-sized volume providing high-quality maps, photos, charts, and exposition, focused on the settings of the Biblical stories. Includes place name and general indexes.

Oxford Companion to the Bible. Metzger & Coogan, eds. Oxford Univ. Press, 1993. 932 pgs.

Similar in format to a Bible Dictionary, but with a scope that extends beyond the Biblical text itself to matters surrounding the Bible as a cultural phenomenon, both historically and in contemporary life. The work reflects mainstream ecumenical scholarship of the late 20th century, with contributions from more than 250 scholars. It is available for Accordance.

Lector's Guide to Biblical Pronunciations. Joseph Staudacher. Our Sunday Visitor, 2001. 158 pgs.

You don’t need to be a lector to appreciate how to pronounce Biblical names, but if you are a lector, you should not be without this handy, pocket-sized resource. It provides guidance for all the potentially difficult pronunciations of persons, places, and things found in the current Lectionary for the 3-year cycle (i.e. Sundays & Solemnities). Entries are first presented under their associated liturgical week, and are then re-presented alphabetically on the last 40 pages.

Modern Catholic Encyclopedia, Revised and Expanded. Glazier & Hellwig. Liturgical Press, 2004. 894 pgs.

Over 1,400 articles and 250 illustrations clarify and explain a wide range of Church teaching, belief, persons, and practice. Not essential to Bible study, but a useful supplement. Available for Logos, but only as part of the expensive Liturgical Press Reference Collection.

New American Bible Revised Edition Concise Concordance. J. Kohlenberger, ed. Oxford Univ. Press, 2012. 308 pgs.

This fairly recently published concordance lists 40,000 references to 6,000 key words. It is far from a complete concordance, but is a handy-sized volume that could be of help in finding passages or in doing English word studies. Currently in print.

Nelson’s Complete Concordance of the New American Bible. S. J. Hartdegen. Thomas Nelson, 1977. 1274 pgs.

A “complete” concordance that lists 300,000 references to 18,000 key words, omitting only listings of 151 common/insignificant words. Long out of print, this volume was based on the original 1970 NAB texts for both Old and New Testaments. It is an over-sized, bulky book, like any complete concordance. Of decreasing value now that the NAB has been completely revised, it might still be worth the $10 or so it would cost to get one if you want to study using the NAB/NABRE, and don't want to invest in an electronic Bible Study platform.

Saint Mary's Press Essential Bible Concordance: New American Bible. Saint Mary's Press, 2004. 64 pgs.

A medium-sized booklet that fits three columns across each page, containing 12,000 references to 650 key words. The source text is the 1991 New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms. The work is out of print, and is of limited use on account of its brevity.

Catholic Bible Concordance for the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSV-CE). Lyons & Deliduka. Emmaus Road Publishing, 2022. 2187 pgs.

A surprise 2022 entry in the print concordance market, given how they have largely given way to electronic tools, this concordance from Emmaus Road features listings for both editions of the Catholic RSV (RSV-CE, RSV-2CE). It contains about 300,000 entries for more than 15,000 keywords. A bit expensive - as a book this size would warrant - but if you use the RSV and can't or won't use electronic Bible searching to simulate concordance functionality, then it would be well worth having, and would probably hold up better than a used copy of one of the RSV concordances from the 1980s.

Eerdmans Analytical Concordance to the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Whitaker & Goehring. Eerdmans, 1988. 1548 pgs.

This is a highly useful concordance, especially for those who can read Hebrew and/or Greek. All but the most insignificant words are indexed, although names and numbers are moved out to their own indexes. Each original language term translated by a given English word is identified at the entry’s header, referred to by sequence number by each result entry, which are listed in canonical order. Indexes of original language terms (with English glosses) occupy the last 90 pages of the work. The canonical scope includes the full canon of the 1977 RSV with Expanded Apocrypha. Long out of print, but plenty of used volumes can be found in circulation.

Analytical Concordance to the Revised Standard Version of the New Testament. Clinton Morrison. Westminster John Knox, 1979. 800 pgs.

Although limited in scope to the New Testament (1971 RSV 2nd Edition NT), this volume would be of more use as an analytical concordance to most readers than the Whitaker/Goehring concordance mentioned above would likely be. Entries for each English word are sub-grouped under headings for each corresponding translated Greek term, for which both a gloss and a transliteration are provided. An index-lexicon of the transliterations at the back of the volume provides a cross reference to each English word used to translate it (with frequencies), allowing those without a grasp of the Greek script to gain insight into the relation between the English and underlying Greek words. Out of print, but available used.

Concise Concordance to the New Revised Standard Version. J. Kohlenberger, ed. Oxford, 1993. 312 pgs.

This work provides about 40,000 references to about 6,000 keywords, plus about 300 capsule biographies. The scope covers all 84 books as defined in the NRSV with Apocrypha. Its modest size means modest utility.

NRSV Exhaustive Concordance. B. Metzger. Nelson, 1991. 1434 pgs.

This large, hefty volume lists every occurrence of every word in all 84 books of the NRSV with Apocrypha. Articles, conjunctions and such are listed separately in a condensed appendix. Each word form is listed independently. There is no linkage to underlying original language words. Additional study helps include a 220-page topical index to the Bible, indexes to laws of the Bible, prayers of the Bible, the parables and miracles of Jesus, a harmony of the Gospels, and tables of weights and measures.

NRSV Concordance Unabridged J. Kohlenberger. Zondervan, 1991. 1562 pgs.

Similar in scope to the Metzger exhaustive NRSV concordance. Likewise includes a topical concordance.

Analytical Concordance to the New Revised Standard Version of the New Testament. Kohlenberger & Whitaker. Oxford Univ. Press, 2000. 789 pgs.

This is an analytical concordance that can be used by those who do not know Greek. All occurrences of all but the most insignificant words from the NRSV New Testament are listed under headings which list and enumerate all the Greek terms translated by the given English word, providing transliteration and corresponding G/K number for each Greek word. All results are listed in canonical order, with referents to the corresponding Greek term in the header. A 75-page Greek/English index, keyed to G/K number, provides a cross-reference to each English word used to translate a given Greek term (with frequencies).

Saint Mary's Press Essential Bible Concordance: NRSV Catholic Edition. Saint Mary's Press, 2004. 58 pgs.

A medium-sized booklet that fits three columns across each page, containing 9,500 references to 675 key words. The source text is the 1992 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (73 books). This concordance is of limited utility due to its brevity.

Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. William D. Mounce, ed. Zondervan, 2006. 1344 pgs.

This is primarily a dictionary of significant English words (keyed to several popular Protestant Bibles), analyzing the various Hebrew and Greek words translated by each English term, referencing both Strong’s and the Goodrick-Kohlenberger (G/K) numbering systems. It also contains similarly encoded Hebrew & Greek dictionaries, with English definitions and usage counts. This work has largely replaced Vine’s Expository Dictionary as the standard first-stop semi-technical word study tool. It is available electronically for Accordance, Logos, and Olive Tree.

Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Word Studies for Key English Bible Words Based on the Hebrew and Greek Texts. Stephen D. Renn, ed. Hendrickson, 2005. 1200 pgs.

Published a year before Mounce’s similar work, and overshadowed by it, Renn’s dictionary is a perfectly suitable alternative for doing English-based word studies, and is similarly an upgrade over Vine’s. While it lacks the Hebrew and Greek dictionaries found in Mounce, it tends to be more thorough in treating the English words in the main articles. Original language terms are coded to Strong’s numbering system. It is available electronically for Accordance, Logos, and Olive Tree

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words W. E. Vine. Thomas Nelson, 1996. 823 pgs.

Originally published in 1940 as a dictionary of only New Testament words by Vine, this edition combines a similar 1980 Old Testament dictionary edited by Unger and White into a single volume with two distinct dictionaries, and incorporates references to Strong’s numbering system throughout. The works were designed to allow students with little to no training in the original languages to look words up in English, and then find information on the various original language words translated by the English term. The source English Bible is the Authorized Version (KJV). It includes indexes of transliterated Greek and Hebrew terms, and a 68-page topical index. This is an excellent word study resource for all students, especially if it can be found cheap - even if it has largely been superseded by newer dictionaries based on more current translations. It is available electronically for Accordance, Logos and Olive Tree

New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. James Strong. Thomas Nelson, 2010. 1968 pgs.

James Strong originally published his Exhaustive Concordance in 1890, providing an entry for every occurrence of every word in the Authorized Version (KJV), each marked with a catalog number of the Greek or Hebrew root word it translated. The catalog numbers (a.k.a. Strong’s Numbers) would be used over the years by many lexicons and other original language tools to provide easy cross-referencing. Many editions of Strong’s concordance/dictionary have been published, including some keyed to other English Bibles, and the work is routinely incorporated into electronic Bible study programs in one form or another. The edition linked above incorporates Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words into the dictionaries, providing enhanced treatment of the original language words, especially in the Greek.

Young’s Analytical Concordance of the Bible. James Young. Hendrickson, 1998. 1206 pgs.

Originally published in 1879, Young’s concordance was eclipsed by the easier-to-use Strong’s concordance, but it is a similarly powerful study tool. Likewise based on the King James version, it lists, alphabetically, every occurrence of almost every word in the KJV, analytically sub-dividing each word’s entries under subheadings reflecting the original Greek or Hebrew word being translated, providing a literal gloss and transliteration for each original language sub-entry. This is augmented by indexes of the original language words identifying all the English words used to translate them, including frequencies.

Version History

V.4 Jun 2024: Restructure page using collapsable accordion elements.

V.3 Feb 2024: Minor updates.

V.2 Oct 2022: Updates for RNJB, ESV-CE, NCB, etc. Replaced CSS styling.

V.1 Aug 2018: Initial upload and corrections.

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