Featured Holman Christian Standard Bible

Although I didn’t read anything concrete on the matter, I have the impression that they brought out the HCSB so Lifeway could use a modern translation in its materials without getting permission or paying royalties. For a number of years they used the NIV but it seems like I heard that Zondervan grew reluctant to let Lifeway use its translation in materials that were in competition with Zondervan.

Does the SBC try to get its churches to use the HCSB? Not that I have noticed, except for its use in Lifeway materials. FWIW, it’s a pretty good translation. I prefer it to the NIV but the NASB is still my go to bible

 

I'm a SBC pastor. I use the HCSB.

There's been a mixed reception in the SBC. Especially among my peers, it has been sort of a meh translation. With the growth of the young restless and reformed movement, and their love for the ESV, they have pretty well ignored the HCSB.

Older pastors that use the NASU, NIV84, etc aren't really changing over to a new translation either.

At first there was some initial brow beating by some convention muckety-mucks to get folks to move over, but that went away fairly quickly. They seem to be pretty happy to have a primary replacement for the NIV after the keruffle with Zondervan. Perhaps that is what the HCSB is best for, primary Scriptural text for all their publications.

The convention has touted out some examples of pastors who have switched over the HCSB and "moved" their churches over there too. It hasn't had much of an effective and I think they're taking a long-tail strategy on the translation (i.e. a long term adoption view.) We'll see how it goes, it'll never eclipse some of the big translations though. NIV, ESV, etc are still going to sell higher imho.

As for me, I like the translation enough to use it in my preaching and teaching. I find translation is sound, the language used conveys the meaning of the text well, and it reflects a good tradition behind its translation methodology. There is some gender inclusivity in the text, but nothing to the level of the TNIV.

 

I'm glad you do.

I never heard that expression before.

I think the ESV uses slightly more inclusive language than the HCSB. And of course the ESV and HCSB both use more than the 84 NIV.

Have you noticed any quirkiness in some passages of the HCSB?

 

I don't know anyone that has bought a HCSB. Try as hard as they did to avoid it, it was perceived to be a SBC translation. Didn't help that Al Mohler referred to it as a translation they could control. Over half the translators were not baptist, but they couldn't get away from this initial SBC label.

From people in the know, it has been touted as a decent translation with some layout features that have proved helpful. I use the NIV as does most of my congregation as well as the pew bibles being NIV, so there is no need or desire to change.

 

HCSB= Hard Core Southern Baptist. Our Pastor does not preach from one. I did get a HCSB NT+Psalms from the state convention. I like it.

 

I have, probably because of the nature of the translation committees. I know some of those guys. Other translations have quirkiness as well of course. Sometimes I just give an alternative read from the NIV or ESV or something else.

I think the idea of denominational "control" was worrisome at first, but when they released who was on the translation committees it was pretty clear they weren't trying to control much of anything.

 

As an SBC pastor I can tell you that it is not widely received in the southeast and out here in the west. The most popular among churches and pastors that I have seen is the NKJV. NIV comes in at a distant second.

 

Which one do you use for preaching?

 

esv............................................

 

ESV? And you're still not Reformed yet?

 

Hehe naaa......I have too much common sense.



(just kiding)

 

How long have you used that Reformed tool? Maybe you need to give it some time to turn you into a full-fledged Calvinist.

 

About two years. That is not going to happen. God calls all men and no one is created for the sole purpose of damning them. If it were not for those two issues I might be a Calvinist.

 

Does God call someone who has never heard the Gospel --never heard of Jesus?

Is God glorified in the damnation of sinners?

 

There is no evidence that anyone dies without hearing about Jesus.

Which has nothing to do with what I said.

 

Oh,just off the top of my head --China and India,for some examples.

 

You believe what you want. I will trust in God's word. I no longer debate cals on this board. God bless.

 

Which brings us back to the subject of the OP --the HCSB. Why isn't it more popular than the ESV by now?

 

I can only speculate. With the flood of translations on the market it is just another one in an over flooded market.