HCSB

Blog Post: Some recent, helpful books on Bible translation

MicahCarter — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:49:00 GMT

Bible translation is both an art and a science. In terms of the scientific side, understanding language(s), grammar/syntax, and hermeneutical principles are at play. On the artistic side, utilizing language in beautiful, clear, and comprehensive ways is at work. Balancing these important aspects requires careful attention and diligent effort -- and it is not as simple as it sounds.

Most translators would argue, I'm sure, that the ultimate goal is to reliably transfer the original languages into today's languages. And Bible publishers come alongside this goal to pursue getting God's Word in the hands of as many people as possible, for the glory of God, the spread of the gospel of Jesus, and the advance of the kingdom. In so doing, decisions are made that typically identify a particular Bible's starting point, or translation philosophy. Is it "word-for-word" or "literal"? Is it "thought-for-thought" or more dynamic in its readability? Must translating the Bible be either/or, or can it be both/and?

Recently, a few books have released into the market that help us think through these kinds of questions as they relate to the major Bible translations -- KJV, NIV, HCSB, ESV, NLT. Of course, there are more translations available than just these, but these specific translation remain in the top ten rankings on a consistent basis (click here for the latest rankings). The following books engage the important issues swirling around in the art and science of Bible translation, seeking clarity on the "how" and "why" certain decisions were made that produced the translations we have.

Which Bible Translation Should I Use?: A Comparison of 4 Major Recent Versions, edited by Andreas Köstenberger and David Croteau (B&H, 2012). The result of a symposium at Liberty University, the contributors discuss the translation approach of the ESV, NIV, HCSB, and NLT through the lens of 16 specific passages of Scripture. A fine contribution to the discussion of Bible translation.

One Bible, Many Versions: Are All Translations Created Equal? by Dave Brunn (IVP, 2013). Brunn's desire is to show how close the major translation actually are in the final analysis. Translations are often defined by their differences, but Brunn skillfully brings light on the complementary relationship between the translations. He also dismantles the rigid distinctions between formal and dynamic translation philosophies by displaying actual data from the translations on how they translate a wide range of Bible verses. Very helpful and clear.

The HCSB: Navigating the Horizons in Bible Translation, but E. Ray Clendenen and David Stabnow (B&H, 2012). You can access and download this book in its entirety for FREE through the link provided. It's worth a read and clarifies many points of similarities and differences that the HCSB has with the other major translations. The HCSB coined an approach called "optimal equivalence" as its translation philosophy. This book unpacks that idea and how it compares with other versions of the Bible.

Pastors, ministry leaders, Bible students and readers of all walks of life can profit from reading these books and thinking through the issues in a fresh way. If the Bible is God's Word, shouldn't we be eager to consider how we've received it into our own language?

Blog Post: Lost in translation?

MicahCarter — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:59:00 GMT

Daniel Wallace, professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and founder/president of the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts, listed 5 myths about Bible translation in a recent blog post. At the heart of many people's objections to the Bible is the question of whether or not the Bible can be trusted (is it really God's Word or have people corrupted it or made it up altogether?). I think Dr. Wallace's discussion is helpful and his 5 myths worth sharing here.

1. The Bible has been translated so many times we can’t possibly get back to the original.
2. Words in red indicate the exact words spoken by Jesus of Nazareth.
3. Heretics have severely corrupted the text.
4. Orthodox scribes have severely corrupted the text.
5. The deity of Christ was invented by emperor Constantine.

Of course, Dr. Wallace notes that these myths are just that--myths. Take some time and click over to this post to read Dr. Wallace's reasons why these myths don't hold water.

Blog Post: What makes a good translation?

MicahCarter — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:01:00 GMT

Translating the Bible from the original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek) into another language is challenging, daunting work. It's incredibly important work, too, especially if one begins with the foundational belief that the Scriptures are God's revelation of Himself and His truth to us.

The truth is, Bible translation is both an art and a science. There are exegetical, grammatical, and morphological issues at play -- this is the scientific part. But there are also issues of clarity, flow, and beauty at work -- this is the artistic part. The hard work of translation is finding balance with the science and the art. And a good translation achieves excellence in both aspects.

The chairman of the HCSB Translation Oversight Committee, Dr. Tom Schreiner, recently sent me the following quote on what makes a good translation. I thought it was helpful and worth sharing.

A good translation is neither too much nor too little. It is neither too slavish a reproduction of the Greek (and Hebrew), nor is it too free in its handling of the original. It is neither too modern and casual, nor is it too stilted and formal. It is not too much like the KJV, nor does it depart too far from the time-honored beauty and dignity of that seventeenth-century classic. In short, the best translation is one that has avoided the extremes and has achieved instead the balance that will appeal to the most people for the longest period of time.

*From Donald W. Burdick, "At the Translator’s Table," The [Cincinnati Christian] Seminary Review 21 (March 1975): 44.

Blog Post: 25 Ways Men Can Be Servant Leaders

MicahCarter — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:05:00 GMT

The call to be a servant-leader is tough. No one gets it all right, and certainly no one gets most of it right overnight. It’s a life plan — a way of living you grow into with practice and time. Here are 25 suggestions, men, for being a servant-leader in your home.

1. Include your wife in envisioning the future
2. Accept spiritual responsibility for your family
3. Be willing to ask forgiveness and apologize to your family
4. Discuss household responsibilities with your wife; are they fairly distributed?
5. Consult your wife on major financial decisions
6. Follow through on the commitments you make to your wife
7. Anticipate and prepare for the different seasons your marriage will pass through
8. Anticipate and prepare for the different stages your children will pass through
9. Frequently tell your wife what things you like about her
10. Provide financially for your family’s basic needs
11. Move past distractions so you can talk to your wife and kids
12. Pray with your wife regularly
13. Initiate meaningful family traditions
14. Plan fun things for the whole family
15. Give your children practical instruction about life to build their confidence
16. Manage the schedule of the family and anticipate pressure points
17. Keep out of debt
18. Draw up a will and arrange a well-conceived plan in case of your death
19. Let your wife and kids into the interior of your life
20. Honor your wife in public
21. Explain sex to your children in a way that gives them a wholesome perspective
22. Encourage your wife to grow as an individual
23. Take the lead in establishing biblically-supportable family values
24. Join a group of men dedicated to improving their skills as men, husbands, and fathers
25. Provide time for your wife to pursue her own personal interests

*Robert Lewis, The Men's Fraternity Bible (Nashville: B&H, 2007).

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Which one of these (or maybe several of these) do you need to work on to become a stronger servant-leader in your home?

Blog Post: The Messiah Foretold

MicahCarter — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:22:00 GMT

The Scriptures begin by describing the grandeur of God’s creative work. Having brought planets, light, vegetation, and animal life into existence, the Lord then brought into being that which He deemed “very good”—humankind. Made in the image of God, humans unique among all of God’s creation. Tragically though, our first parents marred that image through disobedience.

When Adam and Eve faced temptation, they chose to believe a lie rather than God’s truth. They trusted in their own potential and did not hold God as trustworthy for their future. Because of their choice, sin entered the world and humanity’s pure relationship with the Heavenly Father became broken. Goaded along by the cunning of our enemy—the fallen angel Lucifer in the form of a serpent—humanity seemed to have met its end right at its beginning. Ashamed of their unclothed state, Adam and Eve hid from God and covered themselves from one another’s sight.

It is, however, for His glory and our benefit that God is by nature on mission. This is seen first in the fact that God sought out the shamed and sinful pair. He sought reconciliation with Adam and Eve even though it would be at great cost to Him. He confronted their sinful state and the deceitful serpent who had coaxed them into ruin. Adam and Eve had excuses and accusations on their lips, but God was undaunted. He was committed to the mission to reconcile humanity to Himself by being the One who does the seeking. Though Adam and Eve hid because of their shame, God sought them out for their benefit. He is committed to more than just scolding them for their sin. In Genesis 3:14-15, the Lord pronounces judgment on the enemy and promises to send a Messiah. He said to the serpent, “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will strike your head and you will strike his heel” (v. 15). God said life would be difficult due to the curse, but He also said that the “seed” of the woman would strike the head of our enemy and prevail against Satan.

This statement about the One to come is the first prophecy of the Christ. As inheritors of a sin nature that opposes God, it should amaze us that God so quickly moved from His role as Creator to that of Redeemer. We expect wrath and judgment, not grace and a promise of a coming Savior. But God shatters our expectations. His love for humanity drove Him to provide the Savior who can make all things new.

From the beginning, God has done every work necessary so that we might know Him and abide with Him. He sought us when we did not want to be found. And at just the right time, God sent the Christ to die as a ransom for sin and rise in victory over hell itself. Our God is a God who sends, redeems, and restores.

*Philip Nation, "The Messiah Foretold," in The Mission of God Study Bible (Nashville: B&H, 2012), 4.

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Dr. Philip Nation is co-editor of The Mission of God Study Bible with Dr. Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research. Philip is director of adult ministry publishing at LifeWay Christian Resources and is the teaching pastor for The Fellowship, a multi-campus church in Nashville, TN. You can connect with him on Twitter and his blog.

Blog Post: A Prayer from George Washington on Presidents' Day

MicahCarter — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:47:00 GMT

Today is Presidents' Day, and every third Monday in February it is marked annually as a national holiday. In actuality, this holiday is properly identified as the birthday of our first president, George Washington (even though he was born on February 11).

The Bible speaks to how Christians are to relate to government, particularly in two ways: First, we are to recognize that government exists as God's servant and has its authority from him (Romans 13:1-7). Second, we are to pray for our leaders and for those in role of authority in government (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

May our commitment be to listen to and obey what the Scriptures tell us about government. And may we pray, fervently, for those who lead at the highest levels, especially the President.

It is fitting on this day -- Presidents' Day, or better yet, Washington's Birthday -- that we hear a prayer from Washington himself. It is from an undated entry in his prayer journal, entitled "A Prayer for Guidance":

O eternal and everlasting God, I presume to present myself this morning before thy Divine majesty, beseeching thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thy great goodness to keep and preserve me the night past from all the dangers poor mortals are subject to, and has given me sweet and pleasant sleep, whereby I find my body refreshed and comforted for performing the duties of this day, in which I beseech thee to defend me from all perils of body and soul . . ..

Increase my faith in the sweet promises of the gospel; give me repentance from dead works; pardon my wanderings, and direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation; teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments; make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber, but daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life bless my family, friends, and kindred.

Blog Post: Valentine's Day Giveaway!

MicahCarter — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:23:00 GMT

Today we'll be giving away 4 copies of the HCSB Study Bible. We love God's Word, and we love those who love God's Word, so it seemed right to put the two together and share the love!

Entering for this giveaway is easy. Here are two ways:

1. Visit our Facebook page and leave a comment on the 1 John 4:10 post (click here).
2. Retweet @HCSB's post about 1 John 4:10 (click here).

Happy Valentine's Day!

For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16

UPDATE: announcement of winners!

Congratulations to Adam, Lois, Resa, and Ryan on winning one of the HCSB Study Bibles! Thanks to all who entered the giveaway -- we are thrilled to have a growing, engaged and active community! Blessings to all ...

Blog Post: If God Made the Universe, Who Made God?

MicahCarter — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:44:00 GMT

Atheist philosopher Bertrand Russell mused, “If everything must have a cause, then God must have a cause.” But the question of what or who caused God is misguided.

First, science supports the notion that the universe had a beginning and that something independent of the universe brought it into being. The well-accepted scientific belief in the universe’s origination and expansion and the second law of thermodynamics (energy tends to spread out) support the universe’s absolute beginning from nothing. This sounds remarkably like Genesis 1:1! The chances of a thing’s popping into being from literally nothing are exactly zero. Being cannot come from nonbeing; there’s no potential for this. Even skeptic David Hume called this “absurd”—a scientific (real) impossibility.

Second, believers reject the claim “Everything that exists has a cause” and affirm “Whatever begins to exist has a cause.” To say “Everything needs a cause” would necessarily exclude an uncaused God. This is “question begging” (assuming what needs to be proved). It’s like presuming that since all reality is physical (which can’t be demonstrated), a nonphysical God cannot exist.

Third, why think everything needs a cause, since an uncaused entity is logical and intelligible? Through the centuries, many believed that the universe didn’t need a cause; it was self-existent. They thought a beginningless/uncaused universe wasn’t illogical or impossible. But now that contemporary cosmology points to the universe’s beginning and an external cause, skeptics insist everything needs a cause after all!

Fourth, a good number of uncaused things exist. Logical laws are real; we can’t think coherently without using them (e.g., the law of identity, X = X, tells you: “This book is this book”). Moral laws or virtues (love, justice) are real. But none of these began to exist. They are eternal and uncaused (being in God’s mind).

Fifth, the question “Who made God?” commits the category fallacy. To say that all things, even God, must be caused is incoherent—like the question “How does the color green taste?” Why fault God for being uncaused? When we rephrase the question to say, “What caused the self-existent, uncaused Cause, who is by defini- tion unmade, to exist?” the answer is obvious.

Paul Copan, "If God Made the Universe, Who Made God?" in The Apologetics Study Bible (Nashville: B&H, 2007), 869.

Blog Post: Biblical Accuracy and Choosing a Translation (Pt. 2)

MicahCarter — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:44:00 GMT

When it comes to translating the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek) into our contemporary English language, there is typically much debate about whether or not the translation is "accurate." In the minds of many Bible readers, the question "Is the translation 'literal' or 'word for word'?" is foundational for whether or not a translation is considered "accurate."

In truth, however, not one translation available actually translates the original languages in a literal, word for word fashion-to do so would be incomprehensible in English. Even the most wooden translations must rearrange original word order, smooth out grammatical difficulties, and make decisions about which word best describes the original word in another language, our language.

So, it is not appropriate to imply that if a translation is not "literal" it is not accurate. If that was the case, none of our translations would be "accurate," but no one makes that argument.

At the heart of the question of accuracy in Bible translation are examples that reveal whether or not a translation is "literal." Why? Because it is assumed that "literal" equals "true" or "accurate." Let's explore this idea through the following examples:

Figures of speech

The authors of Scripture often used rich, descriptive language devices such as idioms, sarcasm, puns, and irony in their writings. How should these be translated into contemporary language? Should we retain a "literal" rendition of the words or reflect what the writers meant? Consider:

Second Samuel 19:7 uses the Hebrew idiom, "speak to the heart of." But do today's readers know what this means? Not likely, which is why the HCSB renders it as "encourage."

Psalm 147:10 says that God does not take pleasure "in the legs of a man." Again, is this meaning readily understood? Is God concerned with the skeletal and muscular composition of the male physiology here? No, which is why the HCSB reflects the meaning that God does not "value the power of a man."

Amos 4:6 uses the interesting Hebrew phrase "I gave you cleanness of teeth." Once again, is God concerned with dental hygiene here? No, He's saying, "I gave you absolutely nothing to eat" - which should've produced repentance - but didn't. A "literal" translation actually obscures the original meaning, which is what all translations are aiming to reflect.

Christ or Messiah

In the New Testament, there is a Greek word that is often used with reference to Jesus-christos. Sadly, many have come to assume this is something akin to Jesus' last name rather than a title or descriptor of who He is. Understandably, many Bibles retain the transliteration, Christ, in the text.

But again, if we're seeking accuracy, especially with respect to truth and comprehension, shouldn't we aim for what the original readers' understood with reference to this term?

The point being made about the "Christ-the "anointed one"-is one about Jewish expectation of the promised Messiah, which is what the original readers would have known explicitly. For us today, using "Messiah" instead of the transliteration "Christ" assists our reading and understanding of God's promise to us about Jesus, the anointed one, the Messiah.

As Peter proclaimed to Jesus in Matthew 16:16, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!"

In the end, we must pursue accuracy without falling into the trap of literalism. In as much as we all desire to be "word for word" (and HCSB contains this translation philosophy) it's valuable to weigh the intended outcome for modern readers-clarity and understanding. Truth and comprehension are at stake, so let's truly make "accuracy" foundational to our endeavor, especially when a "literal" rendering isn't the right one.

Blog Post: Biblical Accuracy and Choosing a Translation (Pt. 1)

DevinMaddox — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:51:00 GMT

New Testament scholar Daniel B. Wallace (Dallas Theological Seminary), in an interview with the Christian Post, describes how he recommends Bible translations:

It depends. I think that English speakers should have more than one translation. If we have in our background a history of Christian thought in the Western world, especially in the English-speaking world, it's part of our tradition and it's important to own a lot more than one translation. I do recommend that every English-speaking Christian have a King James Bible. There's nothing that compares to it in terms of its elegance and its cadence and the beauty of its language. … But it's not the most accurate anymore. So it's elegant, it's easy to memorize out of even though the language is archaic, but it's not always real clear and it's not always real accurate.

While Dr. Wallace endorses multiple Bible translations for English readers, his affinity for accuracy raises a good question: what makes a Bible translation accurate? To what degree does the audience's language determine the perceived accuracy of the translation? While the King James Version of the Bible is a treasure to the modern English-speaking world, as language has evolved over hundreds of years, do modern audiences receive the translation as accurate? What does Wallace mean when he says, "it's not the most accurate anymore?"

The primary task of biblical interpretation (hermeneutics) is to transfer meaning from one context to another. Bible translation requires the trasmission of the text across multiple contexts. First, the Bible was written in various ancient languages. Translators have to cross a hermeneutical gap in order to bring the meaning of the text into their context, and record it in a new, modern language. Next, the reader has to interpret the translation and make sense of it in their own understanding of language. They have to receive the text in their context, be it North America, Europe, or the Southern Hemisphere.

Accuracy in a Bible translation eases the burden of those partnering together in the work of biblical hermeneutics. Bible translators seek to transfer the meaning of the text faithfully from one (ancient) language to another (modern one). Bible readers ought to take care to discern the methods employed by translation committees to attempt accuracy in their work. Every Bible translation has a slightly nuanced approach, hence Wallace's encouragement to use multiple versions. Maybe what Wallace's statement, "it's not the most accurate anymore" simply means is, not that the KJV isn't an faithful English translation, but that English has changed enough over time that the hermeneutical gap has grown too wide for modern readers. New versions like the NKJV and HCSB have come alongside readers to help close the gap, partnering with readers to provide a text that is not only accurate, but readable and easily accessible.

How do you choose a Bible translation?

Blog Post: Mission of God Webcast

DevinMaddox — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 21:41:00 GMT

January 28, 2013 at 2:00 pm CST (Monday)

The Mission of God Study Bible encourages followers of Jesus Christ to see their everyday life from God's perspective and have His heart for people. It's a reminder that we live around people in desperate need of redemption and reconciliation with God, which can only be found in Jesus. The mission of God has never been just for specialists; it is for all believers to live out through their daily lives and by sharing the good news of what God has done through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus. Wherever you are, you are on mission.

In The Mission of God Study Bible, readers will hear from today's top thinkers, theologians, and leading voices in the church about what it means to live in the mission of God. Essay contributors include Matt Chandler, Tullian Tchividjian, Ed Stetzer, Matthew Barnett, Andrea Mullins, Dave Ferguson, Christopher J.H. Wright, and many others.

Readers will also discover "Letters to the Church" from elder statesmen that speak to the grand narrative of God's mission in Scripture. These words from Billy Graham, Jack Hayford, R. T. Kendall, Erwin Lutzer, Calvin Miller, and R.C. Sproul will inspire you to live God's mission daily.

B&H Publishing will be giving away a code that allows up to 10,000 people to have free (30-day) access to the Mission of God Study Bible on the MyStudyBible.com platform.

That code, which people are free to share, with others, will be given out during the the broadcast event along with the following instructions -
Instructions to redeem:

1. Go to msb.to/redeem
2. Follow the on-screen prompts to sign in or create a new account
3. Enter the code* and Submit
*Note: codes must be entered in all caps

Blog Post: Gearing up for the New Year

DevinMaddox — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:07:00 GMT

How did it go in 2012? Did you get lost with Israelites in the Exodus? Maybe Leviticus?

Every year, thousands of Bible readers resolve to read through the Bible in one year. They choose a Bible reading plan in order to pace themselves, hoping the discipline will keep them on track when temptation strikes. Yet so many times, we hear stories of readers who begin the year with good intentions that fizzle out around March.

Here are four tools to keep you on track:

1. Reading God's Story - A Chronological Daily Bible: Reading God's Story takes that clear narrative approach tothe Bible, arranging the complete text into a fresh chronological reading plan developed for the Read the Bible for Life biblical literacy initiative. In this plan the books, chapters, and verses of the Bible are thoughtfully arranged so readers can track the story of Scripture, day by day, from beginning to end, understanding the flow of events and how all the different parts fit together to make sense. Available in print and ebook formats.

2. BibleGateway.com - The good folks at BibleGateway.com have nine different cloud-based Bible reading plans to choose from, including: Old Testament/ New Testament, Chronological, Beginning, Historical, The Bible in 90 Days, Lent, New Testament in a Year, Daily Audio Bible, and Book of Common Prayer. Best of all, BibleGateway.com offers the HCSB as a translation choice.

3. YouVersion.com - Also a cloud-based service, YouVersion offers 311 Bible reading plans ranging from a number of days to one year. Their app, aptly named simply "Bible," provides access to your Bible reading plan as well. And, of course, you can choose the HCSB as your translation.

4. MyStudyBible.com - Though not a Bible reading plan tool, per se, MyStudyBible.com is one of the best online Bible reading platforms available.

Blog Post: Christmas Bible Reading

DevinMaddox — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:06:00 GMT

How do you prepare for the Christmas season? Churches all over the world study the coming of Christ in the form of a baby during the month of December. The tradition hails from a pattern of observance in a more liturgical style, focusing on different biblical narratives at different times of the year. Many call the season Advent, a time set aside to focus on the "coming" of Jesus.

During Advent, families prepare in different ways, but one common thread ties them all together: Scripture. Hundreds of resources are in print to guide your family toward a consistent observance of the incarnation of Christ. One free option online, with the HCSB as a textual base, is YouVersion. We've highlighted YouVersion's Bible reading plans a time or two before, but thought we'd suggest you to jump in the middle of this Christmas plan if you haven't already.

Visit us on Facebook to share how you and your family are reading the Bible together this year. We'd love to share some creative traditions with our community.

Blog Post: The Textual Basis for the HCSB

DevinMaddox — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 13:40:00 GMT

Bible translation is both a science and an art. It is a bridge that brings God’s Word from the ancient world to the world today. In dependence on God to accomplish this sacred task, the HCSB translation team sought out the most reliable basis for an accurate, modern, reliable translation of the Bible in English.

Every Bible translation starts with a foundational text. For example, the King James Version uses the Textus Receptus. In order to translate into English, the translator(s) must translate from another text.

This is a point at which the HCSB translators sought to distinguish their work from other's. While many translators began by building on the basis of other English translations of the Bible (as a starting point), the HCSB team went back to the most reliable Greek and Hebrew texts (original languages of the Bible) available to us today and began there.

Textual base of the HCSB

The textual base for the New Testament [NT] is the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece, 27th edition, and the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament, 4th corrected edition. The text for the Old Testament [OT] is the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 5th edition.

Where there are significant differences among Hebrew [Hb] and Aramaic [Aram] manuscripts of the OT or among Greek [Gk] manuscripts of the NT, the translators have followed what they believe is the original reading and have indicated the main alternative(s) in footnotes. The HCSB uses the traditional verse divisions found in most Protestant Bibles.

What this means for readers

Nearly every modern English translation is a reliable source for serious Bible study. However, readers should know when they choose a translation what they are getting. What distinguishes the NIV from the ESV? Where do the NASB and the KJV differ? One point that distinguishes the HCSB from many other translations is the textual basis, a point readers should take into serious consideration when engaging in serious Bible study.

Both a science and art: goals of the HCSB

The goals of the HCSB are:

to provide English-speaking people across the world with an accurate, readable Bible in contemporary English
to equip serious Bible students with an accurate translation for personal study, private devotions, and memorization
to give those who love God’s Word a text that has numerous reader helps, is visually attractive on the page, and is appealing when heard
to affirm the authority of Scripture as God’s Word and to champion its absolute truth against social or cultural agendas that would compromise its accuracy
to continue making improvements to the translation in each printing

Blog Post: Why did we produce a new modern translation of the Bible?

DevinMaddox — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:30:00 GMT

It's a fair question, and a question we get a lot.

There are several good reasons why Holman Bible Publishers invested its resources in a modern language translation of the Bible. Here are four we felt were particularly compelling to us:

1. Each generation needs a fresh translation of the Bible in its own language.

The Bible is the world’s most important book, confronting each individual and each culture with issues that affect life, both now and forever. Since each new generation must be introduced to God’s Word in its own language, there will always be a need for new translations such as the HCSB. The majority of Bible translations on the market today are revisions of translations from previous generations. The HCSB is a new translation for today’s generation.

2. English, one of the world’s greatest languages, is rapidly changing, and Bible translations must keep in step with those changes.

English is the first truly global language in history. It is the language of education, business, medicine, travel, research, and the Internet. More than 1.3 billion people around the world speak or read English as a primary or secondary language. The HCSB seeks to serve many of those people with a translation they can easily use and understand.

English is also the world’s most rapidly changing language. The HCSB seeks to reflect recent changes in English by using modern punctuation, formatting, and vocabulary, while avoiding slang, regionalisms, or changes made specifically for the sake of political or social agendas. Modern linguistic and semantic advances have been incorporated into the HCSB, including modern grammar.

3. Rapid advances in biblical research provide new data for Bible translators.

This has been called the “information age,” a term that accurately describes the field of biblical research. Never before in history has there been as much information about the Bible as there is today—from archaeological discoveries to analysis of ancient manuscripts to years of study and statistical research on individual Bible books. Translations made as recently as the late 20th century do not reflect many of these advances in biblical research. The HCSB translators have taken into consideration as much of this new data as possible.

4. Advances in computer technology have opened a new door for Bible translation.

The HCSB has used computer technology in its creation perhaps more than any Bible translation in history. Email was used daily and sometimes hourly for communication and transmission of manuscripts. Can you imagine if translators in the Middle Ages could have simply emailed one another? Combining the use of elaborate digital biblical databases/ software with speedy electronic communication, our team was able to work together with efficiency that would have been impossible in the past. We believe some of the best translation work for the English-speaking world in the future will only be enhanced by advances in technology.

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Blog Post: HCSB Study Bible $10 on Black Friday Weekend

DevinMaddox — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 12:52:00 GMT

LIfeWay Christian Stores is offering our HCSB Study Bible for just $10 during Black Friday weekend. Normally priced at $49.99, we are excited customers will have the opportunity to access the study Bible at this incredibly low price. Shoppers can also get one regularly priced item at 30% off with the coupon on LifeWay's website.

For other offers at LifeWay Christian Stores, check out the video below, or click here for more information.

Blog Post: LifeWay launches free reader app for iOS, Android, and web

DevinMaddox — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 15:24:00 GMT

LifeWay has launched a new ebookstore at LifeWay.com and a new mobile ebook reader, making it more convenient for customers to take their favorite books with

them wherever they go.

The LifeWay Reader app is now available as a free download from the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play for Android devices. LifeWay’s new ereading app allows users to build a personal library from a growing list of ebooks from the same Christian publishers found in LifeWay stores and at LifeWay.com.

The LifeWay.com ebookstore offers more than 8,000 titles and the LifeWay Reader app comes with a free, pre-loaded copy of the HCSB. Other free content is also available online.

“The Bible features in the LifeWay Reader app make it stand apart in the market,” said Tim Vineyard, president of LifeWay Christian Stores.

All ebooks with Scripture references are automatically linked to the related Bible passage. Users can click on the link to display a pop-up window in the app without having to switch apps or wait for a new browser program to start.

Another major benefit for customers is the ability to digitally house their LifeWay content in one place.

Any ebook purchased by a customer using their LifeWay ID is available to them in the app and at Reader.LifeWay.com.

For example, customers who purchased digital curriculum, such as The Gospel Project, may access much of that content through the LifeWay Reader app using their LifeWay ID. In addition, all digital content purchased from MyStudyBible.com and some other LifeWay Christian Resources apps is available if customers used their LifeWay ID during checkout.
In this way, content is available for users to view and read on their desktops, laptops, tablets and mobile devices.

To purchase additional digital Bibles, ebooks or other content for reading with the app, users need to make purchases through LifeWay.com or MyStudyBible.com.

“The LifeWay Reader app contributes to LifeWay’s omni-channel plan for the digital world. We want to provide life-changing resources to churches and individuals in the format they prefer,” said Vineyard.

Designed to give users a pleasing reading experience, the app comes with standard user customization controls, such as text size, contrast, line spacing, font choices, etc.

Future updates to the app will include additional user customization, annotations, social sharing, improved integration with LifeWay’s powerful Bible study platforms and thousands of new titles.

Visit LifeWay.com/ebooks to learn more, register your free LifeWay ID, shop for ebooks and discover the LifeWay Reader apps.

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Release by Jon D. Wilke at LifeWay Christian Resources

Blog Post: Audio interview about "Which Bible Translation Should I Use?"

DevinMaddox — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 13:49:00 GMT

Andreas Köstenberger (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) and David Croteau (Liberty University) were interviewed last week by Christopher Brooks on Christ and the City about their new book, Which Bible Translation Should I Use?

The interview is available here between 23rd and 54th minute.

Some of the questions addressed:

- *How did you decide to come together for this book?
- *What role did the editors play in the book?
- *How did you choose these four translations?
- *Do the defenders of each translation imply the other translations are not reliable?
- *When approaching a translation, what are some questions would tell people they need to ask before deciding on a translation?
- *For whom was this book written?
- *Is the preface of a Bible translation important?
- *What's the difference between a translation rendered by one person versus a committee?
- *Are there any translations you would caution readers against?
- *How trustworthy are English translations?

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You can find Christopher Brooks website here.

Blog Post: Did Jesus have a wife, and can we trust the Bible?

DevinMaddox — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:56:00 GMT

The world was all atwitter, both literally and figuratively, when the New York Times published Laurie Goodstein's piece, “A Faded Piece of Papyrus Refers to Jesus’ Wife.” Goodstein claimed the document, smaller than a business card, confirmed a popular conspiracy regarding Jesus' marital status.

B&H author and New Testament scholar Andreas Köstenberger responded to the claim in an article published online, writing:

"Unfortunately, the text is very fragmentary, most likely because a dealer divided up a larger piece so he could charge more for multiple pieces. Dr. King pointed out that phrases in the fragment such as “My mother gave to me life” and “Mary is worthy of it” are reminiscent of similar language in the Gospels of Thomas and Mary and so surmised that the fragment may have been copied from a second-century Greek text. The papyrus fragment was not carbon tested, but Dr. King is planning to have the ink tested by spectroscopy."

The Vatican quickly cast doubt on the fragment's legitimacy, as did scholars at schools like Emory and Harvard Divinity School. But the legitimacy of the papyrus seems irrelevant to the momentum of popular discussions on the authority of the Bible regarding Jesus' life. As Köstenberger points out in his article, best-selling fiction like The Da Vinci Code popularizes ideas like this one, and injects skeptism into the mainstream. Köstenberger writes:

"Even if genuine, however, there is a long way from inferring from the reference to Jesus’ wife in this fragment to concluding that Jesus was in fact married. There is no reference to Jesus being married in the four canonical Gospels, our best first-century evidence concerning the life of Jesus. It will be difficult to connect this reference to actual historical knowledge of an alleged marriage of Jesus."

So how should Christians respond in light of conversations regarding new claims about Jesus life?

1. Test everything, hold on to what is good - While you might recognize falsehood immediately, be dilligent, reasoning through why that might be the case. Even if your initial impressions are confirmed, neglecting to "test all things and hold on to what is good" fails to incoporate the wisdom of the New Testament. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

2. Expect false gospels - Christians who read the New Testament should not be surprised to find false testimony concerning the gospel. The problem is as old as the church. (1 John 4:1)

3. Have patience with skeptics - Apart from the grace of God, we are all in the same boat. Treat those who lay captive to false gospels with an attitude of mission, not pugilism.

4. Commit to Scripture - Scripture validates itself. Those who view the Bible with any degree of seriousness, as most Christians do, must wrestle with the internal testimony the Bible provides about itself. Those who come out on the other side committed to the authority of Scripture will be well-equipped for times such as these. (2 Timothy 3:16)

5. Study more church history - Christians have nothing to fear while wading through the deep waters of church history. The truth of all matters concerning the canon are on our side, so dive in.

6. View it as an opportunity for evangelism - Any time the gospel is the topic of popular discussion, view it as an opportunity to share your faith. What better time is there to discuss matters of faith with a lost and dying world than when they are asking the questions?

7. Pray - The challenges situations like this one present are not merely intellectual. The spiritual dynamics of theological controversy are not subordinate in debate. Pray as often as you critique.

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Blog Post: Why are there so many Bible translations?

DevinMaddox — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:57:00 GMT

It's a fair question. In the English-speaking world, we have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to translations of the Bible. English speakers have many choices, and as we've mentioned before, sometimes it is difficult to choose just one. And frankly, many readers don't choose; they use multiple translations. As they study the Bible, they harness the strengths of various translations as they seek to understand God's Word.

So why are there so many translations of the Bible? Bible Mesh blog author, and apologetics professor, Mark Coppenger recently took on that very question:

"Speaking of the original languages—both the Old Testament Hebrew and the New Testament Greek—sometimes it is challenging to nail down exactly what the original writings said. We don’t have those first editions from the hand of David, Mark, etc., so we need to rely upon subsequent copies. (This is arguably a good thing, for if the actual writings of Paul still existed, we would probably venerate them as well as the Savior they present.) Consequently, we have some variances, for the copyists were only human."

So the original documents, the autographs, are not all readily available to translation scholars. In many cases, we have first or second degree copies to work from. The copies, though corroborating, are not identical. Punctuation and minor word variances exist between copies. So the textual basis for translations differ. That's why, for example, the HCSB sought to base their translation on the most updated and reliable Greek text available. It was a move toward accuracy.

Coppenger goes on to say:

"Fortunately (or, actually, providentially), none of these issues puts the basic message of the Bible in peril. God has made sure both that the original manuscripts were without error and that workable translations conveying the essence and details of His revelation are everywhere to be found. (This includes translations in over 2,000 languages other than English,[i] with new translations always underway for ethnic groups still lacking a Bible of their own.) Indeed, their variety of expression is a gift to the Church, as believers find the Word expressed in their heart language."

The textual variances of ancient copies of the Bible are nothing to be alarmed about. Thousands of copies spread around the world corroborate the message, and even the words, of the Bible. But it also gives explanation, at least in part, to why we have so many Bible translations.

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Read Coppenger's full post, here.