Hello all.

I just wanted to see if I could spark conversation and get some thoughts regarding the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB).

Specifically, passages that have rendered the original greek "doulos" as slave. Whereas other translations have rendered the same word as servant. (ex. Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:22; Galatians 1:10; Ephesians 6:6; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 4:12; Titus 1:1; James 1:1)

What are the implications here and how does this affect the way we are to view our binding to Christ?

James

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James D. Lashley

Funny you should recommend "Slave" by Dr. MacArthur. I just so happen to have it and read it a while back. Any particular reason you're not a fan of the HCSB?

James

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James D. Lashley

How many new modern versions do we need?

I am not "KJV-Only", but it does stand heads and shoulders above anything that has come out since 1888.

I've written enough on here to fill several books about the version controversy. You'll have to investigate for yourself. I'm out of time this morning.

Krispy

I generally like the HCSB.

As a person that is quite open to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, and deeper experiences with God, I doubted that I would be thrilled with a translation done by virtually all cessationists. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

My oldest is in college. I bought him one with a neat Celtic cover a few years back. He picked it out. It is the perfect size to fit in a backpack, etc. He has taken it to school with him and read it constantly for the last 4 years or so. He says that he understands the text better and can therefor apply its truths better than any of the other translations he has read. Well.... if my teenage son is spending more time reading The Word in this translation because of that I am thrilled!

As to the specific translation of the word "slave" you mentioned... I whole heartedly agree with it and with what others have said. I think in my culture of 2012 America it far more accurately conveys the original writers intent in a way we understand it. In our world "servant" does not mean what it did hundreds of years ago. However, the thought of "slave" does clearly convey one owned by another. The challenge though is to see that in the context of a bond slave of love rather than the evils of slavery that existed. So... good exegesis and hermeneutics are required in this (and all) translations. However, for clarity in understanding the idea of the original writer in my modern world the HCSB is a welcome and refreshing addition.

Blessings!

Well.... my actual point was that I half expected them to translate or use headings that were cessationist in nature. In essence translating words to their own biases that were not always the best or most accurate. So...I wasn't looking for one that necessarily "agrees with whatever theological slant we may have", in your words, but I was looking to avoid one that was already slanted by the lack of diversity in the translation team.

I don't choose a translation for me based on any theological leanings.
If I read and use the Greek then I don't really care what translations are around in English. However, It does matter to me because I obviously use an English translation when speaking publicly. It also matters to me, as I said, because I recommend or give those translations to others. It would seem foolish for me not to consider if the translators of that particular translation may have had a predominately held theological view that may occasionally influence their interpretations on specific words or topic headings.

You can readily see this in examples of several translations. The topic heading of chapters, or thought blocks often reveal that translators biases. There may be a story of Jesus casting a demon out of a person. I have seen the topic headings read "JESUS DELIVERS A PERSON FROM A DEMON", and the same story have 'JESUS CASTS A DEMON OUT OF A PERSON" as well as '"JESUS HEALS A BOY", all referring to the same incident.

If you want out of the translation issues then get a command of Biblical Greek. Otherwise you will have to stick with translations in your native language. No matter what English translation you choose it will have some influence in it from the translators.

YOU STATED: We should look for a Bible that presents the pure and true Word of God... and if it happens to disagree with our theological slant, then we change our theological slant.

I RESPOND: Really?!?! And just exactly how would one know if it is the "pure and true Word of God"... unless of course they can also read it directly from the Greek? Without that working knowledge how would you know IF IT HAD A THEOLOGICAL SLANT IN IT?!?! What you said all sounds very spiritual... but by default you set yourself up as the arbitrator of what translations are "the pure and true word of God". As you stated earlier in the thread, you have written massive quantities on the boards stating you belief that the KJV is head and shoulders above all English translations. How do you know that if you are not a Greek scholar?!?! You have to rely of what other people are telling you. Those individuals you trust to tell you MAY OR MAY NOT be able to take their personal convictions and biases out of it.

In the final analysis all I was sharing with the original poster was that I was pleasantly surprised to find that a group of almost exclusively cessationist translators had been quiet fair and balanced in all their translations concerning the ministry and workings of the Holy Spirit. I was, and am, commending them. It was never about me "looking for a translation that matches my theology"... it was about me commending those men for doing an excellent job when I had been hesitant about believing they would.

If you want translations without any possibilities of shadings of meanings based on how a particular translator interprets a word then learn Biblical Greek. Short of that it will always be a possibility and normally a probability.

I was just making a general point, but thanks for the lecture.... :-)

Krispy

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Lisa

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Lisa