Easy-to-Read Version

The Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) is an English translation of the Bible compiled by the World Bible Translation Center. It was originally published as the English Version for the Deaf (EVD) by BakerBooks.

Easy-to-Read Version
Full nameHoly Bible: Easy-to-Read Version
AbbreviationERV
LanguageEnglish
Complete Bible
published		1987[1]
CopyrightCopyright by World Bible Translation Center
God made the sky and earth. At first, the earth was completely empty; nothing was on the earth. Darkness covered the ocean, and God’s Spirit moved over the water. Then God said, "Let there be light!" And light began to shine.
Genesis 1:1 in other translations
Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. God gave his Son so that every person that believes in him would not be lost, but have life forever.
John 3:16 in other translations

Deaf readers sometimes struggle with reading English because sign language is their first language.[2] The World Bible Translation Center (WBTC) decided to do a translation that would make reading the Bible easier for them. The EVD uses simpler vocabulary and shorter sentences to make it simpler to understand. Ervin Bishop did most of the translating for the WBTC. He used a thought-for-thought or functional equivalence method of translation. It was found to be useful for others who struggle with reading and is often used in prisons and literacy programs.

The ERV uses the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (1984) as its Old Testament text with some readings from the Dead Sea Scrolls. Also, it follows the Septuagint when its readings are considered more accurate. (The Septuagint is the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures.) For the New Testament, the ERV uses the United Bible Societies' Greek New Testament (fourth revised edition, 1993) and Nestle-Aland Novum Testament Graece (twenty-seventh edition, 1993).

The ERV caused controversy in the Churches of Christ (the WBTC is an outreach of the Churches of Christ). Goebel Music wrote a book critiquing this translation titled "Easy-to-Read Version: Easy to Read or Easy to Mislead?", criticizing the ERV's method of translation, textual basis, and wording of certain passages.[3]

In 2004, a major revision of the ERV was finished. It used broader vocabulary and greater use of gender-inclusive language. The EVD was left unchanged, so it and the ERV now have different texts. Both Bibles are available online from the WBTC's website.

See also

References
  1. "The New Century Version". hiresearcher.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  2. "God's Word. Local Church. Global Strategy - Bible League International" (PDF). Wbtc.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  3. W. Terry Varner. "REVIEW OF GOEBEL MUSIC'S NEW BOOK". Bellview COC. Archived from the original on April 8, 2001. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
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