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More about the Christian Standard Bible

As our church adopts the CSB, learn more about how this version differs—and how it doesn't differ—from the NIV we have used for decades.
Jim Killam
September 25, 2024

Starting this Sunday (Sept. 29), First Free will use the Christian Standard Bible for Scripture readings, sermon references and teaching materials.

In outlining several reasons for our change from the New International Version, Pastor Luke Uran mentioned that the CSB effectively balances accuracy and readability. CSB’s publisher, Holman Bible Publishers, calls it “optimal equivalence.” Christianity Today has defined this as “a balance between the readability of thought-for-thought translation and the accuracy of word-for-word translation among today’s modern readers.”

The CSB was published in 2017 as a replacement for 2004’s Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). In the CSB’s introduction, Holman states:

“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. …

“In 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.”

In most cases, the CSB’s differences with the NIV are minimal, just sharpening sentences for the modern ear, or offering a more-precise word here or there. Here’s 2 Samuel 18:25 in three versions, starting with the New Revised Standard, which is a more literal translation:

NRSV The king said, “If he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth.”

NIV     The king said, “If he is alone, he must have good news.”

CSB   The king said, “If he’s alone, he bears good news.”

Here is Amos 4:6:

NKJV Also I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities.

NIV     I gave you empty stomachs in every city.

CSB   I gave you absolutely nothing to eat in all your cities.

‘Gender accurate’

Trevin Wax, Bible and Reference Publisher for Holman Bibles, has said the CSB is not gender-neutral but “gender accurate.” It uses male pronouns for God and in other cases where the original text obviously refers to a male. But in some other cases, it changes the HCSB’s male reference.

“The CSB team believed there were certain cases where it is indeed more accurate to indicate that both men and women are in view,” Wax told Christianity Today. “Romans 3:28 is a great example. It is accurate to translate the text the way the HCSB did: ‘For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law.’ But since Paul used a word that encompassed both men and women in its range of meaning, the CSB team believed it was more accurate to say that ‘a person is justified by faith’ and not narrow the scope of Paul’s reference.”

(The NIV also uses “person” in that instance.)

Comparing NIV and CSB

Here are a few more verses to illustrate the minor differences in the two translations:

NIVCSB
Genesis 1:21 “So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:21 “So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged creature according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” 
Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 
Proverbs 19:28  “The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.” Proverbs 19:28 “The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.”
Psalm 144:15 “Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the LORD.” Psalm 144:15 “Happy are the people with such blessings. Happy are the people whose God is the LORD.” 
Deuteronomy 10:17 “For the LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. Deuteronomy 10:17 “For the LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe.” 
Deuteronomy 23:5 “However, the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.” Deuteronomy 23:5 “Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, but he turned the curse into a blessing for you because the LORD your God loves you.” 
Matthew 27:43 “He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”Matthew 27:43 “He trusts in God; let God rescue him now—if he takes pleasure in him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.” 
Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.Romans 3:28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

The Scroll Resource Center has several versions of the CSB. Others are available from Amazon.

This is the version comparison chart used by CSB’s publisher, Holman Bible Publishers.
Jim Killam
Jim Killam is a journalist, author, teacher and terminal Cubs fan. He and his wife, Lauren, live in Rockford and work internationally with Wycliffe Bible Translators.

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