The Catholic Bible isn't inherently "questionable," but there are a few reasons why it differs from Protestant Bibles, leading to debate and discussion. Here's a breakdown:
* The Canon: The most significant difference is the inclusion of the Deuterocanonical books (also called Apocrypha by Protestants). These books (Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and parts of Daniel and Esther) are part of the Old Testament in Catholic Bibles, but are not considered canonical by most Protestants.
* Catholic Perspective: The Catholic Church includes these books because they were part of the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible used by early Christians) and were accepted as canonical by early Church councils. They see these books as valuable for historical and spiritual insight.
* Protestant Perspective: Protestants generally reject the Deuterocanonical books because they weren't originally written in Hebrew, are not quoted in the New Testament, and contain some content that contradicts other parts of the Bible or Protestant doctrine. They base their Old Testament canon solely on the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh).
* Translation Differences: Even for books included in both Catholic and Protestant Bibles, there can be differences in translation. Different translation philosophies (formal equivalence vs. dynamic equivalence) and textual sources can lead to variations in wording. For example, the New American Bible (Catholic) and the New International Version (Protestant) will have noticeable differences despite translating the same original Greek texts.
* Interpretation: Catholics and Protestants sometimes interpret the same biblical passages differently. This isn't necessarily about the *text* being questionable, but about differing theological frameworks and traditions influencing how the text is understood. For instance, interpretations of passages related to Mary, the saints, and the Eucharist differ significantly.
* Authority: The Catholic Church places significant emphasis on the role of Tradition and the Magisterium (the teaching authority of the Church) in interpreting the Bible. Some Protestants argue that this gives the Church too much authority and can lead to interpretations that are not solely based on the Bible itself (sola scriptura).
In summary, whether the Catholic Bible is "questionable" depends on one's perspective and theological framework. Catholics view it as the complete and authoritative Word of God, while some Protestants question the inclusion of the Deuterocanonical books and certain interpretations of the text.