ESV or NASB?

Personally, I recommend the NASV (NT only - because I have had one for 40 years, and wouldn't have to buy one), the MLB (which I got on clearance, some 15 years ago), the NKJV (because I got one of those at a 20% off sale about 12 years ago), and the HCSB (which I really got "on the cheap" at the SBC last June). :thumbs:

Are you noticing any particular pattern, here? :laugh:

Ed

 

My response was primarily intended to be humorous. :laugh:

Most versions have strengths and weaknesses inherent in the version. I do believe the NASB is one of the most 'literal' of all, however. I have cited all of them from time to time on the BB. Although I would not be particular bothered by any of the four (and I do understand the differences in the textual bases of all of them), I currently use the NKJV as my regular Bible. It does happen to have the best print of the three complete Bibles I mentioned, which is a noticeable benefit.

I even might suggest putting a "bug" out in the right place, being as tomorrow is Dec. 23.

Ed

 

I like the NASB Thompson Chain Bible. It has numbers to the side that link topics that you look up in back and you can see how these themes run through the Bible. The notes at the back are worth getting this Bible just to have that. It is a very thick Bible. I keep it to use at home.

I also use the NKJV Nelson Study Bible. I like the notes in it a lot. There's an older study Bible called the Baptist Study Bible that has really great notes (in the NKJV) but I am not sure if it's still called that or if it's still out there.

Some people really like the NASB Study Bible but I have not used it.

I tried the ESV but for some reason didn't like it. I can't explain why. I also tried the Holman Standard and liked it but not as much as the NASB.

I tend to prefer the updated NASB over the NKJV, but there are more study Bibles that I like in the NKJV.

 

I gotta put my 2¢ in. I use both the ESV and the NASB and I like them both.
If I had to choose one or the other, I am not sure which.

I really like the layout of the ESV. It has a much more modern layout than most.
Also it is slightly to the left of NASB in that it is not quite as literal, at least that is what I understand, I can't speak for myself.

The NASB as stood the test of time more than any of the other "modern" versions, yet it was updated in 1995 so you do not have to worry about archaic words.
The ESV on the other hand is one of the newest translations, I think it is the newest of the "literal translations".
I have been absolutely amazed at the way the ESV has taken off.

I think it is truly the modern KJV in its attempt to be both literal, yet beautiful.

Final conclusion, choose both if you can. If you can't, you won't go wrong either way.

 

My suggestion,to no one's surprise,is to get TNIV.It's an improvement over the NIV in many respects.It's the best all-round translation in my opinion.

The HCSB would be the second-best option.Like Today's New International Version it occupies a mediating spot along with the NET Bible and the ISV between the NASBU on one hand and the NLTse on the other.

Like EdSutton,I like freebies too.I was given the New Inductive Study Bible several years ago (NASBU) and have appreciated it a lot.It has the widest margins of all my translations.So I can make plenty of notes with little difficulty.

The translation itself is a little unwieldy but not like the tortured English of the ESV.

I'll leave you with two contrasts between the NASBU and TNIV.

Luke 2:14
N : Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom
He is pleased.

T : Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom
his favor rests.

1 Peter 1:10,11
N : As to this salvation,the prophets who prophesied of the
grace that would come to you made careful searches and
inquiries,
seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ
within them was indicating as He predicted the the sufferings of
Christ and the glories to follow.

T : Concerning this salvation, the prophets,
who spoke of the grace that was to come to
you, searched intently and with the greatest
care,trying to find out the time and circumstances
to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing
when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories
that would follow.

Dr. Robert Reymond said of the NASBU here:"very misleading translation.It should be :the time and circumstances."[What do you know?The TNIV has "time and circumstances"! --Rip]

 

On those famous charts the ESV would be to the right of the NASBU;not the left.You're correct about the ESV being not as literal as the NASBU.The former is not quite as "essentially literal" as it's PR department would have us believe.It's only a smidgen more formally-equivalent than TNIV.

It was released more recently,but it isn't that "new" at all.It hardly differs from the 1971 RSV.

I'm not.The publisher is behind this translation all the way and they have a faithful website presence.

To switch from the KJV to the ESV would be a smooth transition.They are very much alike.But again,it's not as literal as we have been told."Beautiful"?! Certainly not.Review a number of my threads on the ESV demonstrating that its English is substandard.

 

Whatever works. :thumbs:

Ed

 

And now thomas15 will throw in his 2 cents. I personally like the MacArthur Study Bible in NASB. I will say that the ESV Study Bible is beautifully done and the binding is much better than the MacArthur. I'm not as smitten with the ESV text as some here are, it's good but not as good as some here make it out to be.

I think though the answer to the question is: Get all of them.

Tom

 

I must say that the ESV Study Bible, in terms of layout, is the best I've seen.

But the translation itself needs a lot of work.

If you're looking for a faithful, readable translation, go with the TNIV.

 

Personally, my favorite of the modern translations is the NKJV. Of course everyone has their own preference.

I LOVE the notes in the Ryrie Study Bible. They Ryrie was once available in the NKJV (I have one dating beck to when I had hair ) but these days as far as I know it's available only in the KJV, the NIV an the NASB. Of these three I'd suggest the NASB.

 

No matter how good some Study Bibles are, the text is what matters.I would prefer to make my own notes and keep commentaries separate from a given Bible translation.