I love the ESV that I own. It’s this simple, tiny, leather-ish thing with an awesome celtic cross worked in that cost me $10 on sale a few years back. I really like the language style and the translation (for the most part). Plus, Steve Brown likes it, and I love Dr. Brown’s stuff.
That said, I’ve heard criticism of the ESV’s marketing that it’s publishers are trying to push it as being superior to all other translations ever and the only real choice for real Christians.
I want to love the ESV, but I’m not a big fan of Reformed theology.
And with the wealth of Reformed contributors and endorsements, should that be a warning sign that this study Bible is going to be like a Reformed buffet? There are a lot of features that look cool though.
Since the ESV’s heritage is KJV and RSV, it’s not likely to ever be accused of being biased as a reformed translation (whatever that would be.)
But the authors of the entire project are fairly heavily in the reformed camp (as I recall), which will imo, make it more friendly to the current reformed resurgence in evangelicalism than to other points of view. But all I’ve seen of the Bible is very impressive. Nothing about trusting reformed scholars means there’s a deficit of fairness or quality. Far from it. They are some of the best scholars in the world.
on 15 Aug 2008 at 7:40 am Chas
The ESV is indeed a fine translation. However, in all honesty I don’t see it’s incredible advantage over say the RSV, NASB, or even the NKJV. In other words, as a translation it’s a good one, but in terms of readability it seems as cumbersome as the others.
Nice ad.
Sounds like a great Bible.
I’m sold.
Now now….there’s a Lutheran Study Bible ESV coming out from Concordia. Be careful
great camera shot of joni, if i didnt know better i would have sworn she was standing.
Yeah,
I know. Just think, all the magnificence of the ESV Study Bible with the added bonus of dynamic Reformation doctrine! WOOO HOOOO!
I love the ESV that I own. It’s this simple, tiny, leather-ish thing with an awesome celtic cross worked in that cost me $10 on sale a few years back. I really like the language style and the translation (for the most part). Plus, Steve Brown likes it, and I love Dr. Brown’s stuff.
That said, I’ve heard criticism of the ESV’s marketing that it’s publishers are trying to push it as being superior to all other translations ever and the only real choice for real Christians.
And in that light, that vid made me giggle.
I want to love the ESV, but I’m not a big fan of Reformed theology.
And with the wealth of Reformed contributors and endorsements, should that be a warning sign that this study Bible is going to be like a Reformed buffet? There are a lot of features that look cool though.
Brandon: I think that is going to be the main criticism of the ESV Study Bible, but I think Calvinists buy 98% of the books in the world anyway
Hmmm… I haven’t really noticed a particular Calvinistic bent in the translation. Or is the above a reference to the commentaries?
Since the ESV’s heritage is KJV and RSV, it’s not likely to ever be accused of being biased as a reformed translation (whatever that would be.)
But the authors of the entire project are fairly heavily in the reformed camp (as I recall), which will imo, make it more friendly to the current reformed resurgence in evangelicalism than to other points of view. But all I’ve seen of the Bible is very impressive. Nothing about trusting reformed scholars means there’s a deficit of fairness or quality. Far from it. They are some of the best scholars in the world.
The ESV is indeed a fine translation. However, in all honesty I don’t see it’s incredible advantage over say the RSV, NASB, or even the NKJV. In other words, as a translation it’s a good one, but in terms of readability it seems as cumbersome as the others.