The CSB and the NABRE are both modern English Bibles, but they come from different communities and were built for different reasons. The Christian Standard Bible is a Protestant translation aiming for a balance between word-for-word precision and readability, while the New American Bible Revised Edition is the Catholic Church’s officially approved English text for use in the liturgy in the United States, with a deuterocanonical book set that includes the books Catholics read and Protestants generally do not. If you want a Bible for personal reading in an evangelical setting, the CSB is a natural fit; if you attend a Catholic parish and want the text used at Mass, the NABRE is the one you will hear.
Background
The Christian Standard Bible was produced by Holman Bible Publishers, the Nashville-based publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, and it arrived in 2017 as a successor to the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Its translation team drew on a wide range of Protestant scholars, and its stated goal was to keep the familiar tone of older standard versions while updating the language for today’s readers.
The New American Bible Revised Edition belongs to a line of Catholic translations produced by American Catholic scholars under the authority of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The revised edition was released in stages in the early 2010s, and its later revisions updated the Psalms and the New Testament sections used in the lectionary. Because it is the approved text for Catholic liturgical use in the United States, its wording is tied closely to parish worship.
Translation Method
The CSB generally aims at what translators call an optimal equivalence: it tries to follow the structure and vocabulary of the original languages closely enough that a reader can trace the Greek or Hebrew, but it will rearrange phrasing when a strictly literal rendering would sound unnatural in English. The result is a text that many readers find both faithful and easy to follow in a sermon or a Bible study.
The NABRE leans more toward a formal, careful rendering that keeps close to the source wording, particularly in the Old Testament and in passages where the Catholic lectionary tradition has shaped expectations. Readers who want to see how an ancient sentence is built often find the NABRE’s wording more transparent, though some find its phrasing less smooth when read aloud.
Reading Level and Style
Both translations are written in contemporary American English and are suitable for teenagers and adults. The CSB tends toward crisp, direct sentences and familiar vocabulary, which makes it comfortable for group reading and memorization. Its sentences are generally shorter than those of older Protestant standards.
The NABRE is a little more formal in tone and sometimes keeps longer, more deliberate sentence structures. Its notes and introductions are also written for a Catholic audience, so the study apparatus differs noticeably from a typical Protestant study Bible. Neither is difficult for a general reader, but the NABRE may feel slower to a reader used to quicker, more conversational English.
A Verse to Compare
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(WEB)
This opening line of John’s Gospel shows how each translation handles a sentence where word order and theological emphasis matter. The CSB renders the Word’s relationship to God in a clear, compact English sentence that reads smoothly in a sermon. The NABRE keeps closer to the rhythm of the Greek, so its wording can feel more deliberate and carefully balanced, which is typical of its approach to the New Testament. Both preserve the same core claim, but the sentence feels different when spoken aloud.
Who Should Use It
Choose the CSB if you want a readable, widely used Protestant translation for daily reading, memorization, or small group study, and if your church or study materials are built around it. Its main limit is that it does not include the deuterocanonical books, so you will need a different Bible if you want the full Catholic canon.
Choose the NABRE if you are Catholic, want the text used in Mass readings, or want a translation that includes the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and the additions to Esther and Daniel. Its study notes are written for Catholic readers, and its more formal style may take some getting used to for those accustomed to Protestant versions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the CSB include the Catholic deuterocanonical books?
No, the CSB follows the Protestant Old Testament canon and does not include Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, or Baruch. If you need those books for Catholic study, the NABRE is the translation designed to include them.
Is the NABRE the same Bible Catholics hear at Mass?
The NABRE is the approved English translation for Scripture readings at Mass in the United States, but some parishes and missals use the Lectionary text, which is based on the same NABRE translation. Check with your parish if you want to confirm which edition is read.
Which translation is better for a new Bible reader?
Both are accessible, but the CSB often feels more immediately readable because of its shorter, direct sentences. Many new readers start with the CSB and then compare the NABRE later if they want to study Catholic texts or notes.
