Would you recommend the ESV Study Bible

[dysert]

Since no one's mentioned it yet, I have to put in a plug for the HCSB.

 

[Audacious]

Since no one's mentioned it yet, I have to put in a plug for the HCSB.

I use it on my Kindle e-reader, because it was a free modern translation, and it's really great. It keeps a lot of the Bible's poetic language (at least, in Psalms) and is a rather accurate translation, all things considered.

It does some things differently (it says "Yahweh" instead of "Lord" in the OT, and instead of saying "I did not come to bring peace, but the sword" he says "I did not come to bring peace, but division"), but it doesn't change any of the meaning of the words any, so it doesn't really matter.

 

[mikedsjr]

Audacious, At least you identify yourself as flaming liberal. ;-)

 

[dysert]

I use it on my Kindle e-reader, because it was a free modern translation, and it's really great. It keeps a lot of the Bible's poetic language (at least, in Psalms) and is a rather accurate translation, all things considered.

It does some things differently (it says "Yahweh" instead of "Lord" in the OT, and instead of saying "I did not come to bring peace, but the sword" he says "I did not come to bring peace, but division"), but it doesn't change any of the meaning of the words any, so it doesn't really matter.

There is an excellent booklet on the HCSB (if you care to read it, send me a PM - I'll need your Email address to share it with you since I don't have a website to post it on). It's 224 pages long and describes the process of developing a new translation. It's very informative and gave me a great appreciation for translators and the HCSB in particular.

Here's the TOC:
1. English Bible Versions
2. What Bible Translators Do
3. English Style
4. Inclusive Language in Bible Translation
5. Issues in Pentateuch and Narrative
6. Issues in Poetic and Prophetic Books
7. Issues in the New Testament
8. Text-Critical Philosophy and Practice
9. How Language Works

 

[mikedsjr]

I heard such great reviews about the ESV Study Bible that I went out and bought it as soon as I decided I needed a study bible; honestly, I regret this choice, because it's... well, crazy.

In Exodus, it claims that a lack of evidence isn't remotely telling and that Exodus is still literally true anyway; in its forward, the author of said forward claims that the enlightenment and the Renaissance were bad things (this is one of the stupidest things a person can possibly say.). It's got a lot of great maps, but doesn't pay much attention to the historicity of Biblical texts or evidence for such, preferring tradition over the analysis of hard facts and relevant extrabiblical data.

I find there is good reasoning to believe worldviews have played a part is distorting Scripture. I've yet to dive deep enough into tho subject to be able to explain it from what I've learned. I'm basically in a quest currently to get educated on this. Whether one wants to claim the Enlightenment is the ultimate cause, I've not seen that. I find there are plenty of groups that will not like my theory which are rather mainstream Christian groups as well. But certainly the minds of theological professors and scholars have grown very liberal in their beliefs. But as I stated I need to become more authoritative on this subject before I speak more.

 

[dysert]

I find there is good reasoning to believe worldviews have played a part is distorting Scripture. I've yet to dive deep enough into tho subject to be able to explain it from what I've learned. I'm basically in a quest currently to get educated on this. Whether one wants to claim the Enlightenment is the ultimate cause, I've not seen that. I find there are plenty of groups that will not like my theory which are rather mainstream Christian groups as well. But certainly the minds of theological professors and scholars have grown very liberal in their beliefs. But as I stated I need to become more authoritative on this subject before I speak more.

I guess first we'd have to come up with some examples of the Scripture being distorted. My first question would be, "Distorted from *what*?" I think there may be translations (e.g., the HCSB) where there is no distortion. Otoh, the 2011NIV is the poster child for a worldview distorting the Scripture.