Ryken - The ESV and the English Bible Legacy.

Leland Ryken brilliantly demonstrates historically and linguistically that Bible translation philosophy is a life and death matter, and that it takes a thorough commitment to producing an essentially literal translation to convey (and not obscure) the multiplex, polychrome fullness of Gods Word. Unflinching. Powerful. Convincing.

R. Kent Hughes, Senior Pastor Emeritus, College Church, Wheaton, Illinois

In this fascinating book, one of the worlds most renowned experts on the literary qualities of the Bible explains what made the King James Version of 1611 the standard of translation excellence for centuries, and shows convincingly how the ESV and several other modern versions compare favorably or unfavorably to that enduring standard. An excellent book for understanding why translations differ, and why it is important.

Wayne Grudem, Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies, Phoenix Seminary

Every generation has to fight their own battle for the Bible. Today the issue is seen through the What does this mean to you? syndrome, an aversion to propositions, and most recently, the questioning of the historicity of Genesis. Thats why The ESV and the English Bible Legacy is so critical. In the current climate of pop Bible translations it is critical to have a translation like the ESV, which is faithful to the original text, honors the traditional treasures of literary style and readability, and is widely accessible. Last year we began using the ESV officially in our church and sold over two thousand Bibles in our church bookstore, most of which were ESVs. Obviously, we believe in the legacy Dr. Ryken explains in this book!

Jon McNeff, Senior Pastor, NorthCreek Church, Walnut Creek, California

The ESV and the English Bible Legacy

Copyright 2011 by Leland Ryken

Published by Crossway
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Cover design: Studio Gearbox

Cover photo: Corbis Images

Page design and typesetting: Dawn Premako

First printing 2011

Printed in the United States of America

Scriptures marked as ( CEV ) are taken from the Contemporary English Version Copyright 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB have been taken from The Holman Christian Standard Bible. Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are from The New American Standard Bible. Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NCV are from The Holy Bible, New Century Version, copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas 75039. Used by permission.

Scripture references marked NEB are from The New English Bible The Delegates of the Oxford University Press and The Syndics of the Cambridge University Press, 1961, 1970.

Scripture references marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture references marked NKJV are from The New King James Version. Copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

Scripture references marked NLT are from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004.

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Ill., 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture references marked RSV are from The Revised Standard Version. Copyright 1946, 1952, 1971, 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ryken, Leland.

The ESV and the English Bible legacy / Leland Ryken.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-4335-3066-1 (tp)

1. Bible. EnglishVersionsEnglish Standard. 2. Bible.

EnglishVersionsHistory.

I. Title.

BS195.E642R95 2011

2011026423

220.5'208dc23

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
VP 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11
13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

T he purpose of this book is to keep the nature and excellence of the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible in public view. The ESV was published in 2001 and has grown in influence ever since. But the crosswinds of Bible translation controversy that swirl around us make it continuously necessary to explain why the ESV deserves to be the Bible of choice.