HCSB Study Bible: God's Word for Life

By Holman Bible Publishers, Jeremy Royal Howard and Edwin Blum

2011 ECPA Christian Book Award Winner!

Developed in direct response to what consumer focus groups asked for, only one study Bible delivers more than you'd expect-right where you'd expect it. 

When reading a passage in the Bible, you shouldn't have to wonder where to find supporting reference notes and commentary that go along with it. That's why the HCSB Study Bible-featuring approximately 15,000 study notes-is designed so that every clarifying resource is there on the same page spread as the biblical text to which it refers. You'll never again forget what you were looking for, because the pertinent note, map, chart, word study, or illustration is already there. And when an even deeper view is desired, there are also introductions for each book, outlines and timelines, a concordance, and more.

For the growing believer whose desire is to know Scripture more intimately and live out its loving instruction, the HCSB Study Bible always keeps you and God on the same page.

FEATURES

315 word studies
Four-color presentation pages
141 photographs
Two-column text setting
62 timelines
Two-piece gift box (non-hardcover)
59 maps
One-year Bible reading plan
24 articles
Center column references
16 illustrations/reconstructions 
Topical subheads
15 charts
Black letter text

• Language: English
• Publisher: BH Publishing Group
• Release date: Dec 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781433601538

Book preview

Table of Contents

Copyright

Introduction to the HCSB Study Bible

Contributors

Essays

Maps

Illustrations

Charts

Timelines

Hebrew Word Studies

Greek Word Studies

Introduction to the HCSB

Commonly Used Abbreviations

Plan of Salvation

HCSB Bullet Notes

Concordance

Bible Memory Plan

One Year Bible Reading Plan

Three Year Bible Reading Plan

Old Testment

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Song of Songs

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

NEW TESTAMENT

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation

Art Credits

HCSB Study Bible

Copyright © 2010 by Holman Bible Publishers

Nashville, Tennessee. All Rights Reserved.

ISBN: 9781433601538

Version 1.0

Holman Christian Standard Bible®

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009

by Holman Bible Publishers.

The text of the Holman Christian Standard Bible may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio) up to and inclusive of two-hundred-fifty (250) verses without the written permission of the publisher, provided that the verses quoted do not account for more than 20 percent of the work in which they are quoted, and provided that a complete book of the Bible is not quoted. Requests for permission are to be directed to and approved in writing by Holman Bible Publishers, 127 Ninth Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee 37234.

When the Holman Christian Standard Bible is quoted, one of the following credit lines must appear on the copyright page or title page of the work:

Scripture quotations marked HCSB have been taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

The HCSB Study Bible was produced with the assistance of Peachtree Editorial Services. Typesetting was provided by TF Designs.

Styles ISBN

Hardcover 978-1-5864-0506-9

Black Bonded 978-1-5864-0505-2

Black Bonded Indexed 978-1-5864-0504-5

Black Genuine 978-1-5864-0508-3

Black Genuine Indexed 978-1-5864-0507-6

Black/Gray Simulated 978-1-5864-0502-1

Black/Gray Simulated Indexed 978-1-4336-0123-1

Brown/Tan Simulated 978-1-5864-0503-8

Brown/Tan Simulated Indexed 978-1-4336-0122-4

Black Premium Cowhide 978-1-5864-0457-4

Digital/ePub 978-1-4336-0153-8

220.52 BIBLE

Printed in the United States of America

1 2 3 4 5 6 13 12 11 10

RRD

Introduction to the HCSB Study Bible

Features of the HCSB Study BIble

Contributors

How to Read and Study the Bible

Introduction to the Holman Christian Standard Bible®

Introduction to the HCSB Study Bible

The Christian religion rests fundamentally on the belief that God has chosen to reveal Himself to a human race that is estranged from Him. God has done this not only through miraculous signs, sweeping acts of providence, and the life and works of Jesus Christ, but through 66 writings collectively known as the Bible. These books are taken to be nothing less than authoritative communications from God, given through human authors who were led by the Holy Spirit to write down what God would have us know. Among other things, we learn in the Bible that God is the sovereign Creator of all reality. No corner of the universe is outside His rule. We learn that God is love, that His character is steadfast for eternity, that He is in all ways holy, and that He alone is worthy of praise and glory. We also learn that we are sinners in need of reconciliation with God, and that this reconciliation comes only through faith in God's Son who paid our sin debt on the cross.

Since the Bible conveys such serious matters as these, we must be careful to understand its teachings properly. To misunderstand or misapply the Bible can lead to serious error. Now more than ever, the church is gifted with a multitude of teachers who are equipped to provide tools that help readers comprehend the Bible and apply it to their lives. The HCSB Study Bible represents the work of more than a hundred scholars who have devoted their lives to living and teaching the truths of Scripture. They come from different denominations and diverse backgrounds. Since its release in 2004, readers have recognized the Holman Christian Standard Bible as a multi-denominational effort, reflecting the very best in updated Bible translation scholarship. We have taken the same approach in the HCSB Study Bible. Our contributors reflect a broad sampling of evangelical scholars whose ministries are based at seminaries, colleges, and churches.

The goal of each tool in this study Bible, whether study notes, essays, book introductions, maps, charts, or the online study component (hcsbstudybible.com), is to serve the text of Scripture by bringing to light facts that aid comprehension. As servants to the text, the study tools are designed to keep the focus on Scripture and never on the tools themselves. Practically speaking this approach is demonstrated by the fact that the text of Scripture is never positioned beneath a study tool. The uppermost feature on any given page is the text of Scripture itself. Theologically speaking our text-centric approach is reflected in the fact that each of our contributors honors the Bible as God's inspired and inerrant Word.

Some of the study notes and essays in this study Bible will encourage you and provide answers to questions you have long pondered. Others will surprise you with information you could not have anticipated and prompt you to ask new questions. Still others will challenge you, possibly even provoke you, as you are presented with information that invites you to question your preconceived notions or settled opinions. In all cases our aim is to provide you with tools for engaging God's Word on a deeper level, which leads to life transformation and true knowledge of God. We endeavor to be even-handed on controversial issues. To help achieve this, each note and essay has been pored over by a team of theological editors. In some cases we will adopt positions that are hotly debated, but we always land in a place that is well represented among biblically committed scholars and that seeks to honor the intentions of God's Word.

Our hope is that, in conjunction with other fine study tools that are available, you will use the HCSB Study Bible to deepen your walk with the God who has graciously revealed Himself in the Bible.

Jeremy Royal Howard

General Editor

Features of the HCSB Study Bible

The HCSB was undertaken as a translation that strongly supports Bible study. In the HCSB Study Bible, the Scripture is primary. All features and tools are designed to help you understand the Scripture and be transformed by it.

Two kinds of HCSB notes enable you to see for yourself how the translation was derived. When translators do their work, they begin with several possible translations that reflect the original language. Alternate translations marked by Or. See some of the options HCSB translators considered. A second kind of note marks literal translations. They are indicated by Lit. HCSB aims to be as literal as possible. Where a literal translation doesn't conform to good English style, HCSB translators find a way to render the expression that optimizes accuracy and readability. The Lit feature enables you to see the literal translation for yourself and compare it with the what the HCSB translators view as the most accurate translation of the sentence or phrase.

Other Features of the HCSB Study Bible

Cross references point to other Bible passages that are related to the text on which you are focusing.

Study notes provide historical, cultural, linguistic, and biblical information that enhances your understanding of a given passage. Words in bold are directly from the Scripture text.

Bullet Points indicate key words for which definitions are provided in the section beginning on p. 2231.

Bolded text in the New Testament are words quoted directly from the Old Testament.

Maps illuminate the Bible text by showing it's geographical context.

Charts organize information in a way that enables the reader to grasp important connections quickly.

Word Studies enable the reader to see a key word and the family of words to which it is related. It also shows a range of expression in which that word functions.

Illustrations recreate architectural structures that were part of the landscape in which the Bible was written. Being able to visualize these structures provides a context in which to read and study passages of Scripture. Both the writer of the passage and many of his first readers knew these structures first hand.

Photos, like Illustrations and Maps, provide visual context known by the biblical writers and many of their first readers. Being able to see the context is a significant aid to comprehension. Both Cyril of Jerusalem (A.D. 315-86) and Jerome (340-420) called the land of the Bible the Fifth Gospel. Experiencing the land by photos enriches one's reading and understanding of the Bible.

Introductions give overviews of books by providing information on Circumstances of Writing including Author & Background, Message and Purpose, Contribution to the Bible, Structure, and Outline.

Timelines place the book in a chronological framework of biblical events (black font) and events of world history (brown font).

Essays give in-depth coverage to major biblical/theological issues.

Alternate and Literal translations

Contributors

Editorial Staff

General Editors

Edwin A. Blum

Executive Editor, Holman Christian Standard Bible

Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

D.Th., University of Basel

Jeremy Royal Howard

Managing Acquisitions Editor for Bibles, Reference Books, and Commentaries

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Associate Editors

Steve Bond

Executive Editor for Bibles, Reference Books, and Commentaries

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., Vanderbilt University

E. Ray Clendenen

Senior Acquisitions Editor for Bibles, Reference Books, and Commentaries

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

David K. Stabnow

Editor for Bibles, Reference Books, and Commentaries

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., Westminster Theological Seminary

Study Note Contributors

The Study Notes in the HCSB Study Bible have gone through numerous levels of editorial review and revision. The Notes as they now appear often differ from the Notes as originally submitted by the contributors. In some few cases, the final form of the Notes may express views that the contributors did not set out to discuss or endorse.

Genesis

Robert D. Bergen

Hannibal-LaGrange College

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Exodus

Dorian G. Coover-Cox

Dallas Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Leviticus

Kenneth A. Mathews

Beeson Divinity School

Ph.D., The University of Michigan

Tiberius Rata

Grace Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Numbers

R. Dennis Cole

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Deuteronomy

Eugene H. Merrill

Dallas Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Columbia University

Joshua

Richard S. Hess

Denver Seminary

Ph.D., Hebrew Union College

Judges

Iain M. Duguid

Grove City College

Ph.D., Cambridge University

Ruth

Iain M. Duguid

Grove City College

Ph.D., Cambridge University

1,2 Samuel

Bryan E. Beyer

Columbia International University Seminary

Ph.D., Hebrew Union College

1,2 Kings

Andrew C. Bowling

John Brown University

Ph.D., Brandeis University

1,2 Chronicles

Winfried Corduan

Taylor University (Emeritus)

Ph.D., Rice University

Ezra

Carl R. Anderson

Trinity Fellowship Church, Richardson, Texas

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Nehemiah

Carl R. Anderson

Trinity Fellowship Church, Richardson, Texas

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Esther

Carl R. Anderson

Trinity Fellowship Church, Richardson, Texas

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Job

Richard D. Patterson

Liberty University (Emeritus)

Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

Psalms

Kevin R. Warstler

Criswell College

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Sherri L. Klouda

Taylor University

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Proverbs

David K. Stabnow

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., Westminster Theological Seminary

Ecclesiastes

Duane A. Garrett

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Baylor University

Song of Songs

Craig Gl ickman

Attorney, Dallas, TX

D.Th., University of Basel

Isaiah

Tremper Longman III

Westmont College

Ph.D., Yale University

Jeremiah

Walter C. Kaiser

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Brandeis University

Lamentations

Walter C. Kaiser

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Brandeis University

Ezekiel

Mark F. Rooker

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Brandeis University

Daniel

Michael Rydelnick

Moody Bible Institute

D. Miss., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Hosea

E. Ray Clendenen

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

Joel

Shawn C. Madden

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

Amos

Duane A. Garrett

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Baylor University

Obadiah

Gregory W. Parsons

Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary

Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Jonah

Joe Sprinkle

Crossroads College

Ph.D., Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Micah

Kevin Peacock

Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Nahum

Gregory W. Parsons

Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary

Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Habakkuk

Joe Sprinkle

Crossroads College

Ph.D., Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Zephaniah

Gregory W. Parsons

Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary

Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Haggai

Gregory W. Parsons

Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary

Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Zechariah

D. Brent Sandy

Grace College and Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Duke University

Malachi

E. Ray Clendenen

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

Matthew

Charles L. Quarles

Louisiana College

Ph.D., Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary

Mark

Ross H. McLaren

LifeWay Christian Resources

D.Min., Vanderbilt Divinity School

Luke

A. Boyd Luter

Comal Country Church, New Braunfels, TX

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

John

Andreas J. Köstenberger

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Acts

Stanley E. Porter

McMaster Divinity College, Ontario

Ph.D., University of Sheffield

Romans

Edwin A. Blum

B&H Publishing Group

D.Th., University of Basel

1 Corinthians

F. Alan Tomlinson

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

2 Corinthians

Kendell H. Easley

Union University

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Galatians

A. Boyd Luter

Comal Country Church, New Braunfels, TX

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Ephesians

David S. Dockery

Union University

Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

Philippians

Richard R. Melick, Jr.

Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Colossians

Andreas J. Köstenberger

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

1,2 Thessalonians

James F. Davis

Capital Bible Seminary

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

1,2 Timothy, Titus

Ray Van Neste

Union University

Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

Philemon

Murray J. Harris

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Emeritus)

Ph.D., University of Manchester

Hebrews

Malcolm B. Yarnell III

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

D. Phil., University of Oxford

James

R. Gregg Watson

Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

1,2 Peter

Terry L. Wilder

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

1,2,3 John

Robert W. Yarbrough

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

Jude

Terry L. Wilder

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

Revelation

A. Boyd Luter

Comal Country Church, New Braunfels, TX

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Essay Contributors

How to Read and Study the Bible

George H. Guthrie

Union University

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

The Origin, Transmission, and Canonization of the Old Testament Books

Jeremy Royal Howard

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

The Uniqueness of the Genesis Creation Story - Genesis 2

Kenneth A. Mathews

Beeson Divinity School

Ph.D., The University of Michigan

The Historical Reliability of the Old Testament - Genesis 9

Kenneth A. Kitchen

University of Liverpool (Emeritus)

Ph.D., University of Liverpool

The Exiles of Israel - 2 Kings 17

Duane A. Garrett

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Baylor University

Significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls - Isaiah 6-7

Peter W. Flint

Trinity Western University

Ph.D., The University of Notre Dame

The Origin, Transmission, and Canonization of the New Testament Books

Jeremy Royal Howard

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Differences in the Gospels - Matthew 3:17

Robert H. Stein

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary

Church Discipline - Matthew 18:15-20

Mark E. Dever

Capitol Hill Baptist Church

Ph.D., Cambridge University

The Biblical Basis for Missions - Matthew 28:19-20

M. David Sills

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

D.Miss; Ph.D., Reformed Theological Seminary

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ as a Historical Event - Mark 16

Gary R. Habermas

Liberty University

Ph.D., Michigan State University

Messianic Expectations - Luke 7:20

Craig A. Evans

Acadia Divinity College

Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University

Christ in the Old Testament - Luke 24:27

Craig A. Blaising

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

Incarnation and Christology - John 1

Stephen J. Wellum

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Is Jesus the Only Way? - John 14:6

Robert M. Bowman, Jr.

Institute for Religious Research

Ph.D. Candidate, South African Theological Seminary

The Cross and the Gospel - John 19:17

Bruce A. Ware

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary

The Missional Church - John 20:21

Ed Stetzer

LifeWay Christian Resources

Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Opportunities and Challenges in Global Missions - Acts 1:8

M. David Sills

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

D.Miss; Ph.D., Reformed Theological Seminary

The Message and Lifestyle of the Apostles - 1 Corinthians 4:9ff

Michael J. Wilkins

Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

Ph.D. Fuller Theological Seminary

The Bible and Sexuality - 1 Corinthians 7

Daniel L. Akin

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

Perseverance of the Saints - Ephesians 1:13-14

Daniel B. Wallace

Dallas Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

The Bible and Women - 2 Timothy 1

Mary A. Kassian

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

D.Th. Candidate, University of South Africa

The Bible and Civil Rights - Philemon

Kevin L. Smith

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Jesus and Atonement in the Old Testament - Hebrews 9

Eugene H. Merrill

Dallas Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Columbia University

Salvation in the Old Testament - Hebrews 11

Paige Patterson

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Faith and Works - James 2:18

Mark DeVine

Beeson Divinity School

Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

The Historical Reliability of the New Testament - 2 Peter 1:16

Craig L. Blomberg

Denver Seminary

Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

ESSAY: How to Read and Study the Bible

George H. Guthrie

The Bible is unique among the books of the world. Its release date is centuries old, yet it still dominates the best-seller lists, confronting moderns with messages as fresh as today's news headlines. At times the Bible is so crystal clear that a child can understand it, yet its difficulties can humble the most learned of scholars. Diverse in theme and literary genres, it conveys a unified story, a message that climaxes in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It was delivered through human writers, yet it truly is God's Word. The Bible can seem as familiar as a walk next door, or as foreign as a distant country.

This article aims to help you hear from God through daily interaction with the Bible. Hearing God in the pages of the Bible takes time and effort; spiritual listening is a skill that we continue to develop all of our lives. Hearing someone well can be challenging when we move across cultural lines, and, in fact, reading the Bible is very much a cross-cultural conversation, since God gave His Word in places, times, and circumstances very much removed from our own.

Why Spend Time in the Bible?

Perhaps your past has been marked by starts and stops in reading the Bible, and you are wondering whether you have the discipline to engage the Bible consistently. Well, join the club. Most of us have struggled with the discipline of Bible reading and study. So is it worth giving consistent Bible reading and study another try, or a first try? Most believers know intuitively that it is.

This is God's Word. The God who spoke the world into being has spoken His truth about life through the Bible, so that we might know what He intends for this world and how we might live for His fame. He calls us to be Word people, people who are countercultural in the ways we approach life. Thus the Bible serves as the foundation for understanding who we are and what we should be doing in this world.

In the next few pages I offer a number of suggestions that you can start applying daily in less time than it takes you to watch a sitcom on TV.

Begin with the Heart

In the parable of the seeds and soils (Mk 4:3-20), Jesus used a word picture to describe the different levels of receptivity people have toward God's Word. He tells of a farmer broadcasting seed along the edge of a field. Some seeds fall on the hard-packed path beside the field; some fall on rocky ground that has little topsoil; some fall in the weeds; and some fall in fertile soil that offers a good environment for growth. The various places they fall provide images of the human heart as it is confronted with God's Word.

Some people have hearts that are hard-packed, like a frequented footpath. God's Word does not get through to these hearts. Others have shallow hearts that seem open to God's Word. The Word comes and they respond, but the moment things get tough, the pressures of life override the principles of God's Word, and the spiritual life withers. A third type of person engages God's Word at a deeper level, but worries and desire for worldly things squeeze out the Word, choking it from the person's life. Finally, there are those who receive the Word with a heart like a well-tilled field. This is the picture of a person fully receptive to God's Word, and God's Word brings exponential growth to their spiritual life.

Which pattern of response describes the condition of your heart today? Perhaps you have never committed to following Christ as Lord of your life. I encourage you to talk to a Christian or a minister whom you trust and ask them about following Christ as Lord. First Corinthians 2:14 tells us that a person who is not a Christ-follower cannot engage spiritual truth in a way that is life-changing, so this would be the beginning place for you. Turn to Christ, asking Him to bring His good news to life in you.

Or, perhaps you have committed your life to follow Christ, but your heart is not very receptive to God's Word at this time. You may be plagued by a heart that is consumed with worry or material things. Sin and self-absorption can eat the heart out of your Bible study. Begin your path back to healthy relationship with God by crying out to Him right now, asking Him to forgive you for your hard-heartedness, expressing your desire to hear and live His Word.

Motivations

Once our hearts are receptive to the Word, we can hear the motivations offered us in Scripture. Among other motives, we read the Bible . . .

to experience consistent joy (Ps 119:111)

to sort out our thoughts and motivations (Heb 4:12)

to guard ourselves from sin and error (Eph 6:11-17; 1Pt 2:1-2)

to know God in a personal relationship (1Co 1:21; Gl 4:8-9; 1Tm 4:16)

to know truth and think clearly about what God says is valuable (2Pt 1:21)

to be built up as a community with other believers (Ac 20:32; Eph 4:14-16)

to reject conformity to the world as we renew our minds (Rm 12:1-2; 1Pt 2:1-2)

to experience God's freedom, grace, peace, and hope (Jn 8:32; Rm 15:4; 2Pt 1:2)

to live well for God, expressing our love for Him (Jn 14:23-24; Rm 12:2; 1Th 4:1-8)

to minister to Christ-followers and to those who have yet to respond to the gospel, experiencing God's approval for work well done (Jos 1:8; 2Tm 2:15; 3:16-17)

12 Practical Suggestions for Reading Well

We want to approach our reading of the Bible in a way that will lead to a fulfilling, faithful, and fruitful pattern of life. Below are a dozen suggestions to make your Bible reading more effective and fulfilling.

Read the Bible prayerfully: Engaging the Bible regularly is a spiritual exercise, and you need spiritual power and discernment to do it well. As you begin your Bible reading, ask God for a receptive and disciplined heart, ask Him to speak to you through the Word, and use the passages you read as providing you with thoughts and words you can use as you pray to God.

Read expectantly and joyfully: As you pray over your Bible reading, also read it expecting to hear from God, being joyful and thankful for what you find in the Scriptures. Allow the music of the Word to give you joy in your walk with God.

Meditate on what you are reading: To meditate means to mentally chew on what we are reading, to think about what the passage means as well as its implications for belief and practice. Just as food chewed and swallowed too quickly gives indigestion, so we will not be able to digest our Bible readings unless we slow down and consider the meat we find there.

Read for transformation: The Bible is not meant merely to inform—it is meant to transform us in accordance with God's truth (Rm 12:1-2). Therefore, read with expectation that you will hear from the Lord. Be thinking about ways to apply God's truth to your life as you read.

Read with perseverance. Commit yourself to being consistent for the next 10 to 12 weeks, which is about how long it takes to form a long-term habit. As you are faithful with your Bible reading and begin to see it make a difference in your life, you will begin to hunger for your time in the Word.

Be realistic about the goals you set, and have a good plan: If you take just 20 to 30 minutes per day, you can read through the whole Bible in a year. In just 10 to 15 minutes per day, you can read through the whole Bible in two years. The key is not volume but consistency and a clear plan.

Set aside a consistent time and place to read and study the Bible: Make it a time and place that guards you from distractions and allows you to be consistent, missing no more than a handful of times per month. When you do miss a day, just pick back up the next day.

Read with a few good tools at hand: Along with this study Bible, have a good Bible dictionary on hand. These typically provide outlines and message summaries of each book of the Bible, plus quick entries on theological, historical, and cultural elements.

Read with a pen in hand: Underline key passages and make notes in the margins as you read. As the saying goes, the lightest ink is stronger than the strongest memory. If you prefer a keyboard to an ink pen, store your notes on your computer.

Read in light of the immediate context: Not only do we need the big picture of the Bible's overarching story, we also need the little picture of the immediate context. So read with an awareness of where you are in the development of a particular book.

Do your Bible reading and study as part of a community: It helps if you have family or friends who also are reading the Bible, for they can encourage you and discuss the Bible with you. Become part of a community of Christians, a church, so you can have a place to celebrate what you are learning, to pose questions that come up in your study, and to use your spiritual gifts in ministering to others.

Read in light of the overarching story of the Bible: Reading the Bible is much more meaningful if you read it in light of its overarching story. As you read, notice great interwoven themes such as how creation in Genesis 1-2 relates to creation themes in Psalm 8, Isaiah 65:17-25, John 1, Romans 8:19-22, and Revelation 21. Read book introductions in your study Bible, noting where each book fits in the overall development of God's story. That story can be outlined in three great Acts.

Act 1: God's Plan for All People(Genesis 1—11)

Creation: The God of All of Life

Fall: Rejecting God's Vision for Life

Flood: God Judges and Makes a Covenant to Preserve Life

Act 2: God's Covenant People (Genesis 12—Malachi 4:6) (2081-420? b.c.)

The People: God Calls a Covenant People (2081 b.c.)

Deliverance: God Rescues His People (1446 b.c.)

The Sinai Covenant & Law: God Embraces and Instructs His People (1446 b.c.)

The Land: God's Place for his People (1406 b.c.)

Kings and Prophets: God Shapes a Kingdom People (1050 b.c.)

Kings and Prophets: God Divides the Kingdom People (931 b.c.)

Kings and Prophets: The Southern Kingdom as God's People (931-586 b.c.)

Exile: God Disciplines His People (586-538 b.c.)

Return: God Delivers His People Again (538 b.c.)

Act 3: God's New Covenant People (Matthew—Revelation) (5 b.c. - ?)

Christ's Coming: God's True King Arrives (5 b.c.-a.d. 33)

Christ's Ministry: God's True King Manifests His Kingdom ( a.d. 29-33)

Christ's Deliverance of His People: God's Work Through Death, Resurrection, and Enthronement of His King ( a.d. 33)

Christ's Church: God's People Advance the Kingdom ( a.d. 33-?)

Christ's Second Coming and Reign: God's Future for the Kingdom

Going Deeper: The Basics of Sound Bible Study

Think for a moment about a trip you have taken. You left home, traveled to your destination, and had various memorable experiences. Perhaps you experienced a culture different from your own and found that the greater the cultural differences between home and destination, the greater the effort needed to communicate and to learn in your new environment. Yet you persevered, experienced new people and places, and were enriched by it all.

The Bible is God's Word to us; we are not simply reading someone else's mail. Yet, Bible study can be like taking a trip to another culture. The language at times seems foreign. You might have difficulty finding your way around the history or the literature. You see new things that are beautiful or even strange. You then gather up what you have gained from your study time and hopefully you grow by the experience.

Since reading the Bible is a crosscultural experience, we need a vehicle that can take us to where we can hear what God is saying to us through those experiences, and I suggest that the right vehicle is a sound process of listening to the text of Scripture. Through a sound process of Bible reading, we see the sights God wants us to see. We learn to navigate the unfamiliar territories of biblical history and literature, read the road signs that mark the main points to which we must pay attention, and understand the language of the Bible.

After we have lived in the world of the biblical text for a while and become familiar with what is going on there, persevering through challenges and hearing what God wants us to hear, we then travel back home to our life contexts, bringing with us changed hearts and minds. The vehicle that can bring us home is discerning the principles and significance of what we have encountered in the Bible and then finding specific ways to apply God's truth to our lives.

Using this word picture, let's look at five main stages for doing a more thorough study of a Bible passage.

FIVE STAGES OF THOROUGH BIBLE STUDY

One Pack Your Bags Choose a passage Gather your tools Pray Two Read the Maps Study the broad historical context of the book Study the literary genre Study the immediate literary context of the passage Three Read the Road Signs Read the passage in several translations Look for key dynamics in the passage Make a provisional outline of the passage Four Learn to Speak Like a Local Choose key words to study Consult word study tools Consult a concordance Five Head Home Identify the main points and principles of the passage Identify how these address original and modern contexts Make specific application for your own life

Stage 1: Pack Your Bags

One of the most important aspects of a trip is what happens before the trip. Preparation and packing can make all the difference.

Choose a Passage: Just as when traveling you need to start out with a destination in mind, when studying the Bible you must first decide what specific passage you will address. Be sure to choose a passage that you can cover well in your designated period of time. For instance, if you are doing a detailed study of a passage from one of Paul's letters, four to seven verses (e.g., 2Co 2:14-17) are plenty to tackle in one session. If you have a longer passage you want to study (e.g., all of Romans 8), break it down into smaller segments and study the whole of the chapter over an extended period of time. Trying to study too large a section all at once will lead to frustration. However, if you are studying a section of biblical narrative, your passage can be longer since narratives do not depend on detailed argumentation.

As you attempt to do Bible study over the coming weeks, you will get a sense of how much ground you can cover in a week's time. Over time you will become more familiar with your tools and processes, allowing you to study more efficiently. But remember, just as you would not want to hurry past important historical sites just to get to the end of a trip, the key in Bible study is not speed but rather an approach that takes you deeper into God's Word and transforms you in the process.

Gather Your Tools: In addition to this study Bible, which includes a variety of features to take you deeper into the Word, it helps to have several types of translation on hand. Some translations are more formal, following the patterns of the original words as closely as possible, even if the results are not always readily understandable to modern readers. Others are more functional, trying to communicate the author's meaning even if that means departing from the exact pattern of words in the passage. Still other translations attempt to strike a balance between these two approaches, which is the tactic taken in the HCSB.

A strong Bible dictionary has much to offer, including an outline and introduction to each book of the Bible, plus entries on people, places, culture, theological issues, and key events mentioned in the Bible. It is also helpful to have dictionaries specifically covering the original languages of the Old and New Testaments. These show you the range of possible meanings a given word can have. There are many Bible study software programs available. Some may be had for free on the Internet. While the Internet can be an amazing resource for Bible study, not all Web sites are created equal. Therefore, do your best to assess the quality of the site. You might ask a minister or mature Christian to help you discern a site's trustworthiness. Also, while free Internet sites can be helpful, they often use outdated tools that are public domain. These tools still have value but need to be used in conjunction with tools based on recent study by evangelical scholars.

The best Bible commentaries provide a treasure trove of information, including an introduction to the book, an outline of the book, theological reflection, deep word studies, thoughtful interpretive insights, and application. Ask a trusted Christian or minister to help you evaluate the usefulness, trustworthiness, and accessibility of the commentaries that are available.

Pray: Once you have chosen your passage and gathered your tools, begin your time of study with prayer. You might begin by praying something like this:

Lord, thank You for Your Word. I pray that You will give me the discipline to study this passage carefully. Please also give me the discernment to understand the details. Lord, please guide me by Your Spirit and lead me into Your truth. I am committed to applying what I find here, and I pray that You will change me by Your Word, bringing my life in line with Your will and ways of thinking. Thank You for this time.

Stage 2: Read the Maps

Maps are vital to navigation—you must know where you are to understand how to get to where you want to go. In Bible study, knowledge of the historical and literary contexts provides orientation. Like maps, they give us the layout of the biblical neighborhood. The historical context can give us a clearer backdrop in terms of historical events or cultural dynamics of the time, and the literary context can help us understand how these words function, given where the author placed them in the book.

The Broad Historical Context of the Book: In studying the historical context of a book, you want to understand the following facts:

Who authored the book?

Who were the original recipients?

Where were the author and the recipients located?

When was the book written?

What is the purpose of the book?

You can find this kind of information in the book introductions in this study Bible. You can also find it in Bible dictionaries, commentaries, and Bible handbooks. The Holman Bible Handbook, for instance, gives general background information on the city of Philippi and the church there, including the following:

The Letter to the Philippians was written while the apostle Paul was in prison probably from Rome about a.d. 62, though we cannot know for sure. Other possible locations for the writing of the letter could have been Ephesus or Caesarea (sometime between a.d. 54 and 62).

The Literary Genre: Another aspect of the context of a passage has to do with genre, or the kind of literature with which we are dealing. The kind of literature of a given passage will determine how we approach the text and what kind of questions we might ask of it. If I pick up a novel, I understand that its purpose is not primarily to communicate historical facts. If, however, I read a book detailing the history of America, the purpose is to communicate and interpret historical facts.

Different parts of the Bible reflect different literary genres and, therefore, are intended to accomplish different purposes and must be interpreted by different rules. Our goal with each is to understand what God intends to communicate through the human author, but to do so we must understand how the author intended his writing to communicate with his original audience.

This brings us to vital questions we must ask of the text. For narrative literature, for instance, we want to ask, What is the significance of this part of the story? How does it fit into the grand story of God in the Scriptures? The biblical authors had much material from which to choose, and they chose to include the stories they did for a reason.

Psalms and other poetic literature, on the other hand, often communicate emotions expressed in worship. These might include celebration, thanksgiving, sadness, reflection, or anger. Therefore, an important interpretive key when studying a psalm is to ask, What is the emotion expressed? and How is the emotion being expressed? The Psalms often use figurative language, for instance.

Finally, proverbs are meant to communicate general guidelines for living. Consider the following passage from Proverbs 4:10-12:

Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble.

Some mistakenly take this passage as a promise that an obedient child will be guaranteed a long life free of impediments. There are many wonderful promises in Scripture that are intended to give comfort and hope to God's people, but neither the human author nor the Divine Author intended for proverbs to be promises. This proverb is saying, in effect, that the best way for a child to live is by seeking out wisdom; this is the path of success in life, and, generally speaking, will lead to a long and effective life.

The Immediate Context of the Passage: By the immediate literary context we mean how the passage under consideration fits into the overall development of the book. Words need a context to have a specific meaning. Think about the English word hand. It has more than a dozen possible meanings. It can be used for your physical hand, give him a hand (meaning either applause or help), the hand of a clock, etc. Yet, you normally have no trouble following the meaning of the word in specific contexts. Someone might say, I cut my hand with a knife, and you know they are not talking about the hand on a wall clock.

In the same way, the words of the Bible often could be understood to mean different things, but the authors used their words to communicate in specific contexts. So reading a Bible passage in its correct context is foundational for understanding what a given word means. One way to identify the context is to track the themes in a section of Scripture. Write in the margins the main topics covered, and constantly reflect on these as you progress through the passage.

When we consider the immediate context in a narrative passage, we are looking for any aspect of a historical situation indicated by the passage itself. What do we mean by the immediate historical situation? In studying the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:1-46, for example, the immediate historical situation has to do with Ahab as king of Israel, a time of punishing drought, Elijah the prophet, and the location of Mount Carmel. The historical situation of the book as a whole, on the other hand, would have to do with when and why 1 Kings was written and the fact that the book spans from the reign of Solomon down through the death of the wicked king Ahab.

Stage 3: Read the Road Signs Carefully

When you travel, it is critical that you read the road signs well. As we study the Bible, there are many clues to the author's intentions built right into any given passage. So, one important aspect of Bible study is slowing down and reading the passage carefully.

When you are driving down a road at 65 miles per hour, how many roadside details do you catch? Not many. You might be able to see interesting objects on roadside, but they blur and then fade quickly as you speed by.

Many of us are drive by readers of Scripture, never slowing down to explore and enjoy the details of God's Word; consequently there is much that we miss in the process. Choose to slow down and read with care. Read a passage repeatedly if you sense you've yet to catch all the elements. One way to ensure that you are reading slowly enough to catch the details is to underline key phrases or words, or write notes in the margin.

Read the Passage in Several Translations: Doing a comparison of modern English Bible translations can be a helpful way to highlight key interpretive issues in a passage. Why? Because translation, by its nature, requires interpretation. With almost any verse of Scripture, translators have to choose, given the context and grammatical constructions, between various possible word meanings. Therefore, the differences reflected in the various translations represent various interpretations of the passage.

Look for Key Dynamics in the Passage: Now read through your chosen passage again in your main translation. Look for the features listed below and circle, underline, or highlight them, perhaps using different color pens. This exercise will give you a much clearer picture of the passage. Common features to look for include:

Subject—who or what is the passage focusing on?

Verb—is it a statement, an exhortation, a question or answer, an action, explanation, or illustration?

Conjunctions—and, but, or, so, for, both . . . and, neither . . . nor, either . . . or, not only . . . but also

Time—after, before, when, while, since, until

Cause—because, since, in order that, so that

Condition—if, in case, even if, unless

Concession—although, even though, whereas

Means—how is the action accomplished?

Agent—who does the action?

Result—what is accomplished?

Purpose—why was the action done?

When reading narrative material, identify the following:

IntroductionandConclusion—the author often tips off the intended impact of a narrative in his introduction and conclusion

Setting—details on place, time (historical era and duration of the event), and social situation (who is involved?)

CharacterInformation—identify the protagonist and antagonist, note prevailing emotions and actions, and pay close attention to dialogue and character descriptions

NarrativeDynamics—identify the conflict, its escalation, and eventual resolution

Teaching Forms and Figures of Speech—look for the presence of allusions to or quotations of the Old Testament, plus figures of speech such as hyperbole, simile, metaphor, riddle, pun, parable, object lesson, illustration, parabolic act, paradox, irony, amen formula, and prophecy

Don't get overwhelmed with searching for these dynamics. Take a few at a time, reading the passage with those dynamics in mind. Then read again, looking for a few more of the dynamics listed above. Filtering the passage in this way will give you great insight into the passage. If when reading the passage you see just two or three features that you had not seen before, you are making progress!

Make a Provisional Outline of the Passage: The outline is provisional since you still have a good bit of study to do on the passage. However, it is helpful to make a tentative outline at this point to begin to assess the general structure of the passage.

Stage 4: Learn to Speak Like a Local

One of the most interesting aspects of traveling has to do with learning how people in different places use words. For instance, the German phrase Guten Tag literally means good day, yet it is normally used as a greeting only in the afternoon, and thus is equivalent to an English speaker saying, good afternoon.

To understand the biblical text, we need to have an accurate understanding of how words are used. Word meanings are determined by the contexts in which they are used. When studying a word in the biblical text we want to (a) know the possible meanings for that word in the ancient world, (b) determine, based on the context, which meaning the author most likely intended, and (c) see whether insight on an author's use can be gained by noting how the same word is used elsewhere in the Bible.

Choose Key Words to Study: Identify key words in the passage. These may be terms that are repeated, terms that are unclear or puzzling, or terms that seem to be theologically important.

Consult Word Study Tools: Get at the Hebrew or Greek words behind our English translations by using an exhaustive concordance, Bible software programs, or various types of expository dictionaries. Once you have accessed the range of possible meanings for the Hebrew or Greek word, consider those possible meanings in the context of the passage you are studying. This gives you a look at the various nuances of the Greek or Hebrew word behind the translation you are using, deepening your understanding of what the biblical author might have been trying to say.

This is also an excellent point in your Bible study to consult good commentaries. They will discuss the key words of the passage against the backdrop of literary context, background issues, the author's theology, and other factors.

Consult a Concordance: You can use a concordance to look for other uses of the same Hebrew or Greek term you are studying. Identify places where the word is used similarly to the way it is used in the passage you are studying. Such cross references can provide you with greater understanding of the passage on which you are doing your word studies.

Word studies can be very helpful, but they can also be abused, and there are word study fallacies we want to avoid. A few of the most common fallacies include:

Cross reference fallacy—Insisting that a word as used in one passage must be used the same way in another passage, simply because the same word is being used.

Root fallacy—Insisting that a word's true meaning is tied to its root meanings, or the parts of the word. But this is not always how language works.

Multiple meanings fallacy—Insisting that all the possible meanings of a word occur in a given use in a particular passage. Most of the time, an author had a particular meaning in mind.

Stage 5: Head Home

As with any trip, there comes a time to travel home. Bible study is analogous in that applying the Bible to our lives is bringing it home. We were never meant to read and study the Bible simply to learn a list of facts. Rather, we were meant to experience transformation by the Word (Rm 12:1-2), and transformation takes place as we embrace the Word, applying it to our everyday lives. Commenting on the command to love one's neighbor, James says:

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself (Jms 2:14-17).

Faith without deeds, without application, is dead. James was addressing those who had disconnected belief in the Christian life from active obedience.

At times the application may be a right belief, the adjusting of one's understanding to fit what God says is true. At other times, application might be to worship God. Often application will involve active obedience that puts into practice what has been learned. But the movement from understanding the Word to its application in obedience is nonnegotiable from the Bible's standpoint.

How then can we apply the things we learn in the Bible to our lives in responsible ways?

Identify the main points and principles of the passage: What truth claims is the Scripture passage making? Identify them. Search for the principles as well. A principle is a universal truth that applies in all places at all times.

Identify how these address original and modern contexts: Notice how the principle is applied to the situation dealt with in your passage and think through parallel situations in your life.

Make specific applications to your life: Work at moving beyond vague generalities like, I need to love people more! Write down who you need to love and how you need to express love to them. As noted above, applications might be an action to do (e.g., wash the dishes). Yet, they could also involve the change of a belief, or even to respond to God's Word by worshiping Him.

A Simple Plan

I hope you have enjoyed the trip as we have discussed how to read and study the Bible more effectively. Begin your new commitment with a definite reading plan. Commit to taking 15-30 minutes per day, and read through the Bible over the next year or two. Take one or two longer blocks of time per week to study the Bible in greater depth.

Bible reading and study can give us great joy and fulfillment as we open our lives to God's Word. May you be blessed as you pursue being a Word person led by the Spirit, transformed by the Scriptures, and effective in advancing God's agendas in the world.

Introduction to the Holman Christian Standard Bible®

The Bible is God's revelation to man. It is the only book that gives us accurate information about God, man's need, and God's provision for that need. It provides us with guidance for life and tells us how to receive eternal life. The Bible can do these things because it is God's inspired Word, inerrant in the original manuscripts.

The Bible describes God's dealings with the ancient Jewish people and the early Christian church. It tells us about the great gift of God's Son, Jesus Christ, who fulfilled Jewish prophecies of the Messiah. It tells us about the salvation He accomplished through His death on the cross, His triumph over death in the resurrection, and His promised return to earth. It is the only book that gives us reliable information about the future, about what will happen to us when we die, and about where history is headed.

Bible translation is both a science and an art. It is a bridge that brings God's Word from the ancient world to the world today. In dependence on God to accomplish this sacred task, Holman Bible Publishers presents the Holman Christian Standard Bible, an English translation of God's Word.

Textual base of the HCSB

The textual base for the New Testament [NT] is the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece, 27th edition, and the United Bible Societies' Greek New Testament, 4th corrected edition. The text for the Old Testament [OT] is the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 5th edition.

Where there are significant differences among Hebrew [Hb] and Aramaic [Aram] manuscripts of the OT or among Greek [Gk] manuscripts of the NT, the translators have followed what they believe is the original reading and have indicated the main alternative(s) in footnotes. The HCSB uses the traditional verse divisions found in most Protestant Bibles.

Goals of this translation

to provide English-speaking people across the world with an accurate, readable Bible in contemporary English

to equip serious Bible students with an accurate translation for personal study, private devotions, and memorization

to give those who love God's Word a text that has numerous reader helps, is visually attractive on the page, and is appealing when heard

to affirm the authority of Scripture as God's Word and to champion its absolute truth against social or cultural agendas that would compromise its accuracy

to continue making improvements to the translation in each printing

The name Holman Christian Standard Bible captures these goals: Holman Bible Publishers presents a Bible translation, for Christian and English-speaking communities, which will be a standard in Bible translations for years to come.

Why is there a need for another English translation of the Bible?

There are several good reasons why Holman Bible publishers invested its resources in a modern language translation of the Bible:

Each generation needs a fresh translation of the Bible in its own language.

The Bible is the world's most important book, confronting each individual and each culture with issues that affect life, both now and forever. Since each new generation must be introduced to God's Word in its own language, there will always be a need for new translations such as the HCSB. The majority of Bible translations on the market today are revisions of translations from previous generations. The HCSB is a new translation for today's generation.

English, one of the world's greatest languages, is rapidly changing, and Bible translations must keep in step with those changes.

English is the first truly global language in history. It is the language of education, business, medicine, travel, research, and the Internet. More than 1.3 billion people around the world speak or read English as a primary or secondary language. The HCSB seeks to serve many of those people with a translation they can easily use and understand.

English is also the world's most rapidly changing language. The HCSB seeks to reflect recent changes in English by using modern punctuation, formatting, and vocabulary, while avoiding slang, regionalisms, or changes made specifically for the sake of political or social agendas. Modern linguistic and semantic advances have been incorporated into the HCSB, including modern grammar.

Rapid advances in biblical research provide new data for Bible translators.

This has been called the information age, a term that accurately describes the field of biblical research. Never before in history has there been as much information about the Bible as there is today—from archaeological discoveries to analysis of ancient manuscripts to years of study and statistical research on individual Bible books. Translations made as recently as the late 20th century do not reflect many of these advances in biblical research. The HCSB translators have taken into consideration as much of this new data as possible.

Advances in computer technology have opened a new door for Bible translation.

The HCSB has used computer technology and telecommunications in its creation perhaps more than any Bible translation in history. Electronic mail was used daily and sometimes hourly for communication and transmission of manuscripts. An advanced Bible software program, Accordance®, was used to create and revise the translation at each step in its production. A developmental copy of the translation itself was used within Accordance to facilitate crosschecking during the translation process—something never done before with a Bible translation.

Translation philosophy of the HCSB

Most discussions of Bible translations speak of two opposite approaches: formal equivalence and dynamic equivalence. Although this terminology is meaningful, Bible translations cannot be neatly sorted into these two categories any more than people can be neatly sorted into two categories according to height or weight. Holman Bible Publishers is convinced there is room for another category of translation philosophy that capitalizes on the strengths of the other two.

Formal Equivalence

Often called word-for-word (or literal) translation, the principle of formal equivalence seeks as nearly as possible to preserve the structure of the original language. It seeks to represent each word of the original text with an exact equivalent word in the translation so that the reader can see word for word what the original human author wrote. The merits of this approach include its consistency with the conviction that the Holy Spirit did inspire the very words of Scripture in the original manuscripts. It also provides the English Bible student some access to the structure of the text in the original language. Formal equivalence can achieve accuracy to the degree that English has an exact equivalent for each word and that the grammatical patterns of the original language can be reproduced in understandable English. However, it can sometimes result in awkward, if not incomprehensible, English or in a misunderstanding of the author's intent. The literal rendering of ancient idioms is especially difficult.

Dynamic or Functional Equivalence

Often called thought-for-thought translation, the principle of dynamic equivalence rejects as misguided the desire to preserve the structure of the original language. It proceeds by distinguishing the meaning of a text from its form and then translating the meaning so that it makes the same impact on modern readers that the ancient text made on its original readers. Strengths of this approach include a high degree of clarity and readability, especially in places where the original is difficult to render word for word. It also acknowledges that accurate and effective translation requires interpretation. However, the meaning of a text cannot always be neatly separated from its form, nor can it always be precisely determined. A biblical author may have intended multiple meanings. In striving for readability, dynamic equivalence also sometimes overlooks some of the less prominent elements of meaning. Furthermore, lack of formal correspondence to the original makes it difficult to verify accuracy and thus can affect the usefulness of the translation for in-depth Bible study.

Optimal Equivalence

In practice, translations are seldom if ever purely formal or dynamic but favor one theory of Bible translation or the other to varying degrees. Optimal equivalence as a translation philosophy recognizes that form cannot be neatly separated from meaning and should not be changed (for example, nouns to verbs or third person they to second person you) unless comprehension demands it. The primary goal of translation is to convey the sense of the original with as much clarity