ESV, What do you think?

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Phillip:
WOW, do you read fast or what? ...great. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

No, I'm not that fast. I read through the OT once and the NT/Psalms twice a year, and not in book order.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>I have some questions for you and others that I don't really understand. My understanding of the origins of most of the currents MV's (NASB, NIV, NKJV, etc.) is relatively clear; however, I am not so familiar with the RV. The reason I ask this, I remember a post somewhere that mentioned the ESV to be an updated RV. I bought an original RV at a used bookstore and sure enough about half of the verses are direct RV comparisons while about half to one-third or so are somewhat different. I have heard some people thumb their noses at the RV, but without any knowledge of its history, I cannot understand this nor its relationship with the ESV and how do you feel about this? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Although in the RV line, the ESV is directly an update of the 1971 RSV. (RV/ASV/RSV/ESV).

See Dan Wallace's article,
The History of the English Bible Part III: From the KJV to the RV

 

Lot of discussion about the readabilility of the ESV.

How does it translate the reason for Jesus Christ coming to this earth? How does it translate the single way to forgiveness of sins and acceptance of Jesus Christ?

I will probably never read the ESV unless I have already read parts of it under another name. So - would one of you posters, post to this forum the following translation from the ESV - John 3:1 thru 18. Would appreciate it. Perhaps another person could Post the NIV translation of John 3:1 through 18.

After all that is what being born again and salvation is all about.

Would appreciate reading John 3:1 thru 18 in those two additional versions.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Legacy:
[QB]Lot of discussion about the readabilility of the ESV.

How does it translate the reason for Jesus Christ coming to this earth? How does it translate the single way to forgiveness of sins and acceptance of Jesus Christ?

I will probably never read the ESV unless I have already read parts of it under another name. So - would one of you posters, post to this forum the following translation from the ESV - John 3:1 thru 18. Would appreciate it. Perhaps another person could Post the NIV translation of John 3:1 through 18.

QB]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don't think I am breaking any copyright laws by posting a short portion of a chapter for your comparison. At least I don't think Crossway who owns the copyright would mind--if the board moderators feel the need to delete this, that is perfectly okay with me.

I don't understand exactly why you would like to see this part of the translation since you are not interested in reading or using the translation. It sounds to me that you are a KJVO, and I do not say that to put you down, just to try to understand your reasoning behind reviewing these translations. I have read the NIV through and have read this part of it, but I don't have one on my computer that I can clip and paste for you and therefore cannot say how well it preserves your specific verses, although from everything I have read in the NIV (although it is not my favorite) it is accurate in portraying the Son of God as the only way to God the Father. Since I use the ESV to the exclusion of the NIV, I will leave the NIV to someone else.

I think you will find this clip of the ESV to be very doctrinal as to our beliefs. In fact, because of the use of modern English it gets the exact same message across to people who are not used to using KJV old English:

The following is from the ESV printed by Crossway and is copyrighted by Crossway and only used here as a reference for comparison of less than an entire chapter:

John 3:1-18 (ESV)
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. [2] This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." [3] Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." [4] Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" [5] Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' [8] The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
[9] Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" [10] Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? [11] Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. [12] If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? [13] No one has ascended into heaven except him who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. [14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, [15] that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."
[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
[17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

-----End of ESV Text----------
Copyrighted by the ESV publishers

[ December 21, 2001: Message edited by: Chris Temple ]

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Godmetal:
11:12 it is footnoted as fullness.
11:25 it is in the main text as fullness.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Interesting ... thanks

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dr. Bob Griffin:
Thank you for the task of copying John 3 for us to read. I find it easy and flowing, like an updated AV

Of course, a key doctrinal issue will be with the translation of "monogene" in 3:16. It is "only begotten" son in the AV, while here it is translated like "mono" or "only".

That will raise hackles on many ifb'ers.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Gee, like that's never happened before
Truthfully, it shouldn't raise any. But that's my take.

 

Listen to a radio program about the ESV ("First Edition"). RealAudio only - December 21

Click here

 

Just curious as to what opinions people may have now re: the ESV, now that a bit more time has passed since its release.

Also, are there more editions in the works(ie. study, pew Bibles, audio, etc)?

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Marathon Man:
Just curious as to what opinions people may have now re: the ESV, now that a bit more time has passed since its release.

Also, are there more editions in the works(ie. study, pew Bibles, audio, etc)?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I believe that the ESV is an excellent translation, perhaps the finest available; accurate and easy reading for a formal translation. My problem is most of my memorization work is done in the NKJV/KJV, so when I search the software for a particular phrase, it doesnt necessarily come up.

As for upcoming editons, this is from the ESV website FAQ:

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>When will new editions be available?
A Thinline Reference edition is scheduled for publication in May 2002. It will be available in black and burgundy bonded leather, will sell for $29.99, and will include the free CD-ROM. It will not have a center-column cross-reference system.
A pew Bible edition is scheduled for publication in April 2002. It will be available in dark red and navy blue and will sell for $15.99. Volume discounts will be available, but they have not been finalized. This edition will not be red-letter and will not include the CD-ROM.
A hardcover black-letter edition is scheduled for publication in mid-2002. This edition will not include the CD-ROM.
A One-Year edition is scheduled for publication in Summer 2002.
A New Testament with Psalms is scheduled for publication in Summer 2002.
A study edition is scheduled for publication in Fall 2002.
A large-print edition is scheduled for publication in 2003. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

ESV Homepage

 

I agree with Chris. The more I read it, the more impressed I am with its accuracy yet readability. Only time will tell how well it will be received. All who cherish Biblical inspiration, inerrancy and fidelity should receive it gladly.

 

This might seem silly to everyone, but I am ready to make the ESV my main Bible, and I haven't even seen it yet.

I was a big fan of the NIV when I discovered it as a kid, because I couldn't understand the KJV that I had grown up with. I have been content with the NIV until recently when I starting studying Greek more seriously. I think the NIV is an excellent translation but it does take some liberties here and there. I do a lot of my reading out of the Greek so its not like I completly blinded to the real issues, but it would be nice to read out of something a little more literal. Well anyone, I then owned a NASB it is also an excellent translation, but I couldn't stand the fact that they seperated out every verse into its own sentence. It makes it so difficult to read.

So I found myself looking for something in between the NASB and NIV, and thought I was going to use the NKJV, when I heard about the ESV. When I read the list of people who participated, including William Mounce, John Piper, and Scott Hafemann, I was quite sold.

Keep in mind, I'm not one who thinks the Biblical myseteries are kept hidden and all we need is the newest biggest thing to save Christianity. I have read cover to cover the NIV and NLT and most of the KJV and NASB, and have found the same message in them all. I am now reading the NRSV, with a plan to finish it all in six months, and despite all the negative critism I had heard about it and how it would make me liberal, I finding the same message once again.

The only problem with ESV is that they haven't printed the thinline edition and that is my favorite for reading and carrying around in my backpack (I am an engineering student). The thinline will probably be coming out in May and I should just about be rapping up my NRSV experience, so I will be all gun-ho to jump in.

 

I got mine yesterday!

So far I have only read a few psalms, and a few key passages to see how they were translated, but so far I am impressed.

Aside from my regular bible study, I like to read through the bible a couple of times each year. This keeps things fresh for me. For my serious study I use the KJV, NKJV, NASB, sometimes the NIV, and the Greek texts. My Greek is not fluent enough to read for pleasure, but some day I hope to be there For variety, I try to read different translations when I am doing a read through. As I am already in 1 John in my current read, I am looking forward to Genesis in the ESV.

I was home late last night, so I only had the briefest perusal, having installed the software and fiddled. The software could be more intuitive. And as TomVols pointed out, the ZipScript tool (A quoting tool which allows you to paste one or more verses into other documents) did not even have the ESV bible as one of the versions you could quote from. I have since found a solution for this (which I have posted in the topic wherein that question was asked.)

On a strictly material note, the quality of the bible itself was impressive! I got the leather, thumb indexed one. It was made from good materials, put together well, and overall it is an aesthetically appealing effort.

I am really looking forward to reading it!

Searcher.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Searcher:
On a strictly material note, the quality of the bible itself was impressive! I got the leather, thumb indexed one. It was made from good materials, put together well, and overall it is an aesthetically appealing effort.

Searcher.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Agreed. I got a genuine Leather version for Christmas. But these 42 year old eyes are eagerly awaiting the LARGE PRINT edition!

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chris Temple:



Agreed. I got a genuine Leather version for Christmas. But these 42 year old eyes are eagerly awaiting the LARGE PRINT edition! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

HaHa, I know exactly what you mean. I'm 44 now and everybody told me 40 was the age of the eyes going downhill. I didn't believe it until I turned exactly 40. Now, small print is difficult. Its amazing.

I picked up a King James Thin-book, but large print Bible and REALLY like the look, feel and easy carry. I hope the ESV does one like that, too. (Plenty of room to take notes too) Our preacher uses so many scriptures (which I like) I will fill a Bible with notes in almost six months.

 

Agree with both you guys (Chris and Phillip). While I have an ESV Classic Reference and really am enjoying it, I do hope they come out with a wide-margin Bible, as well as an audio Bible, in the not too distant future (esp an audio Bible, as I travel in my car a great deal connected with work).

 

I was in the bookstore today and looked at a ESV. It looks just as corrupted as the other modern versions. Acts 8:37-the only verse that tells us what to do prior to water baptism, MISSING! 1 Jonn 5:7- GONE! Matthew 9:13 "to repentance" OMMITED! I didn't need to look any further **(snip)********

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby

The Old King James Bible is the "sincere milk" that English speaking people should desire!

[ February 03, 2002: Message edited by: TomVols ]

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Acts 8:37-the only verse that tells us what to do prior to water baptism,<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The ONLY verse???

I really like the ESV. And I am glad that Chris Temple encouraged me to get it. Thanks Chris.

[ February 03, 2002: Message edited by: Chet ]

 

Just bumping to the top for those who were on the other, now closed, ESVB thread.

Buuuuuump!


Joshua

 

Psalm145 3 said:

The Old King James Bible is the "sincere milk" that English speaking people should desire!

I guess that makes the ESV "strong meat" (Heb 5:12-14), then!