Holman Christian Standard Bible

HCSB recommendation post is open for all

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment

When I first pondered the idea of creating a post which would call for recommendations/thoughts from those who are familiar with the HCSB, I originally envisioned it as calling for scholars and pastors to weigh in on the translation.  After some wise counsel, I have deemed it better to include graduate students and bloggers in the conversation.  So, I hope that many will share their thoughts about this fine translation of the Scriptures.  Leave your comments on the post below, “Who will recommend the HCSB?”

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Who will recommend the HCSB?

/ Christopher Terry / 17 Comments

This has bothered me for some time now.  I believe that the HCSB is an excellent translation of the Scriptures.  The only problem is that there is not a comprehensive list of scholars and pastors (graduate students and bloggers) who recommend the HCSB.  I think that those who are supporters of the HCSB should work to remedy this problem.  Any person can do a simple web search and find that the ESV has a long list of scholars and pastors (graduate students and bloggers) who heartily recommend this respective translation.

The HCSB is a very well done translation and I am certain that there are plenty of scholars and pastors who would heartily recommend the HCSB.  My challenge for you who support the HCSB (including Graduate students and bloggers), write a paragraph (I emphasize paragraph) about why you recommend the HCSB.  Let’s see if a comprehensive list of HCSB supporters could be compiled.  Who is willing to help?

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]Update:
It was suggested to me by Jedidiah Coppenger (who works for Lifeway and is working to promote the HCSB) that this discussion be expanded to include PhD students (or students in graduate studies) and bloggers.  I think that is a fine idea.  So for anyone who has used the HCSB and would like to express their thoughts about the translation, feel free to do so.  Here is a link to some of my thoughts that I previously posted.

Inexpensive HCSB Bibles

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment

Broadman & Holman launched a new ministry months ago which is named Holman Bible Outreach International.  This ministry was started for the purpose of producing and distributing inexpensive editions of the HCSB.  It is an awesome ministry and the Bibles are available for purchase by the case.  Check out the site.

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HCSB Minister’s Bible Giveaway

/ Christopher Terry / 1 Comment

Will at Anwoth blog is giving away a limited edition HCSB Minister’s Bible to someone who gives him ten reasons why you like the HCSB.  Check it out!

Here are my own recently updated reasons:

1) Conservative scholars translated it and reviewed it.
2) It is translated from the most reliable manuscripts.
3) It has attempted to avoid being bound by traditional renderings
4) It is a formal translation that is very, very readable. [Marketers of the ESV should take note. The HCSB is literal, but also very readable. The ESV is literal, but not as readable.]
5) It is published by a conservative Christian company
6) It retains traditional theological terms
7) The bullet notes are excellent. I wish that there were some way to place the bullet note information closer to the appropriate text. I have come to despise end-notes and love footnotes. Honestly, I do not know where this information could be placed in the footer because the textual notes (which are even more valuable than the bullet notes) are already located in the footer. I do not know what the answer is, other than for me to get over my aversion to the end-notes.
8) It will be distributed worldwide for evangelism purposes through Holman Bible Outreach International
9) There are many editions produced which are evangelism Bible handbooks; ex: Share Jesus Without Fear N.T.; The Way of the Master N.T.; Darwin’s Bible; Atheist’s Bible.
10) Those who are involved in the process of revision are truly listening to those who will be using the HCSB in local churches, colleges, and seminaries. I appreciate that they are trying their best by God’s grace to “get it right.” Praise the Lord for this desire.

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Life movitated by the glory of God

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment

I have been thinking about John Piper’s suggestion that he has set forth repeatedly in his different books, that is, being motivated by the glory of God to evangelize.  I had not previously formulated this as a proper motivation for evangelism before I heard it from Piper.  This is actually a very biblical idea.  When one reads of Moses speaking to the Israelites prior to entering the Promised Land he mentions,

“For what great nation is there that has a god near to it as the Lord our God is ⌊to us⌋ whenever we call to Him?
8 And what great nation has righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?
9 “Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you don’t forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don’t slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.
10 The day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, ‘Assemble the people before Me, and I will let them hear My words, so that they may learn to •fear Me all the days they live on the earth and may instruct their children.’
11 You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire into the heavens and enveloped in a dense, black cloud.
12 Then the Lord spoke to you from the fire. You kept hearing the sound of the words, but didn’t see a form; there was only a voice.
13 He declared His covenant to you. He commanded you to follow the Ten Commandments, which He wrote on two stone tablets.
14 At that time the Lord commanded me to teach you statutes and ordinances for you to follow in the land you are about to cross into and possess.

“Indeed, ask about the earlier days that preceded you, from the day God created man on the earth and from one end of the heavens to the other: Has anything like this great event ⌊ever⌋ happened, or has anything like it been heard of?
33 Has a people heard God’s voice speaking from the fire as you have, and lived?
34 Or has a god attempted to go and take a nation as his own out of ⌊another⌋ nation, by trials, signs, wonders, and war, by a strong hand and an outstretched arm, by great terrors, as the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
35 You were shown ⌊these things⌋ so that you would know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides Him.
36 He let you hear His voice from heaven to instruct you. He showed you His great fire on earth, and you heard His words from the fire.
37 Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt by His presence and great power,
38 to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you in and give you their land as an inheritance, as is now taking place.
39 Today, recognize and keep in mind that the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other.
40 Keep His statutes and commands, which I am giving you today, so that you and your children after you may prosper and so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.”  Deuteronomy 4:1-14, 32-40 HCSB

This is something that born again Christians should genuinely consider.  Guilt does not work well as motivation.  Yet, every one of us is very inclined to share with others about magnificent moments in life:  good deals on cars, insurance, groceries, clothes, etc…  Yet, born again Christians have a relationship with the one true God through faith in Christ’s substitutionary atonement.  This is truly powerful motivation to speak to the nations about the great God who has ransomed us through His Son.  Consider living your life motivated by the greatness which belongs to the God of the Bible.

The Appeal of the HCSB

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment

After a time of setting the HCSB to the side out of loyalty to the NASB and familiarity with the same, I have again began seriously examining the HCSB as a primary study and preaching Bible.  There are many things to like about the HCSB.

  • Conservative scholars translated it and reviewed it.
  • It is translated from the most reliable manuscripts.
  • It has attempted to avoid being bound by traditional renderings
  • It is a formal translation that is very, very readable.  [Marketers of the ESV should take note.  The HCSB is literal, but also very readable.  The ESV is literal, but not as readable.]
  • It is published by a conservative Christian company
  • It retains traditional theological terms
  • The bullet notes are excellent.  I wish that there were some way to place the bullet note information closer to the appropriate text.  I have come to despise end-notes and love footnotes.  Honestly, I do not know where this information could be placed in the footer because the textual notes (which are even more valuable than the bullet notes) are already located in the footer.  I do not know what the answer is, other than for me to get over my aversion to the end-notes.

There is one thing that I would absolutely love for B&H to produces is a regular size reference Bible for the HCSB, not a thinline.  It would be great if it were a black letter Bible also.  This is my hope.

I am persuaded now that the updated HCSB will be my choice for study and preaching in the future.  It is an excellent translation of the Bible.  When you read the litany of promises regarding the ESV which report accuracy and readiblity, check out the HCSB and you will find in actuality what is only promised in the ESV.

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HCSB Wallpapers

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment

Will over at Anwoth blog has created 5 different HCSB wallpapers for download.  I appreciate him doing so because there is a lack of promotional HCSB materials available at the moment.  B&H Publishing is a very large Christian publishing company and I am sure that they are going to remedy this lack of materials very soon.  Check out the wallpapers.

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LOGOS Software Blog – Bible Giveaway

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment

Logos Software is doing the final month of their fine Bible giveaway.  This is an awesome contest from a company that produces great research software.  Make sure that you check it out they have many different editions available in their giveaway contest.  In fact, this month B&H publishing has gotten involved and is giving away HCSB Large Print Ultrathin Reference editions.

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