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NASB vs. HCSB vs. ESV – Introduction
Let me begin by making a prefacing statement. For over 30 years I have used and trusted the NASB (New American Standard Update) and I still do. Its philosophical theory for translation is important to me, being a formal equivalent translation, which is “word for word.” First Corinthians 2:13 speaks of “words” taught by the Spirit. That is why I preferred the NASB over the NIV (New International Version), which is a dynamic equivalent translation, that is, “thought for thought.” Having said that, there is no perfect word for word translation, with an interlinear being the closest. But who can preach out of an interlinear?
The HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible) seeks to be as literal as the NASB and as readable as the NIV. They call this “optimal equivalence.” This intrigued me. After a careful deliberation, the HSCB became my preaching Bible. I still compare it daily to the NASB because of my trust of that version. I have found that each version sometimes does a better job of translating than the other. This page will be devoted to an ongoing investigation and comparison.
When enough of a difference exists, I will also periodically discuss the ESV (English Standard Version) and its renderings. There will not be as much said about the ESV (English Standard Bible) as is said about the NASB and HCSB. When the ESV came out, I did not notice enough of a difference between it and the NASB to warrant a change after 30 plus years. When there is an important difference, I will cite it along with the other two versions.
As you will notice, I will often cite that words are more than words. In my discussion of these translations, the importance I put upon word choice and use will enlighten you as to how I study and how I interpret the text. Therefore sometimes my comments will not so much be linguistically driven as they are interpretively narrative.
For more information about the Holman Christian Standard Bible, please check out www.MyStudyBible.com and www.anwoth.org
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