I just became aware that Liturgical Press is currently offering substantial discounts on two of their NABRE Study Bibles:
Little Rock Catholic Study Bible — Deluxe Edition (ISBN 9780814636497)
This is one of the few editions of the NABRE which is printed in single-column format, and cross-references are listed in the margin, rather than in a dense wall of text at the bottom of the page. To my knowledge, the deluxe edition (with gold gilded page edges and an imitation leather cover) is the only edition of the Little Rock which is printed with a sewn binding. I have rarely seen the deluxe edition offered with more than a token 5% discount in the past. It is currently listed at the Liturgical Press website for 50% off ($44.98).
Liturgy and Life Study Bible (ISBN 9780814664353)
Recently published in 2023, this Bible contains comprehensive footnotes cross-referencing verses of Scripture with every place where they appear in the Church’s liturgical prayers. It also contains essays by liturgical and biblical scholars. I have never seen a discount on this edition before. It is currently listed at Liturgical Press for about 40% off ($69.95).
With the announcement from the USCCB that the Catholic American Bible (CAB) will be published in 2027, I suspect that good quality editions of the NABRE will be available at good prices over the next several months.
Great to know. I’ll think about getting the Little Rock one. I do have a study Bible I like a lot (it’s an Abingdon Press one, technically more a Protestant Bible with apocrypha that are included in the Catholic Bible at the end of the Old Testament, Judith, Tobit, Habbakuk, etc.) it doesn’t have attached bookmarks though. It was an assigned book for my brother, who attended a Nazarene school (Nazarene Church is related to Wesleyan and Methodist church). Has Abingdon ever published a Catholic Bible which you may have reviewed? Just wondering.
I have a copy of the New Interpreter’s Study Bible which they publish. It uses the NRSV translation, contains the deuterocanonical books, and the editors and contributors were an ecumenical group including both Catholic and Protestant scholars. But Abingdon is traditionally a Methodist publisher, and to my knowledge, they have not published a specifically Catholic edition.
What is the difference between the Little Rock Deluxe Edition and the Standard Edition?
I expect to see publishers start offering NABRE editions at a steep discount to get rid of their inventory before publication of the new Bible next year.
As far as I know, the contents are exactly the same between the deluxe, hardcover, and paperback editions. The deluxe has an imitation leather cover, sewn binding, and gold gilded page edges. The hardcover and paperback have glued bindings.
I hope they update the Little Rock Study Bible with the CAB translation. If they do, I plan on buying one then.
The deluxe Little Rock Catholic Study Bible is not so special. A faux leather cover with glued binding, unless it’s been improved since I bought a copy several years ago. I think the hardback is a better option, although the study content is fairly limited and not the greatest imho.
I believe that the deluxe edition was upgraded from a glued binding to a sewn binding at some point since it was first published. I don’t own a copy of it, but from scouring videos and reviews of it online, it appears that the binding on recent editions is sewn. I just ordered a copy now that it is on sale, so I’ll be able to confirm whether that’s true when it arrives. The current sale only includes the paperback and the deluxe editions (the hardcover is full price), so at least right now, it’s a no-brainer to buy the deluxe edition, since it’s cheaper than the hardcover.
You’re correct, Marc. I bought the deluxe edition a couple of years ago and it is sewn.
This reminds me that while I’m looking forward to new Bible concepts with the new CAB translation, I’m also hoping for a few repackages of NABRE Bibles with the new translation, these being two of them. Similarly, I’m hoping for an edition of the Illustrated Catholic Bible, NRSV-CE, updated to use the NRSVue-CE text in the near future, once the NRSV-CE officially goes out of print.
The Little Rock study materials that appear in addition to the NABRE notes are fairly basic but can be fairly effective. I recall seeing a box in the Gospels that differentiates the different Herods.
I bought the deluxe Little Rock Catholic Study Bible at the sale price, and I just got it in the mail a few days ago. This Bible is quickly growing on me. The single-column format, font size, and crystal-clear readable cross-references are great. I can confirm that it indeed has a sewn binding. I’m going to spend a bit more time with it before writing a full review, but I’m liking it so far.
Speaking of NABRE on sale, amazon is also offering a large print NABRE edition by Catholic Bible Press (ISBN 0785233911) for U$32.99, with free shipping/return. I have always been attracted to the precise, college-level vocabulary of the NABRE. I’m willing to give up the portability of my compact edition with the (promised) superior readability of the CBP edition, so I ordered it just now. I hope its true to its ad description as I’m looking forward to reading an uncluttered NABRE where the study notes are sectioned off at the end of each book.
That is one of my favorite editions of the NABRE. I reviewed the brown color version of it here:
https://catholicbibletalk.com/2020/10/first-look-large-print-nabre-from-thomas-nelson-catholic-bible-press/
Wow! Thanks for the detailed review, Marc. I appreciate the link. I’m glad to know that it’s one of the best editions of the NABRE. I’ve a bit of practice with study notes at the end of each book since my zippered compact edition by Oxford Press was designed that way. But as you can imagine, the main text is already tiny, which made its study notes even tinier. It would be a much needed relief for me to read the NABRE CBP edition with much better typography. Can’t wait to receive it. 🙂
Do we have any new updates or news on the CAB?
Another NABRE edition is on sale–the Didache Bible in its brown and thick NABRE edition is on sale for 30 dollars at MTF. Expect to pay 10 dollars in shipping at least, though.
Hello, if you are still on the fence about getting the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible — Deluxe Edition and the Liturgy and Life Study Bible there is free shipping today (4/23/26) at Liturgical Press. Unfortunately, the 20% does not apply since these are already discounted.
Today only! Get 20% off and free shipping sitewide with code WBD2026.