In my post, So Many Translations, So Little Time, I made reference to my recent purchase and study of the English Standard Version (ESV), which I highly recommend (even more highly now). For those of you familiar with my sense of humor, I jokingly included the following remarks:
Now, if only the ESV’s publisher would write a paragraph about the following footnote on the translation page rather than footnoting every use of brothers:
Fn. Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters.
I think it would save more than a few trees considering how many times brothers is used in the New Testament. Plus, I’m tired of being suckered in to reading a footnote that I have read over and over. If you have an ESV, you know what I’m talking about. It’s a small point, but one that is rapidly developing into a pet peeve. I may send the publisher a letter. Perhaps, he¹ will read this post.
¹The English word he has traditionally referred to both men and women, depending on the context, and may refer to either a man or a woman.
Well, there is no need to send the publisher a letter because the Official ESV Bible Blog has responded here. The blog’s author correctly notes that the word adelphoi does get a couple of sentences in the ESV’s Preface, but that the note occurs some 80 times in the New Testament. And, because of the rapid response from the ESV Bible Blog and the acknowledgment of my little post, I just want to say that I now look forward to reading all 80.
I want to thank the blog’s author for the reference, and I want to urge all of my readers to support the ESV in any way you can. It is my new favorite Bible translation. If you don’t have an ESV, get one. I may go buy another one just to celebrate appearing in the ESV Bible Blog.
ESV links:
And, of course, the wonderful ESV Bible Blog.
Filed under: Bible, Bible Translations, Book Reviews, Christianity, Faith, New Testament, Religion | Tagged: Bible, Bible Translations, Book Reviews, Christian, Christianity, Religion
Lopez,
Initially, welcome back! Missed the musings, brother. Secondly, I have a concern about the ESV. How much of it is derived from the Westcott & Hort text? If it’s more than 30 percent, you know what statement is coming next… helter skelter.
Big Kudos for the shout out!
Peace.
How much of it is derived from the Westcott & Hort text?
No English Bible has been translated from the W&H text. The ESV and all other modern English Bibles (except the NKJV) have been translated from an eclectic text of the Greek New Testament which reflects the oldest Greek manuscripts. That eclectic text is better than the W&H text.
hiscrivener, here is what the ESV has to say about the texts used for translation:
http://www.esv.org/translation/manuscripts
Like I have said previously, I’m no translation scholar, but I have not come across many who are critical of the ESV. Thanks for the support, brother.
Thanks for the input Wayne Leman. I am unaware of any popular English translation that is translated from W&H, but I am certainly no expert. I take your word on the matter, but none of the Bible translations that I own or that I know of are derived from W&T.
I would be curious to hear anyone else’s input on this matter, if anyone knows or believes any differently.
Well said Peter. Guess I have to go pick one up.
God bless!
Don’t get me wrong.
I like the ESV. It combines the practicality of the Living with the reality of the KJV. However Wayne, although you are correct that no English uses the W&H translations, most of them have been heavily influenced by it.
Blavatsky theologians ruled the translation world back then. Heck, read the “Our Father” in the KJV and then break out most other editions… note the copyright… and get back to me.
Not calling you out brother, but that has been one of the world’s most secured secrets and it seems most trained theologians know it; yet don’t want to uncover it to spare the headache.
Lori Laws, please do. Enjoy it. Thanks for reading. I appreciate it.
hiscrivener, I must admit I learn something new everyday, and, thanks to you, I have again today. I will have to look into it…it’s officially on the to-do list. Thanks for your input as always.
I have already noted previously, it is not the footnoting that is the problem, it is that sometimes there is a footnote and sometimes not. For those not following the original text a false impression is given of the accuracy and integrity of this translation.
http://www.liturgy.co.nz/newsviews/esv.html
Thanks, Bosco, again. I appreciate you taking the time to read. I will check out your site.