The Bible
The Bible is of extraordinary importance to Episcopal worship; during a Sunday morning service, the congregation will usually hear at least three readings from Scripture (one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and one from the Gospels). One or more psalms are also commonly recited. In addition, much of the text of the rites contained in the Book of Common Prayer is drawn directly from biblical texts. It is expected that the sermon or homily delivered during worship will center on and interpret one or more of the Bible readings appointed for the service. According to our catechism, “We understand the meaning of the Bible by the help of the Holy Spirit, who guides the Church in the true interpretation of the Scriptures” (pgs. 853-854).
Authorized Bible translations
There are several translations of the Bible authorized for use in The Episcopal Church by the General Convention, including the following:
- King James or Authorized Version (1611; the historic Bible of The Episcopal Church)
- English Revision (1881)
- American Revision (1901)
- Revised Standard Version (1952)
- Jerusalem Bible (1966)
- New English Bible with the Apocrypha (1970)
- Good News Bible / Today’s English Version (1976)
- New American Bible (1970)
- Revised Standard Version, an Ecumenical Edition (1973)
- New International Version (1978)
- New Jerusalem Bible (1987)
- Revised English Bible (1989)
- New Revised Standard Version (1989; updated edition (NRSVue), 2022)
- Contemporary English Version (1995)
- Contemporary English Version Global (2005)
- Common English Bible (2011)
- The Revised New Jerusalem Bible (2019)
