Church History · 2004 and 2017

The Holman Christian Standard Bible and the CSB

The Holman Christian Standard Bible came out in full in 2004, aiming for what its makers called optimal equivalence. In 2017 it was revised and renamed the Christian Standard Bible, now one of the bestselling English Bibles.

Read it in the Bible: Exodus 3:13 to 15 Proverbs 30:5 Psalm 119:160

The Christian Standard Bible, or CSB, is a modern English translation released in March 2017. It is a major revision of the Holman Christian Standard Bible, or HCSB, whose full Bible came out in March 2004. Both were published by Holman Bible Publishers, part of Lifeway, the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. Their translators describe the method as optimal equivalence, a balance between word for word accuracy and natural English. The CSB is on this site, so you can compare it with The Owner's Manual.

How Did the HCSB Begin?

The project started in 1984 with Arthur Farstad, who had been the executive editor of the New King James Version. He wanted a fresh translation from the original languages. In 1998 Lifeway agreed to fund and publish it. Sadly, Farstad died soon after. Leadership passed to Edwin Blum, a longtime member of the team.

The HCSB New Testament came out in 1999 and the full Bible in March 2004. About 100 scholars from 17 denominations worked on it. A revised edition followed in 2009.

What Is Optimal Equivalence?

Most translations lean one way. Word for word Bibles, like the NASB and ESV, stay close to the original wording. Thought for thought Bibles, like the NLT, focus on clear meaning.

The HCSB team said they would do both, one verse at a time. Where a literal rendering is clear, they keep it. Where it would confuse a modern reader, they translate the meaning. They called this optimal equivalence. In practice it sits in the middle of the scale, near the NIV, and often a bit closer to the literal side.

Think of it like a good GPS. It follows the exact road when the road is clear and finds a better route when there is a traffic jam. Same destination either way.

Why Did the HCSB Use Yahweh?

One unusual feature of the HCSB was the name Yahweh. Most English Bibles print LORD in capital letters where the Hebrew has God's personal name, YHWH. The HCSB printed Yahweh in some places, 78 times in the first edition and 495 times in later editions, especially where the name itself was the point.

The CSB went back to Lord for God's name throughout. The team felt that was more familiar to most readers.

The Owner's Manual takes the other path. It prints Yahweh everywhere the Hebrew has YHWH, thousands of times, because God said this is His name forever.

This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation. Exodus 3:15

Good Christians disagree on this. Using LORD follows an old Jewish and Christian habit of showing reverence for the name. Using Yahweh lets readers see that God has a personal name and wants to be known by it. The Introduction section called God Has a Name explains TOM's choice.

What Changed in the CSB in 2017?

A team of 21 scholars revised the HCSB. Work finished in June 2016, and the CSB was released in March 2017. A ten member oversight committee now guides it. The main changes were:

Using Lord instead of Yahweh
Smoother, more natural English in many verses
Using brothers and sisters where the Greek word clearly includes both men and women
Dropping Holman from the name, so it is simply the Christian Standard Bible

A small update in 2020 changed less than 1 percent of the text. According to the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, the CSB has become the second bestselling English Bible translation.

Is the CSB a Good Translation?

The CSB has a reputation for being accurate and readable. It is used in many Southern Baptist churches and in Lifeway Sunday school materials, but it is not only for Baptists. Pastors from many backgrounds like it for preaching, and many readers find it easy to follow.

Those who prefer a strictly literal Bible may still pick the NASB or ESV. Those who want the easiest reading may choose the NLT. The CSB aims for the space between, which is also where the Berean Standard Bible and The Owner's Manual live.

Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Proverbs 30:5

Why Does the CSB Matter for You?

The story of the HCSB and CSB shows that translation is never really finished. Teams keep listening, learning and fixing things so that more people can understand God's word. That is not a sign that the Bible is unreliable. It is a sign that people take it seriously.

Next time you study a verse, try it in the CSB, the NASB and The Owner's Manual on this site. When three teams line up on the meaning, you can be confident. When they differ, you have found a great place to dig deeper.

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Questions People Ask

What is the difference between the HCSB and the CSB?

The CSB of 2017 is a major revision of the HCSB of 2004. It smooths the English, uses Lord instead of Yahweh for God's name, uses brothers and sisters where the Greek includes both, and drops Holman from the name.

What does optimal equivalence mean?

Optimal equivalence is the HCSB and CSB method of translating word for word when that is clear, and translating the meaning when a literal rendering would confuse readers. It is a balance between formal and dynamic equivalence.

Who publishes the CSB?

Holman Bible Publishers, part of Lifeway Christian Resources, publishes the CSB. Lifeway is the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, though the translation team included scholars from many denominations.

Does the CSB use Yahweh?

No. The HCSB printed Yahweh in some places, but the CSB uses Lord for God's personal name throughout. The Owner's Manual prints Yahweh wherever the Hebrew has YHWH.

Sources

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