2017 Christian Standard Bible (CSB): Everything We Know So Far
Monday, August 8, 2016 at 9:58PM ;)
The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) has been my primary public use translation for most of the last decade. I teach from it every Sunday at church. My default workspace in Accordance features the HCSB in parallel with a combined Hebrew and Greek text. It's not perfect, and I always reserve the right to correct it (or any translation) on the fly, but--as I've explained elsewhere--I value it for its readability as well as willingness to break with traditional wording (such as in John 3:16) for sake of accuracy.
There's not been a whole lot of information released about the upcoming update to the HCSB other than the fact that Lifeway is dropping the "H" in favor of simply calling it the CSB, Christian Standard Bible. If memory serves, this was the original plan back in the early days when the late Arthur Farstad was still in charge of the project, but I could be mistaken.
As I've indicated, we don't know too much about the CSB, but I thought that I might use this space to lay out as much as we do know up to this point.
Official website
http://csbible.com and not-so-secure, retailer-only section of the website: http://csbible.com/?s=csb
Press release
Launch date
Announcement in January 2017 with printed editions following in March. This allows stores to clear out print inventory of the HCSB over the Christmas buying season.
;)
Forthcoming print editions
Nearly 100 coming from Lifeway with more from Baker in 2018. Besides multiple text editions, there is a new CSB Study Bible, Essential Teen Study Bible, evangelistic editions, and more than one edition aimed at children.
I'm surprised that I don't see a Minister's edition yet among the pre-pub listings. I teach from the current HCSB Minister's Bible at church.
Forthcoming Bible software editions
No word yet on electronic editions, but presumably the usual bunch: Accordance, Logos, OliveTree, and Wordearch. Lifeway owns WordSearch, so I'm sure they will have it, but I hope the CSB is licensed to other platforms, too.
Reason for dropping "Holman" from the name
Official reason:
"We are proud of the heritage of Holman Bible Publishers, which dates back to 1743, making us the oldest North American Bible publisher. While we are retaining that name for our publishing entity, the Holman name in the Bible translation name often created more questions than answers (who was Mr. Holman?). 'Christian Standard Bible' removes some of those questions and increases appeal to the broad audience that the CSB is designed to serve."
Probable reason: "Holman" is associated with Southern Baptists. Dropping "Holman" fits better with the diversity of translators who produced the H/CSB and will hopefully open the door for more greater use among a diverse representation of churches and denominations.
Reason for update
Official reason:
"We are committed to improving our translation based on advances in biblical scholarship, and input from Bible scholars, pastors, and readers. Taking all of these items into consideration, the CSB has improved on the HCSB’s faithfulness to the original text and clarity for a modern audience."
Translation method
As with the HCSB, Lifeway continues to use the designation Optimal Equivalence as a description of the CSB:
"In the many places throughout Scripture where a word-for-word rendering is clearly understandable, a literal translation is used. When a word-for-word rendering might obscure the meaning for a modern audience, a more dynamic translation is used."
This means it is a median translation (the best kind in my opinion) balancing between formal and dynamic equivalence. This is similar to the method used for the NIV, NET Bible, and many other modern translations.
Significant changes between the HCSB and CSB
Not publicly known yet. The only verse quoted on the official website is part of Revelation 22:6, which reads the same in both versions: “Then he said to me, ‘These words are faithful and true.’”
I would hope they choose to translate ἀδελφοί as the more accurate "brothers and sisters" when the context warrants it, and I hope they stick to their guns and keep שֵׁכָר and σίκερα correctly translated as "beer" in Lev 10:9; Num 6:3; 28:7; Deut 14:26; 29:6; Judg 13:4, 7, 14; 1 Sam 1:15; Prov 20:1; 31:4, 6; Isa 1:22; 5:11, 22; 24:9; 28:7; 29:9; 56:12; Mic 2:11; and Luke 1:15 as the HCSB does now. This still surprises me for a translation owned by a Baptist publishing firm, but I respect their commitment to accuracy.
Identity of translators
No one has publicly been named, but the translators have been described as "100 scholars from 17 denominations."
I will continue to post updates as I find out new information. If I have left anything significant out, please let me know in the comments.
R. Mansfield
See also: "Where We Might Get Our First Glimpse of the CSB"
CSB, HCSB, translations in Faith & Reason
Reader Comments (21)
test
Loved reading your insights here. Just curious...do you have a "wish list" of changes you'd like to see made (or avoided)?
Glad to see you blogging again!
My question is why the need for a complete update of the (H)CSB after only 14 years since it's publication and 8 years since its last revision? The NLT suffers from multiple update-itis as well. Contrast the RSV/NRSV (27 years before complete updatealbeit with some revisions) and the NIV (appeared in 1977, revised 1984, completely updated in 2011, not counting the TNIV <sigh>).
I'm not opposed to publishers doing these complete updates to their translations. I just wish they would issue them at a decent interval of 20-25 years. I can't escape the uneasy feeling these frequent updates are more due to the marketing needs of the publishers rather than advances in scholarship and/or changes in the English language....
Ironically, I just learned that the ESV text has now been made permanent as of summer 2016.
I am a layperson, and use the HCSB quite a lot.
I was reading something from Trevin Wax's blog, where he quoted from Joel 2:3-4 from the CSB (not HCSB). There, Joel 2:4 reads "...abounding in faithful love..." rather than the HCSB reading "...rich in faithful love..."
Of course one little change can't be taken as indicative of overall changes, but "abounding" is more literary than "rich". If the level of English in the CSB ends up a click or two higher than in HCSB , that wouldn't bother me.
That's just a small change in one verse, but thought I'd share it.
I have a strong feeling that the CSB is going to be a major overhaul of the HCSB.
Like you, Rick, I am quite a fan of the HCSB. However, I am very disappointed in the CSB website that Holman set up months ago. I assumed we would see some updates from time to time about how the project of updating the HCSB was going. So far, all they've got is a groovy logo and a couple paragraphs of copy. I've not been a huge fan of the CEB, but while they were working on that version several years ago, they did a great job of keeping readers informed about how the project was going. You would think a publisher like B&H would put a little more work into their website.
I suspect you may be right about the 'major overhaul', Rick. I believe I remember you commenting in your review of the REB that as Bible versions are revised they tend to become more conservative. Perhaps we will see a retreat over the expanded use of the name Yahweh in the Old Testament?
Do you know if the CSB will restore evocative Os, or Ohs? Personally I like them and feel like they convey more emotion, for instance, "Create in me a clean heart O God", sounds like a heartfelt plea but removing the O then makes it sound like an impersonal command to God, a much different feeling. I don't know why they removed these in the HCSB, the ESV kept them in there which is the main reason I like it better. Restoring those would make it the HCSB/CSB my favorite translation but I fear they won't restore them.
Thanks for listening, God Bless!
Peter Schad
I bought the new disciple workbook called disciples path: the journey from lifeway and it says the verses quoted in it are from the CSB copyright 2017. I didn't know so when it told me to memorize 2 Corinthians 5:17 and it quoted the verse, I did. Later, I grabbed my HCSB to double check my memory and I realized that they weren't the same. That is when I checked the copyright page.
Peter Schad, until I get a searchable digital text, it's difficult to know for certain. However, in Psalm 51:10, which you reference in your comment, the CSB still reads the same as the HCSB:
God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Thanks for this, Rick. I've always been fond of the HCSB, hoping that future revisions will make it my Bible of choice. Perhaps this revision just might do it. ;-)
How is Psalms 1 translated in the CSB, is it still using `happy', and has inclusive language be deployed here? I am still undecided whether to use NIV or CSB as my main Bible. But thus far, the changes in CSB look promising..
Thanks for your sharing.
Hugh disappointment...the CSB changed "Yahweh" to "Lord." The HCSB was brave enough to break with tradition and restore the mention of God's name, you remember, Exodus 3:15..."This is My name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation." It saddens me that publishers cave in to popular thought when, as in this case, God clearly revealed the name by which He is to be remembered.
I love the HCSB Study bible. Could not wait to read the CSB, and got it electronically last night from Accordance. Some positive things, some things I am upset about. The NIV and other translations have been under fire for omitting Mark 11:16. It was in the print ed of HCSB, but is missing from CSB. I noticed that Mark 9:46 is also MISSING. Yahweh has been replaced with Lord. Messiah with Christ. In both cases I liked the former! Brothers, where it means believers sometimes says brothers and sisters or believers, which is good, not so exclusive. Once again Luke 4:18 leaves out 'he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted'.
Some of the wording is improved, and made more modern, it is easier to understand. I am upset though that in about half an hour I found 2 missing verses! I have very eagerly anticipated this update. It is a real shame the consultants only ever seem to include PHDs on theology.
HCSB is a great transilation. I wish the revision will not kill it. Some things i want you to add are: 1) good thematic headings. borrow idea GNB or NIV. 2)Capital for the pronoun or noun that stands for God. eg: He, His, Him, Me or Angel of His presence; this is very very important, diffrentiating when its God or not. Great work - Near perfect. May God be with you. Amen.
HCSB is a great transilation. I wish the revision will not kill it. Some things i want you to add are: 1) good thematic headings. borrow idea GNB or NIV. 2)Capital for the pronoun or noun that stands for God. eg: He, His, Him, Me or Angel of His presence; this is very very important, diffrentiating when its God or not. Great work - Near perfect. May God be with you. Amen.
So much of the Christian Standard Bible is a delight and a comfort. Yet two much-criticized carry-overs from the HSCB perplex and sadden me. I can supply the technical details later. The first issue is Colossians 2:9, which has "God's nature" where virtually every current translation has "the Deity" or "Deity," which is most accurate, as much as I can understand it. The second translations that that puzzle me are in 1 John 3:4-10 and 5:18. There, the HCSB/CSB do not fully translate the verbs into continuous tenses, according to just about everything I've read. Consequently, their texts state that real Christians don't sin, which of course contradicts chapter one of this epistle. Any help anyone can give me on these matters will truly be welcomed... I want to enjoy my otherwise wonderful CSB even more than I currently do. Thank you! :-)
I have used HCSB since 2014 in private and public ministry. I just got a CSB, and notice these significant changes:
1. CSB eliminates word Yahwey, using LORD instead. HCSB used Yahweh 611 times!
2. In an apparent gender accommodation, CSB uses "brothers and sisters" 150 times where HCSB used only "brothers". VERY CONCERNING.
3. CSB dropped the capitalization of pronouns for God and Jesus. Since Greek is more specific in pronoun use than English, I find capitalizing pronouns for God VERY HELPFUL.
4. Though CSB keeps the HCSB wording of John 3:16, they reverse HCSB's long explanitory footnote, which I thought was VERY GOOD. They reverse direction with a new footnote saying, "or this much". VERY TROUBLING!!!
5. CSB changes HCSB's "Messiah" to "Christ" about 75 times. CSB never uses "Messiah" after the book of Acts.
6. CSB dropped it’s bullet notes, which I found VERY HELPFUL for unbelievers and new believers, most of the people with whom I work.
I really want to know where they are GOING?! And whether I should jump ship now to the ESV.
The CSB has omitted 16 verses from the text, unlike the HSCS which put those verses in the text bracketed. The CSB includes the text of those verses in the notes. Bad move in my opinion.
I am curious to what would be the reason the leave out scripture , especially scripture that is very important to the gospel . Look before taking my word for it , acts 8:37 seems to skip from acts 8:36 to acts 8-38? Acts 8:37 reads then Phillip said , “if you believe with all your heart , you may “ and he answered and said , “ I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God “ very significant , being it’s a big part of the gospel.???? Any answers ?
Bond Servant, the "missing" verses aren't missing in the manuscript tradition upon which the CSB is based. I don't really like how the current committee handled these verses, especially in light of the history of the H/CSB, which was initiated by Art Farstad. He would not have approved.