Crossway Reverses Decision to Quit Making Revisions to the ESV.

[GtrsRGr8]

I found it interesting that Crossway, whom I believe owns the copyright and know that is, at least, a publisher of the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible, has decided that the ESV will be subject to changes in the text in the future, after all. This is a reversal of a decision that they had made in the past to make the ESV text permanent.

Apparently, and I had missed the news about this, sometime back they decided to "finalize" the text, in other words, quit making any revisions or any other changes to the text of the ESV.

There is an excellent article about this on this Christianity Today webpage.

[Fiat_Lux]

Crossway realized that it would be more profitable changing 52 words every couple of years, than having a stable edition.

Amber

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by Fiat_Lux

Crossway realized that it would be more profitable changing 52 words every couple of years, than having a stable edition.

Amber

I detect a cynic. ha

From what I read, I really didn't get the impression that that was their motivation at all. Why would they even have started the policy if all that they are interested in is profit?

Oh, and if I remember correctly, historically the number of word changes has been far less than 52 each revision. Unless you count the additions to the preface, foreword, etc. telling you about the reason the revision was needed, blah, blah, blah.

[Ravensknight]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

Oh, and if I remember correctly, historically the number of word changes has been far less than 52 each revision.

Hasn't it been 52 words changed, IN TOTAL, since the ESV came out until now? That is what I thought...

[frahse]

Originally Posted by Fiat_Lux

Crossway realized that it would be more profitable changing 52 words every couple of years, than having a stable edition.

Amber

Navin R. Johnson: "Ah... It's a profit deal! Takes the pressure off."
- The Jerk

[Manabi]

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

Hasn't it been 52 words changed, IN TOTAL, since the ESV came out until now? That is what I thought...

The article says that last month (August, this was published 9/28) they had changed 52 words in 26 verses and then announced the freeze. Apparently there was a lot of criticism, and they reversed it at the end of September.

The arguments for not making the text permanent are pretty sound. Over time scholars gain better understanding of portions of the Bible, plus English changes. If you freeze the translation, it will grow increasingly inaccurate over time.

[JimMcLaren]

Originally Posted by Fiat_Lux

Crossway realized that it would be more profitable changing 52 words every couple of years, than having a stable edition.

Amber

You might be able to argue that if they didn't give away the electronic version.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by frahse

Navin R. Johnson: "Ah... It's a profit deal! Takes the pressure off."
- The Jerk

"Take a chance, win some crap. Step right up--"

[crich70]

Originally Posted by Manabi

The article says that last month (August, this was published 9/28) they had changed 52 words in 26 verses and then announced the freeze. Apparently there was a lot of criticism, and they reversed it at the end of September.

The arguments for not making the text permanent are pretty sound. Over time scholars gain better understanding of portions of the Bible, plus English changes. If you freeze the translation, it will grow increasingly inaccurate over time.

Isn't the name a misnomer though then? I mean 'standard version' implies a stability of word choice to me anyway. Though I do understand that word meaning changes over time. Conversation is a case in point. Back when the KJV was written the word meant the way a person acted, their way of life, rather than just two or more people talking i.e. having a conversation.