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THE

INSPIRATION-TRANSMISSION-TRANSLATION

OF THE

WORD OF GOD

 

The English Standard Version (2)

Lesson #23

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    One version that seemed to come “out of nowhere” was the English Standard Version.

 

B.      It came on the market in 2001, but took some time to grow in popularity.  It has now become a very popular version among members of the church of Christ.

 

C.     In this lesson, we will focus our attention on The English Standard Version (ESV).

 

I.                   BACKGROUND OF THE ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION

 

II.                REMOVING ARCHAIC LANGUAGE

 

III.             POOR GRAMMAR IN THE ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION

 

IV.             GENDER NEUTRALITY IN THE ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION

 

V.                VERSES OMITTED FROM THE ENGLISH STANARD VERSION

 

VI.             INCONSISTENT TRANSLATION OF “HADES” IN THE ESV

 

VII.          A CONTRADICTION IN THE ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION

 

A.    In Matthew 5:17, Jesus says:  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

 

B.      Ephesians 2:15 – by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace.

 

C.     NOTE:   This contradiction is in most of the modern translations.  Why can’t revisions of the version make a correction to this contradiction?

 

VIII.       ADDITIONAL WORDS IN THE ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION

 

A.    Judges 16:13

1.      KJV:  And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies:  tell me wherewith thou mightiest be bound.  And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.”

2.      ESV:  Then Delilah said to Samson, Until now you have mocked me and told me lies.  Tell me how you might be bound.  And he said to her, If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.”

 

 

 

B.      I Samuel 10:1

1.      KJV:  Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?”

2.      ESV:  Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people?  And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies.  And this shall be a sign to you that the lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage.

 

C.     Psalm 145:13

1.      KJV:  Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

2.      ESV:  Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.  [The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works].

 

IX.              WEAKNESS AND PROBLEMS IN THE ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION

 

A.    Genesis 49:10

1.      KJV:  The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

2.      ESV:  The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute come to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.  (NOTE:  In the footnote, they admit:  “…Hebrew until Shiloh comes...”

 

B.      Judges 14:15

1.      KJV:  And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife…

2.      ESV:  On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife…

 

C.     Isaiah 55:1

1.      KJV:  Ho, every one that thirsteth…

2.      ESV:  Come, everyone who thirsts…  (NOTE:  The word “translated “ho” is not found at all even though it is in the Hebrew text).

 

D.    In Matthew 1:7, Asaph is put for Asa.  Then, in Matthew 1:10, Amos is put for Amon.  Neither of these men are kings.  The justification is that they are “probably” alternate spellings.

 

E.      Matthew 19:9

1.      KJV:  And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery:  and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

2.      ESV:  And I say unto you:  whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and married another commits adultery.  (NOTE:  The omission of the last part of the verse also).

 

F.      Romans 12:1

1.      KJV:  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2.      ESV:  I appeal to you therefore brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

 

G.     Galatians 1:16

1.      KJV:  To reveal his Son in me…

2.      ESV:  was pleased to reveal his Son to me  (NOTE:  In the footnote is the admission that the Greek should be “in” me).

 

H.    II Thessalonians 3:6

1.      KJV:  Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he receive of us.

2.      ESV:  Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

 

I.        I John 4:19

1.      KJV:  We love him, because he first loved us.

2.      ESV:  We love because he first loved us.

 

X.                 DEITY IN THE ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION

 

A.    The word “God” is left out of the translation 38 times.

 

B.      The name “Jesus” is omitted 18 times.  “Jesus Christ” is omitted 51 times.  “Christ” is omitted 39 times.  And, “Lord” is omitted 66 times.

 

C.     The words “only begotten Son” are translated “only Son” (John 1:14; 1:18; 3:16; I John 4:9).

 

D.    I Timothy 3:16

1.      KJV:  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:  God was manifest in the flesh…

2.      ESV:  Great indeed, we confess, if they mystery of godliness:  He was manifested in the flesh…

 

E.      The word “Comforter” for the Holy Spirit is translated “helper” (John 14:16; 14:26; 15:26; 16:7).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Some of what we have said may be impacted by the edition of the ESV that you are currently using.  All of our references come from the ESV that was copyrighted in 2002.

 

B.      Remember, there are no perfect translations.  Some, however, are stronger than others. 

 

C.     In our study of any version, we use it because of its strengths, but we must also be well aware of its weaknesses.

 

D.    The biggest problem of having no version policy within congregations involves the confusion that can arise in reading many modern versions which have different wording at times.