CSB Study Bible, Revised and Updated: Faithfull and True

By CSB Bibles by Holman

The CSB Study Bible is designed to help you know and be transformed by God’s Word, keeping the beauty and majesty of Scripture primary on every page. This robust and well-crafted study Bible features an immersive full-color illustrated design and the ECPA award-winning Holman study system, with more than 15,000 study notes, word studies, articles, and other tools from respected Bible scholars presented on the same page as the biblical text they refer to. For both deep study and daily reading, this study Bible is an ideal resource for lifelong discipleship. 
 
 FEATURES 

• Over 16,000 study notes 
• 368 word studies 
• 114 photographs 
• 60 timelines 
• 55 maps 
• 42 paintings 
• 34 articles 
• 24 illustrations/reconstructions 
• 19 charts 
• Book introductions with book-specific outlines and timelines  
• Durable Smyth-sewn lay-flat binding 
• Two-column text format 
• Robust center-column cross-reference system 
• Topical subject headings
• 9.5-point type size 
• Ribbon marker for easy referencing between pages 
• Concordance
• Presentation page for gift-giving 

 
The CSB Study Bible features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB). The CSB captures the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture’s life-transforming message and to share it with others. 
 
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: BH Publishing Group
• Release date: Oct 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781535988018

Book preview

CSB Study Bible

Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers

Nashville, Tennessee. All Rights Reserved.

Christian Standard Bible®

Copyright © 2017

by Holman Bible Publishers.

The text of the Christian Standard Bible may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio) up to and inclusive of one thousand (1,000) verses without the written permission of the publisher, provided that the verses quoted do not account for more than 50 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, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, Tennessee 37234.

When the 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 CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction to the CSB Study Bible

Features of the CSB Study Bible

Contributors

Maps, Illustrations, and Charts

Hebrew and Greek Word Studies

Commonly Used Abbreviations in the CSB

Introduction to the Christian Standard Bible

How to Read and Study the Bible - George H. Guthrie

Reading the Bible for Transformation - Brian H. Cosby

The Origin, Transmission, and Canonization of the Old Testament Books - Jeremy Royal Howard

BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

OLD TESTAMENT

NEW TESTAMENT

BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

1 John

2 John

3 John

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Acts

Amos

Colossians

Daniel

Deuteronomy

Ecclesiastes

Ephesians

Esther

Exodus

Ezekiel

Ezra

Galatians

Genesis

Habakkuk

Haggai

Hebrews

Hosea

Isaiah

James

Jeremiah

Job

Joel

John

Jonah

Joshua

Jude

Judges

Lamentations

Leviticus

Luke

Malachi

Mark

Matthew

Micah

Nahum

Nehemiah

Numbers

Obadiah

Philemon

Philippians

Proverbs

Psalms

Revelation

Romans

Ruth

Song of Songs

Titus

Zechariah

Zephaniah

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Table of Weights and Measures

CSB Concordance

Bible Reading Plans

Three-Year Bible Reading Plan

Daily Bread: The Word of God in a Year

Fifty-Two-Week Scripture Memory Plan

Art Credits

INTRODUCTION TO THE CSB STUDY BIBLE®

Christianity claims to tell the true story of the whole world. Scripture reveals a grand narrative, one that explains the foundational questions of life: where we came from, who we are, what has gone wrong in our world, what the solution is, and where we are going. In these sixty-six writings, the contours of this authoritative and truthful story come into perspective.

CREATION

In the beginning, the all-powerful, personal God created the universe. This God created human beings in his image to live joyfully in his presence, in humble submission to his gracious authority.

FALL

But all of us have rebelled against God and, in consequence, must suffer the punishment of our rebellion: physical death and the wrath of God.

REDEMPTION

Thankfully, God initiated a rescue plan, which began with his choosing the nation of Israel to display his glory in a fallen world. The Bible describes how God acted mightily on Israel’s behalf, rescuing his people from slavery and then giving them his holy law. But God’s people—like all of us—failed to rightly reflect the glory of God. Then, in the fullness of time, in the Person of Jesus Christ, God himself came to renew the world and restore his people. Jesus perfectly obeyed the law given to Israel. Though innocent, he suffered the consequences of human rebellion by his death on a cross. But three days later, God raised him from the dead. Now the church of Jesus Christ has been commissioned by God to take the news of Christ’s work to the world. Empowered by God’s Spirit, the church calls all people everywhere to repent of sin and to trust in Christ alone for forgiveness. Repentance and faith restores our relationship with God and results in a life of ongoing transformation.

RESTORATION

The Bible promises that Jesus Christ will return to this earth as the conquering King. Only those who live in repentant faith in Christ will escape God’s judgment and live joyfully in God’s presence for all eternity. God’s message is the same to all of us: repent and believe, before it is too late. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved.

Learning how to interpret the Scriptures correctly isn’t a hobby for church leaders and seminary students. It’s a vitally important part of the Christian life for every believer. Relationships rise and fall with communication, and God has chosen to communicate his plan of redemption, his purposes for us, and his promise of resurrection through the Bible—his inspired Word. We can’t hear from God if we’re not listening to his words.

The CSB 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. The contributors reflect a broad sampling of evangelical scholars whose ministries are based at seminaries, colleges, and churches. They have sought a balanced approach on controversial issues, and each note and essay has been pored over by a team of theological editors.

The goal of each tool in this study Bible—whether study notes, essays, book introductions, maps, or charts—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. We should never approach the Bible as hobbyists trying to master a book, but as worshipers seeking to hear from our Master, our God who is gracious to speak to us. For this reason, the text of Scripture is never positioned beneath a study tool. The uppermost feature on any given page is the text of Scripture itself.

The goal of this study Bible is to provide you with tools for engaging God’s Word on a deeper level, so that you experience life transformation and true knowledge of God. We pray the study helps in this Bible will draw you deeper into the inspired Word of God that continues to speak to us today. May all who use this Bible hear the voice of Christ and faithfully follow him as King!

Trevin K. Wax

General Editor

FEATURES OF THE CSB STUDY BIBLE®

The CSB was undertaken as a translation that strongly supports Bible study. In the CSB 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 CSB 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 CSB translators considered. A second kind of note marks

LITERAL TRANSLATIONS. They are indicated by Lit. CSB aims to be as literal as possible. Where a literal translation doesn’t conform to good English style, CSB 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 what the CSB translators view as the most accurate translation of the sentence or phrase.

OTHER FEATURES OF THE CSB 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.

BOLDED TEXT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT are words quoted directly from the Old Testament.

MAPS illuminate the Bible text by showing its 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 (AD 315-386) 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 and 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.

CONTRIBUTORS

Editorial Staff

GENERAL EDITORS

Edwin A. Blum

Executive Editor, Holman Christian Standard Bible

Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

D.Th., University of Basel

Trevin Wax

Publisher, Bibles, Reference Books, and Commentaries

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Steve Bond

Senior 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

Christopher W. Cowan

Editor, Bibles, Reference Books, and Commentaries

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

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 CSB 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 contributor did not set out to discuss or endorse.

Genesis

Robert D. Bergen

Hannibal-LaGrange University

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Exodus

Dorian G. Coover-Cox

Dallas Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Leviticus

Kenneth A. Matthews

Beeson Divinity School

Ph.D., The University of Michigan

Tiberius Rata

Grace College & 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

Westminster Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Cambridge

Ruth

Iain M. Duguid

Westminster Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Cambridge

1,2 Samuel

Bryan E. Beyer

Columbia International University

Ph.D., Hebrew Union College

1,2 Kings

Andrew C. Bowling

John Brown University (Emeritus)

Ph.D., Brandeis University

1,2 Chronicles

Winfried Corduan

Taylor University (Emeritus)

Ph.D., Rice University

Ezra

Carl R. Anderson

Grace Redeemer Community Church, Richardson, TX

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Nehemiah

Carl R. Anderson

Grace Redeemer Community Church, Richardson, TX

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Esther

Carl R. Anderson

Grace Redeemer Community Church, Richardson, TX

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

Sheri 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 Glickman

Attorney, Dallas, Texas

D.Th., University of Basel

Isaiah

Tremper Longman III

Westmont College

Ph.D., Yale University

Jeremiah

Walter Kaiser, Jr.

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Emeritus)

Ph.D., Brandeis University

Lamentations

Walter Kaiser, Jr.

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Emeritus)

Ph.D., Brandeis University

Ezekiel

Mark F. Rooker

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Brandeis University

Daniel

Michael Rydelnik

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

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Jonah

Joe Sprinkle

Crossroads College

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

Micah

Kevin Peacock

Canadian Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Nahum

Gregory W. Parsons

Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary

Ph.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

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Haggai

Gregory W. Parsons

Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Zechariah

D. Brent Sandy

Wheaton College

Ph.D., Duke University

Malachi

E. Ray Clendenen

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

Matthew

Charles L. Quarles

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Mid-America Theological Seminary

Mark

Ross H. McLaren

LifeWay Christian Resources

D.Min., Vanderbilt University

Luke

A. Boyd Luter

The King’s University, Southlake, Texas

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

The King’s University, Southlake, Texas

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Ephesians

David S. Dockery

Trinity International 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

Liberty University, School of Divinity

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

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

Covenant Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

Jude

Terry L. Wilder

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

Revelation

A. Boyd Luter

The King’s University, Southlake, Texas

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

Reading the Bible for Transformation

Brian H. Cosby

Wayside Presbyterian Church (PCA), Signal Mountain, Tennessee

Ph.D., Australian College of Theology

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

Jeremy Royal Howard

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Introduction to the Pentateuch

Daniel I. Block

Wheaton College

Ph.D., University of Manchester

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

Kenneth A. Kitchen

University of Liverpool (Emeritus)

Ph.D., University of Liverpool

Introduction to the Historical Books

Kenneth A. Mathews

Beeson Divinity School

Ph.D., University of Michigan

The Exiles of Israel—2 Kings 17

Duane A. Garrett

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Baylor University

Introduction to the Books of Poetry and Wisdom

Duane A. Garrett

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Baylor University

Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets

E. Ray Clendenen

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

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

Introduction to the Gospels and Acts

Andreas J. Köstenberger

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

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, Washington, D.C.

Ph.D., Cambridge University

The Metanarrative of God’s Mission

Christopher Wright

International Ministries Director of the Langham Partnership

Ph.D., Cambridge University

The Resurrection of Jesus 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., 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

Wheaton College

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

Introduction to the New Testament Letters

Charles L. Quarles

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Mid-America Theological Seminary

Salvation in the Old Testament—Romans 4

Paige Patterson

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., New Orleans Baptist 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

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

What Really Happened to the Apostles?

Sean McDowell

Biola University

Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

MAPS, ILLUSTRATIONS, AND CHARTS

MAPS

The Table of Nations - Gn 10

The Migration of Abraham - Gn 11-12

Military Route of the Kings from the North - Gn 14

Travels of Jacob - Gn 32

The Route of the Exodus - Ex 15

Journey of the Spies - Nm 13

Kadesh-Barnea - Nm 14

The Journey from Kadesh-Barnea to the Plains of Moab - Nm 20

Levitical Cities and Cities of Refuge - Nm 35

The Tribal Allotments of Israel - Jos 13

Limits of Israelite Settlement and the Land Yet to Be Conquered - Jdg 1

The Judges of Israel - Jdg 2

David’s Flight from Saul - 1Sm 19

David’s Rise to Power - 1Sm 31

David’s Wars of Conquest - 2Sm 8

Kingdom of David and Solomon - 1Kg 1

Solomon’s Economic Enterprises - 1Kg 5

Conflicts Between Israel and Aram-Damascus - 1Kg 15

Elijah and Elisha - 1Kg 19

The Fall of Samaria - 2Kg 17

Hezekiah’s Preparation for Revolt - 2Kg 18

Hezekiah’s Jerusalem - 2Kg 19

David’s Rise to Power - 1Ch 11

Solomon’s Building Activities - 2Ch 2

The Campaign of Shishak and Rehoboam’s Defense Lines - 2Ch 12

The Reign of Josiah - 2Ch 34

The Conquests of Cyrus the Great - Ezr 2

The Returns of the Jewish Exiles to Judah - Ezr 8

Heart of the Persian Empire in the Time of Esther - Est 1

The Syro-Ephraimite War - Is 7

Sennacherib’s Campaign - Is 36

Judah During the Exile - Jr 39

Jewish Refugees in Egypt - Jr 42

Nebuchadnezzar’s Campaigns Against Judah - Jr 52

Jewish Exiles in Babylonia - Ezk 1

Israel and Judah in the Days of Jeroboam II and Uzziah - Am 1

Assyrian Supremacy in the Seventh Century - Nah 3

The Rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire - Hab 1

The Ministry of Jesus Beyond Galilee - Mt 16

Jesus’s Baptism - Mk 1

Jesus’s Birth and Early Childhood - Lk 1

The Ministry of Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee - Lk 5

New Testament Jerusalem - Lk 21

Jesus’s Journeys from Galilee to Judea - Jn 4

Pentecost and the Jewish Diaspora - Ac 2

Expansion of the Early Church in Palestine - Ac 8

The First Missionary Journey of Paul - Ac 13

The Second Missionary Journey of Paul - Ac 16

The Third Missionary Journey of Paul - Ac 18

Paul’s Voyage to Rome - Ac 27

Reconstruction of Rome

Corinth: First Century

Galatia - Gl 1

The Second Missionary Journey of Paul

The Seven Churches of Revelation - Rv 2

The Siege of Jerusalem, AD 70 and Titus’s Campaigns, AD 69-70

ILLUSTRATIONS

Reconstruction of Noah’s Ark - Gn 6

Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai - Ex 24

Ark of the Covenant - Ex 25

The Tabernacle and Its Court - Ex 26

The High Priest’s Garments - Ex 28

Organization of the Israelite Camp - Nm 2

Typical Israelite Home of the Iron Age - Jdg 11

Elijah and the Priests of Baal on Mount Carmel - 1Kg 19

Babylonian Invasion - 2Kg 25

David’s Jerusalem - 1Ch 11

Solomon’s Temple - 2Ch 8

Nehemiah’s Jerusalem - Neh 3

Hezekiah’s Tunnel - Is 36

Ezekiel’s Visionary Temple - Ezk 40

Ancient Babylon - Dn 2

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream - Dn 2

Eighth-Century Hebrew House - Am 6

First-Century Synagogue - Mt 12

Herod the Great’s Temple - Lk 1

Roman Grain Ship - Ac 28

The Temple: The Veil Separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place- Heb 10

CHARTS

Sources and Authorship for Genesis

The Apocrypha and the Protestant Bible

Jacob’s Family - Gn 30

Abraham’s Family - Gn 46

The Ten Commandments - Ex 20

Sacrificial System - Lv 3

Ten Commandments - Lv 19

Priests in the Old Testament - Lv 21

Jewish Feasts and Festivals - Lv 23

Levite Clans - Nm 4

Joshua’s Cities of Conquest - Jos 13

David’s Family - Ru 4

Kings of the Divided Monarchy - 1Kg 12

Judah After the Fall of the Northern Kingdom - 2Kg 18

Kings of Persia - Introduction to Ezra, Nehemiah

The Return from Exile - Neh 1-2

Proverbs Topical Chart - Introduction to Proverbs

The Hebrew Prophets in History - Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets

Allusions to Jeremiah in Revelation - Jr 51

The Apostles and Their History - Lk 6

HEBREW WORD STUDIES

CANONICAL

ALPHABETICAL

GREEK WORD STUDIES

CANONICAL

ALPHABETICAL

COMMONLY USED ABBREVIATIONS IN THE CSB

INTRODUCTION TO THE CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE®

The Bible is God’s revelation to humanity. It is our only source for completely reliable information about God, what happens when we die, and where history is headed. The Bible reveals these things because it is God’s inspired Word, inerrant in the original manuscripts. Bible translation brings God’s Word from the ancient languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic) into today’s world. In dependence on God’s Spirit to accomplish this sacred task, the CSB Translation Oversight Committee and Holman Bible Publishers present the Christian Standard Bible.

TEXTUAL BASE OF THE CSB

The textual base for the New Testament (NT) is the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece, 28th edition, and the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament, 5th corrected edition. The text for the Old Testament (OT) is the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 5th edition.

Where there are significant differences among Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek manuscripts, the translators follow what they believe is the original reading and indicate the main alternative(s) in footnotes. The CSBuses the traditional verse divisions found in most Protestant Bibles.

GOALS OF THIS TRANSLATION

•Provide English-speaking people worldwide with an accurate translation in contemporary English.

•Provide an accurate translation for personal study, sermon preparation, private devotions, and memorization.

•Provide a text that is clear and understandable, suitable for public reading, and shareable so that all may access its life-giving message.

•Affirm the authority of Scripture and champion its absolute truth against skeptical viewpoints.

TRANSLATION PHILOSOPHY OF THE CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE

Most discussions of Bible translations speak of two opposite approaches: formal equivalence and dynamic equivalence. This terminology is meaningful, but Bible translations cannot be neatly sorted into these two categories. There is room for another category of translation philosophy that capitalizes on the strengths of the other two.

1. 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.

2. Dynamic or Functional Equivalence:

Often called thought-for-thought translation, the principle of dynamic equivalence rejects as misguided the attempt to preserve the structure of the original language. It proceeds by extracting the meaning of a text from its form and then translating that 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 may require 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, but these may be lost with the elimination of normal structures. In striving for readability, dynamic equivalence also sometimes overlooks and loses 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.

3. 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 always be neatly separated from meaning and should not be changed unless comprehension demands it. The primary goal of translation is to convey the sense of the original with as much clarity as the original text and the translation language permit. Optimal equivalence appreciates the goals of formal equivalence but also recognizes its limitations.

Optimal equivalence starts with an exhaustive analysis of the text at every level (word, phrase, clause, sentence, discourse) in the original language to determine its original meaning and intention (or purpose). Then, relying on the latest and best language tools and experts, the nearest corresponding semantic and linguistic equivalents are used to convey as much of the information and intention of the original text with as much clarity and readability as possible. This process assures the maximum transfer of both the words and the thoughts contained in the original.

The CSB uses optimal equivalence as its translation philosophy. In the many places throughout the Bible where a word-for-word rendering is understandable, a literal translation is used. When a word-for-word rendering might obscure the meaning for a modern audience, a more dynamic translation is used. The Christian Standard Bible places equal value on fidelity to the original and readability for a modern audience, resulting in a translation that achieves both goals.

THE GENDER LANGUAGE USE IN BIBLE TRANSLATION

The goal of the translators of the Christian Standard Bible has not been to promote a cultural ideology but to translate the Bible faithfully. Recognizing modern usage of English, the CSB regularly translates the plural of the Greek word ανθρωπος (man) as people instead of men, and occasionally the singular as one, someone, or everyone, when the supporting pronouns in the original languages validate such a translation. While the CSB avoids using he or him unnecessarily, the translation does not restructure sentences to avoid them when they are in the text.

HISTORY OF THE CSB

After several years of preliminary development, Holman Bible Publishers, the oldest Bible publisher in North America, assembled an international, interdenominational team of 100 scholars, editors, stylists, and proofreaders, all of whom were committed to biblical inerrancy. Outside consultants and reviewers contributed valuable suggestions from their areas of expertise. Working from the original languages, an executive team of translators edited, polished, and reviewed the final manuscript, which was first published as the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) in 2004.

A standing committee was also formed to maintain the HCSB translation and look for ways to improve readability without compromising accuracy. As with the original translation team, the committee that prepared this revision of the HCSB, renamed the Christian Standard Bible, is international and interdenominational, comprising evangelical scholars who honor the inspiration and authority of God’s written Word.

TRADITIONAL FEATURES FOUND IN THE CSB

In keeping with a long line of Bible publications, the CSB has retained a number of features found in traditional Bibles:

1. Traditional theological vocabulary (for example, justification, sanctification, redemption) has been retained since such terms have no other translation equivalent that adequately communicates their exact meaning.

2. Traditional spellings of names and places found in most Bibles have been used to make the CSBcompatible with most Bible study tools.

3. Some editions of the CSBwill print the words of Christ in red letters to help readers easily locate the spoken words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Descriptive headings, printed above each section of Scripture, help readers quickly identify the contents of that section.

5. OT passages quoted in the NT are indicated. In the CSB, they are set in boldface type.

HOW THE NAMES OF GOD ARE TRANSLATED

The Christian Standard Bible consistently translates the Hebrew names for God as follows:

FOOTNOTES

Footnotes are used to show readers how the original biblical language has been understood in the CSB.

1. Old Testament (OT) Textual Footnotes

OT textual notes show important differences among Hebrew (Hb) manuscripts and ancient OT versions, such as the Septuagint and the Vulgate. See the list of abbreviations on page xxxv for a list of other ancient versions used.

Some OT textual notes (like NT textual notes) give only an alternate textual reading. However, other OT textual notes also give the support for the reading chosen by the editors as well as for the alternate textual reading. For example, the CSBtext of Psalm 12:7 reads,

You, Lord, will guard us;

you will protect usA from this generation forever.

The textual footnote for this verse reads,

A 12:7 Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read him

The textual note in this example means that there are two different readings found in the Hebrew manuscripts: some manuscripts read us and others read him. The CSBtranslators chose the reading us, which is also found in the Septuagint (LXX), and placed the other Hebrew reading him in the footnote.

Two other kinds of OT textual notes are:

2. New Testament (NT) Textual Footnotes

NT textual notes indicate significant differences among Greek manuscripts (mss) and are normally indicated in one of three ways:

Other mss read ______

Other mss add ______

Other mss omit ______

In the NT, some textual footnotes that use the word add or omit also have square brackets before and after the corresponding verses in the biblical text. Examples of this use of square brackets are Mark 16:9-20 and John 7:53-8:11.

3. Other Kinds of Footnotes

In some editions of the CSB, additional footnotes clarify the meaning of certain biblical texts or explain biblical history, persons, customs, places, activities, and measurements. Cross references are given for parallel passages or passages with similar wording, and in the NT, for passages quoted from the OT.

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.

Jesus likened the Word to seed that a farmer sows.

WHY SPEND TIME IN THE BIBLE?

Perhaps your past has been marked by starts and stops in reading the Bible, and you are wonderingwhether 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