100 scholars and English stylists from 17 denominations, prayerfully, translated what is one of the most significant Bible translations available, the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Taking into account the significant advancements in scholarship, translation theory, and contemporary English usage, the HCSB will satisfy both those new to the faith and seasoned scholars. While there are many reasons why the HCSB was produced, there are two extremely significant ones below.
1. English is changing rapidly, and Bible translations must keep pace.
More than 1.3 billion people speak or read English as a primary or secondary language, and this widespread usage forces rapid changes. Words and phrases that were commonly used in the recent past are no longer part of contemporary speech, often sounding strange to modern ears. The HCSB reflects linguistic advances in vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and formatting while it retains meaningful theological terms.
2. Advances in biblical research provide new data for Bible translators.
Biblical scholars today actually have better information about ancient texts than scholars did years ago. While translations made even in the last 10 or 20 years do not reflect some of these significant advances in research, the HCSB incorporates vast amounts of this information. This fact led Dr. Peter Flint, dead sea scroll scholar at Trinity Western University, to write, “The Holman Christian Standard Bible is one of the most textually sophisticated English Bibles available anywhere.”
What's all this mean? It means in the HCSB you'll find God's personal name (Yahweh), the use of "Messiah" in the New Testament, the use of "slave" in the New Testament, just to name a few examples. Also, you'll notice the contemporary speech patterns in the HCSB mean that words like "behold" and "shall" are not used. Instead, words or phrases that are common today can be found in their place. The list goes on and on.
Also, it is important to note the HCSB translation philosophy, Optimal Equivalence. It is widely known that the Bible’s original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic manuscripts have words and phrases for which there is no English equivalent. Translating these texts into the English language is a painstaking process of rendering the intended meaning with a balance of accuracy and ease of understanding.
An important distinction between modern Bibles has to do with the translation philosophy chosen by their team of scholars. Traditionally, some have placed a higher value on word-for-word accuracy (Formal Equivalence) and others have emphasized a thought-for-thought approach—striving for a greater level of readability (Dynamic Equivalence). But as the scholars who have worked on Bibles using different approaches have said, no English translation can be fully Formal or fully Dynamic. All translations are a balance of both.
The HCSB employs a first-of-its kind translation philosophy known as Optimal Equivalence, which seeks to achieve an optimal balance of literary precision and emotive clarity through a comprehensive analysis of the text at every level. This process assures maximum transfer of both words and thoughts contained in the original. We hope that you'll pick up an HCSB. We pray God will use it to draw you to himself in faith through his Son Jesus Christ.
HCSB Translation Team
Broadman & Holman Chief Editors
Edwin A. Blum
General Editor/Translator; Th.M., Th.D., Dallas Theol. Sem.; D. Theol., Univ. of Basel; additional study, Rice Univ.
E. Ray Clendenen
Associate General Editor/Translator; Th.M., Dallas Theol. Sem.; M.A., Dropsie Univ.; Ph.D., Univ. of Texas at Arlington
Lloyd W. Mullens
Managing editor; B.A., Belmont Univ.; graduate studies, New Orleans Bapt. Theol. Sem.; Southern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
David R. Shepherd
Executive Editor; Publisher, Broadman & Holman; B.A., David Lipscomb Univ.
Broadman & Holman Editors and Translators
Trent C. Butler
V.P. and Editorial Dir. Christian Board of Publications; B.D., Southern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Vanderbilt Univ.
Frank Carmical
Editor/Stylist; Evangelist for Harvester Ministries; Th.M., Dallas Theol. Sem.
James Davis
Editor/Translator; Professor of N.T. & Greek, Jordan Evang. Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Th.M., Capital Bible Sem.; Ph.D., Dallas Theol. Sem
Art Farstad
First General Editor (deceased); Th.M., Th.D., Dallas Theol. Sem.
Harold R. Holmyard
Editor/Translator; Th.M., Grace Theol. Sem.; Th.D., Dallas Theol. Sem.
Will Rutherford
Word Studies/Translator; Th.M., Dallas Theol. Sem.; PhD, Univ. of Edinburgh
David K. Stabnow
Editor/Translator; M.Div., Bethel Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Westminster Theol. Sem.
Kevin R. Warstler
Editor/Translator; Th.M., Ph.D., Dallas Theol. Sem.
R. Gregg Watson
Editor/Translator; Professor of OT & Hebrew, Golden Gate Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Ph.D., Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Section Editors and Textual Reviewers
Todd Beall
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Capital Bible Sem.; Th.M., Capital Bible Sem.; Ph.D., The Catholic Univ. of America
Duane Garrett
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Southern Baptist Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Trinity Evangelical Div. School; Ph.D., Baylor Univ.
David M. Howard, Jr.
Professor of O.T., Bethel Seminary; M.A., Wheaton College; A.M., Ph.D. Univ. of Michigan; Text-critical reviewer Old Testament
James Price
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Temple Bapt. Sem.; M.Div., Los Angeles Bapt. Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Dropsie Univ.
Mark Rooker
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Southeastern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; Th.M., Dallas Theol. Sem.; M.A., Ph.D., Brandeis Univ.
Warren, William
Director of the Center for N.T. Textual Studies and Professor of N.T. and Greek, New Orleans Bapt. Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Th.D., New Orleans Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Text-critical reviewer New Testament
Other Editors and Translators
Martin Abegg
Director, Dead Sea Scrolls Institute & Associate Professor and Chair Religious Studies, Trinity Western Univ. (Langley, British Columbia); M.Div.,
Northwest Bapt. Sem.; M.Phil., Ph.D., Hebrew Union College
David Allen
Dean of Theology Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Univ. of Texas at Arlington
James Allman
Professor of Bible, Dallas Theol. Sem.; Th.M., Th.D., Dallas Theol. Sem.
Stephen J. Andrews
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Midwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Eastern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; Th.M., Southeastern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; M.Phil., Ph.D., Hebrew Union College
Richard Averbeck
Professor of O.T. & Semitics, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; M.Div., M.A., Grace Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Dropsie Univ.
Robert Bergen
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Hannibal-LaGrange College; M.Div., Ph.D., Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Bryan Beyer
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Columbia Bible College; M.Div., Denver Sem.; Ph.D., Hebrew Union College
Roy Brown
Retired professor of physics; developer of Accordance Bible Software; Ph.D., Baylor Univ ; Post Doctoral Studies, Technion Israel Institute
Hassell Bullock
Professor of Biblical Studies, Wheaton College; Ph.D., Hebrew Union College
Lawrence Burks
Pastor, Grand Avenue Bapt. Church, Gainesville, Texas; M.A., Texas Christian Univ.; M.Div., D.Min., Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Rick Byargeon
Assoc Professor of Hebrew & OT, New Orleans Bapt. Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Ph.D., Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Stephen Carlson
Editor/Translator; M.Div., Ph.D., Mid-America Bapt. Theol. Sem
Dennis Cole
Professor of OT &Archaeology, New Orleans Bapt. Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Th.M., Western Theol. Sem.; Th.D., New Orleans Bapt. Theo. Sem.
Jack Collins
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Covenant Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Faith Evangelical Lutheran Sem.; Ph.D., Univ. of Liverpool
Iain Duguid
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Westminster Theol. Sem. ;Th.M., Westminster Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Cambridge Univ.
Barrett Duke
Vice-President of Research, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, SBC; M.A., Denver Sem.; Ph.D., Iliff School of Theology
Thomas Edgar
Professor of N.T. Literature & Exegesis, Capital Bible Sem.; Th M., Th.D., Dallas Theol. Sem.
Archie England
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, New Orleans Bapt. Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Ph.D., Mid-America Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Joe A. Friberg
Pension actuary, Friberg Retirement Plan Consultants; M.A., Univ. of Texas at Arlington; M.A. Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Alan Groves
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Westminster Theol. Sem.; Th.M., Westminster Theol. Sem.; Ph.D. candidate, Free Univ. of Amsterdam
Larry Helyer
Professor of Biblical Studies, Taylor Univ.; M.Div., Western Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Fuller Theol. Sem.
Richard Hess
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Denver Sem.; M.Div., Th.M., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Ph.D., Hebrew Union College
Zane Hodges
Retired professor of N.T. & Greek, Dallas Theol. Sem.; Th.M., Dallas Theol. Sem.
Paul House
Assoc. Dean Beeson Div. Sch.; M.A., Univ. of Missouri-Columbia; M.Div., Ph.D., Southern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Peter Johnston
Professor at Nairobi Evangelical Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Canterbury Univ. (England)
Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.
Retired President, Gordon-Conwell Theol. Sem.; M.A., Wheaton College; Ph.D., Brandeis Univ.
Brian Kelly
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Canterbury College; M.Phil., Trinity College; Ph.D., Univ. of Bristol
George Klein
Professor of O.T., Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; Th.M., Dallas Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Dropsie Univ.
Tremper Longman III
Professor of O.T., Westmont College; Ph.D., Yale Univ.
Kirk Lowery
Associate Director, The Westminster Hebrew Institute, Westminster Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Talbot Graduate School of Theology; M.A., Ph.D., UCLA
Richard Melick
Professor of N.T. & Greek, Golden Gate Bapt. Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Trinity Evang. Div. School; Ph.D., Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Eugene H. Merrill
Distinguished Professor of O.T. studies, Dallas Theol. Sem.; Ph.D. Columbia Univ.; Ph.D., Bob Jones Univ.
Karen Maticich
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, International School of Theology; Th.M., Dallas Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Cambridge Univ.
Janice Meier
Editor, Adult Sunday School Ministry Dept., Lifeway Christian Resources; M.Div., Th.D., New Orleans Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Stephen Miller
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Mid-America Bapt. Theol. Sem.; Th.M., Ph.D., Mid-America Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Jeffrey Niehaus
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Gordon-Conwell Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Gordon-Conwell Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Harvard Univ.
Richard Patterson
Retired professor of O.T. & Hebrew; M.Div., Northwest Bapt. Sem.; Th.M., Talbot Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., UCLA
Stanley Porter
President and Professor of NT, McMaster Divinity College; Ph.D., Univ. of Sheffield
Michael Rydelnik
Professor of Jewish Studies, Moody Bible Institute; Th.M., Dallas Theol. Sem.; D.Miss., Trinity Evangelical Div. School
John H. Sailhamer
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Southeastern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; Th.M., Dallas Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., UCLA
Philip Satterthwaite
Professor of Biblical studies, Biblical Graduate School of Theology (Singapore); Ph.D., Manchester Univ.
Richard Schultz
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Wheaton College; M.Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; M.A., Ph.D., Yale Univ.
Gary Smith
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Union Univ.; Ph.D., Dropsie Univ.
Joe M. Sprinkle
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Crossroads College; Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; M.Phil., Ph.D., Hebrew Union College
Douglas K. Stuart
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Gordon-Conwell Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Harvard Univ.
Robert L. Williams
Professor of Biblical Theology,Southwestern Bapt. Theol Sem.; Th.M Dallas Seminary; M.A., Ph. D. University of Chicago
Paul Wright
Professor of O.T. & Hebrew, Jerusalem Univ. College; Ph.D., Hebrew Union College
Reviewers and English Stylists
Clinton Arnold
Professor of N.T. Language and Literature, Talbot School of Theology; M.Div., Talbot School of Theology; Ph.D., Univ. of Aberdeen
Craig Blomberg
Professor of N.T. & Greek, Denver Sem.; M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Ph.D., Univ. of Aberdeen
Steve Cox
Professor of N.T. & Greek, Mid-America Bapt. Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Erskin Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Southern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Rodney Cloud
Professor of O.T., emeritus, David Lipscomb Univ.; M.A., Harding Graduate School of Religion; M.A., Peabody College; Ph.D., Hebrew Union College
D. Jane Crutcher
English Stylist; M.S. New Mexico State Univ.
Kendall H. Easley
Director Master of Chris. Ed., Union Univ., Germantown; M.Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Ph.D., Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Thomas Edgar
Professor of N.T., Capital Bible Sem; Research Professor in N.T., Univ. of Surrey; Th M., Th.D., Dallas Theol. Sem.; M.A., Trinity Evangelical Div. School; M.A., Claremont Graduate School; Ph.D., Univ. of Sheffield;
Craig Glickman
Attorney; Th.M, Dallas Theol. Sem.; D.Theol., Univ. of Basel; J.D., Southern Methodist Univ.
Gene Green
Professor of N.T. & Greek, Wheaton College; Ph.D., Univ. of Aberdeen
George Guthrie
Professor of N.T. & Greek, Union Univ.; Ph.D., Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Fran Honea
English Stylist; B.F.A. Texas Tech Univ.; additional studies, Univ. of Pennsylvania and Temple Univ.
Shirley Hull
English Stylist; M.A.B.S., Dallas Theol. Sem.
Brent Kinman
Pastor, Castle Rock, Colorado; Th.M., Dallas Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Cambridge Univ.
George W. Knight
English Stylist; B.D., Th.M., Southern Bapt. Theol. Sem
Andreas Kostenberger
Professor of N.T. & Greek, Southeastern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Div. School
Victoria B. Lee
Project Editor, LifeWay Christian Resources; B.S., David Lipscomb Univ.
Boyd Luter
Editor, The Criswell Legacy Project; Th.M., Ph.D., Dallas Theol. Sem.
Michael Martin
Acad. V.P. Golden Gate Bapt. Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Ph.D., Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Calvin Miller
English stylist; Professor of Homiletics, Beeson Divinity School; M.Div., D.Min., Midwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Curtis McClain
Professor of Bible, Missouri Bapt. Univ.; M.Div., Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Mid-America Bapt. Sem.
Ross McLaren
Editor, Adult Sunday School Ministry Dept., Lifeway Christian Resources; M.Div., D.Min., Vanderbilt Univ.
Frances Mosher
English Stylist; B.S., Univ. of North Texas; additional studies, Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Sheila E. Moss
English Stylist; M.A., MTSU; M.Ed., Peabody College of Vanderbilt Univ.
Robert Mounce
Retired Professor; President Emeritus, Whitworth College; Th.M., Fuller Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Univ. of Aberdeen; D.D., Seattle Pacific Univ.
John Perry
English Stylist; B.A., Vanderbilt Univ.; additional studies, Univ. College, Oxford
Thomas R. Schreiner
Professor of N.T. Interpretation, Southern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Th.M., Western Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Fuller Theol. Sem.
Daniel B. Spross
Professor of Biblical Interpretation and Theology, Trevecca Nazarene Univ.; M.A., Mennonite Brethren Biblical Sem.; M.Div., Nazarene Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Southern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Robert H. Stein
Professor of N.T. Interpretation, Southern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; B.D., Fuller Theol. Sem.; S.T.M., Andover Newton Theol. School; Ph.D., Princeton Theol. Sem.; additional studies: Univ. of Tübingen
Chris Thomas
Professor of N.T. & Greek, Church of God School of Theology; Ph.D., Univ. of Sheffield
Alan Tomlinson
Professor of N.T. & Greek, Midwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; Th.M., Dallas Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Southern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Curtis Vaughan
Deceased. Former Professor Emeritus, Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; M.Div., Th.D. Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Marianne Wilson
English Stylist; B.S., Southwestern College
Paul Wolfe
Professor of N.T. & Greek, Southwestern Bapt. Theol. Sem.; Ph.D., Univ. of Aberdeen
Robert Yarbrough
Professor of N.T. & Greek, Trinity Evangelical Div. School; M.A., Wheaton College; Ph.D., Univ. of Aberdeen
Production and Proofreading
Ann Cherry
Proofreader; B.A. Union Univ.; additional studies Southern Theol. Sem.
Mark Farstad
Data Entry Technician; B.A., Moody Bible Institute
Mike Fink
Retired Editor, LifeWay Christian Resources; M.R.E., M.Div., Ph.D., Southern Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Buelah Thigpen
Retired Editor, LifeWay Christian Resources; M.A., D.Ed. East Texas State University; M.Div. Golden Gate Bapt. Theol. Sem.
Peachtree Editorial and Proofreading Services
Proofreading Services