What do you think?
Rate this book
Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Bible
The complete Holman Christian Standard Bible is now available for the first time ever! More than fifteen years in the making, crafted by the shared expertise of nearly a hundred conservative scholars and English stylists, the HCSB sets the standard in painstaking biblical accuracy and pure literary form.
Accurate, yet highly readable, it's a translation committed to leaving both the grace and gravity of the original languages intact while carefully creating a smooth flow of wording for the reader.
Stylistically, this inaugural edition contributes to the clarity of the written Word, arranging the poetic portions of the Scripture into complete lines of thought, and revering God's presence on each page by capitalizing all the pronouns that refer to Him.
New Bible translations may not be all that uncommon anymore, but this one certainly is. Most importantly, it's a translation you can trust.
1084 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
5311 people are currently reading
1362 people want to read
About the author
Anonymous
791k books3,369 followersBooks can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:
* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
March 18, 2024
i read the whole bible in the month of february so i had to log it to include it for my yearly book challenge. it was a 5/5. this is my anticipated book of the year.
spoiler alert: the main character dies but then they bring him back to life and He saves humanity. it was absolutely insane and crazy. highly recommend.
spoiler alert: the main character dies but then they bring him back to life and He saves humanity. it was absolutely insane and crazy. highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 29, 2020
Wow, read it straight through for the first time in my life. What an experience!
August 13, 2014
This is a re-read of The Holy Bible for me, so this review will be specifically about this Holman Christian Standard Bible translation, which I obtained for free on my kindle from Amazon.
I will admit that the language of this translation makes it easy to understand some of the more complicated verses of the Bible. The language is modern and contemporary. For someone who has never read the Bible before, this version might be a good way for them to be able to be introduced to the books contained herein.
For someone who loves and enjoys the language of versions of the Bible such as the King James Version, this might be a disappointment. It was for me. I love the language of King James. Having some of the beautiful, poetic verses written in a simplified, modern day format made them lose some of their beauty.
So depending on what you are looking for in a translation of the Bible, this book may or may not be for you. But since an e-book version is available for free, anyone is able to check it out themselves to decide.
I will admit that the language of this translation makes it easy to understand some of the more complicated verses of the Bible. The language is modern and contemporary. For someone who has never read the Bible before, this version might be a good way for them to be able to be introduced to the books contained herein.
For someone who loves and enjoys the language of versions of the Bible such as the King James Version, this might be a disappointment. It was for me. I love the language of King James. Having some of the beautiful, poetic verses written in a simplified, modern day format made them lose some of their beauty.
So depending on what you are looking for in a translation of the Bible, this book may or may not be for you. But since an e-book version is available for free, anyone is able to check it out themselves to decide.
July 17, 2020
Indeed, the Lord's hand is not too short to save, and His ear is not too deaf to hear. Isaiah 59:1
2018 - A book longer than 400 pages
"Look! God's dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away." Revelation 21:3b-4
2020 - A book you think will make you a better person
2018 - A book longer than 400 pages
"Look! God's dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away." Revelation 21:3b-4
2020 - A book you think will make you a better person
Read
December 31, 20212021 Front-to-Back Read the Bible in a Year Plan ✅
Grateful for the help the Dwell app provided in finishing this plan this year!
"He who testifies about these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!"
Rev. 22:20
Grateful for the help the Dwell app provided in finishing this plan this year!
"He who testifies about these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!"
Rev. 22:20
December 25, 2022
I read the CSB in 2022. The reader's edition was beautiful and a fun reading experience. I am impressed with how smooth it reads and I noticed a few excellent translation choices (e.g., faithful children in Titus 1:6; with slingshots in Zech 9:15).
January 22, 2025
This is now the second time I've read the Judeo-Christian Bible all the way through, from beginning to end. Yeah, I know. Some folks are doubtlessly thinking, "What, you sorry sinful sap, you! You've only read the good book twice? Get outta town, you worthless, unsaved, unrepentant muggle, you! Why, I'd already read the good book ten times already before I was even ten years old, you backsliding bumpkin, you."
While others are like, "Well, I guess that's kind of impressive, because, dude... that book [a voluminous collection of ancient books, letters, and various assorted writings, really] is like... way long, dude!" Heck yeah! And some of it (okay, a little more than some of it) is really hard to understand or makes for just plain tedious reading material, to say in the least.
Take the book of Numbers, for example. My Gaw... uh... er, I mean, my goodness! Come on, dude! What is that awful book within a collection of books but an atrociously long ancient list of Hebrew figures and miscellaneous bookkeeping factoids? I mean, dude! Why do we still have to read all that stuff, man?
Good question. Beats me. But like any good (Roman Catholic) Christian (slightly oldish) boy (or Protestant, or newfangled "non-denominal," or whichever Christ following type person one may indeed happen to be), I've now (sometimes more, sometimes less) had to force myself to read all the way through TWICE in a row. The first time, I naturally read a certifiable Catholic edition of the Bible, complete with all of the Apocrypha (or deuterocanonical books) that most other Christian sects tend to leave out.
And guess what? Most of those often neglected books sandwiched within THE good book were actually pretty darn good! Only one, or maybe two, didn't seem to fit the stereotypically Biblical bill. Go figure. But anyhoo, as far as the Old Testament goes, my absolute favorite is The Book of Ruth. In fact, I usually only read one or two chapters of each book within THE book every evening before bedtime, but my Gaaaa... uh... I mean, my goodness, it's only like four chapters long, but man, oh man, it is a certifiable Biblical page turner, that one!
Or maybe I should instead try to seem all "modern" and hip and say, "Woman, oh woman!" I mean, since Ruth is a Biblical gal and all that. And after all, after that unfortunate "me too" thing that, sadly, went down not all that long ago, something suspiciously akin to textbook mysandry has nowadays become all the rage. Even to the point where Hollyweird is STILL gender (and race) swapping classic movie, TV, and even literary characters from once male to female. Hmm. As if that actually even works most of the time anyway.
Okay, sorry! I should probably say something like, "female presenting" males. Or is that "male presenting" females? Crikey! Which... oops! is also kind of a bad (but rather outdated) slang word for Christ if you look it up. Oh man, sorry! Again, I should be so sorry! I mean, it's almost as if all this "woke" stuff is an alternate religion and all of its apologists and disciples suddenly have the completely arbitrary right and privilege to vote anyone who offends them off the island at will.
Summary and quite arbitrary excommunication, anyone? But it's like, man. Or WOman, sorry! Or whatever you may indeed prefer to be called this particular day of whichever week you may happen to be reading this. Okay, dudes or dudettes. Or whatever. It's just that all that stuff STILL has me rather confused. Like most of the world's population outside of the much vaunted, but also always conveniently blamed and obligatorily shamed Western countries, that is. So... I'd better just leave it at that, huh.
Yeah. So move along! Move along! Because I guess I'm just never going to be one of the all too easily reprogrammable, memory wipeable droids you're looking for. SO NO MORE JEDI MIND TRICKS FOR YOU TODAY, Mr., er... Mrs., er... Ms., er.... Holy unholy Imperial Stormtroopers, Luke! Hit the throttle on your landspeeder before the wicked Empire has us all in detention on the same level of the Death Star as cell block AA-23 already, will ya! Yikes!
But I digress. Or do I? Hmm. Anyway, the Bible! Yeah! It's THE Bible we're talking about here, bub! And definitely not Papa George's newfangled "Force" that has unmistakably made an indelible mark on the zeitgeist of global pop culture for, like, half a century of "modern" human history now. So, do I really digress? Psst! Don't ask my wife, because she will definitely say, "Yes! All the time! The poor man's like Sheldon on the Big Bang Theory or something! It's anecdote this and factoid that. What a meshuga, that one! I swear, sometimes I think that (oldish) boy has Aspergers or something awful like that!"
Nah. My wife's not Jewish. She's Korean. And I'm a (mostly) good Irish-Scottish-Welsh-German-American Catholic (oldish) boy, of course. But, ach! What's the difference? Well, we're all a little different, aren't we? And some of us, I'm afraid, are a heck of a lot more different than others. If, that is, you catch my drift. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge. Elbow, elbow.
But yeah, THE Bible! Yeah. Good book that collection of books. Absolutely. No contest. In fact, I especially enjoy reading most of the New Testament! Have you read that part yet? Oh, you really should read it, you know! It's good! You'll love it! It's all about this real-life Jewish guy who was born in a manger, like... two whole MILLENIA ago! But guess what? He's actually the son of God! Seriously. It's not a joke, man!
How do I know all this? Sheesh! Everybody knows all this. Some people just would rather not think about it, let alone read about all the miracles He performed in only 33 short years of mortal (but equally divine) life down here in the humble mud of planet Earth. I mean, get outta Bethlehem, you rube! It's all in THE book, my friends! It's all there, just waiting for yas!
Seriously.
Yet still, when it comes to THE good book, there are some who are like, "Ah, cut the crap. I'm an enlightened atheist, see. So I know all about these things, see." Sort of like Edward G. Robinson's Dathan from The Ten Commandments... see. "Where's your god NOW, Moses?"
And they're so smug and arrogant because... well, if I could actually convince myself beyond any shadow of a doubt that "There is no god, there are no ghosts," I'd be running around rattling on with pontificating (pun very much intended) speeches like, "Huh! Believe you me, I have thought about all of this a LOT, and I now pronounce that it's ALL pure nonsense and hokum!"
"That's right, it's all a bunch of fairytales, see. It's all silly rabbit tricks for kids who still believe in Santa Claus, see. So yeah, what I believe is actually true, but all that other religious stuff, all that just causes wars and bloodshed and all that, see. So, if we just ban public displays of the Ten Commandments, or sue the government and force them to also put up statues of Baphomet for Satan worshippers, then wallah! We're back to the Garden and hippie style free love again, baby! Problem solved, see."
As if.
And you do mean that ancient Garden that you don't even "believe" ever existed anyway, right? Hmm. Okay, I guess. Whatever, dude. Say... since you apparently know so stinking much, when you, uh... you know, when you eventually think up the cure for cancer, or something actually monumental like that (because, come on, as if you're the very first ever self-assured arrogant little mortal in all of the long annals of human history to EVER suddenly get the fanciful notion that supposedly only Science Almighty matters in the final analysis!), by all means, let me know when you actually think of something truly novel, will ya, huh? Because I've been praying for exactly that (a certifiable "miracle" cure for cancer, just for starters) for a very long time now, buddy-pal-friend. Me and a whole lot of us believers, too, no less! So, yeah.
But then, that's what I love the most about THE Bible. You can just read it at your leisure. Make up your own mind! Or don't even bother. But sure, be too busy. Be smug. Be self-assured. Be an arrogant, know-it-all religiously non-religious person. Be my guest! Whatever floats your boat or gets you feeling like you're the hero of your very own arrogant story, the Sky... er... Waterwalker de jour, rather. Because you already know of course beyond the shadow of a proverbial doubt, no doubt, that when we all die, there's actually... absolutely nothing at all.
Right?
Hmm. Are you sure? Are you willing to bet your immortal soul on that? But hey, no worries. In fact, no one can even truly bet or sell their soul, see. Because it's not ours to begin with, dummy. It already belongs to the Almighty. So whatever you do, DON'T "do what thou wilt." Strive instead, every single day, to do the right thing in this all too brief little life down here in the humble mud of planet Earth. Before it's too late.
Or not. Because that's actually THE best thing about THE Bible, and about being a faithful Jew or Gentile, you know. You can choose to take or leave it, or "believe it, or not." Because it's all about the 'free will,' baby. Whether you may indeed have already convinced yourself otherwise, or not.
..
While others are like, "Well, I guess that's kind of impressive, because, dude... that book [a voluminous collection of ancient books, letters, and various assorted writings, really] is like... way long, dude!" Heck yeah! And some of it (okay, a little more than some of it) is really hard to understand or makes for just plain tedious reading material, to say in the least.
Take the book of Numbers, for example. My Gaw... uh... er, I mean, my goodness! Come on, dude! What is that awful book within a collection of books but an atrociously long ancient list of Hebrew figures and miscellaneous bookkeeping factoids? I mean, dude! Why do we still have to read all that stuff, man?
Good question. Beats me. But like any good (Roman Catholic) Christian (slightly oldish) boy (or Protestant, or newfangled "non-denominal," or whichever Christ following type person one may indeed happen to be), I've now (sometimes more, sometimes less) had to force myself to read all the way through TWICE in a row. The first time, I naturally read a certifiable Catholic edition of the Bible, complete with all of the Apocrypha (or deuterocanonical books) that most other Christian sects tend to leave out.
And guess what? Most of those often neglected books sandwiched within THE good book were actually pretty darn good! Only one, or maybe two, didn't seem to fit the stereotypically Biblical bill. Go figure. But anyhoo, as far as the Old Testament goes, my absolute favorite is The Book of Ruth. In fact, I usually only read one or two chapters of each book within THE book every evening before bedtime, but my Gaaaa... uh... I mean, my goodness, it's only like four chapters long, but man, oh man, it is a certifiable Biblical page turner, that one!
Or maybe I should instead try to seem all "modern" and hip and say, "Woman, oh woman!" I mean, since Ruth is a Biblical gal and all that. And after all, after that unfortunate "me too" thing that, sadly, went down not all that long ago, something suspiciously akin to textbook mysandry has nowadays become all the rage. Even to the point where Hollyweird is STILL gender (and race) swapping classic movie, TV, and even literary characters from once male to female. Hmm. As if that actually even works most of the time anyway.
Okay, sorry! I should probably say something like, "female presenting" males. Or is that "male presenting" females? Crikey! Which... oops! is also kind of a bad (but rather outdated) slang word for Christ if you look it up. Oh man, sorry! Again, I should be so sorry! I mean, it's almost as if all this "woke" stuff is an alternate religion and all of its apologists and disciples suddenly have the completely arbitrary right and privilege to vote anyone who offends them off the island at will.
Summary and quite arbitrary excommunication, anyone? But it's like, man. Or WOman, sorry! Or whatever you may indeed prefer to be called this particular day of whichever week you may happen to be reading this. Okay, dudes or dudettes. Or whatever. It's just that all that stuff STILL has me rather confused. Like most of the world's population outside of the much vaunted, but also always conveniently blamed and obligatorily shamed Western countries, that is. So... I'd better just leave it at that, huh.
Yeah. So move along! Move along! Because I guess I'm just never going to be one of the all too easily reprogrammable, memory wipeable droids you're looking for. SO NO MORE JEDI MIND TRICKS FOR YOU TODAY, Mr., er... Mrs., er... Ms., er.... Holy unholy Imperial Stormtroopers, Luke! Hit the throttle on your landspeeder before the wicked Empire has us all in detention on the same level of the Death Star as cell block AA-23 already, will ya! Yikes!
But I digress. Or do I? Hmm. Anyway, the Bible! Yeah! It's THE Bible we're talking about here, bub! And definitely not Papa George's newfangled "Force" that has unmistakably made an indelible mark on the zeitgeist of global pop culture for, like, half a century of "modern" human history now. So, do I really digress? Psst! Don't ask my wife, because she will definitely say, "Yes! All the time! The poor man's like Sheldon on the Big Bang Theory or something! It's anecdote this and factoid that. What a meshuga, that one! I swear, sometimes I think that (oldish) boy has Aspergers or something awful like that!"
Nah. My wife's not Jewish. She's Korean. And I'm a (mostly) good Irish-Scottish-Welsh-German-American Catholic (oldish) boy, of course. But, ach! What's the difference? Well, we're all a little different, aren't we? And some of us, I'm afraid, are a heck of a lot more different than others. If, that is, you catch my drift. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge. Elbow, elbow.
But yeah, THE Bible! Yeah. Good book that collection of books. Absolutely. No contest. In fact, I especially enjoy reading most of the New Testament! Have you read that part yet? Oh, you really should read it, you know! It's good! You'll love it! It's all about this real-life Jewish guy who was born in a manger, like... two whole MILLENIA ago! But guess what? He's actually the son of God! Seriously. It's not a joke, man!
How do I know all this? Sheesh! Everybody knows all this. Some people just would rather not think about it, let alone read about all the miracles He performed in only 33 short years of mortal (but equally divine) life down here in the humble mud of planet Earth. I mean, get outta Bethlehem, you rube! It's all in THE book, my friends! It's all there, just waiting for yas!
Seriously.
Yet still, when it comes to THE good book, there are some who are like, "Ah, cut the crap. I'm an enlightened atheist, see. So I know all about these things, see." Sort of like Edward G. Robinson's Dathan from The Ten Commandments... see. "Where's your god NOW, Moses?"
And they're so smug and arrogant because... well, if I could actually convince myself beyond any shadow of a doubt that "There is no god, there are no ghosts," I'd be running around rattling on with pontificating (pun very much intended) speeches like, "Huh! Believe you me, I have thought about all of this a LOT, and I now pronounce that it's ALL pure nonsense and hokum!"
"That's right, it's all a bunch of fairytales, see. It's all silly rabbit tricks for kids who still believe in Santa Claus, see. So yeah, what I believe is actually true, but all that other religious stuff, all that just causes wars and bloodshed and all that, see. So, if we just ban public displays of the Ten Commandments, or sue the government and force them to also put up statues of Baphomet for Satan worshippers, then wallah! We're back to the Garden and hippie style free love again, baby! Problem solved, see."
As if.
And you do mean that ancient Garden that you don't even "believe" ever existed anyway, right? Hmm. Okay, I guess. Whatever, dude. Say... since you apparently know so stinking much, when you, uh... you know, when you eventually think up the cure for cancer, or something actually monumental like that (because, come on, as if you're the very first ever self-assured arrogant little mortal in all of the long annals of human history to EVER suddenly get the fanciful notion that supposedly only Science Almighty matters in the final analysis!), by all means, let me know when you actually think of something truly novel, will ya, huh? Because I've been praying for exactly that (a certifiable "miracle" cure for cancer, just for starters) for a very long time now, buddy-pal-friend. Me and a whole lot of us believers, too, no less! So, yeah.
But then, that's what I love the most about THE Bible. You can just read it at your leisure. Make up your own mind! Or don't even bother. But sure, be too busy. Be smug. Be self-assured. Be an arrogant, know-it-all religiously non-religious person. Be my guest! Whatever floats your boat or gets you feeling like you're the hero of your very own arrogant story, the Sky... er... Waterwalker de jour, rather. Because you already know of course beyond the shadow of a proverbial doubt, no doubt, that when we all die, there's actually... absolutely nothing at all.
Right?
Hmm. Are you sure? Are you willing to bet your immortal soul on that? But hey, no worries. In fact, no one can even truly bet or sell their soul, see. Because it's not ours to begin with, dummy. It already belongs to the Almighty. So whatever you do, DON'T "do what thou wilt." Strive instead, every single day, to do the right thing in this all too brief little life down here in the humble mud of planet Earth. Before it's too late.
Or not. Because that's actually THE best thing about THE Bible, and about being a faithful Jew or Gentile, you know. You can choose to take or leave it, or "believe it, or not." Because it's all about the 'free will,' baby. Whether you may indeed have already convinced yourself otherwise, or not.
..
December 13, 2019
CSB is a fine translation and a great improvement on the HCSB.
June 24, 2024
Just read the OT straight through. So enjoyable. Probably my favorite translation of the OT. Many of the archaisms present in translations like the ESV are clarified with contemporary language, yet unlike the NIV, the translators supply an abundance of “word for word” renderings in the footnotes so that the underlying Hebrew is not lost.
July 8, 2016
For years now I have been marking up my Bibles with notes and highlights and scraps of paper. But let's face it, you can only keep so many extra pieces of paper or sticky notes in your Bible before it causes the spine to break down.
More recently I have begun Bible Art Journaling. The first Bible I started in didn't have very wide margins and it was a bit of a challenge, so I did a lot of tip-ins. Again not the best solution because it eventually does a number on your spine.
You can just imagine my delight when I discovered the HCSB Notetaking Bible. The margins are wide enough to illustrate or make notes next to the very passage I am concentrating on.
The margins are lightly lined so it is easy to make notes that are legible and not wonky. It's also easy to cover the lines with art work. The ink used is a faded grey so it doesn't interfere with your doodles.
I've had success with colored pencils, watercolor, acrylic paint, and micron pens. There is little to no bleed through onto the adjoining page. The pages are thin but sturdy.
The font is small but still readable. I'm pleased with the overall size of the Bible. With such wide margins and single column text it still is a very portable book. I've carried it with me to church and haven't found it unwieldy.
The Bible nerd in me loves all of the extra features. There are colorful maps and a wonderful daily reading plan that has boxes to check when you've finished reading the particular passage. I'm a list maker - box checker so this pleases me. Such a nice sense of accomplishment is achieved when you look back at all of the passages that you have completed.
My favorite extra feature is the concordance. It is quite complete. I'm used to anemic ones that force you to look up what you need elsewhere, but this one is very extensive.
Whether you are a notetaker or Bible art journaler or a combination of both, I think you will find the Notetaking Bible to be to your liking.
I received a copy of this Bible to facilitate my review.
More recently I have begun Bible Art Journaling. The first Bible I started in didn't have very wide margins and it was a bit of a challenge, so I did a lot of tip-ins. Again not the best solution because it eventually does a number on your spine.
You can just imagine my delight when I discovered the HCSB Notetaking Bible. The margins are wide enough to illustrate or make notes next to the very passage I am concentrating on.
The margins are lightly lined so it is easy to make notes that are legible and not wonky. It's also easy to cover the lines with art work. The ink used is a faded grey so it doesn't interfere with your doodles.
I've had success with colored pencils, watercolor, acrylic paint, and micron pens. There is little to no bleed through onto the adjoining page. The pages are thin but sturdy.
The font is small but still readable. I'm pleased with the overall size of the Bible. With such wide margins and single column text it still is a very portable book. I've carried it with me to church and haven't found it unwieldy.
The Bible nerd in me loves all of the extra features. There are colorful maps and a wonderful daily reading plan that has boxes to check when you've finished reading the particular passage. I'm a list maker - box checker so this pleases me. Such a nice sense of accomplishment is achieved when you look back at all of the passages that you have completed.
My favorite extra feature is the concordance. It is quite complete. I'm used to anemic ones that force you to look up what you need elsewhere, but this one is very extensive.
Whether you are a notetaker or Bible art journaler or a combination of both, I think you will find the Notetaking Bible to be to your liking.
I received a copy of this Bible to facilitate my review.
Read
March 9, 2013I am not going to rank the Word of God - how can it be anything other than 5 stars. But I do want to make a few comments about the translation. Attempting to depart from the formal equivalent translation - dynamic equivalent translation continuum, the HCSB opts for what they call "optimal equivalence." As near as I can figure, if measured upon the preceding continuum, they will be inconsistent, sometimes being very formal and other times giving a dynamic translation. I wonder how helpful that is, but on the whole, it is a very readable text and a useful and distinct contribution. Generally, I found the prose translations to be top-notch, but the poetry translations to be a bit stilted in places, lacking some literary beauty and literary grace. Here are some of the features that I did not appreciate: 1) The HCSB use of contractions was maddening. Regardless of whether the Lord would use a contraction in real life, it seems to diminish the literary value. 2) The HSCB translation of Christos as "Messiah" at places in the NT but "Christ" at others seemed arbitrary and unhelpful. It is a Greek word that is easily translatable. Translate it consistently. The HCSB rationale that this was done depending on whether it was a Gentile or Jewish context seemed odd - Jesus is always the Jewish Messiah who always finds himself at the epicenter of Jewish prophecy even when he is the light to the Gentiles, so there is always a Jewish/Gentile context at every place in the NT. 3) The HCSB translation of Lord with the transliteration "Yahweh" was odd. In addition to being needlessly offensive to any Jewish reader, we do not know that this is how the word was pronounced (I suspect not), so what is the point? One other point - there are some familiar passages of which the typical translation has been questioned. The HCSB chose to go with an unfamiliar reading of these passages (e.g., John 3:16; Mal 2:16). I found that to be helpful, at least for the sake of translation comparison.
December 19, 2017
Oh, I really like this Bible! It has an absolutely beautiful cloth cover that is firm yet flexible. The inside front and back pages also have a beautiful floral design on sage paper.
I am really enjoying the notetaking areas on each page for when I want to journal my thoughts. It is a single column design and the only thing I have a bit of a problem with is that the font feels small to me. The study Bible that I currently take to church has much larger font that is easier on the eyes. However, that is truly the only thing that I struggle with a bit when reading this Bible. I love the thickness of the pages. They are just right for journaling, while not being too thick.
I am using the Bible reading plan, which is located toward the back of the Bible. I like the flexibility of the plan. It can be used as a daily plan that covers both the old and new testament, or the reader can choose to follow just the old or just the new plan. I am working through both. A concordance and maps are located in the back, however, there are no additional study aids. The extra room is saved for journaling and notetaking.
This Bible is a great choice for women or teens who would like to have a pretty Bible that also has notetaking room built into it.
I received a complimentary copy of this Bible. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
I am really enjoying the notetaking areas on each page for when I want to journal my thoughts. It is a single column design and the only thing I have a bit of a problem with is that the font feels small to me. The study Bible that I currently take to church has much larger font that is easier on the eyes. However, that is truly the only thing that I struggle with a bit when reading this Bible. I love the thickness of the pages. They are just right for journaling, while not being too thick.
I am using the Bible reading plan, which is located toward the back of the Bible. I like the flexibility of the plan. It can be used as a daily plan that covers both the old and new testament, or the reader can choose to follow just the old or just the new plan. I am working through both. A concordance and maps are located in the back, however, there are no additional study aids. The extra room is saved for journaling and notetaking.
This Bible is a great choice for women or teens who would like to have a pretty Bible that also has notetaking room built into it.
I received a complimentary copy of this Bible. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
October 15, 2012
This Bible translation was free for my Nook, and I've been pleasantly surprised to find it accurate, conservative, easy to read and easy to navigate. I have not felt compelled to purchase any other Bible version for my own reading or for following along at church, although our congregation favors the NIV (1984) and our pastor favors the NASB.
July 13, 2017
Over the past few months, I’ve been using a new translation of the Bible called the Christian Standard Bible. Published by Holman Bible Publishers in early 2017, the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) is an unexpected, yet (apparently) necessary, update of the 2004 Holman Christian Standard Bible.
🔎 Click to enlarge
About the Christian Standard Bible
When a well-established publishing company produces a thorough revision of its previous translation—with the intent that the new version completely replace the old—less than 15 years after the original, one sits up and takes notice.
In fact, when I announced that I would be reviewing this Bible, the very first question my friend and former seminary classmate, Gale P., had was: “Why? What’s the agenda? Was it necessary?” It is my intention that this review address those questions.
When I requested a review copy from B&H Publishers in March, I determined to use it regularly for a while before forming an opinion—I have no desire to write a review without doing my due diligence.
So, that said, I feel like I'm finally at a place where I can share my opinion based on use in worship services, Sunday School, and personal study. But before I share my impression, I'd like to tell you about the translation itself and the physical copy I received.
Descriptions from the Packaging
To introduce you to the CSB, I'm going to quote directly from the full-color, cardstock sleeve in which my Bible arrived. Why use their words and not my own?
🔎 Click to enlarge
Because the cover contains a description written by the publishing company filled with what they would like us to know about their new translation, and it will help explain at least one of the reasons Holman chose to revise the HCSB: To increase consumption. Notice the progression from accuracy to popularity:
"highly reliable"
"highly readable"
"as literal as possible to the Bible's original meaning without sacrificing clarity"
"optimal blend of accuracy and readability"
"makes Scripture more moving (Yikes!),
more memorable, and more motivating to read
and share with others"
helps you "to experience God's truth as never before" (Yikes!)
I was tracking with them until they touted their translation would make Scripture "more moving" and help me experience God's truth as I never have before! I mean, gosh, if that's the case, then we should all run to LifeWay and purchase one immediately. In fact, stop reading this review, and click here to buy your copy RIGHT NOW! ⚡
What? Back so soon? Okay, then I'll keep writing. Can I just remind us that the ONLY way Scripture becomes "more moving, more memorable, and more motivating to read" is because of the work of the Holy Spirit—not the Holman—in our lives. [Just a little aside: When I created the hyperlink above, I noticed the ISBN for this particular thinline reference Bible ends with 666.😲 You'd think they would have caught that at the publishing company and asked for a different ISBN, but I guess not.] 😂
Why Revise the HCSB?
So, back to Gale's question: Why did Holman find it necessary to completely revise their HCSB translation of the Bible? It's actually pretty interesting, especially in light of the fact that they brought together "more than 100 top conservative scholars from 17 denominations" to work on the 2004 translation. I guess the final translation wasn't as marketable or acceptable as they had anticipated.
🔎
Click to enlarge
It appears that the main catalyst for this 2017 revision (and new name: CSB) was the feedback they received about the HCSB "from pastors, seminaries, and other conservative denominations." Oh, to be a fly on the wall at Holman! I have no idea what type of comments were made. All I know is that they refer to the new CSB as "a translation that’s even stronger" than the HCSB! And there you have it. It's stronger!💪 (Are they saying the HCSB was a weak translation? And what are the implications of using the HCSB as the backbone of the CSB? My brain hurts.) If you'd like to know more about why they revised the HSCB and what the major differences are between it and the CSB, you can click here.
One of the questions I had was who exactly worked on the "stronger" version? Although the HCSB boasted "over 100 top scholars," the revision team was comprised of only 21 scholars.
(If you ever watched the TV show, "Where Are They Now?" you might enjoy this bit of CSB trivia: One of the more recognizable names in the list of scholars who worked on this translation is none other than award-winning author and Christian recording artist, Michael Card. If you don't recognize his name, you will probably recognize some of the songs he's written including "El Shaddai," "Emmanuel," and "Love Crucified Arose.")
With the help of Google, I was able to determine that the educational backgrounds of the CSB scholars fall into the following denominations: Baptist (10), Evangelical (4), Lutheran (2), Presbyterian (2), Anglican (1), Non-denominational (2). You can click here to view the list of scholars for yourself.
There is a heavy Baptist influence (50%), but that should be expected since Holman is a Baptist publisher. I know the intent was to produce a translation devoid of denominational bias; however, I'm not sure that is possible. Is anything truly neutral? What you can know for sure is this:
To use inclusive language, or not to use inclusive language? That is the question.
When I was a child, the third person masculine pronoun "he" often meant "he or she." By the time I was in college (in the 80s), language had become more inclusive and more bulky. Instead of using "he" as the inclusive pronoun, we began using "he or she" OR "she or he" OR (my favorite) "s/he." By the time I was in seminary, textbooks were being published with pictures of females in stereotypically masculine roles (e.g., architect, doctor, hunter) and males executing stereotypically female duties such as holding a baby or cooking a meal.
Fast forward to the twenty-first century, and our children are growing up in a world where "he" is "one male," and "she" is "one female," and you're going to have a tough time with Bible translation. Publishers have been trying for years to bring gender inclusivity to ancient Scripture, but it's not as easy as swapping pronouns.
In the vast majority of foreign languages, both ancient and modern, the masculine plural has always included women; however, it hasn't always been translated like that. So, when scholars came together with the intent to make their translation more accurate and able to be understood by the modern reader, it makes sense that they decided to use inclusive language wherever and whenever appropriate. You can read about their translation decisions (and employment of inclusive language) here and here.
The Physical Copy I Received
🔎 Click to enlarge
The CSB Thinline Reference Bible I received to review is bound in a medium-brown faux leather with a debossed cross on the front cover.
The pages are gold-gilded (probably not real gold), and the Smyth-sewn binding helps the the Bible to lay open flat without having to put a weight on the pages (although you might have to break it in a bit after you first purchase it). It's the perfect size (not too big, not too small).
The 8.5 point sans serif font is surprisingly easy to read considering how small it is. The translation features topical subheadings, cross references, a concordance, and maps. I love it!
My Opinion on the CSB
When it all comes down, though I find the Christian Standard Bible to be an excellent resource, I don't think I would rely solely on this particular version when teaching a class. (Teachers should always use more than one translation when preparing—and, if possible, teaching—their lessons).
I like the Christian Standard Bible, and I have enjoyed using it to add breadth and depth to my studies. I might not always prefer their translation, but that's why I use multiple versions. 🐧
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
🔎 Click to enlarge
About the Christian Standard Bible
When a well-established publishing company produces a thorough revision of its previous translation—with the intent that the new version completely replace the old—less than 15 years after the original, one sits up and takes notice.
In fact, when I announced that I would be reviewing this Bible, the very first question my friend and former seminary classmate, Gale P., had was: “Why? What’s the agenda? Was it necessary?” It is my intention that this review address those questions.
When I requested a review copy from B&H Publishers in March, I determined to use it regularly for a while before forming an opinion—I have no desire to write a review without doing my due diligence.
So, that said, I feel like I'm finally at a place where I can share my opinion based on use in worship services, Sunday School, and personal study. But before I share my impression, I'd like to tell you about the translation itself and the physical copy I received.
Descriptions from the Packaging
To introduce you to the CSB, I'm going to quote directly from the full-color, cardstock sleeve in which my Bible arrived. Why use their words and not my own?
🔎 Click to enlarge
Because the cover contains a description written by the publishing company filled with what they would like us to know about their new translation, and it will help explain at least one of the reasons Holman chose to revise the HCSB: To increase consumption. Notice the progression from accuracy to popularity:
"highly reliable"
"highly readable"
"as literal as possible to the Bible's original meaning without sacrificing clarity"
"optimal blend of accuracy and readability"
"makes Scripture more moving (Yikes!),
more memorable, and more motivating to read
and share with others"
helps you "to experience God's truth as never before" (Yikes!)
I was tracking with them until they touted their translation would make Scripture "more moving" and help me experience God's truth as I never have before! I mean, gosh, if that's the case, then we should all run to LifeWay and purchase one immediately. In fact, stop reading this review, and click here to buy your copy RIGHT NOW! ⚡
What? Back so soon? Okay, then I'll keep writing. Can I just remind us that the ONLY way Scripture becomes "more moving, more memorable, and more motivating to read" is because of the work of the Holy Spirit—not the Holman—in our lives. [Just a little aside: When I created the hyperlink above, I noticed the ISBN for this particular thinline reference Bible ends with 666.😲 You'd think they would have caught that at the publishing company and asked for a different ISBN, but I guess not.] 😂
Why Revise the HCSB?
So, back to Gale's question: Why did Holman find it necessary to completely revise their HCSB translation of the Bible? It's actually pretty interesting, especially in light of the fact that they brought together "more than 100 top conservative scholars from 17 denominations" to work on the 2004 translation. I guess the final translation wasn't as marketable or acceptable as they had anticipated.
🔎
Click to enlarge
It appears that the main catalyst for this 2017 revision (and new name: CSB) was the feedback they received about the HCSB "from pastors, seminaries, and other conservative denominations." Oh, to be a fly on the wall at Holman! I have no idea what type of comments were made. All I know is that they refer to the new CSB as "a translation that’s even stronger" than the HCSB! And there you have it. It's stronger!💪 (Are they saying the HCSB was a weak translation? And what are the implications of using the HCSB as the backbone of the CSB? My brain hurts.) If you'd like to know more about why they revised the HSCB and what the major differences are between it and the CSB, you can click here.
One of the questions I had was who exactly worked on the "stronger" version? Although the HCSB boasted "over 100 top scholars," the revision team was comprised of only 21 scholars.
(If you ever watched the TV show, "Where Are They Now?" you might enjoy this bit of CSB trivia: One of the more recognizable names in the list of scholars who worked on this translation is none other than award-winning author and Christian recording artist, Michael Card. If you don't recognize his name, you will probably recognize some of the songs he's written including "El Shaddai," "Emmanuel," and "Love Crucified Arose.")
With the help of Google, I was able to determine that the educational backgrounds of the CSB scholars fall into the following denominations: Baptist (10), Evangelical (4), Lutheran (2), Presbyterian (2), Anglican (1), Non-denominational (2). You can click here to view the list of scholars for yourself.
There is a heavy Baptist influence (50%), but that should be expected since Holman is a Baptist publisher. I know the intent was to produce a translation devoid of denominational bias; however, I'm not sure that is possible. Is anything truly neutral? What you can know for sure is this:
"The conservative, evangelical scholars of the Christian Standard Bible affirm the authority of Scripture as the inerrant Word of God. Seeking the highest level of faithfulness to the original texts and accuracy in their translation, these scholars and LifeWay, the non-profit ministry that stewards the CSB, also champion the Bible against cultural trends that would compromise its truths." (read more on their site)
To use inclusive language, or not to use inclusive language? That is the question.
When I was a child, the third person masculine pronoun "he" often meant "he or she." By the time I was in college (in the 80s), language had become more inclusive and more bulky. Instead of using "he" as the inclusive pronoun, we began using "he or she" OR "she or he" OR (my favorite) "s/he." By the time I was in seminary, textbooks were being published with pictures of females in stereotypically masculine roles (e.g., architect, doctor, hunter) and males executing stereotypically female duties such as holding a baby or cooking a meal.
Fast forward to the twenty-first century, and our children are growing up in a world where "he" is "one male," and "she" is "one female," and you're going to have a tough time with Bible translation. Publishers have been trying for years to bring gender inclusivity to ancient Scripture, but it's not as easy as swapping pronouns.
In the vast majority of foreign languages, both ancient and modern, the masculine plural has always included women; however, it hasn't always been translated like that. So, when scholars came together with the intent to make their translation more accurate and able to be understood by the modern reader, it makes sense that they decided to use inclusive language wherever and whenever appropriate. You can read about their translation decisions (and employment of inclusive language) here and here.
The Physical Copy I Received
🔎 Click to enlarge
The CSB Thinline Reference Bible I received to review is bound in a medium-brown faux leather with a debossed cross on the front cover.
The pages are gold-gilded (probably not real gold), and the Smyth-sewn binding helps the the Bible to lay open flat without having to put a weight on the pages (although you might have to break it in a bit after you first purchase it). It's the perfect size (not too big, not too small).
The 8.5 point sans serif font is surprisingly easy to read considering how small it is. The translation features topical subheadings, cross references, a concordance, and maps. I love it!
My Opinion on the CSB
When it all comes down, though I find the Christian Standard Bible to be an excellent resource, I don't think I would rely solely on this particular version when teaching a class. (Teachers should always use more than one translation when preparing—and, if possible, teaching—their lessons).
I like the Christian Standard Bible, and I have enjoyed using it to add breadth and depth to my studies. I might not always prefer their translation, but that's why I use multiple versions. 🐧
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
February 3, 2025
A month late to last year’s Bible in a year but I had a mid-year crises about how I was reading the word so I had to take a little break. Given that, I’m proud I finished only one month “late”.
Anyways! Cheers to another year in the word! Mixed up translations last year which was actually a hard shift but came in clutch in a lot of ways (I.e. I felt like I actually could understand Job for once!). Definitely threw a wrench in scripture memorization so not sure if I should go back to ESV for that purpose or just chug along with CSB or just go a whole different direction with another translation? Would love y’all’s thoughts!
Anyways! Cheers to another year in the word! Mixed up translations last year which was actually a hard shift but came in clutch in a lot of ways (I.e. I felt like I actually could understand Job for once!). Definitely threw a wrench in scripture memorization so not sure if I should go back to ESV for that purpose or just chug along with CSB or just go a whole different direction with another translation? Would love y’all’s thoughts!
January 1, 2025
5 Day Reading Plan, such a good reading plan option!
www.FiveDayBibleReading.com
www.FiveDayBibleReading.com
July 1, 2024
This translation of the Bible achieved its goal quite well. Being completely in modern English, (unlike a couple of other more modern translations that still have some words and turns of phrase that only have meaning only because they had meaning historically), the CSB is a great resource for those just starting out with the Bible, with little to no cultural knowledge. This translation definitely goes on my recommendation list.
November 6, 2021
There's no question about my rating, but this is the first time I read through the Old and New Testaments concurrently. I was able to better see connections and the almost cyclical nature of humanity to evoke God's wrath (especially in the OT), in contrast to Revelationand end times prophecy. My goal was to reread the entirety of the Bible over the course of 2021, but have just finished it 55 days early...so clearly the concurrent method works well for me!
December 19, 2023
I mean, I think I HAVE to rate a 5/5. This year I read the CSB. It is probably my favorite translation to read. I prefer the interpretation, even though they use "Lord of Armies" a lot and I think that is lost in this context.
December 2, 2014
The first time I remember hearing about the HCSB translation was in John Macarthur's book: 'SLAVE: The hidden truth about your identity in Christ', in which this translation is used because it translates 'doulos' literally as 'slave' rather than the less accurate translation of 'servant' or 'bondservant'. That made me curious to take a better look at the translation. This translation uses "Optimal Equivalence" as the translation method which they consider to be a careful cross between formal equivalence an dynamic/functional equivalence. Also, the translators do not give in to gender neutrality, as they mention in their 'introduction': "…the translators have not changed 'him' to 'you' or to 'them,' neither have they avoided other masculine words such as 'father' or 'son' by translating them in generic terms…"
There were some specific things that I looked for, in particular the usage of other translations of the Old Testament for textual criticism. In Genesis 4:8 instead of the verse reading , "And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field…"( ASV) it relies upon the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Septuagint, Syriac and Vulgate and reads, "Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let's go out to the field.' And while they were in the field…" Including that statement there is added clarity, and, though not in the Masoretic text, it has numerous supports in other available texts. They support their translation choices/sources with footnotes explaining where the variants are taken from and also to give alternate readings that are not found in the Masoretic text of the OT. I did appreciate that, unlike the NIV, at Isaiah 7:14 where it says "the virgin will conceive…" they do not have a footnote saying "or young woman". But I didn't like that, unlike the NIV, in Psalm 40 where they follow the Masoretic wording of "my ears you have opened" they don't include a footnote mentioning that other ancient translations like the LXX read "body you have prepared for me".
It reads in a sort of cross between modern English and a more literal style, though I think it is leaning more towards a literal translation which I appreciate. But overall, I think I like the translation. Oh, I also liked how they converted measurements into feet, inches, miles…etc. It makes it easier to picture.
And now, as for the external/material things, the binding of this version was silky smooth, and I like the simple yet decorative cover. On the inside the font is nice and large and easily readable, even the footnotes are a nice size. This Bible has a topical concordance at the back and at the beginning a summary of God's plan for salvation in which I particularly liked some of their wording for instance, "First, God says we must repent. The word 'repent' means a change of direction. This means when we turn to God, we are turning away from sin and giving up on the attempt to make ourselves right before God."
Many thanks to B&H publishers for sending me a free copy of this Bible to review!(My review did not have to be favorable)
There were some specific things that I looked for, in particular the usage of other translations of the Old Testament for textual criticism. In Genesis 4:8 instead of the verse reading , "And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field…"( ASV) it relies upon the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Septuagint, Syriac and Vulgate and reads, "Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let's go out to the field.' And while they were in the field…" Including that statement there is added clarity, and, though not in the Masoretic text, it has numerous supports in other available texts. They support their translation choices/sources with footnotes explaining where the variants are taken from and also to give alternate readings that are not found in the Masoretic text of the OT. I did appreciate that, unlike the NIV, at Isaiah 7:14 where it says "the virgin will conceive…" they do not have a footnote saying "or young woman". But I didn't like that, unlike the NIV, in Psalm 40 where they follow the Masoretic wording of "my ears you have opened" they don't include a footnote mentioning that other ancient translations like the LXX read "body you have prepared for me".
It reads in a sort of cross between modern English and a more literal style, though I think it is leaning more towards a literal translation which I appreciate. But overall, I think I like the translation. Oh, I also liked how they converted measurements into feet, inches, miles…etc. It makes it easier to picture.
And now, as for the external/material things, the binding of this version was silky smooth, and I like the simple yet decorative cover. On the inside the font is nice and large and easily readable, even the footnotes are a nice size. This Bible has a topical concordance at the back and at the beginning a summary of God's plan for salvation in which I particularly liked some of their wording for instance, "First, God says we must repent. The word 'repent' means a change of direction. This means when we turn to God, we are turning away from sin and giving up on the attempt to make ourselves right before God."
Many thanks to B&H publishers for sending me a free copy of this Bible to review!(My review did not have to be favorable)
January 2, 2019
While I enjoyed this translation of the Bible, it is not THE translation for me. There were some translation choices that stood out to me as too Baptist based, such as the use of beer instead of strong drink in Luke 1:15, and the placement of punctuation in sentences speaking of baptism and the Holy Spirit. At times I was curious as to if I was reading a non-gender inclusive update of the NIV instead of the revised HCSB.
While I did find this translation easy to read, study, and enjoy, I find that it lost something during the revision. The HCSB used Yahweh in the place of LORD off and on throughout the Old Testament, and this is something that I think should have been retained. It was dropped due to many commentators/reviewers saying that The usage of Yahweh was inconsistent. But using the Tetragrammaton helped the Bible to stand out and be different. It also bucked the trend on the translation of John 3:16, which some commentators found interesting. I also miss the bullet points that were in the HCSB that helped to explain theological words in a dictionary placed near the concordance. Now, like previously stated, this translation reads more like the NIV, another horse in the pack. I the cross reference system used in the Bible is very robust and does help in study/understanding. I also found the translation footnotes to be interesting, and helpful in seeing the various ways translators had worded the passages.
Would I recommend this translation to someone? I would without reservation. It provides enough tools that the average person would be able to read, study, and understand scripture without having to turn to an outside source. It is a good translation; but I find that rather than standing out from the crowd, like the HCSB used to do, the translation team chose to rejoin the herd with their revision. Because of this, this is not the translation for me and I will continue to use the ESV as my EDC, and consult the CSB when looking for how other translators viewed the passage I am studying.
Ps I know that the Christian Standard Bible published by Holman is not the Holman Christian Standard Bible, but since the introduction discusses how this translation came about, I thought it only fair to compare the two.
While I did find this translation easy to read, study, and enjoy, I find that it lost something during the revision. The HCSB used Yahweh in the place of LORD off and on throughout the Old Testament, and this is something that I think should have been retained. It was dropped due to many commentators/reviewers saying that The usage of Yahweh was inconsistent. But using the Tetragrammaton helped the Bible to stand out and be different. It also bucked the trend on the translation of John 3:16, which some commentators found interesting. I also miss the bullet points that were in the HCSB that helped to explain theological words in a dictionary placed near the concordance. Now, like previously stated, this translation reads more like the NIV, another horse in the pack. I the cross reference system used in the Bible is very robust and does help in study/understanding. I also found the translation footnotes to be interesting, and helpful in seeing the various ways translators had worded the passages.
Would I recommend this translation to someone? I would without reservation. It provides enough tools that the average person would be able to read, study, and understand scripture without having to turn to an outside source. It is a good translation; but I find that rather than standing out from the crowd, like the HCSB used to do, the translation team chose to rejoin the herd with their revision. Because of this, this is not the translation for me and I will continue to use the ESV as my EDC, and consult the CSB when looking for how other translators viewed the passage I am studying.
Ps I know that the Christian Standard Bible published by Holman is not the Holman Christian Standard Bible, but since the introduction discusses how this translation came about, I thought it only fair to compare the two.
December 16, 2017
The ranking applies to the translation and format, not to the Word of God.
Pros:
1. The HCSB is not as beautiful as the RSV/ESV, nor as literal as the NASB. Still, in communicating to those who do not know "church-ese" but not abandoning the text, it is very good. It is infinitely superior to the NIV in this regard.
2. The New Testament format does a nice job in setting apart and bold-facing Old Testament quotations. Oddly enough, they do not cite the references.
3. It's surprisingly well-bound. I am not particularly gentle with mine and it is holding up very well. Many of the older pew bibles--the Gift Award Bibles--are simply trash in terms of paper and binding. This pew bible is much superior.
Cons:
1. The print is smaller than I would like. It's readable, but at 4 AM in the morning not enjoyable. I realize this is a pew bible and its quantity over quality, but caveat emptor.
2. The margins are small, but some minor notes can be written them.
Lifeway stores had a dump sale and I picked this up for pennies on the dollar. I would not have paid more than $5 for it, but it serves me well enough.
Pros:
1. The HCSB is not as beautiful as the RSV/ESV, nor as literal as the NASB. Still, in communicating to those who do not know "church-ese" but not abandoning the text, it is very good. It is infinitely superior to the NIV in this regard.
2. The New Testament format does a nice job in setting apart and bold-facing Old Testament quotations. Oddly enough, they do not cite the references.
3. It's surprisingly well-bound. I am not particularly gentle with mine and it is holding up very well. Many of the older pew bibles--the Gift Award Bibles--are simply trash in terms of paper and binding. This pew bible is much superior.
Cons:
1. The print is smaller than I would like. It's readable, but at 4 AM in the morning not enjoyable. I realize this is a pew bible and its quantity over quality, but caveat emptor.
2. The margins are small, but some minor notes can be written them.
Lifeway stores had a dump sale and I picked this up for pennies on the dollar. I would not have paid more than $5 for it, but it serves me well enough.
August 11, 2025
Another book that I read to Diana. We can't do much anymore after her stroke, so I read to her to spend time together. Diana has always loved to have someone to read to her - and I like to do just that.
Actually Diana and I read this version of the Bible thru this past year. We read a bit every morning with no other intention other than to read the Bible each morning. Some 13 months later, we finished. Many people read it thru in a year, many people never read it thru at all. We recommend that everyone read all of the Bible at least once in your life. I found that the Kendal version convenient and easy to read and to understand.
Actually Diana and I read this version of the Bible thru this past year. We read a bit every morning with no other intention other than to read the Bible each morning. Some 13 months later, we finished. Many people read it thru in a year, many people never read it thru at all. We recommend that everyone read all of the Bible at least once in your life. I found that the Kendal version convenient and easy to read and to understand.
February 10, 2017
While the HCSB is currently my favorite translation of the Bible, I wasn't a big fan of the narration.
However, it is currently the only narrated version of the Holman Christian Standard Bible available on Audible, so it is what it is.
5 stars because it's the Bible and it's my favorite translation, 3 stars for the narration
However, it is currently the only narrated version of the Holman Christian Standard Bible available on Audible, so it is what it is.
5 stars because it's the Bible and it's my favorite translation, 3 stars for the narration
Currently reading
January 4, 2016I'm joining Reading the Bible as Literature challenge hosted by Roof Beam Reader. I obtained this bible for free from Amazon. The language is easy to understand. Just finished reading Genesis. I'm going to get through Exodus for a couple of days.
October 28, 2011
In 2005 our church read this edition of the Bible from cover to cover. This translation is easier to read than some.
June 3, 2014
My favorite translation for personal devotion.
December 29, 2019
The rating is for the translation. The Bible itself is always a 5-star read.
March 6, 2025
When reading scripture at home, this is my prefered form. This is also the translation that I prefer to memorize because it is accurate, modern, and I love its diction.
August 28, 2020
As of 8/27/2020 . . .
I've now read the entire Bible nine times, cover-to-cover.
Each time, I've chosen a different translation. This time, it was the CSB (Christian Standard Bible, a revision of the HCSB that I read a few read-throughs ago).
I have a some-might-say-sacrilegious habit of asking people I admire or who have inspired me in some way to autograph my Bible(s).
This was one was signed by the three members of Phillips, Craig, and Dean, a band that's been part of my life since around middle school. My dad and I sang their song "Favorite Song of All" at a chapel service during my senior year of high school.
I get something new out of every reading. I don't know that I can point to ONE specific insight that leaps out at me this time around, but since Revelation is freshest in my mind, let's just say . . .
It's no coincidence that my favorite section of the Narnia series is the final pages of The Last Battle and that those pages sound very similar to the ending of Revelation.
"Now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story . . . "
~C.S. Lewis
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth . . . "
~John the Revelator
In a world that too frequently reminds us that we are fallen creatures, the Good Book reminds us that all is not lost.
"The heart of man is not compound of lies,
but draws some wisdom from the only Wise,
and still recalls him."
~J.R.R. Tolkien, "Mythopoeia"
We are not doomed to wallow in our failures or in hopelessness.
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me
to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."
~Luke 4:18-19 (CSB)
One can never drink too deeply of such words. Here's to many more readings and re-readings.
Aslan is on the move!
I've now read the entire Bible nine times, cover-to-cover.
Each time, I've chosen a different translation. This time, it was the CSB (Christian Standard Bible, a revision of the HCSB that I read a few read-throughs ago).
I have a some-might-say-sacrilegious habit of asking people I admire or who have inspired me in some way to autograph my Bible(s).
This was one was signed by the three members of Phillips, Craig, and Dean, a band that's been part of my life since around middle school. My dad and I sang their song "Favorite Song of All" at a chapel service during my senior year of high school.
I get something new out of every reading. I don't know that I can point to ONE specific insight that leaps out at me this time around, but since Revelation is freshest in my mind, let's just say . . .
It's no coincidence that my favorite section of the Narnia series is the final pages of The Last Battle and that those pages sound very similar to the ending of Revelation.
"Now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story . . . "
~C.S. Lewis
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth . . . "
~John the Revelator
In a world that too frequently reminds us that we are fallen creatures, the Good Book reminds us that all is not lost.
"The heart of man is not compound of lies,
but draws some wisdom from the only Wise,
and still recalls him."
~J.R.R. Tolkien, "Mythopoeia"
We are not doomed to wallow in our failures or in hopelessness.
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me
to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."
~Luke 4:18-19 (CSB)
One can never drink too deeply of such words. Here's to many more readings and re-readings.
Aslan is on the move!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews