The Christian Standard Bible is an excellent Bible translation that fills the gap between the English Standard Version (ESV) and the New International Version (NIV) 2011. But it does need to be anglicised.
It was Adrian Reynolds (then at the Proclamation Trust and now at the FIEC) who first introduced me to the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). It was a new and original English translation and aimed to be faithful and clear to modern American readers. It was a joy to read in my personal devotions, but was also in places a bit quirky. I was a fan but not a devotee. In 2017 everything changed. LifeWay released their revised and improved version with a new name – the Christian Standard Bible. I bought a Reader’s Bible and read it through in 90 days. The quirks had gone and I was hooked.
Optimal
Firstly, it balances the translation philoso-phies of dynamic equivalence (NIV2011) and formal equivalence (ESV), calling this Optimal Equivalence. This makes the ver-sion highly readable for modern Western readers, yet at the same time great for study. I found this to be true as I read large chunks of Old Testament narrative which flowed beautifully. But I also appreciated the small-er details. Time after time I would pick up on differences in how the CSB translates familiar verses. But when I stopped and studied the changes I found them spot on. With Tom Schreiner (Professor of New Testament Interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) on the trans-lation committee, this is not surprising.
Take John 3:16 as an example.
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16, CSB).
The verse rightly puts the focus on the manner of God’s love in giving us Jesus. We might need to change our banners at sporting events!
Sensible
Secondly, the CSB takes a sensible and conservative approach to gender language. So it’s a yes to ‘brothers and sisters’ but no to ‘they’ or ‘them’ for third person masculine singular pronouns. Here are two examples:
To the saints in Christ at Colossae, who are faithful brothers and sisters (Col. 1:2, CSB).
The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him (John 14:21).
Readable
Thirdly, the CSB has been designed really well. I know this isn’t as important as the text, but with their 2KDenmark font and setting in an ever-growing range of Bibles, LifeWay has taken serious thought as to how to help the reader focus on the text. The “She Reads Truth’ and ‘He Reads Truth’ versions are well worth investigating. There’s also a Spurgeon’s Study Bible!
Since its launch I have talked to many church leaders about the CSB. They nod their heads at my enthusiasm, but the con-versation usually ends with something along the lines of ‘Yes, but it will never take off here unless it gets anglicised’. I agree. It’s not just about adding a ‘u’ or changing a ‘z’. There are some phrases that don’t cross the pond well. So if the Optimal Equivalence approach is to help us over here, the CSB will need a bit of work. But when that hap-pens my hunch is that the CSB will fill the gap between the ESV and the NIV2011 in the UK as well. I think we need it.
When the NIV was revised in 2011, our church administrator bought every copy of the NIV1984 that she could find. It gave us time to think carefully about our next pew Bible. Well, the 1984s are running out! So I’m looking for a Bible version that works for everyday people, some of whom don’t read very much.
I need a translation that will flow when read publicly, but can also be preached and studied with confidence. There are many good translations around and we all have our favourites, but I think the CSB is the one for me. (However, future pew Bible choices are down to the church, not just the pastor!) After a final, smaller revision in 2020, an anglicised CSB could be a great blessing to many of our churches.
