Ronald A. Knox (1888-1957) was first a minister in the Church of England, but at age 29 he converted to the Roman Catholic Church. In the late 1930s he received an official commission from the Catholic Church to translate the Bible from Latin into English. He completed the Book of Revelation in 1942 and the complete New Testament was published in 1944. His translation of the complete Old Testament was published in two volumes in 1948 and 1950.
This was the second English Bible to be officially recognized by the Catholic Church hierarchy (the first being the Challoner revision).
Click here for sample verses from Ronald A. Knox's translation.
New Testament
Trial Edition - 1944
The 1944 edition was issued as a "trial edition" and Knox invited readers "to express in general their approval or disapproval of the lines he had followed, and to point out any passage which, in their opinion, specifically calls for correction." The editions published 1944 by Burns Oates and Washbourne in England and the one published by Sheed & Ward were of this "trial edition."
After reviewing the comments Knox made at least two changes, The first was in John 21:5 where "lads" was changed to "friends" and Acts 20:18 where "It is within your knowledge" was changed to "You yourselves can testify."
The editions after this change have the word "authorized" in their title.
Title The New Testament / of Our Lord and Saviour / Jesus Christ / Newly Translated / from the Vulgate Latin / at the Request of their Lordships / the Archbishops and Bishops / of England and Wales / Printed for Private Circulation Only / Burns Oates and Washbourne / 28 Ashley Place London: 1944
Date 1944
Publisher Burns Oates and Washbourne, London
Contents New translation of the New Testament for Catholics by Msgr. Ronald A. Knox (1888-1957).
Description 16mo π4 A-S16T12 (p. viii,600)
Image: Title page
References HERBERT 2284, POPE 681-12, CHAMBERLIN 579; TALIAFERRO-BVE CN00023, Taliaferro-EELBV 7895.100.
Comments Originally issued "for private circulation only" Knox's translation was soon accepted for use in liturgical readings in British Catholic Missals.
American Trial Edition - 1944
Title The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Newly Translated from the Vulgate Latin at the Request of their Lordships the Archbishops and Bishops of England and Wales Sheed & Ward New York 1944
Date 1944
Publisher New York: Sheed & Ward
Contents New translation of the New Testament for Catholics by Msgr. Ronald A. Knox (1888-1957).
Image: Title page
References HERBERT see 2284, HILLS 2429, POPE 681-12, CHAMBERLIN 579; TALIAFERRO-BVE CN00023, Taliaferro-EELBV 7895.100.
Final Edition - 1945
Title The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, newly translated from the Vulgate Latin, and authorized by the Archbishops and Bishops of England and Wales, Burns, Oates and Washbourne Ltd., Publishers to the Holy See, 1945
Date 1945
Publisher London: Burns, Oates, and Washbourne
Contents New Testament for Catholics by Msgr. Ronald A. Knox in its finalized form.
Image: Title page
References POPE see p. 503-504.
Illustrated Edition - 1946
Title The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ A New Translation A Chanticleer Edition
Date 1946
Publisher Sheed & Ward, Inc.: New York
References CHAMBERLIN 43-2, 579-3; HILLS 2450; TALIAFERRO-BVE CN00023, Taliaferro-EELBV 7895.102.
Images Jacket, Title page
Comments "This edition of Monsignor Knox's translation of the New Testament has been designed to bring the reader an especially fine volume. The color illustrations were selected from museums and art galleries in the United States and England by Dr. Hans Tietze."
Other Images:
1956 Edition Jacket.
Old Testament
Psalms
Title: The Psalms | A New Translation | by | Ronald Knox | Sheed & Ward | New York 1947
Date: 1947 (Imprimatur November 22, 1946)
Publisher: Sheed & Ward: New York
References: Chamberlin 43-2, 334-7, Hills 2463, Herbert 2290, Taliaferro-EELBV 7895.
Images: Title page
Complete Old Testament
Title The Old Testament / Newly Translated from the Latin Vulgate / by. Mgr Ronald A. Knox at the Request of / the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster / for Private Use Only / Volume I [of two] / Genesis - Esther / London / Burns Oates and Washbourne Ltd / Publishers to the Holy See / 1949
Date 1949
Publisher Burns Oates and Washbourne, London
References HERBERT 2296, CHAMBERLIN 43-2, 123-1; TALIAFERRO-BVE CN00023, Taliaferro-EELBV 7895.105, 7895.106.
Images Volume 1 Title page, Volume 2 Title page, Volume 2 Jacket
Contents Translation of the Old Testament by Knox. This 2 volume edition completes his Bible translation which received wide acceptance by Catholics in England, Ireland, and America.
Lectionary with Commentary
Title: The Epistles and Gospels for Sundays and Holydays Translation and Commentary by Ronald Knox
Date: 1946
Publisher: Sheed & Ward, New York
Images: Jacket, Title page
Contents: Lectionary readings
Shorter Knox Bible
Title The Shorter Knox Bible An abridgement of the Old Testament as Translated by Monsignor Ronald A. Knox Edited by Leonard Johnston, S.T.L., L.S.S. Professor of Sacred Scripture at Ushaw College With a foreword by The Archbishop of Westminster
Date 1958
Publisher London: Burns & Oats, Macmillan & Co LTD
References Taliaferro-EELBV see 7895.
Contents: An abridged version of Knox's Old Testament.
Images Cover, Title page
Comments: There is no evidence that an abridged New Testament was ever published.
Student Bible
Title The Holy Bible A translation from the Latin Vulgate in light of the Hebrew and Greek originals Authorized by the hierarchy of England and Wales and the hierarchy of Scotland
Date 1954
Publisher Sheed & Ward, Inc.: New York
References CHAMBERLIN 43-2; HERBERT see 2296, 2284; TALIAFERRO-BVE CN00023, Taliaferro-EELBV 7895.110.
Images Title page
Other Images:
1963 Bible Cover
Knox Version
Title: Knox Bible
Date: 2012
Publisher: Baronius Press, London http://www.baroniuspress.com
Contents: Complete New and Old Testament, translated by Msgr. Ronald A. Knox (1888-1957).
References:
Comments: The only complete new edition of the Knox Bible
Images Cover, Open
