HCSB? Any opinions?

I like the HSCB but don't think of it as highly as some do. I don't see it as much better than the NIV (which I don't despise; I still consult the NIV Study Bible fairly often). Although there is a place for DE, I have grown to prefer more literal renderings in recent years. My favorite translation is the ESV and I find it more reliable and accurate than either of the previously mentioned versions. I'm not one to insist that everyone agree with my opinion, so if someone feels that God is using the HSCB to teach them, then I'm happy with their choice.

 

I love it. It's the primary translation I use when quoting Scripture for others to easily understand...without changing the meaning.

 

I read the HCSB through last year (2005), and also used it as my primary Bible. This year I am reading the NIV through and using it as my primary Bible. In the past I have read most of the NLT and the NKJV. Of these four I like the NIV the best, but the HCSB is a strong second for me. I like the use of brackets in the HCSB (in lieu of footnotes as used in some other translations). One verse in the HCSB stands out in my mind as a bad choice on the part of the translators and that is Psalm 23:6; I think the choice of "as long as I live" is not nearly as good a choice as "forever". Some may consider that nitpicking, and perhaps it is, but that verse is a "comfort verse" for me and I don't like the change. However, that is the only verse that really bothered me, as opposed to the NLT, which had several like that; my ranking based on my personal reading are NIV, HCSB, NKJV and NLT. Next year I plan to read the ESV or NASB through and then the other the following year. Slowly I will be able to talk about what I like and dislike about each major translation from my personal reading and not solely based on what I read posted by others (although I don't read ancient languages and I am always interested in what those who have studied the original texts have learned.
Bruce

6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life, (J)
and I will dwell in [d] the house of the LORD
as long as I live. (K) [e]
Psalm 23:6 (HCSB)

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Psalms 23:6 (NIV)

6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever .
Psalms 23:6 (NASB)

 

Hcsb

I have always used and read through the Bible through very year in either the NAS or NIV.I have read the Bible in other versions also but mostly those 2 .A few years ago I read the Bible in the ESV then I read it twice in the HCSB .In June I started through the Bible in the Updated NAS .To get to the point .I can't wait to fininsh the Bible so I can get back to either the ESV and the HCSB ,The Updated NAS is great but I always compare some verses to the ESV and HCSB and seem to like them more .I am NOT a Bible versions expert far from it .

 

I picked one up about a year ago, just to use as a comparative translation while teaching. As far as accuracy to the original languages goes, nothing beats the RSV or NRSV as far as I am concerned, but of course, they are not the easiest reading. I don't really see a lot of difference in the ESV, HCSB and NIV myself, although my pastor, who is a whiz at New Testament Greek says that the ESV and HCSB aren't as accurate as they claim, and have some biases when choosing how to state some particular ideas. Neither the ESV or HCSB has the broad representation of a wide variety of denominational perspectives which is a must for preventing bias and error to creep into the work of translation.

 

Re: HCSB

I have not read as much of the HCSB as I would like to have read, but I think I prefer it over the NIV (personal taste, no doctrinal issues). I was fairly inpressed by it when the NT only was available, and I am fairly impressed with it now that the entire Bible is available. It is not my main Bible and it is not likely to replace the NKJV as my favorite, but I really don't think the HCSB ix a "bad" translation. As for the versions Bruce ranked, I personally would select the NKJV, then the HCSB, the NIV and lastly the NLT. Again just a matter of personal preference, not a doctrinal issue..As of yet I haven't read enough of the ESV to form a definite opinion on it, although much of what I hear about it is good.

 

I think the HCSB is a better choice for a Bible translation than the ESV overall . The HCS looks like a mixture of the ESV and NIV/TNIV about 60% of the time . In many verses it has elements of wording from both . A good deal of the time it has almost the same phrases as the NLT . And about 10% of the time it is truely unique .

 

I like the HCS rendering of John 3:16: For God so 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 .

The actual text of the ESV is different from the footnote which says : Or , For this is how God loved the world .

The NET starts with : For this is the way ...

The NJB begins with : For this is how God loved the world ...

A little oddity is found in Ephesians 2:2 : in which you previously walked according to this worldly age , according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain , the spirit now working in the disobedient .

Somehow " atmospheric domain " seems a little unwieldy .

 

I like it because now Southern Baptists don't have to pay huge royalties to quote the Word of God in our Sunday School curriculum. Hahahaha!

 

I hope that the Holman Christian Standard Bible is renamed in the future . It sounds so exclusive . It's not meant to be only a Southern Baptist Bible . I hope it will sell well across the world . We could call it the New International ... nah , that name's been taken .

 

In another post I wrote the title this way:

HCSB (Christian Standard Bible /Holman, 2003/ )

maybe CSB = Christian Standard Bible, would be better than 'HCSB'?

 

The CSB is fine by me , as far as I can see . (Now I'm doing Dr. Suess .)

 

Well, unless CSB = Confederated States of Bolivia :tear:

Looks rather clean according to:
http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?Acronym=CSB&p=dict

THis list of acronym meaning of 'CSB' already lists the 'Christian Standard Bible'.