Comments on: The ESV vs. HCSB debate continues http://heissufficient.com/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues A personal walk in a wilderness of words Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:32:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bible Translations — Which one? « Inquiring Minds http://heissufficient.com/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/#comment-4204 Bible Translations — Which one? « Inquiring Minds Fri, 26 Dec 2008 04:14:12 +0000 http://heissufficient.net/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/#comment-4204 [...] done as it freed me to consider other translations.  It was through blogging that I came across ElShaddai Edwards’s, and Rick Mansfield’s blog and a few others that they actually had some great things to say [...] [...] done as it freed me to consider other translations.  It was through blogging that I came across ElShaddai Edwards’s, and Rick Mansfield’s blog and a few others that they actually had some great things to say [...]

]]> By: Alex http://heissufficient.com/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/#comment-3028 Alex Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:20:21 +0000 http://heissufficient.net/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/#comment-3028 #3 is a too flawed I think. #3 is a too flawed I think.

]]> By: Matt Steele in the Hour of Chaos http://heissufficient.com/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/#comment-426 Matt Steele in the Hour of Chaos Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:15:49 +0000 http://heissufficient.net/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/#comment-426 Realize why the SBC came up with the HCSB in the first place: they were paying out a ton of money to Zondervan to use the NIV in their Sunday school materials. Coming up with their own translation allowed them to own it and stop paying for the NIV for Sunday school quarterlies. It is immaterial if the ESV outsells the HCSB. The SBC has already accomplished what they wanted to do. Realize why the SBC came up with the HCSB in the first place: they were paying out a ton of money to Zondervan to use the NIV in their Sunday school materials. Coming up with their own translation allowed them to own it and stop paying for the NIV for Sunday school quarterlies. It is immaterial if the ESV outsells the HCSB. The SBC has already accomplished what they wanted to do.

]]> By: ElShaddai Edwards http://heissufficient.com/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/#comment-425 ElShaddai Edwards Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:02:16 +0000 http://heissufficient.net/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/#comment-425 <i>In the meantime, the ESV didn’t show up on the list until late 2005 or early 2006, well after the HCSB was already established on the list. But my hunch is that the ESV is growing while the HCSB is plateaued.</i> Thanks for the clarification, Rick. It would be interesting to chart the ESV numbers against endorsement activity - it does seem that there's been an explosion of ESV online activity in the last year and I don't know what to attribute that to since I don't regularly listen to or read evangelical media. In the meantime, the ESV didn’t show up on the list until late 2005 or early 2006, well after the HCSB was already established on the list. But my hunch is that the ESV is growing while the HCSB is plateaued.

Thanks for the clarification, Rick. It would be interesting to chart the ESV numbers against endorsement activity – it does seem that there’s been an explosion of ESV online activity in the last year and I don’t know what to attribute that to since I don’t regularly listen to or read evangelical media.

]]> By: R. Mansfield http://heissufficient.com/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/#comment-424 R. Mansfield Tue, 27 Nov 2007 21:32:29 +0000 http://heissufficient.net/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/#comment-424 Actually, now that I think about it, #3 is a bit flawed. For the first two years of its existence, the HCSB hovered right around #5, due in part to a big push among Southern Baptist to read through the new translation in a year soon after it was released. That led to a wave of purchases for regular editions which maintained sales for a while. Then overnight, the HCSB dropped off the CBA list for quite a while, although it's back now. In the meantime, the ESV didn't show up on the list until late 2005 or early 2006, well after the HCSB was already established on the list. But my hunch is that the ESV is growing while the HCSB is plateaued. Actually, now that I think about it, #3 is a bit flawed. For the first two years of its existence, the HCSB hovered right around #5, due in part to a big push among Southern Baptist to read through the new translation in a year soon after it was released. That led to a wave of purchases for regular editions which maintained sales for a while. Then overnight, the HCSB dropped off the CBA list for quite a while, although it’s back now. In the meantime, the ESV didn’t show up on the list until late 2005 or early 2006, well after the HCSB was already established on the list. But my hunch is that the ESV is growing while the HCSB is plateaued.

]]> By: ElShaddai Edwards http://heissufficient.com/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/#comment-423 ElShaddai Edwards Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:18:30 +0000 http://heissufficient.net/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/#comment-423 Thanks for the thoughts, Mitch. I wish I could say that I'm shocked more Bible publishers haven't embraced the Web as a forum for product information and online community/discussion, but I'm not. Crossway's use of blogs and viral marketing is outstanding - it seems every other blog I visit has an ESV badge or scripture search tool on it. You're right - Crossway's full support of the ESV is/will be a huge factor in its success. Thanks for the thoughts, Mitch. I wish I could say that I’m shocked more Bible publishers haven’t embraced the Web as a forum for product information and online community/discussion, but I’m not. Crossway’s use of blogs and viral marketing is outstanding – it seems every other blog I visit has an ESV badge or scripture search tool on it. You’re right – Crossway’s full support of the ESV is/will be a huge factor in its success.

]]> By: mguthrie http://heissufficient.com/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/#comment-422 mguthrie Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:25:53 +0000 http://heissufficient.net/2007/11/27/the-esv-vs-hcsb-debate-continues/#comment-422 El Shaddai, I would have to say I completely agree with your assessment as that is the one I have come to as well. I spent a lot of time bouncing between translations (still doing so actually) trying to find the "perfect" one for me and I kept going back to the HCSB for quite awhile. But there were a few things that continued to nag at me with the HCSB: 1. The name... it's ridiculous. 2. The marketing in the introduction of the Bible comes across as extremely arrogant to me. Stating that your bible translation is going to be a standard for years to come seems a little over the top to me. Standards are recognized, not invented. 3. No marketing outside of SBC. I find this one the most frustrating as I really do enjoy the HCSB and I am not a Baptist. Unless somebody does a little research or is in SBC circles they are not going to pick the HCSB right off the bat. 4. The B&H website on the HCSB has broken links and is not very easy to navigate. It looks like its been abandoned. Furthermore, emails sent to B&H regarding the HCSB don't always get a reply. Crossway on the other hand seems to be amazingly fast when I've contacted them. I really wanted to see the HCSB make it but based off of what I've noticed so far B&H is just going to sit by and be content to keep it the Baptist Bible. I don't really get why a company would spend $10 million dollars to create a translation then sit on it until it dies. Reminds me of Novell in that sense... good product. Horrible marketing. I don't feel the ESV is the greatest translation in the world, it's hardly innovative but what it does have going for it makes me keep it on my desk... Crossway and others are really behind it. Many of the teachers I follow are using it from the pulpit... it's in every piece of free bible study software ... it's the most technologically available and it's familiar (from it's KJV roots). Even though it's not my favorite translation I would be willing to use the ESV as my main Bible because at least I know it's going to be around in another 10 years. Anyways, that is my two cents. I understand your frustrations. -MG El Shaddai,
I would have to say I completely agree with your assessment as that is the one I have come to as well. I spent a lot of time bouncing between translations (still doing so actually) trying to find the “perfect” one for me and I kept going back to the HCSB for quite awhile.

But there were a few things that continued to nag at me with the HCSB:

1. The name… it’s ridiculous.
2. The marketing in the introduction of the Bible comes across as extremely arrogant to me. Stating that your bible translation is going to be a standard for years to come seems a little over the top to me. Standards are recognized, not invented.
3. No marketing outside of SBC. I find this one the most frustrating as I really do enjoy the HCSB and I am not a Baptist. Unless somebody does a little research or is in SBC circles they are not going to pick the HCSB right off the bat.
4. The B&H website on the HCSB has broken links and is not very easy to navigate. It looks like its been abandoned. Furthermore, emails sent to B&H regarding the HCSB don’t always get a reply. Crossway on the other hand seems to be amazingly fast when I’ve contacted them.

I really wanted to see the HCSB make it but based off of what I’ve noticed so far B&H is just going to sit by and be content to keep it the Baptist Bible. I don’t really get why a company would spend $10 million dollars to create a translation then sit on it until it dies. Reminds me of Novell in that sense… good product. Horrible marketing.

I don’t feel the ESV is the greatest translation in the world, it’s hardly innovative but what it does have going for it makes me keep it on my desk… Crossway and others are really behind it. Many of the teachers I follow are using it from the pulpit… it’s in every piece of free bible study software … it’s the most technologically available and it’s familiar (from it’s KJV roots). Even though it’s not my favorite translation I would be willing to use the ESV as my main Bible because at least I know it’s going to be around in another 10 years.

Anyways, that is my two cents. I understand your frustrations.

-MG

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