I’m not sure if you’ll read this because its sometime after your post. It is so refreshing to see believer really trying to find a great translation of the Bible and diligently doing it.

I am can read biblical hebrew and greek. It takes me time to actually to make out what different passages says. My mentor in Jerusalem was a Jewish Rabbi (He’s a believer now) and he was able to read the Greek and the Hebrew and give an immediate translation.

He was big on the NKJV, which he felt was a good translation into English. Which I am not a huge fan of the KJV or the NKJV. Back in the day when I first became a believer I liked the NASB even though it is got the rep of being the ‘most literal’ translations in some verses it doesn’t accurately give the feeling/paint the picture if you know what I mean. Then I was big on the ESV and that’s what I used up until about 3 years ago. I switched to the HCSB. I got the complete pocket bible (which was my ESV as well) what I love about it it’ll tell you what other translations (other manuscripts that is) says or alternative ways the verse can be written as well as what it literally means in hebrew/greek.

I guess my only complaint is that it does have that baptist flavor and in different areas you can see the baptist theology (I am trying not to say the camp here hence why I am being ambiguous which isn’t good because not all baptist hold to this theology).

Well Brother, Be Blessed!

In Yeshua

I bought the HCSB and I think it’s the best Bible out there in the market
I have nearly all the popular translations but this one is awesome.

I have compared it with the NASB and is spot on for literal translation but goes one step further by making it easy to understand hard verses.

This Bible is not marketed well because I think it’s way better than NASB and NIV.

I am so addicted to this Bible now. I mean I just keep on reading and reading. It’s so easy to understand.

I would recommend this Bible for anyone who is looking for accuracy, easy to understand in todays language Bible.

I think if they change the Lords prayer to something like Our Father In Heaven, Hallowed be your name it might appeal to more people.

Blessings

Mark

I think it’s legitimate to use a masculine pronoun in that verse on the basis of other uses on the NT and also because paraclete is masculine.

Generally, I would say that the HCSB uses masculine pronouns freely yet at the same time does not introduce them unnecessarily.

“The NIV was done before there was a lot of “gender sensitivity”. One estimate says that there are 800 places in the NT of the NIV where male language is used where the Greek text would allow a more generic or neutral translation. A classic example is Romans 12:6-8. The NIV has inserted nine (9) male pronouns or the word “man” where the Greek text does not require it. The HCSB is gender accurate and has no male language inserted in this passage. The TNIV has gone overboard and is more “gender neutral”. It may be said that: NIV is gender “biased”, HCSB is “gender accurate”, TNIV attempts to be more “gender neutral”.”
(http://www.holmanbibleoutreach.org/hcsb.asp)

I wonder how far you agree with the HCSB’s claims? I don’t want to try and rubbish a whole translation based upon one verse, but a look at Jn 14:17 suggests they have removed the neuter pronouns inserting masculine ones.

I think the HCSB makes a really excellent contribution, and I am sorry that it isn’t read more widely. The following taken from the preface of the book shows that they are committed to the text being inerrant:

“The Bible is God’s revelation to man. It is the only book that gives us accurate information about God, man’s need, and God’s provision for that need. It provides us with guidance for life and tells us how to receive eternal life. The Bible can do these things because it is God’s inspired Word, inerrant in the original manuscripts.”
(http://www.bible-researcher.com/csb-intro.html)

Incidentally, I have used in in prison ministry not only because it reads quite well but it also comes in large print at a relatively cheap price. This makes it good for prisoners who may have lower literacy levels.

I hadn’t noticed that they translate doulos as slave, but thank God that some major translators have.

I wouldn’t say that better translations are popular in America and not Britain. For example, the King James Version is much more popular in America than the UK and whilst I think it’s good, I don’t think it’s the best translation available now. The same could be said of the American Standard Version and the New King James Version.

Regarding the HCSB, I think part of it is that there isn’t an Anglicised edition, unlike the NIV, TNIV ESV and others. But the main reason is probably to do with marketing and the tendency of Christians to keep to one Bible. My guess is that the NIV is used by 90% of evangelicals and few of them know much about Bible translations: this is part of the reason why I’m blogging on this subject.

Regarding my decision on which translations to use, it mainly comes down to experience. I’m confident that the HCSB is excellent for general churches because I preached through Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Obadiah, Jude, among others. For readability over many chapters, I’m most comfortable with the NLT. For in depth exegesis, it’s a mixture of NASB, ESV, NET and my Greek Testament.

Regarding purchasing the HCSB, if the postage costs are not too high for you then Internet bookshop such as Amazon are ideal. Personally, I do like to support local independent Christian bookshops whenever I can.