ESV or NASB

ESV . . . . thinline.

 

ESV if that is my only choice, the readabilty factor is the main reason.

 

THey are both from the Westcott-Hort/Codex Sinaiticus/Vaticanus/Nestle Textual stream. In that sense, its same-same.

If I was on an island with either one, I would pray that God would send me a different version floating on a raft or via parachute.

Surfer

 

Yeah, perferiably the King James Bible.

 

Hey,on a desrt island I would use "both";I would convert those ESVs and NASBs into BTUs.

 

I enjoy both of them, but would probably opt for the NASB because I am more used to it.

 

Anti-Alexandrian said:

Hey,on a desrt island I would use "both";I would convert those ESVs and NASBs into BTUs.

A genuine KJV burns longer, what with the Apocrypha and all.

 

So are you saying that you would burn Bibles? Taking a quote from Luke 23: "Dost thou not fear God?"

 

I am reminded of Jehoiakim the king, in Jeremiah 36, deliberately slicing up the Word of God and throwing it on the fireplace because he didn't like what he heard.

"Yet neither the king, nor any of his servants who heard all these words, was afraid, nor did they rend their garments" (Jer. 36:24).

Not, in my estimation, that the more rabid KJV-onlyists actually care what their precious KJV says.

 

In answer to the original question, I would probably choose the NASB (Update), for the following reasons:

(1) It is slightly more accurate, and:
(2) It comes in a superior quality edition (thinking of my side column wide margin reference).

It would be a tough call, though. These are the two translations at the top of my personal preference list.

 

I think that is highly debated. We could put down verse after verse in comparison and I think the result might be just disagreeing with the Greek and / or context and /or theological signifigance. Obviously if the translators of the ESV thought they could make ANY one passage more accurate they would have done so, so I'm sure they think they are more accurate then the NASB.

Everyone always complains about the quality of the ESV so I hope they fix it. I for one, have never been attracted to the NASB because of the split verses format. Now they tell me that it is in paraphraph format too but it is too late, I am with the ESV now. These are certainly are best two translations.

 

If pressed, I'd choose the NASB, simply because there are several good study Bibles available with the NASB text, but none with the ESV. I'm not that concerned with bindings or covers, but I do like lots of footnotes and charts.

 

I find it interesting that a good number of the study bibles have only found a home in the NKJV. MacArthur, Reformation Study Bible just to name a few. I actually heard that MacArthur uses the NASB in preaching and would like to publish with Lockman but it didn't work out. It would do wonder if the sales of the NASB if you ask me.

ESV is coming out with its own study bible. Why everyone has to always reinvent the wheel, I don't know. I hope they will begin publishing with the Reformation and MacAthur notes though.

 

^^The Reformation Study Bible with the ESV text would be pretty close to ideal.

 

There is the issue of authors having "deals" with puslishing houses that prevent authors from doing everything they want. Swindol had his published in NIV and he too uses the NASB. It should be noted that Lockman, who is the owner of the NASB, historically has been difficult to work with when it comes to allowing others to use its bible translation.

 

My understanding is that Lockman, which historically has been difficult for outside publishers to deal with, loosened up somewhat a few years ago, hence Zondervan published several new NASB editions (including the NASB Study Bible).

Along the same lines, does anyone know if Crossway has or will allow any other publisher to handle the ESV?

 

Can't Lockman publish thier NASB with with others notes? I guess the issue is that Nelson "owns" the MacArthur and Reformation study notes (bc they paid the salaries while it was in production?) so it is not a matter of Lockman choosing to publish with these notes (since they don't own them) but Lockman allowing someone else to publish their own notes with Lockman's translation the NASB. I guess that makes more sense. I wish these boys would get together though and try to work out a finacial situtation that is at least reasonable for everyone, bc it would do good for the Body of Christ!

 

I don't care about the study notes, I just wish that Crossway would let or get Cambridge to publish the ESV. I have a genuine leather wide-margin Cambridge KJV -- what an awesome Bible! If only they would print an ESV in the same format and quality.

Andy