A few years into his current pastorate, Kevin DeYoung’s church needed to replace its well-worn pew Bibles. DeYoung wrote to his congregation, outlining seven reasons why he preferred the English Standard Version (ESV) and proposed its adoption. Kevin DeYoung (MDiv, Gordon-Conwell.
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Several years ago our church switched to the ESV. To help with this transition I wrote a lengthy paper for the congregation.
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Last year Crossway asked if they could turn that paper into a short booklet. You can read more about the pamphlet on the Crossway blog. The previous link explains how you can download the book for free. You can also access the PDF here. We are blessed with many fine English translations. But I have been a reader of the ESV since it first came out and I am very happy our church made the switch. Paperback , 31 pages. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
Lists with This Book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. May 26, Dan Glover rated it really liked it. Firstly, I took 8 semesters of Greek and regrettably, only one of Hebrew, but that was enough to demonstrate to me that the NIV was so very often doing as much interpretation as it was translation. Secondly, as I was studying passages and books of the Bible and was turning to the best of the commentaries, I found that the commentators were spending a goodish bit of time explaining why the NIV doesn't t When I was in Bible college, I switched away from using the NIV largely due to four factors.
Secondly, as I was studying passages and books of the Bible and was turning to the best of the commentaries, I found that the commentators were spending a goodish bit of time explaining why the NIV doesn't translate a particular passage all that well and what it ought to really be saying.
Third, as I was doing my own translation and sentence diagramming work, I was coming to the same conclusions.
Reasons for the ESV
And forth, in my preaching and teaching I stayed on to teach for a year I didn't like the fact that I was having to "unteach" so many passages from the NIV before going on to explain what they really say. This little book by Kevin DeYoung is so short and to the point that if I make this review any longer, I'll just be restating in my own words his arguments.
I am grateful for this little booklet and commend it as very useful. Don't worry if you are a faithful NIV user. DeYoung still holds to the belief that the best Bible is the one you actually read and God can and does work through many translations. However, when it came time to pick a "pew" and preaching Bible for our church, we went with the ESV because it attempts to be a readable and essentially literal translation rather than doing so much interpretation.
Which leads me to an additional reason I switched to the ESV, but was not part of my Bible school experience. If God chose to state certain things in an ambiguous way, or in a way which could legitimately be understood in more than one way and still fit the context of the passage, the book and the Scriptures overall, who is a committee of translators to decide what God meant or didn't mean?
If the author was supernatural, why should His book conform to our "only one true interpretation of any given text" model? May 28, David rated it really liked it. The author is wise and gracious in his comparison. His points are well illustrated, worth reading. Dec 11, Tim Matzke rated it really liked it. His church had previously been using the New International Version for their pew bibles but, they were becoming warn and DeYoung had a desire to change the version of choice for the church. However, he feels that the ESV offers the best combination of a "essentially literal" translations with literary eloquence.
It is both easy to read and accurate to the highest possible degree. I understand why he chose to compare the two however, I wish he would have expanded the comparison to translation like the KJV, the most used within fundamental conservative Evangelicalism.
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This booklet was a short and enjoyable read about a trend occurring in churches across America. Meeting with your spiritual director for the first time? This book will show you how to get the most out of your sessions.
Reasons for the ESV
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Please try again later. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. Over the years I have watched this discussion develop, between those who prefer "essentially literal" translations and this who prefer translations that make wider use of the technique of "dynamic equivalence. One thing that is often obscured in these discussions is that the NIV is an essentially literal translation that simply uses dynamic equivalence more than the ESV. DeYoung does well to mention this in passing.
Another thing that becomes clear, or should become clear to the reader and observer ot the "two sides" of this debate is that for those in support of the value of "essentially literal" translations, preaching and teaching are essential parts of God's plan for His people to engage with the Scriptures. Private reading is of extraordinary value.
And the Bible can and does impact the unbeliever or young believer who takes the time to interact with the text. But careful analysis and deep exposition are central for people like DeYoung. They assume these things from the start. So, when others stress the accessibility and naturalness of another translation, when others stress the readability and lower reading level required by users of Translation X, it is important to note that these are very different tests.
In essence, DeYoung makes a strong case that the ESV is good, and even the best, for the purposes he assumes for the Bible. It works for what he wants to do with the Bible. It works for what he sees as God's will for the Bible. It does what the Bible is supposed to do. His explanation would be strengthened if he made this more explicit. If what one wants or expects from a good Bible translation, or if what one expects from the best Bible translation is a Bible that doesn't need a Church or a preacher or a teacher, then one will probably support something other than the ESV.
While doing a masterful presentation in comparing the NIV translation with the ESV translation the author did so in a way that is not offensive. He clearly points out that translation is, at best, a difficult process and should be recognized as such. The Larger Catechism of the Westminster Assembly: A User's Guide to Bible Translations: Making the Most of Different Versions. For the Fame of God's Name: Essays in Honor of John Piper.
All 66 Books Explained and Applied. Exalting Jesus in James. The Jonathan Edwards Encyclopedia. Inspiration and Authority of the Bible. DeYoung outlines seven reasons why he prefers the ESV over other translations for personal study and devotions, worship services and educational ministries.