Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
ESV interview: the forthcoming review

ESV interview: the forthcoming review

Last updated on: June 21, 2005 at 6:51 pm by Adrian Warnock

ESV interview: the forthcoming review 2005-06-21T18:51:00+01:00 Adrian Warnock

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

There has been a lot of interest in the fact that you are meeting to review the ESV. People are asking how extensive is that review going to be

Watch Paul House respond (Windows Media format). previous | next
<!– D(["mb","rnrn

I’ve been asked several times already why it isrnthe ESV committee is meeting to make some changes to the 2001 printed ESV. Irnthink we have to acknowledge two things: One, it’s a great privilege torntranslate God’s Word, and there are many parts that are very easy tornhandle, and it’s a joyous thing to handle them. But I think we have to bernhonest and say that Bible translation is a great challenge, that it is morernthan any of us can handle effectively. And that’s true becausernthere’s new scholarship coming out all the time that helps us understandrnthe background of words and the meaning of words in their context. And sornwe’ve been meeting to try to take some of that new information intornaccount.

rnrn

We also are becoming aware as our Bible is being readrnaround the world, that there are many cultural contexts. And sometimes Englishrnread in a cultural context other than ours, when it’s read there itrndoesn’t ring true in the same way we want it to. So we’ve had tornmake some adjustments. If something sounds odd in a cultural context, we wantrnto make sure that doesn’t happen.

rnrn

It’s also a challenge as people around the worldrnhave been reading the Bible, some of them have seen ways which we can addrnclarity and crispness to the translation, so we’ve been wanting to dornthat. I suppose in a way, then, the challenge is really to come closer andrncloser to a perfect Bible translation. I personally don’t think we canrnachieve this while we’re on earth, but we continue to get the best helprnwe can from scholars and from regular readers to make the best translation werncan. That’s why we’ve been meeting.

“,1] ); //–>

I’ve been asked several times already why it is the ESV committee is meeting to make some changes to the 2001 printed ESV. I think we have to acknowledge two things: One, it’s a great privilege to translate God’s Word, and there are many parts that are very easy to handle, and it’s a joyous thing to handle them. But I think we have to be honest and say that Bible translation is a great challenge, that it is more than any of us can handle effectively. And that’s true because there’s new scholarship coming out all the time that helps us understand the background of words and the meaning of words in their context. And so we’ve been meeting to try to take some of that new information into account.

We also are becoming aware as our Bible is being read around the world, that there are many cultural contexts. And sometimes English read in a cultural context other than ours, when it’s read there it doesn’t ring true in the same way we want it to. So we’ve had to make some adjustments. If something sounds odd in a cultural context, we want to make sure that doesn’t happen.

It’s also a challenge as people around the world have been reading the Bible, some of them have seen ways which we can add clarity and crispness to the translation, so we’ve been wanting to do that. I suppose in a way, then, the challenge is really to come closer and closer to a perfect Bible translation. I personally don’t think we can achieve this while we’re on earth, but we continue to get the best help we can from scholars and from regular readers to make the best translation we can. That’s why we’ve been meeting.

<!– D(["mb","rnrn

As we vernmentioned before, the potential changes the translators discussed werernminor issues; they were corrections and clarifications rather than bigrn revisions.

rnrn

Commentrnon this post for your chance to win a freernESV Bible.

“,1] ); D([“mb”,”rnrn

rnrn

Howrndid you determine the Greek text used for translation did the TextusrnReceptus play any role?

“,1] ); //–>

The people from Crossway were anxious to point out that they have mentioned before that the potential changes the translators discussed were minor issues; they were corrections and clarifications rather than big revisions.

My response to this reply
This answer is tantilising. There appears to be an acknowledgement that there are places that the ESV could be improved. Sadly, though the translators didn’t see fit to answer even my general summary of some of the areas for improvement that some are calling for. My original question continued as follows-

Are there any plans for example to make minor adaptions to English style issues that some have noticed in certain passages? Examples of the kinds of English style issues some are raising would include:
-unusual word order (eg Mark 8:34, “And he called to him the crowd”.
-over use of connecting words such as “and” (eg Acts 16 where someone has counted that there are 72 occurrences of “and” in 40 verses. Four of those are in verse 29, and another four in verse 33)
-The use of certain words which may be obsolete or not understood in the same way by modern readers eg “lest”, and “Know” in the sense of sexual knowledge

Sadly the translators didnt address any of the points above. We do know, however from this independent online analysis which I am assured is accurate that the translators have already seen fit to make a number of minor changes.

It seems that the translators haven’t fully appreciated the blogosphers’s insatiable desire for detailed knowledge and to have the opporunity to think for itself. I would love to know changes that were afoot in the ESV and you can bet that if a verse I was preaching on was due for a
change it would be highly likely I would point that out.

Detailed translation notes such as those provided with the NET translation would be most welcome. Perhaps that is what they have in mind for their study bible which
sadly is not expected before the fall of 2008 (it better be worth the wait!)

Bloggers would also love to be able to interact with each other, scholars and even occassionally the translators themselves as Wayne has proposed over at better bibles blog. The trouble is that the kind of robust comment that bloggers make can be interpreted as criticism by corporations. I think there is a need for more understanding on both sides- the more detail the better for the blogger, but perhaps bloggers need to learn to adjust the tone of their comments slightly.

Discussion lists could increase the sense of community and sense of ownership around something like a bible translation. I suspect that the groups that logos runs for their bible software has been helpful to them.

Due to the difficulties of an organisation like Crossway running such a discussion group, perhaps it is something that could be run independently, although it would beb nice if ESV scholars would
participate.

As a preacher I would love a forum where I could pose a question about a particular verse and know that people who knew more about the original languages than I would respond. Blogging may be a format that could be used for that kind of thing, especially if some NT scholars could be pursuaded to start a blog. <!– D(["mb","

– Show quoted text –

On 6/21/05, Adrian Warnock <[email protected]> wrote:
> Increase the sense of community and sense of ownership around a product.
>
> Due to the difficulties of an organisation like Crossway running such
> a discussion group, perhaps it is something that could be run
> independentlY, although it would beb nice if ESV scholars would
> participate.
>
> As a preacher I would love a forum where I could pose a question about
> a particular verse and know that people who knew more
>
> —
> Detailed translation notes such as those provided with the NET
> translation would be most welcome.
>
>
> On 6/21/05, Adrian Warnock <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Perhaps Crossway haven’t fully appreciated the blogosphers’s
> > insatiable desire for detailed knowledge and to have the opporunity to
> > think for itself. I would love to know changes that were afoot in the
> > ESV and you can bet that if a verse I was preaching on was due for a
> > change it would be highly likely I would point that out. Bloggers
> > would also love to be able to interact with each other, scholars and
> > even occassionally the translators themselves as Wayne has proposed
> > over at… Discussion lists can inc
> >
> >
> > On 6/21/05, Adrian Warnock <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > This answer is tantilising. There appears to be an aknowledgement that
> > > there are places that the ESV could be improved. Sadly, though the
> > > translators didn’t see fit to answer even my general summary of some
“,1] ); //–>

Comment on this post for your chance to win a free ESV Bible.

Bible Translation

ESV Bible Translators Interview

Previous Post

June 21, 2005

Francis Schaeffer: 50 years on

Next Post

June 22, 2005 The Christian Carnival

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 and 2 Corinthians 1 and 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2 Timothy 1 John 300 Leaders A Life of Joy Abortion Acts of the Apostles Adrian on radio Adrian on TV Adrian's Story Albert Mohler Amazing Grace Arminocalvinist Spectrum Assurance Atonement Atonement Series Attributes of God Barnabas Best of the Blog Bible Bible Software Bible Translation Biblical Inerrancy Billy Graham Bob Roberts Books C. J. Mahaney Calvinism Cessationism Charis Warnock Charismatic Spectrum Charles Simeon Charles Spurgeon Church Leadership Colossians Complementarian - Egalitarian Spectrum Complementarianism Conferences Culture Daniel Debates Deuteronomy DGM08 DGM13 Discernment Doctrine Don Carson Ed Stetzer Eddy Leo Ephesians ESV Bible Translators Interview Evangelism in a Post-Christian World evolution Exodus Expository Preaching Ezekial Faith and Feelings Family Florida Galatians General Genesis Get Wisdom - Proverbs sermons Gifts of The Holy Spirit Gifts of the Holy Spirit 2006 Global Faith Forum Godly Attitudes Gospel Gospels Grace Greg Haslam Grudem vs Piper: The Baptism Debate Healing Heaven Hell and Rob Bell Hebrews Henry Tyler Henry Warnock Holy Spirit Holy Spirit Baptism Hope Reborn Hugh Palmer Irresistable Grace Isaiah J. I. Packer Jack Hayford Joel Joel Warnock John John Lanferman John MacArthur John Newton John Owen John Piper John Smyth Jonathan Edwards Josh Harris Justification Justin Taylor Kenneth Ulmer Leadership Leadership Lessons from 1 & 2 Samuel Lex Loizides Liam Goligher Lig Duncan Limited Atonement Lou Fellingham Mark Dever Mark Driscoll Martyn Lloyd-Jones Matt Chandler Mental Health Missionary Methods: St Paul’s or Ours? My Story N. T. Wright Nehemiah NWA08 NWA09 NWA10 Opinion OT History Books Pentateuch Personal Personal Revival Philippians PJ Smyth Podcast Politics Preaching Prophecy Proverbs Psalms Raised With Christ Reformed Charismatic Regeneration Relationships Resurrection Resurrection & Salvation Revival Rice Broocks Rich Man and Lazarus Rick Warren Rob Rufus Roland Allen Romans Sam Storms Sanctification Series Sermons Sermons on Philippians Serving Jesus at Work Sexuality Sin St Paul Steve Chalke Strange Fire Suffering T4G T4G Statement TAB09 Tamasin Warnock Teamwork Terry Virgo The Atonement Debate - Chalke book The Soulwinner The Spirit-Filled Church The Traitor Within Theologcial Spectrums Theosis Tim Challies Tim Keller Titus TOAM06 TOAM07 TOAM08 TOAM09 TOAM10 TOAM11 Todd Bentley Tope Koleoso Total Depravity Video Water Baptism Wayne Grudem Worship

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 May 2025 April 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 August 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 August 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 June 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Where was Paul's hometown?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Tarsus Antioch Jerusalem Damascus

Books by This Author Books by Adrian Warnock

See All Titles »