An ESV Apocrypha??

Is the ESV translation team working on, or at least planning an ESV version of the Apocrypha?

There's a very cryptic message on Crossway's ESV FAQ page:

Will there be an edition that includes the Apocrypha?

Crossway Bibles won’t be publishing an edition with the Apocrypha, but another publisher may. As we learn more, we will post it here.


Wow. Another publisher may. I have no idea how long this information has been on the FAQ page, or perhaps if it's always been there.

Until the 19th century, most, if not all Protestant translations included the Apocrypha, usually in a separate section between the Testaments. The Apocrypha is indispensable for understanding the cultural setting of the New Testament, although the large majority of Protestants do not consider these books canonical.

I'm intrigued by the idea of an ESV Apocrypha because I simply would not have expected it from the team behind the ESV. However, the ESV is based upon the old RSV which included these extra OT books, so this is certainly not outside the realm of possibilities. And such a decision is not without precedent. Not too long ago the publishers of another evangelical version, the New Living Translation, quietly introduced an edition with the apocryphal/deuterocanonical books.

On a related note, recently, I made the suggestion that we need a TNIV Apocrypha.

Nevertheless, interesting stuff. If anyone knows anything specific about an ESV Apocrypha in the works, be sure to let us know.

HT: Larry