If you missed it, the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Holy Bible has undergone some minor revisions this year. Its publisher, Crossway, has not released a list of changes, but a blogger Rick Mansfield has released a list of verse changes:
- Genesis - Deuteronomy
- Joshua - Esther
- Job - Song of Solomon
- Isaiah - Malachi
- Matthew - Acts
- Romans - Philemon
- Hebrews - Revelation
As the Rick has noted, the revision includes changes of spelling or grammar, and a few reflect mild theological change.
While the ESV is currently considered the preferred Bible translation of many at Southern Seminary and one of the best, most literal translation in the opinion of many modern Reformers, every Bible translation in the recent era has undergone a revision. The NIV was originaly published in 1978 and was revised in 1984; the more recent NLT was original published in 1996 was revised in 2004. Thus, I am glad that such a beautiful, accurate Bible translation as the ESV has undergone a revision process to make it the best English Bible translation ever and hopefully the most widespread since the NIV.
I do have a ESV Reverse-Interlinear and it was the first to use the 2007 revised edition of the NT text. Other ESV’s I have include a small Compact TruTone (whose font is unfortunately too small to study often with and has trouble laying flat), and I am awaiting delivery of my premium bonded leather Classic Thinline that has 9.5pt font so I have a Bible that’s easier on my eyes to preach from.
With 3 ESVs in my hands already, I think it will be a while until I purchase another ESV (maybe the Literal Study Bible or the ESV Study Bible?). So unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be using much of the 2007 ESV in my non-online study of Scripture — the 2001 will have to do for now 
Nevertheless, reading through the list of changes is quite interesting!
R. Mansfield
Do you really think the ESV is the “preferred Bible translation of Southern Baptists”?
Consider that all the Baptist curriculum now uses HCSB. Also almost all seniors still read out of the KJV. However, if I were a betting man, I would wager that the actual preferred translation for Southern Baptists–based on actual usage–is still the original NIV, although I’m not a fan of it myself.
Granted, it’s anecdotal evidence, but I ran a survey a month or so ago in the class I teach at church and 63% of the class was still using the original NIV.
No one was using the ESV. In fact, I’ve only seen one ESV used at my church by a member in the two years I’ve been there. The ESV is popular at SBTS and in Reformed circles, and it’s obviously making gains according to CBA sales figures, but I think it would be presumptuous to say it’s the preferred translation of Southern Baptists at this stage.
Jun 26, 2007 @ 10:57 am
Alex Leung
My mistake… I’ve edited the post to read “many at Southern Seminary”
(My knowledg of Southern Baptists has been limited to those at/from SBTS)
In my current church (part of the C&MA), most either use the NIV or NLT (NLT being the pew Bible) - though there has never been any clear explanation as to why we use the NLT. Many of the young generation, esp under my influence, have made the switch over to the ESV!
I’m glad that there’s a young bunch at my church who cares about reading God’s Word in a more literal, accurate english text.
Jun 26, 2007 @ 12:16 pm