NRSV v ESV

[bach90]

So I'm aware how the NRSV typically gets labelled as being for liberals, and how the ESV is for conservatives...but I've noticed there are some important passages where the NRSV gives a better reading than the ESV.

John 20:22-23 - ESV
And when he had said this, hebreathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

John 20:22-23 NRSV
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

The NRSV definitely has the better reading here, showing how the Ministry has the power to forgive and to bind (not merely to withhold forgiveness). Subtle, but important...the ESV is definitely has an evangelical bias here.

1 Peter 3:20-21 - ESV
because they formerly did not obey, rwhen God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

1 Peter 3:20-21 - NRSV
who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

I like the NRSV using the phrase "saved through water" at the end of v. 20, and making clear the typological significance of the flood. The NRSV to me gives a stronger reading on how Baptism saves.

1 Corinthians 10:16 - ESV
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ

1 Corinthians 10:16 - NRSV
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?

I think the term sharing the Body of Christ is clearer than participation, which is more ambiguous. Although, the NKJV has the best term by far, keeping the familiar term communion.

I'm almost inclined to use the NRSV...but it's not without problems of it's own. I really don't like the gender-neutral stuff and the NRSV really mishandles verses like John 14:23. The NRSV is also...just...bad in some passages of the OT.

 

[filosofer]

I have never been a fan of the ESV, although if a congregation uses it while I visit, I use it for teaching and preaching. The first passage is especially problematic in ESV (so also in NIV). And I have never been a fan of NRSV because of the stated agenda in the preface about gender issues. It’s not as simple as the authors try to make it.

Perhaps the best in this line is the RSV-Revised in 2006 by the RCC (St. Joseph’s edition). It gets John 20:23 correct, and many other passages.

 

[bach90]

I have never been a fan of the ESV, although if a congregation uses it while I visit, I use it for teaching and preaching. The first passage is especially problematic in ESV (so also in NIV). And I have never been a fan of NRSV because of the stated agenda in the preface about gender issues. It’s not as simple as the authors try to make it.

Perhaps the best in this line is the RSV-Revised in 2006 by the RCC (St. Joseph’s edition). It gets John 20:23 correct, and many other passages.

I never used the NIV. It's handling of 1 Peter 3:21 was enough to disqualify it for me (inserting the word symbolizes...what a cruel sick joke!). I might be inclined to use the RSV, but I'm very hesitant about using a RC Bible. Some days I just wish we would stick to the KJV or NKJV.