Interview about the Christian Standard Bible Translation

In a post I did a few days ago Dan Phillips was kind enough to call my attention to an interview at Anwoth blog with Dr. Ed Blum, general editor of the (Holman) Christian Standard Bible translation. It's a terrific interview filled with insight into the translation process of the CSB and insight into translation issues.  Here's a few highlights.

The CSB aimed for "optimal equivalence," hence we have a new translation methodology to add to the debates between formal and dynamic equivalence.

The CSB seems to use the most up to date English vocabulary in it's translation.

The CSB claims to be the only truly "new" translation in recent years.  Dr. Blum says that the NAS and ESV are basically revisions of the King James tradition.

As Dan pointed out, there is an interesting discussion in the interview about the translation of "monogenes" - which is commonly translated "only begotten."  The word "unique" or the phrase "one of a kind" is a better translation, but it's interesting to see why the CSB chose not to go with "unique."

Another interesting point is on the rationale for why, instead of "strong drink," they chose the word "beer."

Which is also interesting in light of the common view that this is the Southern Baptist bible. Not so, Dr. Blum himself is a Presbyterian and only about 1/3 of the translation committee was Southern Baptist.

All in all, a very informative interview.  I recommend it to you highly.

Comments

[David Porter]

Thank you for this article. I just ordered two CSB's today.

[Samuel Cain]

I think I will stick with my trusty ESV. Interesting article.

[David Wayne]

David - glad you liked the article.

Samuel - I understand, just wanted to offer another perspective. I've seen very little about the CSB in the blogosphere so just thought I would mention it. For me, I make it a policy not to have a "favorite" translation. I normally read out of the NET Bible or NIV and when I study more in-depth go for 5 or 6 translations across the spectrum from dynamic to formal equivalence. I've got the NLT on the left side, the ESV in the center and the NKJV on the right. I think I'm going to stick the CSB in next to the ESV and start paying closer attention to it.

[Will]

Thanks for the link to the article. I first came across the CSB about four years ago. I loved its brutal honesty with the text. The translators didn't pull any punches, and i found the translation easy to read without being dumbed down. I certainly appreciated the modern syntax as well.

I hope the CSB becomes a translation, like David said, that people will use right along side their other excellent translations like the ESV, NIV, etc.

[jim]

There's another interview with Ed Blum on the HCSB here http://www.midbible.ac.uk/content/view/121/