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APOSTLES' CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he arose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit., the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting
Amen

Frequently Asked Questions On The Bible.

Try our FAQ search!

How many versions of the New American Bible are there?
In what formats is the New American Bible available?
Is There A Difference Between Catholic and Protestant Versions of the Bible?
Do we read from the Bible at Mass??
Whats the difference between a Bible and a Lectionary?
Is the New American Bible the only translation of Scriptures we can read from at Mass??
** the following answers are taken from www.usccb.org website **

How many versions of the New American Bible are there?

The original version of the New American Bible (NAB) was published in 1970. The translation of the New Testament was revised and published in 1986. The translation of the Book of Psalms (the Psalter) was revised in 1991. A revision of the translation of the Old Testament, excluding the Psalter, is currently underway and should be published in late 2007.
The most recent editions of the NAB include the 1970 Old Testament, 1991 Psalter, and 1986 New Testament. Older editions may be available in used bookstores.
Besides the various versions of the Scriptural text, many different publishers have produced editions of the NAB. Each publisher has added other material, such as photographs, maps, devotions and prayers, and reference matter, to the basic text.

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In what formats is the New American Bible available?

The New American Bible is available in the following formats: print, audio (cassette and CD), electronic (including CD-ROM and for handhelds), and digital (at www.usccb.org/nab/bible/ and http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/_INDEX.HTM).

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Is There A Difference Between Catholic and Protestant Versions of the Bible?

Catholic and Protestant versions of the Bible are different because Catholics and Protestants have different doctrine and dogma which result in differences in word choice, translation style and explanatory notes.
But there is only one Bible, and on the whole, the Catholic and Protestant versions of the Bible are very similar. The main difference between Catholic and Protestant versions of the Bible is found in the table of contents. The Catholic version of the Bible contains 73 books of Scripture. Protestant Bibles contain 66. The difference is that the Catholic canon includes 7 Old Testament books that are not found in the Protestant Bible. The New Testament is the same in both Bibles (27 books).
The seven OT books at issue are Tobit, Judith, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (or Ecclesaisticus) and Baruch. The Catholic Bibles OT also contains some extra verses or chapters in the books of Daniel and Esther.
You can sometimes find these contested books in the Protestant Bible along with a few other bits of Hebrew Scriptures collected into a section titled Apocrypha and placed between the Old and New Testament. This explains what is meant by a Bible advertised as with Apocrypha.

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Do we read from the Bible at Mass?

Readings from Scripture are part of every Mass. At least two readings, one always from the Gospels, (3 on Sundays and solemnities) make up the Liturgy of the Word. In addition, a psalm or canticle is sung.
These readings are typically read from a Lectionary, not a Bible, though the Lectionary is taken from the Bible.

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Whats the difference between a Bible and a Lectionary?

A Lectionary is composed of the readings and the responsorial psalm assigned for each Mass of the year (Sundays, weekdays, and special occasions). The readings are divided by the day or the theme (baptism, marriage, vocations, etc.) rather than according to the books of the Bible. Introductions and conclusions have been added to each reading. Not all of the Bible is included in the Lectionary.
Individual readings in the Lectionary are called pericopes, from a Greek word meaning a section or cutting. Because the Mass readings are only portions of a book or chapter, introductory phrases, called incipits, are often added to begin the Lectionary reading, for example, In those days, Jesus said to his disciples, etc.

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Is the New American Bible the only translation of Scriptures we can read from at Mass?

Since May 19, 2002, the revised Lectionary, based on the New American Bible is the only English-language Lectionary that may be used at Mass in the dioceses of the United States, except for the current Lectionary for Masses with Children which remains in use.
The 1970 edition of the New American Bible is used in the Scripture readings and canticles of the Liturgy of the Hours (except the Benedictus, Magnificat, and Nunc dimittis.)

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