Who Is This For?
Best For:
Catholic readers wanting public domain Bible, ministry distribution, study including deuterocanonicals.
Not Ideal For:
Those wanting polished Catholic translation, traditional liturgical use.
Strengths & Limitations
✓ Strengths of the WEBC
- Complete Catholic Bible
- No copyright restrictions
- Modern English
- Freely distributable
- Based on reliable WEB
✗ Limitations to Consider
- Deuterocanonicals from mixed sources
- May lack polish of commercial translations
- Less established than traditional Catholic Bibles
Overview
The World English Bible Catholic Edition includes the deuterocanonical books recognized by the Catholic Church. Based on the public domain World English Bible, it adds the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 & 2 Maccabees, and additions to Esther and Daniel.
Want to read the WEBC Bible online? Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, or start reading from Genesis.
Notable Features of the WEBC
- Catholic canon (73 books)
- Includes deuterocanonicals
- Public domain
- Modern English
- Based on WEB
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the World English Bible Catholic Edition?
The World English Bible Catholic Edition includes the deuterocanonical books recognized by the Catholic Church. Based on the public domain World English Bible, it adds the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 & 2 Maccabees, and additions to Esther and Daniel.
How can I read the WEBC Bible online?
You can read and search the World English Bible Catholic Edition online for free at Acts1 Family. Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, chapter, or keyword in the WEBC translation.
When was the WEBC Bible published?
The World English Bible Catholic Edition was first published in 2000. It is classified as a Formal Equivalence translation with a 10th Grade reading level.
Who should use the WEBC Bible?
Catholic readers wanting public domain Bible, ministry distribution, study including deuterocanonicals.
How does the WEBC compare to other Bible translations?
The World English Bible Catholic Edition (WEBC) is a Formal Equivalence translation. Compare it with other versions like the KJV, ASV, or NIV using our Bible comparison tools to find the best translation for your needs.
Read the WEBC Online
Search any verse, compare with other translations, or start reading from Genesis.
Start ReadingHistory
Complete History of the WEBC Translation
The World English Bible Catholic Edition emerged from the World English Bible project to serve Catholic readers. While the standard WEB follows the Protestant 66-book canon, the Catholic edition includes the seven deuterocanonical books plus additions to Esther and Daniel that are part of the Catholic biblical canon.
Like all WEB editions, the Catholic edition is in the public domain and can be freely copied and distributed. This makes it one of the few modern Catholic Bible translations available without copyright restrictions.
Translators
Meet the 1 Key Translators and Contributors
Michael Paul Johnson
Senior Editor
Creator and senior editor of the World English Bible project who produced editions for various Christian traditions.
Textual Basis
Manuscript Sources and Translation Methodology
Protestant books from ASV revision; deuterocanonical books from various sources including Brenton's Septuagint.
Reception
Scholarly Praise
"The WEB Catholic Edition includes the deuterocanonical books, making this free, public domain translation available to Catholic readers in traditional biblical ordering."
— eBible.org, World English Bible Catholic Edition (2024) [source]
Scholarly Concerns
Like all WEB variants, this edition shares the concern that translation decisions flow through a single primary editor rather than a diverse committee.
— Kevin R.K. Davis, World English Bible Introduction (2023) [source]
Revision History
View 2 Major Revisions and Updates
- 2000 Initial release with WEB project.
- Ongoing Updated with WEB revisions.
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