English Standard Version
The English Standard Version (ESV) is an English translation of the Bible. It was first published in 2001 by Crossway. The ESV is based on the 1971 edition of the Revised Standard Version (RSV) text.[3][4]
English Standard Version | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | ESV |
Complete Bible published | 2001; 2009 (Oxford Apocrypha) |
Derived from | Revised Standard Version (RSV), 1971 edition |
Textual basis |
|
Translation type | Formal Equivalence |
Reading level | 8.0[2] |
Version revision | 2007, 2011, 2016; 2017 (Apocrypha text) |
Publisher | Crossway |
Copyright | The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016 |
Website | www.esv.org |
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. |
The ESV adheres to an "essentially literal" translation philosophy, taking into account the differences of grammar, syntax, and idiom between current literary English and the original text.[1] With regard to gender language, the goal of the ESV is "to render literally what is in the original."[1] The ESV uses some gender-neutral language.[5]
History
During the early 1990s, Crossway president Lane T. Dennis engaged in discussions with various Christian scholars and pastors regarding the need for a new literal translation of the Bible.[6] In 1997, Dennis contacted the National Council of Churches to obtain rights to use the Revised Standard Version (RSV) text as a base for a new translation.[7] Crossway later formed a translation committee and started work on the ESV in the late 1990s.[8] In the translation process, approximately six percent of the RSV 1971 text base being used was changed.[9] Crossway claims that the ESV continues a legacy begun by the Tyndale New Testament of precision and faithfulness in English translation from the original text, followed in the same standard by the King James Version of 1611 (KJV), the English Revised Version of 1885 (RV), the American Standard Version of 1901 (ASV), and the Revised Standard Version of 1952 and 1971.[1]
Revisions
Crossway published the first revision of the ESV text in 2007. The revision changed about 500 words in total—improving grammar, consistency, and clarity.[10] One notable change was made in Isaiah 53:5—the new text changing "wounded for our transgressions" to "pierced for our transgressions".[10]
Crossway published the second revision of the ESV text in April 2011. The revision changed fewer than 500 words in total throughout 275 verses from the 2007 text—improving grammar, consistency, and precision in meaning.[10] The 2007 edition was gradually phased out.[11]
Crossway published the third revision of the ESV text in August 2016 as the "ESV Permanent Text Edition (2016)". The revision changed 52 words in total throughout 29 verses from the 2011 text.[12] Coinciding with the release of the revision, Crossway announced that “the text of the ESV Bible will remain unchanged in all future editions printed and published by Crossway.”[13] However, in a statement released by Crossway the following month, this policy was abandoned to allow for ongoing "minimal and infrequent" periodic updates to reflect "textual discoveries or changes in English over time."[13] Lane T. Dennis said in the statement: "We apologize for this and for any concern this has caused for readers of the ESV [...] Our desire, above all, is to do what is right before the Lord."[14] The revision was subsequently republished as the "ESV Text Edition: 2016".
The ESV edition of the Apocrypha text was updated in 2017.
Deuterocanonicals
Oxford University Press developed an authorized edition of the ESV with the Apocrypha included, which was published in January 2009.
The Apocrypha inside the 2009 release is a revision of the 1971 RSV Apocrypha and the 1977 RSV Expanded Apocrypha. The team translating the Apocrypha included Bernard A. Taylor, David A. deSilva, and Dan McCartney, under the editorship of David Aiken. In this release, they are printed and arranged in the order of the RSV and NRSV Common Bibles. The Oxford translation team relied on the Göttingen Septuagint for all of the Apocrypha except 4 Maccabees (which relies on Rahlfs' Septuagint), and 2 Esdras (which has a Latin prologue and epilogue to the Greek Apocalypse of Ezra), which uses the third edition (published by the German Bible Society in 1983) of the Stuttgart Vulgate.
On February 4, 2018, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India released the English Standard Version Catholic Edition (ESV-CE), which includes the Apocrypha.[15]
On June 20, 2019, Anglican Liturgy Press released the ESV: Anglican Edition, which includes the Apocrypha at the back.[16]
During late 2019, the Augustine Institute started publishing the ESV-CE in North America.
Use
The ESV has been used as the text of a number of study Bibles, including:
- ESV study Bibles by Crossway: the ESV Study Bible[17], ESV Global Study Bible,[18] ESV Literary Study Bible, and ESV Student Study Bible
- The Lutheran Study Bible by Concordia Publishing House[19]
- The Apocrypha: The Lutheran Edition with Notes by Concordia Publishing House[20]
- The MacArthur Study Bible by HarperCollins[21]
- The Reformation Study Bible by Ligonier Ministries[22]
- The Scofield Study Bible III (an update and revision of the classic dispensational premillennialist Scofield Reference Bible) by Oxford University Press[23]
- The Ryrie Study Bible by Moody Publishers
- The Fire Bible by Hendrickson Publishers, and incarnation of the Full Life Study Bible edited by Donald Stamps
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod adopted the ESV as the official text used in its official hymnal Lutheran Service Book, which was released in August 2006.[24]
Criticism
Mark L. Strauss, in a paper presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, criticized the ESV for using dated language and stated it is unsuited for mainstream use.[9] On the other hand, he has defended gender-inclusive language in translation and claims the ESV uses similar gender-inclusive language and speculated that criticism of the ESV by competing Bible translations is contrived for marketing purposes.[9] ESV translator Wayne Grudem has responded that, while on occasion the ESV translates person or one where previous translations used man, it keeps gender-specific language and does not go as far as other translations; the ESV website makes a similar statement. ESV translator William D. Mounce has called these arguments against the ESV ad hominem.[25]
Criticism has arisen in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, which uses the ESV as its official translation, that its frequent translation of the Hebrew word mishpatim ("judgements" or "decrees") as "rules" is not only an impoverished translation of a very rich word, but also somewhat legalistic. Although, "judgements" and "rules" are understood in similitude like "decrees" and "laws" are understood in similitude.
References
- "Preface to the English Standard Version | ESV.org". ESV Bible. Archived from the original on May 26, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- Rose Publishing 2006
- Carter, Joe. "9 Things You Should Know About the ESV Bible". The Gospel Coalition. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
The starting point for the ESV translation was the 1971 edition of the Revised Standard Version (RSV).
- Stec 2004, p. 421
- Decker, Rodney (2004), "The English Standard Version: A Review Article" (PDF), The Journal of Ministry & Theology, 8 (2): 16–17
- Carter, Joe. "9 Things You Should Know About the ESV Bible". The Gospel Coalition. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
The idea for the ESV Bible originated in the early 1990s when Lane T. Dennis, president of the nonprofit book publishing ministry Crossway, discussed the need for a new literal translation of the Bible with various Christian scholars and pastors.
- "The History of the English Standard Version". Crossway. October 31, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
- Carter, Joe. "9 Things You Should Know About the ESV Bible". The Gospel Coalition. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
Near the end of the decade, the translation committee began work.
- Strauss 2008
- Dennis 2011
- Butterfield 2013, p. 42.
- "ESV Permanent Text Edition (2016): Word Changes". ESV.org. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- "Crossway Statement on the ESV Bible Text". Crossway. September 28, 2016. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- Weber, Jeremy (September 28, 2016). "Theology: Crossway Reverses Decision to Make ESV Bible Text Permanent (Amid much public debate, publisher says strategy for a 'stable' Bible was a 'mistake')". Christianity Today (September 2016).
- "Catholic Edition of ESV Bible Launched". Daijiworld. February 10, 2018.
- "ESV with Apocrypha". June 6, 2019.
- ESV Study Bible. Crossway. 2008. ISBN 978-1-4335-0241-5.
- ESV Global Study Bible. Crossway. ISBN 978-1-4335-3567-3.
- The Lutheran Study Bible: English Standard Version, Concordia Publishing House, 2009, ISBN 978-0-7586-1760-6
- The Apocrypha: The Lutheran Edition with Notes, Concordia Publishing House, August 28, 2012, ISBN 978-0758625472, retrieved December 7, 2012
- The Macarthur Study Bible: English Standard Version, Good News Publisher, August 10, 2010, ISBN 978-1-4335-0400-6
- Sproul 2008.
- The Scofield Study Bible: English Standard Version, Oxford University Press, 2006, ISBN 978-0-19-527877-4
- Lutheran Service Book, Concordia Publishing House, 2005, pp. Copyright Page, ISBN 978-0-7586-1218-2
- Mounce 2011
References
- Brueggemann, Walter (January 25, 2010), Genesis: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, Westminster John Knox Press, ISBN 978-0-664-23437-9, retrieved December 7, 2012
- Butterfield, Glen (2013). Bible Unity. WestBowPress. ISBN 978-1-4908-0549-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Clontz, T E; Clontz, J, eds. (2008), The Comprehensive New Testament: New Testament with Complete Textual Variation Mapping and Special Highlights of Parallels for the Dead Sea Scrolls, Egyptian Book of the Dead, Josephus, Patristic Writings, Philo, Plato, Pseudepigrapha, and Talmud, Cornerstone Publications, ISBN 978-0-9778737-1-5
- Craigie, Peter (1983), Metzger, Bruce (ed.), Psalms 1-50, Word Books, ISBN 978-0-8499-0218-5
- ESV Bible, Crossway, 2010, retrieved December 7, 2012
- Holy Bible: English Standard Version, Good News Publisher, 2011, ISBN 978-1-4335-3087-6
- "Manuscripts Used in Translating the ESV", About the ESV Translation, Crossway, 2010a, retrieved December 7, 2012
- The Origin of the ESV, Crossway, February 21, 2006, archived from the original on June 24, 2011, retrieved December 7, 2012
- Dennis, Lane (April 2011), Word Changes in the ESV Bible Text -2011 (PDF), Crossway, retrieved December 7, 2012
- Grudem, Wayne (2005), Translating Truth: The Case for Essentially Literal Bible Translation, Weaton: Crossway, ISBN 978-1-58134-755-5
- Harris, Robert (1957), Inspiration and Canonicity of the Bible, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Books, ISBN 0-310-25891-X
- Isbell, Charles (June 1977), "Does the Gospel of Matthew Proclaim Mary's Virginity?", Biblical Archaeology Society, 3 (2), retrieved December 7, 2012
- Johnson, S. Lewis (1953), "The Revised Standard New Testament", Bibliotheca Sacra, 110: 62–65
- Mounce, Bill (2011), ETS Day 2 by Bill Mounce, Zondervan, retrieved December 7, 2012
- The English Standard Version Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments with Apocrypha, New York: Oxford University Press, 2009, ISBN 0-19-528910-2
- English Standard Version Bible with Apocrypha, Oxford University Press, 2012, retrieved December 7, 2012
- The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version (Catholic ed.), Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, ISBN 1-58617-100-3
- Bible Translations Comparison Pamphlet, Rose Publishing, 2007, ISBN 1-59636-133-6
- Ryken, Leland (2002), The Word of God in English, Wheaton: Crossway, ISBN 1-58134-464-3
- Sproul, R C, ed. (2008). Reformation Study Bible (ESV). P & R Publishing Company. ISBN 978-1-59638-136-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Stec, D (July 2004), "Review: The Holy Bible: English Standard Version", Vetus Testamentum, Leiden: Brill, 54 (3): 421, ISSN 0042-4935, JSTOR 1518879
- Strauss, Mark (November 25, 2008), Why the English Standard Version (ESV) should not become the Standard English Version (PDF), Presented at the annual Evangelical Theological Society meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, San Diego, retrieved November 19, 2014
- Unger, Merrill (1953), "The Revised Standard Old Testament", Bibliotheca Sacra, 110: 54–61
- The Gideon: Development and Growth of the English Standard Version, The Gideons International, June–July 2013, retrieved October 14, 2013