Josh wrote:The ESV not being ideal is just my opinion. My most major gripe is a biased translation of 1 Co. 11.
My opinion is that any Bible translation, even one that's not very good, is still used by God and can be effective for both a believer and an unbeliever to hear his word.
I think it is good to take one version and use it most of the time, especially for personal and family worship, etc. Then use other trusted versions to go to when we want to expand our understanding. The advantage of this is that the version you use regularly becomes a "personal friend". You get to understand it and it feels comfortable.
I grew up with the KJV. At one time I would have defended it because it was the "conservative" version. But in my years of studying the Bible, I have found that to be faulty reasoning. A number of years ago, before the NLT / ESV / etc. became readily available, I started to use the NIV personally and for family reading. Like Wade, I first ran into the ESV on MennoDiscuss. Some years ago, Boot recommended the NLT, and I've used it as well. Here is sort of my opinion at this point.
These opinions are based more on a practical usage level. I'm not a theologian or scholar.
1. I use the ESV, NIV, HCSB, NET, and NLT on a regular basis for study purposes. We still use the NIV for family reading.
2. I view the ESV as a more conservative translation, but still readable. I had used the NASB earlier, on a limited basis, but found it too stilted for general use. I don't care for the NKJV, because it really isn't much different than the KJV. If I'm looking for input from that tradition, I use the KJV.
3. I find that the NLT is freer to replace literal translation with thought translation. Mostly those are ok, but I feel a little uncomfortable with the freedom to they take to insert their own opinion. So of my list above, it is probably the version I pay the least attention to if I really want to know what God said. For instance, in ECC 10:20, all the versions I listed above speak of cursing the king, and cursing the rich. The NLT says, "never make light of the king," and "don't make fun of the powerful."
4. I find the HSCB and the NET to be similar in their approach to translation and readability. I like them both, but I find the ESV to be just a bit more literal, while not losing the readability that I think a Bible should have.
5. I have used the ESV in church without any comeback. I used it quite a bit during our SS studies of the minor prophets. I'm not saying that you could do that in every CA congregation, but the ESV sounds more like the KJV without the weaknesses of the KJV.
Now that is a purely practical analysis. There could easily be problems that I don't see. But I don't see a KJV-only position as being the answer to our discussion.