When I first attended an Episcopal church, I wondered, what Bible do Episcopalians use? Having come from a tradition with a single required version, I was curious. After asking a friendly church member, I learned the answer is both simple and complex, reflecting a church that values both unity and personal choice. This guide will fully explore that answer.
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Understanding the Official Episcopal Bible: The NRSV Translation
First, let’s start with the official answer. For church services, the Episcopal Church uses the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). You will find this translation in the pews, and the Sunday lessons are read from it. The church’s leaders, known as the General Convention, specifically chose the NRSV. Ultimately, they felt it was the best choice for everyone to use together in worship. An important part of knowing what Bible do Episcopalians use is understanding this official standard.
Why the Episcopal Church Chose the NRSV for Worship Services
The church leaders made their choice carefully. A large group of experts created the NRSV. In fact, this group included Protestants, Catholics, and Greek Orthodox scholars. Because so many different experts worked on it, the translation is consequently fair to many views and is not biased toward one group. Moreover, it is also very accurate, since it uses the oldest and best Bible manuscripts available.
The NRSV tries to be true to the original words, but it also makes sure the ideas are clear. As a result, this makes it both accurate and easy to read. Personally, I was happy when I first heard it because the words sounded classic but were still easy to understand, whereas some older Bibles can be very hard to follow.
Why the Apocrypha is Key to Answering: What Bible Do Episcopalians Use?
A key reason the NRSV is a good fit for Episcopalians is that it includes the Apocrypha. The Apocrypha is a group of books that authors wrote between the Old and New Testaments. While many Protestant churches do not include these books, the Episcopal Church, which comes from the Church of England, has always valued them. This inclusion is a critical detail for anyone asking what Bible do Episcopalians use.
Consequently, the Episcopal Church believes these books are useful. A very old rule says the church reads them “for example of life and instruction of manners.” In other words, they teach us how to live well, but the church does not use them to create official teachings. In short, these books have a lot of wisdom, so they are in the Bibles we use and are part of our church readings. For instance, you will sometimes hear readings from books like Wisdom or Tobit in church. For this reason, any official church Bible must have these important books.
Choosing a Bible for Personal Study as an Episcopalian
Now, this is where the answer gets bigger. While the NRSV is the Bible for church services, the church does not require a certain Bible for use at home. Instead, people are free to choose their own for personal study, as the church trusts people to make a good choice for themselves. The church encourages Episcopalians to read the Bible in a deep and thoughtful way. Indeed, using a different Bible version can sometimes help you see things in a new light. This freedom is a key part of the answer to what Bible do Episcopalians use.
For example, a Bible study at my church shows this perfectly. On the table, you can see many different Bibles. One person might have an old King James Version because they love its classic language. Meanwhile, someone else may use the NIV because it is easy to read. I personally use a study Bible with the NRSV text alongside notes and maps, which help me learn the history behind the words. Ultimately, this freedom to choose is a big part of being an Episcopalian.
What Bible Do Episcopalians Use: Popular Translations
While people use many types of Bibles, a few are very popular for personal reading. Each one, of course, has its own good points.
- The King James Version (KJV): For many people, the KJV is the definitive Bible. Its beautiful, old English has certainly shaped our language and the prayers in the Book of Common Prayer. While the old words can be hard for some readers, many love its poetic style.
- The New International Version (NIV): The NIV is famous for being easy to read. Specifically, it focuses on sharing the main ideas of the text, which makes it great for daily reading. It also helps new readers understand the Bible’s story and message.
- The Message: This version is more of a paraphrase than a direct translation. Its author, Eugene Peterson, put the Bible into modern, everyday English. As a result, it is a great way to see familiar stories in a new way because the words feel fresh and direct. I often read The Message when a story feels old to me, and it always gives me a new idea.
- The Common English Bible (CEB): Similarly, the CEB is another version a wide range of experts created. They specifically designed it to be easy for most adults in America to read. Consequently, it uses simple language you would hear every day and even includes contractions like “don’t,” which makes it feel very close and real.
What Bible Do Episcopalians Use: Tips for Choosing a Personal Bible
With all these choices, how do you pick one? Really, it depends on you and your needs. First, think about how you will use the Bible. For example, do you want to study it deeply, like in school? In that case, a study Bible with lots of notes might be best; the HarperCollins Study Bible (NRSV) is a good one. Or perhaps you want it for quiet reading each day? Then the easy-to-read NIV or CEB could be a good fit.
On the other hand, do you love beautiful, poetic words? Then the KJV is a great choice. Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try a few. Go to a store or library and read a favorite part, like Psalm 23, in each version. Then, you can see which one feels right for you.
How the Book of Common Prayer Guides Bible Reading for Episcopalians
Importantly, we cannot talk about what Bible do Episcopalians use without also talking about the Book of Common Prayer (BCP). The BCP is the main book for all Episcopal services and serves as our main guide for reading the Bible. In fact, a famous church leader once said the church stands on three things: Scripture, Tradition, and Reason. For Episcopalians, the BCP is our Tradition. Understanding the BCP is therefore essential to understanding what Bible do Episcopalians use.
How Does the BCP Structure the Way Episcopalians Interpret Scripture?
The BCP is more than just a prayer book; indeed, it is filled with religious teachings. About 80% of the BCP comes directly from the Bible, so the daily prayers, Sunday services, and prayers for big life events are all full of Bible verses.
Consequently, this changes how we learn the Bible. We do not only read it; we also pray it and sing it every week. The BCP puts the Bible into a clear order for us. For instance, the church year follows the life of Christ, and the Bible readings each Sunday match the season. This practice stops us from using one verse out of context to make a point. Instead, we are encouraged to see the Bible as one big story about God and people—a story we are still a part of.
Using the Daily Office and Lectionary for Daily Bible Reading
Furthermore, the BCP gives us the Daily Office, which is a set of prayers for the morning and evening. In the back of the BCP, you will find a lectionary. This lectionary is a two-year plan of Bible readings for every single day. If you follow this plan, you will read most of the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice in two years.
I remember when I first started to use the Daily Office. At first, it was hard to make it a habit, but soon it became an important part of my day. It also fundamentally changed how I saw the Bible. Reading so much of it every day helped me see the main ideas and how the stories connect. Plus, I had to face the hard parts of the Bible, not just the nice parts. This discipline made the Bible feel real and alive. You can learn more about the BCP on the official Episcopal Church website.
Scholarship, Reason, and What Bible Do Episcopalians Use
The third part of the church’s foundation is Reason. Episcopalians believe God gave us minds to think and ask questions. Therefore, we are meant to use our minds when we read the Bible. This means we are open to what modern experts say about the Bible. This commitment to reason is a final, crucial piece in understanding what Bible do Episcopalians use.
How Episcopalians Use Historical-Critical Methods for Bible Interpretation
Episcopalians do not always read the Bible literally. We know that many people wrote the Bible a long time ago in different styles and for different reasons. Knowing this history certainly helps us understand the message. For example, we do not believe God created the world in six 24-hour days. However, we do believe the story in Genesis 1 tells a deep truth about a loving God who made a good world.
This way of reading, therefore, lets us see the Bible as a holy book written by people. It means we do not get stuck on small details about science or history. Instead, we can look for the deeper truths in the text. This approach also helps us face the difficult parts of the Bible, like stories with violence. We can openly admit that the world was flawed when the authors wrote the Bible. We don’t have to pretend that every word is exactly what God would say today. For anyone interested, a great site for this kind of reading is the Bible Project, which has videos that explain Bible books and ideas.
Why a Faith that Asks Questions is Central to the Episcopal Church
Because we value reason, our Bible studies are consequently full of questions. We ask things like: “What did this mean to the first people who heard it?” “What was happening in history at that time?” “How has the church understood this story over the years?” and “What is God saying to us now through this old text?”
Admittedly, this can be new for people who want simple, clear answers. But for Episcopalians, faith is a journey. It is a living talk with God and each other, and the Bible is our guide for this journey. Rather than being a rule book, it is a source of great wisdom, endless questions, and a path to a closer life with God.
So, in conclusion, the answer to what Bible do Episcopalians use? has many parts. We use the NRSV in church so we can worship together. In addition, we use many other Bibles at home to learn and grow. Most of all, we read the Bible with the help of the Book of Common Prayer and with our minds fully engaged. This way of faith is both traditional and open, and it creates a space where anyone can come with their questions to meet God.
FAQ – What Bible Do Episcopalians Use
How does the Book of Common Prayer influence Bible reading among Episcopalians?
The Book of Common Prayer guides Episcopalians in interpreting Scripture through structured worship, daily prayers, and the lectionary, which offers a two-year plan to read most of the Bible, integrating Scripture into daily life and worship.
Are Episcopalians restricted to a specific Bible version for personal study?
No, Episcopalians are free to choose any Bible translation for personal study. The church encourages thoughtful reading and often uses different versions like the KJV, NIV, or study Bibles to deepen understanding.
Does the Episcopal Bible include the Apocrypha, and why is this significant?
Yes, the Episcopal Bible includes the Apocrypha, which consists of books written between the Old and New Testaments. The church values these books for their wisdom and instructional value, even though they are not used as official doctrine.
Why did the Episcopal Church select the NRSV as its standard Bible?
The Episcopal Church chose the NRSV because it was created by a diverse group of scholars from Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox backgrounds, ensuring a balanced and accurate translation that is both faithful to original texts and easy to understand.
What is the official Bible translation used by Episcopalians in church services?
Episcopalians primarily use the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) for church services, including readings and liturgy, as it was specifically chosen by the church’s General Convention for its accuracy and readability.
