Strauss presented a paper titled "Why the English Standard Version should not become the Standard English Version: How to make a good translation much better." In the paper, Strauss criticizes the ESV for using dated language among other perceived issues, such as using gender-neutral language inconsistently in translation. Īt the 2008 annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Today's New International Version (TNIV) translator Mark L. This was the first time in the award's 30-year history to be given to a study Bible. In 2009, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association named the ESV Study Bible as Christian Book of the Year. In 2008, Crossway published the ESV Study Bible, which would go on to sell over 1 million copies. Gordon Wenham (Old Testament Tutor at Trinity College, Bristol Emeritus Professor of Old Testament, University of Gloucestershire) Vern Sheridan Poythress (Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Westminster Theological Seminary Editor, Westminster Theological Journal) Packer (Board of Governors Professor of Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada) Kent Hughes (Senior Pastor Emeritus, College Church in Wheaton) Grudem (Research Professor, Theology and Biblical Studies, Phoenix Seminary) Grudem, who was president of CBMW at the time, responded by stating, "This is not a CBMW project." Translation Oversight Committee Ĭhaired by Dennis and aided by over fifty biblical experts working as review scholars, the original ESV translation committee-consisting of fourteen members-features the following notable individuals: CBMW had been involved in criticizing plans that were made by Zondervan's Committee on Bible Translation to include gender-neutral language in the New International Version. In 1999, World reported of "feminists" noticing links between Crossway and the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW). Crossway officially published the ESV in 2001. Crossway moved forward from this position by forming a translation committee and initiating work on the ESV. In September 1998, an agreement was reached with the NCC for Crossway to use and modify the 1971 RSV text, thereby enabling the creation of a new translation. In 1997, Dennis contacted the National Council of Churches (NCC) and proceeded to enter negotiations, alongside Trinity Evangelical Divinity School professor Wayne Grudem, for obtaining rights to use the 1971 text edition of the Revised Standard Version as the starting point for a new translation. Dennis engaged in discussions with various Christian scholars and pastors regarding the need for a new literal translation of the Bible. History Pre-publication ĭuring the early 1990s, Crossway president Lane T.
2.1 Relationship to the Revised Standard Version.Since 2021, this figure has increased to 250 million. As of July 2015, over 100 million printed copies of the translation had been distributed.
These include notable individuals such as John Piper, R. Since publication, the ESV has been endorsed by numerous evangelical pastors and theologians. Crossway claims that the ESV continues a legacy of precision and faithfulness in English translation of the original text, begun by William Tyndale's New Testament, and historically followed 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 19 (RSV)." Crossway describes the ESV as a translation that "emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning." Crossway also describes the ESV as a translation that adheres to an "essentially literal" translation philosophy, taking into account "differences in grammar, syntax, and idiom between current literary English and the original languages." The ESV was published in 2001 by Crossway, having been "created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors." The ESV relies on recently published critical editions of the original Hebrew and Greek texts. The English Standard Version ( ESV) is an English translation of the Bible.