Given that Lifeway commissioned the HCSB translation, have Southern Baptists been accepting of it? Has there been an effort in the convention for churches to adopt its use?
Note: My hope is to hear from Southern Baptist members. Others, please refrain from responding.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by DocTrinsoGrace, Feb 2, 2014.
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Although I didn’t read anything concrete on the matter, I have the impression that they brought out the HCSB so Lifeway could use a modern translation in its materials without getting permission or paying royalties. For a number of years they used the NIV but it seems like I heard that Zondervan grew reluctant to let Lifeway use its translation in materials that were in competition with Zondervan.
Does the SBC try to get its churches to use the HCSB? Not that I have noticed, except for its use in Lifeway materials. FWIW, it’s a pretty good translation. I prefer it to the NIV but the NASB is still my go to bible -
preachinjesus Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
I'm a SBC pastor. I use the HCSB.
There's been a mixed reception in the SBC. Especially among my peers, it has been sort of a meh translation. With the growth of the young restless and reformed movement, and their love for the ESV, they have pretty well ignored the HCSB.
Older pastors that use the NASU, NIV84, etc aren't really changing over to a new translation either.
At first there was some initial brow beating by some convention muckety-mucks to get folks to move over, but that went away fairly quickly. They seem to be pretty happy to have a primary replacement for the NIV after the keruffle with Zondervan. Perhaps that is what the HCSB is best for, primary Scriptural text for all their publications.
The convention has touted out some examples of pastors who have switched over the HCSB and "moved" their churches over there too. It hasn't had much of an effective and I think they're taking a long-tail strategy on the translation (i.e. a long term adoption view.) We'll see how it goes, it'll never eclipse some of the big translations though. NIV, ESV, etc are still going to sell higher imho.
As for me, I like the translation enough to use it in my preaching and teaching. I find translation is sound, the language used conveys the meaning of the text well, and it reflects a good tradition behind its translation methodology. There is some gender inclusivity in the text, but nothing to the level of the TNIV. -
Have you noticed any quirkiness in some passages of the HCSB? -
I don't know anyone that has bought a HCSB. Try as hard as they did to avoid it, it was perceived to be a SBC translation. Didn't help that Al Mohler referred to it as a translation they could control. Over half the translators were not baptist, but they couldn't get away from this initial SBC label.
From people in the know, it has been touted as a decent translation with some layout features that have proved helpful. I use the NIV as does most of my congregation as well as the pew bibles being NIV, so there is no need or desire to change. -
HCSB= Hard Core Southern Baptist. Our Pastor does not preach from one. I did get a HCSB NT+Psalms from the state convention. I like it.
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preachinjesus Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
I think the idea of denominational "control" was worrisome at first, but when they released who was on the translation committees it was pretty clear they weren't trying to control much of anything. :) -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
As an SBC pastor I can tell you that it is not widely received in the southeast and out here in the west. The most popular among churches and pastors that I have seen is the NKJV. NIV comes in at a distant second.
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
(just kiding) -
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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