Evangelicals Now
<< February 2003 >>

Holy Bible: English Standard Version

HOLY BIBLE: ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
HarperCollins
Various sizes and prices - available from Christian bookshops and The Good Book Company (0845 225 0880)
ISBN 0 00 710748 X

There must always be a question whether or not another English translation of the Bible is strictly necessary, and whether it is likely to take over from other popular modern translations such as the Revised Standard Version, the New International Version or the Good News Bible.

There are, however, some good reasons why this particular version of the Bible (ESV) could yet become a favoured study Bible, not only for the preacher but for the Christian who wants to dig deep . . . and, yes, to memorise Scripture.

In the first place, evangelicals can have confidence in the translation team of international scholars led by Dr. Jim Packer of Regent College, Vancouver. They are all committed to 'the truth of God's word and to historic Christian orthodoxy'.

Secondly, the translation philosophy of these scholars will appeal to those of us that find that translations that strive for 'dynamic equivalence' (e.g. GNB) often lose the accuracy of the original languages.

The ESV, as the preface indicates, seeks to 'capture the precise wording of the original text'. The emphasis is on 'word for word' correspondence rather than 'thought for thought'. It aims to be as literal as possible, 'while maintaining clarity of expression and literary excellence'. In my view ESV achieves this superbly.

Reliable original texts

The starting point for this translation was the Revised Standard Version of 1971. But this in turn was carefully checked with the most reliable Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts available. Archaic language has been changed and corrections made. For example, the Greek word hilasmos in 1 John 2.2 is not translated 'expiation' (RSV) or 'atoning sacrifice' (NIV), but correctly, 'propitiation'. This determination to retain key theological words (e.g. grace, justification, sanctification, regeneration, redemption, etc.), encourages that kind of study and preaching which takes seriously the meaning of the text before we attempt to apply it to ourselves and to our contemporaries.

Other advantages

There are other features which also encourage the study of the Bible in depth.
The section headings are helpful in identifying the dominant theme in a particular section of the text, e.g. the theme of righteousness in Romans 1-3.
The centre column cross reference system claims to be 'one of the most extensive and useful reference systems available'.

The footnotes are invariably helpful, together with the extensive concordance at the end of the book.

On gender issues the ESV uses gender inclusive terms when the original word has no gender-specific meaning. So 'any one' replaces 'any man'. But the ESV retains any gender-specific term when it is in the original. So, for example, 'sons' is retained in certain cases, because its meaning is a legal term in the adoption and inheritance laws of first-century Rome. It is also pointed out in a footnote that 'Paul uses this term to refer to the status of all Christians, men and women, who have been adopted into God's family'.

I have already begun to use the ESV in studying, even though I still preach from the NIV, which is the Bible my own church uses. However, I certainly recommend that churches considering the purchase of Bibles for their congregations should look carefully at the ESV as an important and memorable translation for those who want to know their Bibles, and their God, better.

Gordon Bridger, Sheringham