Why I Choose the Christian Standard Bible
When I was nineteen years old, my grandmother gifted me a study Bible for Christmas. I was a young and relatively new Christian at the time, so this Christmas present seemed appropriate and admirable.
I immediately became enamored and enthralled with its rich text and supporting commentary. Several years later, this is still the exact copy I aim to read daily; my version is a bit beaten up now but the text remains the same.
This Bible I received from my grandmother was a Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) and I'm so very happy it was. According to their website, the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) is a "revision of the HCSB, updating translation and word choices in order to optimize both fidelity to the original languages and clarity for a modern audience."
I often tell people it's my greatest treasure and the best gift I've ever received. When the hypothetical question is proposed to me, "If your home is on fire and you only have time to grab one item before exiting, which item do you grab?" my instant and intuitive response―whether right or wrong―is not to go for my laptop or secret stash of cash but always to grab my HCSB Study Bible.
I care for it deeply.
But what is the CSB? Is it a good translation? Why are there so many translations of the Bible anyway?
Let's dive in.
What is the purpose of Bible translation?
Let's first define what isn't the purpose of Bible translation. The purpose of modern Bible translation isn't to make the Bible personally relevant or culturally meaningful; these are the respective functions of the Holy Spirit and a small group Bible study. This is where some "translations" of the Bible (such as The Message) fall short.
The purpose of modern Bible translation is to faithfully render the original text into a comprehensible modern language. Comprehensibility should encompass both accuracy and intelligibility.
Why are there so many translations of the Bible?
This question can be complex, but the primary reason is that language changes over time. The original text of the Bible was written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. As scholars translate these languages into English, it can become quite cumbersome to express them in a way that is both accurate to the original text and understandable for the modern reader. As our understanding of these ancient languages increases and as our own English language continues to evolve, we seek newer translations to meet these basic needs.
Most translations try to accurately render the original text depending on how easily the modern reader can comprehend it. There are two general approaches scholars use to accomplish this: formal equivalence and dynamic equivalence.
Formal equivalence can come across a little stale because the translators try to stay as close as possible to the original language. Sometimes this can make for long or awkward sentences that are hard to understand in English. On the other end of the spectrum are dynamic equivalence, where the translators take more liberty with the language and add in their own ideas and thoughts to help “clarify” the meaning in English.
Why I choose the Christian Standard Bible
The CSB is a 2017 revision and replacement of the HCSB, first published in 2004. The CSB follows the same basic translation philosophy as the HCSB, a mediating approach between formal and dynamic equivalence.
I've found the CSB to be the best balance of the two aforementioned approaches. I've read many different translations and find myself keep coming back to the same one my grandmother gave me those many years ago. I agree and wholeheartedly endorse how the HCSB dealt with this dilemma, which is the same approach utilized in the CSB:
"Traditionally, some [Bible translations] have placed a higher value on word-for-word accuracy (Formal Equivalence) and others have emphasized a thought-for-thought approach—striving for a greater level of readability (Dynamic Equivalence). But as the scholars who have worked on Bibles using different approaches have said, no English translation can be fully Formal or fully Dynamic. All translations are a balance of both.
The HCSB employs a first-of-its kind translation philosophy known as Optimal Equivalence, which seeks to achieve an optimal balance of literary precision and emotive clarity through comprehensive analysis of the text at every level. This process assures maximum transfer of both words and thoughts contained in the original."
I choose the CSB because it's a highly trustworthy, faithful translation that has shown to be an optimal blend of accuracy and readability. It’s as literal to the original as possible without sacrificing clarity. The CSB has quickly become the translation that pastors rely on, Bible readers turn to, and non-Christians transformationally discover.
Many reputable pastors and leaders have publicly endorsed and currently use the CSB in their own studies, teachings, and churches, including: David Platt, J.D. Greear, Alistair Begg, Jared Wilson and many more.
Final thoughts
The Bible is God's revealed Word, regardless of the translation. We've talked a lot about translations in this article. But we must not forget that the Bible is unlike any other book ever written; the Holy Spirit has the power to transform and redeem any soul using whatever instrument/translation He chooses.
Commentary is just commentary. Commentary is wonderfully helpful when studying historical, geographical and linguistic contexts. However, I am in constant need of the reminder that these study notes are not equal in authority with Scripture itself. These are simply other people’s opinions about the Bible and do not have the same value or reliability. It is dangerous when the commentary of man becomes equal (whether by accident or not) with the Doctrines of God.
The Text is best. Regardless of your translation, you already have in totality what you need: God's infallible Word. Some of us focus so much on the translation that we forget to pray and seek God’s illumination on the passage before all else. God has graciously given us all we need in the Bible. You want to know God? Open your Bible and read its words!
Recommendations
In addition to the CSB, I've found the following translations to be particularly faithful: the English Standard Version (ESV), the New American Standard Bible (NASB), the New King James Version (NKJV), and the New English Translation (NET).