If Christians read the Bible at all, they are not likely to read the preface of any edition they use. Seriously, what mook reads the preface of any book, let alone that of the Bible?

Apparently, the one writing this blog.

But what is found in the preface is quite interesting. The preface provides background as to when the new translation of the Bible was commissioned, by who and why. The production of a new translation of the Bible is a work, well, of Biblical proportions. A lot of people are involved requiring lots of time and money. And with so many sensitivities as stake, it takes a great amount of delicate work, quibbling and scholarly knowledge.

Some time ago, I read the preface of the New International Version (NIV) which revealed the mechanisms set up to create this very good English version of the Bible. It involved scholars from the United States, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. To “safeguard the translation from sectarian bias”, these scholars came from many denominations: Anglican, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Brethren, Christian Reformed, Church of Christ, Evangelical Free, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Nazarene, Presbyterian, Wesleyan and “other churches”.

Anything strike you? Long ago, I wondered why no Catholic scholars were involved. I supposed those “other churches” could have included them but I think it would have been a tremendous oversight to push the largest segment of Christianity into the also-ran category. No—I sort of conjectured that they weren’t invited or that they would have nothing to do with it or perhaps a combination.

I’ve only owned my thick, red New American Bible (NAB)— a Catholic commissioned translation — for a little while, having bought it at a used book sale in Vienna this year for pennies. I was surprised to see that the translation came after the encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritus of Pope Pius XII in 1943 which set out to summon new editions from original manuscripts. It has a preface too and I expected it to say, rather snootily, that only Magisterial Catholics in good standing were involved in the effort and no heretics other Christians were allowed to help. But now here I quote from the preface:

The collaboration of scholars who are not Catholic fulfills the directive of the Second Vatican Council, not only that “correct translations be made into different languages especially from the original texts of the sacred books,” but that, “with the approval of the church authority, these translations be produced in cooperation with separated brothers” so that “all Christians may be able to use them.”

That surprised me—pleasantly. And let me just add an additional endorsement for the NAB—not only is it a very good English translation for all Christians, it comes with seven extra books!