My post surveying wide-margin Bible offerings has remained one of my most popular, still receiving multiple hits daily. Since it is now about a year old and a few new wide-margin Bibles have been released, I would like to update this information in a new post in the next few days.

Here's where you can help me. Take a look at the original post linked in the above paragraph. If you know of any new wide-margin Bibles that have been released, please leave the information in the comments below so I can include it.

Also, although I opted not to include KJV offerings last time, I occasionally get emails asking about KJV wide-margin Bibles. I still don't recommend the KJV as a primary study Bible, which is why I didn't list them last time. However, I am considering adding them to the new survey, so if you know of some specific KJV wide-margins out there, please let me know--especially if you can give descriptions of them.

Tags: Wide-Margin, Translations

This post is the last in my survey of changes between the 2001 and 2007 editions of the English Standard Version. As always discussion and further analysis is encouraged in the comments. These posts will serve as partial material for a more formal review of the 2007 edition of the ESV that I will post in the upcoming weeks.

The verses below are from the General Epistles and Revelation.

 

	2001 ESV	2007 ESV
Heb 2:11	For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,	For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,
Heb 3:9-10 Note verse division.	9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works 10 for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’	9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. 10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’
Heb 3:14	For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.	For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
Heb 6:4	For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,	For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
Heb 6:6	if they then fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.	and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
Heb 6:10	For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.	For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
Heb 7:18	On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness	For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness
Heb 9:13	For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh,	For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,
Heb 10:2	Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sin?	Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?
Heb 10:3	But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin every year.	But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
Heb 10:9	then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.	then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second.
Heb 11:29	By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.	By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.
James 1:20	for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires.	for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:27	Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, and the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.	Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James 3:2	For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.	For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
James 5:6	You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.	You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.
1 Pet 1:20	He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake,	He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you
1 Pet 2:2	Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation—	Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
1 Pet 3:3	Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing—	Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—
1 Pet 3:5	For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands,	For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands,
1 Pet 3:15-16 Note verse division.	15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.	15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
1 Pet 4:3	The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.	For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
1 John 2:5	but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him:	but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
1 John 3:24	Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.	Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Jude 12	These are blemishes on your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, looking after themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;	These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;
Jude 14	It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,	It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,
Jude 20	But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit;	But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
Rev 1:14	The hairs of his head were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,	The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
Rev 2:23	and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.	and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
Rev 6:4	And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that men should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.	And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
Rev 17:13	These are of one mind and hand over their power and authority to the beast.	These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.

See also:
• Genesis - Deuteronomy
• Joshua - Esther
• Job - Song of Solomon
• Isaiah - Malachi
• Matthew - Acts
• Romans - Philemon

Tags: ESV

In this entry I list the changes in Paul's epistles between the 2001 and 2007 editions of the English Standard Version.

I look forward to your thoughts in the comments below, and I promise to revisit some of these specific passages in a future post, perhaps in a formal review of the 2007 ESV.

 

	2001 ESV	2007 ESV
Rom 1:23	and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.	and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Rom 2:2	We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things.	We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.
Rom 2:3	Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God	Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?
Rom 3:30	since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.	since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
Rom 4:5	And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,	And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Rom 5:17	If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.	For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Rom 6:12	Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.	Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
Rom 6:20	When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.	For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
Rom 6:21	But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death.	But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
Rom 7:2	Thus a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.	For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage
Rom 7:6	But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit.	But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
Rom 7:7	What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”	What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”
Rom 7:8	But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law, sin lies dead.	But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.
Rom 7:15	I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.	For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
Rom 8:6	To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.	For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Rom 8:21	that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.	that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Rom 9:10	And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,	And not only so, but salso when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,
Rom 9:11	though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call—	though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—
Rom 9:21	Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use?	Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?
Rom 10:2	I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.	For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3	For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.	For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
Rom 10:12	For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.	For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
Rom 10:14	But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?* And how are they to hear without someone preaching?	How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Rom 11:20	That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe.	That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
Rom 11:25	Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.	Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Rom 11:30	Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,	For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,
Rom 12:16	Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited.	Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.Never be wise in your own sight.
Rom 13:6	For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.	For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
Rom 13:9	The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”	For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Rom 14:8	If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.	For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
Rom 15:27	They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.	For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
1 Cor 1:30	He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption.	And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
1 Cor 1:31	Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”	so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
1 Cor 4:4	I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.	For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
1 Cor 6:9	Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,	Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
1 Cor 7:9	But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.	But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
1 Cor 7:16	Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?	For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
1 Cor 9:17	For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.	For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.
1 Cor 9:24	Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.	Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
1 Cor 10:1	I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,	For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,
1 Cor 11:5	but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as if her head were shaven.	but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
1 Cor 11:27	Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.	Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Cor 12:8	To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,	For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
1 Cor 15:19	If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.	If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
1 Cor 15:30	Why am I in danger every hour?	Why are we in danger every hour?
2 Cor 2:10	Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ,	Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ,
2 Cor 4:16	So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.	So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
2 Cor 4:17	For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,	For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
2 Cor 5:1	For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.	For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 Cor 8:3	For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will,	For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
2 Cor 8:13	I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness	For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness
2 Cor 9:3	But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove vain in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be.	But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be.
2 Cor 9:7	Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.	Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Cor 9:11	You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.	You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
2 Cor 10:14	For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. We were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.	For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.
2 Cor 11:2	I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.	For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
2 Cor 11:5	I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.	Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.
2 Cor 12:7	So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated.	So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
Gal 2:21	I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.	I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Gal 3:28	There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.	There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Eph 1:5	he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,	he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Eph 2:15	by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,	by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
Eph 4:9	In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?	In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?
Eph 4:11	And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,	And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
Eph 5:7	Therefore do not associate with them;	Therefore do not become partners with them;
Eph 5:19	addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart,	addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
Phil 2:21	They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.	For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
Phil 3:3	For we are the real circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—	For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—
Col 3:12	Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,	Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
Col 4:5	Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.	Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
1 Thess 4:1	Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.	Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.
1 Tim 1:3	As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,	As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,
1 Tim 1:11	in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.	in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
1 Tim 3:15	if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth.	if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
1 Tim 4:15	Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.	Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.
1 Tim 5:1	Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father. Treat younger men like brothers,	Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,
1 Tim 5:2	older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, in all purity.	older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
1 Tim 5:16	If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are really widows.	If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.
2 Tim 2:26	and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.	and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Phlm 5	because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints,	because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,
Phlm 14	but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will.	but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.

See also:
• Genesis - Deuteronomy
• Joshua - Esther
• Job - Song of Solomon
• Isaiah - Malachi
• Matthew - Acts
• Hebrews - Revelation

Tags: ESV

This is the fifth post in this series listing the changes between the 2001 and 2007 texts of the English Standard Version. As always, discussion is welcome in the comments.

This selection includes all alterations from the Gospels and Acts.

 

	2001 ESV	2007 ESV
Matt 3:7	But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?	But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Matt 3:11	I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.	I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matt 5:32	But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.	But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Matt 8:18	Now when Jesus saw a great crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.	Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.
Matt 13:17	Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.	For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Matt 13:38	The field is the world, and the good seed is the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,	The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
Matt 16:26	For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?	For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Matt 17:18	And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.	And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.
Matt 17:24	When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?”	When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?”
Matt 19:5	and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh’?	and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?
Matt 22:15	Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his talk.	Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.
Matt 24:37	As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.	For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Matt 25:26	But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed?	But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
Matt 27:62	Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate	The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate
Mark 1:10	And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.	And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
Mark 2:5	And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”	And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 3:30	for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”	for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Mark 3:35	Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”	For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 4:41	And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?”	And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Mark 5:5	Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones.	Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.
Mark 7:25	But immediately a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet.	But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet.
Mark 8:34	And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.	And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Mark 8:36	For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?	For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
Mark 8:37	For what can a man give in return for his life?	For what can a man give in return for his soul?
Mark 9:23	And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.”	And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”
Mark 10:8	and they shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.	and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.
Mark 13:14	But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.	But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Mark 13:22	False christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.	For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.
Mark 13:35	Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning—	Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—
Luke 1:19	And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.	And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
Luke 1:53	he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.	he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
Luke 8:12	The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.	The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
Luke 14:14	and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”	and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
Luke 18:24	Jesus, looking at him with sadness, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!	Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!
Luke 20:4	Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?	was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?
John 3:19	And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.	And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
John 3:20	For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.	For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
John 3:21	But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God.	But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.
John 4:7	There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”	A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”
John 4:14	but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.	but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
John 5:46	If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.	For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.
John 6:58	This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.	This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.
John 6:53	It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.	It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
John 7:21	Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all marvel at it.	Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it.
John 8:17	In your Law it is written that the testimony of two men is true.	In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true.
John 8:39	They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did,	They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did,
John 8:41	You are doing what your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”	You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”
John 12:2	So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at the table.	So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.
John 12:8	The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”	For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
John 15:2	Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.	Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
John 15:13	Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.	Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
John 19:17	and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.	and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.
John 20:23	If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.	If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.
Acts 1:3	To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.	He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
Acts 1:18	(Now this man bought a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.	(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
Acts 2:15	For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.	For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day
Acts 2:42	And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.	And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Acts 3:11	While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s, astounded.	While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.
Acts 5:21	And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. ¶ Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council and all the senate of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought.	And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. ¶ Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council and all the senate of the people of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Acts 7:52	Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,	Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,
Acts 8:7	For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.	For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
Acts 10:6	He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.	He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.
Acts 13:15	After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.”	After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.”
Acts 13:38-39 note verse divisions	38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything 39 from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.	38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
Acts 17:19	And they took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?	And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
Acts 20:4	Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus from Berea, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.	Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.
Acts 25:10	But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourselves know very well.	But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.
Acts 27:34	Therefore I urge you to take some food. It will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.	Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you

See also:
• Genesis - Deuteronomy
• Joshua - Esther
• Job - Song of Solomon
• Isaiah - Malachi
• Romans - Philemon
• Hebrews - Revelation

Tags: ESV

I admit to liking a good supernatural suspense story on occasion, and I found 1408 to be quite the hair raiser. In this movie, based on a short story by Stephen King, John Cusack plays a writer named Mike Enslin. He's got talent, but he's got very little drive. Early in Mike's career, he wrote a very personal book seemingly based on his poor relationship with his father. But it lacked sales, and then personal tragedy (the death of his daughter) pushed him to write hack personal accounts debunking haunted hotels and bed and breakfasts. His personal appearances for autograph signings at bookstores result in low turnouts.

When Mike receives a mysterious postcard from the Dolphin Hotel in New York City with the simple message, "Don't stay in 1408," he is intrigued. He also notes that when the numbers in the room are added up (1+4+0+8), they equal 13. After calling to book a reservation, he's told that no one is allowed to stay in this room. Mike does a bit of research and discovers that 20 or so people have taken their own lives in 1408. Later he will find out the death toll is much higher--newspapers didn't report the 30 or so more deaths of supposed "natural" causes (heart attack, stroke, etc.). Using a little known Civil Rights law, Mike forces the manager of the Dolphin Hotel (played by Samuel L. Jackson) to let him stay in the room. Then hilarity ensues. Okay, hilarity is certainly not the right word. Substitute horror.

Really, I don't want to give away anymore of the movie. I realize that only a small fraction of those reading this will actually go see it. However, the experience in the hotel room is a roller coaster ride that won't be soon forgotten. Cusack is a very talented actor. He's about a year older than me, and watching his performance in Better Off Dead when I was a teenager made me immediately connect to him, something that has lasted to this day. I've even suffered through the occasional romantic comedy that Kathy often wants to see if he's in it. Of course 1408 is no romantic comedy. But it does put Cusack into a role a bit different from his other performances. Probably about 2/3 of the movie takes place in room 1408 and Cusack has the entire screen only to himself. The only two characters are Cusack's and then the room itself. Few actors could pull that kind of performance off, but Cusack does it well and we get to see emotions from him that very few of his other films ever do.

Although Samuel L. Jackson garners half of the movie poster, he's only in the movie for a very short period of time. I suppose that the role of the manager could have been played by any working actor, but Jackson's casting creates a character that exhibits both authority and distrust at the same time.

The movie keeps the audience guessing up to the last minute. Is the room really haunted? Or is Enslin dreaming? Or has he been drugged? Is he having a mental breakdown? Just when you think you know, you find out that you don't know. 1408 is not quite on the same level as King and Kubrick's The Shining, which is of similar genre. However, it's a fun thrill ride with a few genuinely scary moments. It will certainly keep your attention--if you're brave enough to enter.

Anyone following this blog knows that I've been posting changes between the 2001 and 2007 editions of the ESV over the last few days. A few hours ago I finished with the Old Testament and over the next two or three days I will cover the New Testament and in doing so complete the entire Bible.

I've been able to compare the editions simply because OakTree Software released the Accordance etext of the 2007 edition as a separate module, listed simply as ESV-SE (SE standing for "second edition"). Previous purchasers of the ESV module could pay $10 to download the update. Over the weekend, in a surprising turn of events, the ESV-SE module has been withdrawn from the Accordance website, and now an update to the original 2001 module has been released that will update it to the 2007 edition. Those of us who paid for the update last week have been told we will receive a credit on our next order. According to the Accordance forum, the release of a separate module was "due to a misunderstanding."

Now I find all of this very interesting, and pardon me if the importance of This Lamp is exaggerated in my own mind, but I have to wonder if any of my posts from the last week created part of the problem. Let me back up a minute and offer a brief history of the events related to this extremely minor controversy.

Last year, when it first became evident that Crossway was planning to update the ESV, I and a number of others received word that the changes were minor (they are) and some kind of list would be made available as to what these changes between editions were.

Then, to the consternation of many, Crossway and/or the Standard Bible Society changed their minds on the issue and decided not to release a list of changes.

Last Fall, the first part of the new revision of the ESV was released in the form of the The English-Greek Reverse Interlinear New Testament, a join project between Crossway and Logos Bible Software. I bought a copy of the Reverse Interlinear and did my best to produce a list of changes that I could find. It was a very short list indeed, but it can still be read: "Truth Unchanged Not Changed that Much: A Preliminary Survey of Updates to the ESV New Testament." What amazed me at the time--given all the criticisms of the ESV as holding over too much baggage from the RSV and feeling like a project that was rushed to market--was that the revision wasn't more extensive considering there had been half a decade to improve the version.

Earlier this year, upon hearing that OakTree Software was working on the update to the ESV for Accordance, I requested through email correspondence that they keep the update as a separate module so that the two editions could be listed side-by-side using the wonderful comparison feature in Accordance.

On May 24, I received an email from OakTree stating, "We have come up with a solution which should work all around. The new ESV edition will be a $10 upgrade and will have a slightly different name. Installing it will not overwrite the older version, so you will be able to run both in parallel." This was a perfect solution. Granted the texts are publicly published, but finding the differences between them without the aid of a computer would certainly be a chore. So if Crossway didn't want to disclose the changes, at least we could hunt them down ourselves using Accordance.

Now one has to wonder why Crossway and the Standard Bible Society would be so secretive about the changes in the two editions. But the reality is that they were so secretive that they wouldn't even offer a list of changes to OakTree, but forced the Accordance engineers to prep a brand new etext for use in the software--something that was much more time consuming and expensive than it would have been simply to have a list of the changes and apply them to the earlier module.

A week ago, on June 17, OakTree released the ESV-SE module for an upgrade price of $10 or $30 for new users. I bought my copy of the update early last week and began running comparisons of the 2001 and 2007 editions and publishing the results here on my blog.

As I've been comparing the texts, I've come across errors in both the 2001 module and 2007 module and have been dutifully reporting these back to OakTree as I've found them. Yet tonight after sending in a few errors I found in the 2001 text (which you'll remember was kept as a separate module all of last week), I received an email instructing me with the following: "Since the new ESV is now what was the ERSV-SE, there is no point is sending corrections to the old ESV module. Please just send any you find on the ESV-SE or the version 2 of the ESV. See the notice on the Forum and News page."

I had no idea that there had been any kind of change. But sure enough, upon checking the Accordance website, the ESV-SE module has been removed, and now an update has been posted that will replace a user's original 2001 ESV module with the 2007 edition. The update is now free, in spite of a statement last week that a $10 charge had been placed on the ESV-SE module to cover the cost of prepping the three modules (text, notes, and cross references) for the ESV-SE.

A statement has been made on both the Accordance Blog and the Accordance Forums that:

Due to a misunderstanding, last week we released the updated ESV as a separate second edition, following the model we had used for the New Living Translation. We now understand that Crossway prefers that this update replace the original ESV rather than considering it a second edition. This means that the original and updated ESV can no longer be viewed in parallel and compared using the Text Compare feature.

Well, they can still be viewed in parallel on this user's MacBook, because I still have both modules. However, after I finish publishing the changes in the New Testament, I'll probably go ahead and update my modules. Otherwise I would never be able to get updates to the text as it's improved. However, if anyone really wants to keep both versions--assuming the ESV-SE module was purchased--the text from the 2001 edition could be exported to text and then re-imported creating a custom user Bible.

Of course, I really can't imagine why anyone would want to do this. Again, the changes are not that significant. Obviously, Crossway contacted OakTree asking them to remove the separate module. But why? Is it because the comparison is embarrassing to them? Is it because it supports my contention that the 2001 edition was rushed and changes from the RSV were not as extensive as they could have and should have been?

Yes, there are mistakes in the 2001 version, but these are forgivable--especially by diehard ESV aficionados. And I can't see how sales could be hurt by the comparisons. First of all, the ESV is going gangbusters in sales, incredibly hitting the #3 spot on the CBA list for June. And second, in my opinion, the only thing my comparisons can do for Crossway is to encourage ESV users to go out and get the new edition, thus increasing their sales even more.

So I don't know what the big deal is. There was a separate Accordance module that allowed for comparisons with the original. So what? In the end, by blog has the potential to reach more people with the changes than the software did. My blog is accessible to anyone who runs a search on Google for "ESV changes."

And I get a lot of these very hits, and have ever since my posts last year.

---

Related:
- 2007 ESV Changes: Genesis - Deuteronomy
- 2007 ESV Changes: Joshua - Esther
- 2007 ESV Changes: Job - Song of Solomon
- 2007 ESV Changes: Isaiah - Malachi
- 2007 ESV Changes: Matthew - Acts
- 2007 ESV Changes: Romans - Philemon
- 2007 ESV Changes: Hebrews - Revelation
- Truth Unchanged Not Changed That Much: A Preliminary Survey of Updates to the ESV New Testament
- Truth Unchanged Changed? Revised ESV Release Imminent: Solid Evidence
- Official Word from Crossway: No Complete ESV Revision until 2007
- Sign of the End Times: Singular They in the ESV
- More on 1 John 3:24 in the ESV: Change Is Coming

Tags: ESV

This post closes out the changes in the Old Testament between the 2001 and 2007 editions of the ESV. Originally, I was going to have separate posts for the Major and Minor prophets, but the few number of alterations in the Minor Prophets didn't really warrant a separate entry.

	2001 ESV	2007 ESV
Isa 2:6	For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of things from the east and of fortunetellers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.	For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of things from the east and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.
Isa 5:26	He will raise a signal for nations afar off, and whistle for them from the ends of the earth; and behold, quickly, speedily they come!	He will raise a signal for nations far away, and whistle for them from the ends of the earth; and behold, quickly, speedily they come!
Isa 7:8	For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. (Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken to pieces so that it will no longer be a people.)	For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. And within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered from being a people.
Isa 8:1	Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large tablet and write on it in common characters,‘Belonging to Maher-shalal-hashbaz.’	Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large tablet and write on it in common characters,‘Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz.’
Isa 8:3	And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, “Call his name Maher-shalal-hashbaz;	And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, “Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz;
Isa 8:6	Because this people have refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah,	Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah,
Isa 8:13	But the LORD of hosts, him you shall regard as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.	But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Isa 10:30	Cry aloud, O daughter of Gallim! Give attention, O Laishah! O Poor Anathoth!	Cry aloud, O daughter of Gallim! Give attention, O Laishah! O poor Anathoth!
Isa 14:22	“I will rise up against them,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, descendants and posterity,” says the LORD.	“I will rise up against them,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, descendants and posterity,” declares the LORD.
Isa 26:12	O LORD, you will ordain peace for us; you have done for us all our works.	O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.
Isa 28:24	Does he who plows for sowing plow continually? does he continually open and harrow his ground?	Does he who plows for sowing plow continually? Does he continually open and harrow his ground?
Isa 31:4	For thus the LORD said to me, “As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey, and when a band of shepherds is called out against him is not terrified by their shouting or daunted at their noise, so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight* on Mount Zion and on its hill.	For thus the LORD said to me, “As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey, and when a band of shepherds is called out against him he is not terrified by their shouting or daunted at their noise, so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.
Isa 37:16	O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.	O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.
Isa 45:15	Truly, you are a God who hides yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior.	Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.
Isa 48:14	Assemble, all of you, and listen! who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans.	Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans.
Isa 49:13	Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! for the LORDhas comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.	Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORDhas comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.
Isa 51:9	Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, that pierced the dragon?	Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?
Isa 53:1	Who has believed what they heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?	Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
Isa 53:10	Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.	Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 59:14	Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter.	Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter.
Isa 66:19	and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations.	and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations.
Jer 2:20	For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, ‘I will not serve.’ yes, on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore.	For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, ‘I will not serve.’ Yes, on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore.
Jer 9:26	Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”	Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.”
Jer 11:11	Therefore, thus says the LORD, behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them.	Therefore, thus says the LORD, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them.
Jer 18:11	Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Thus says the LORD, behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.’	Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Thus says the LORD, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.’
Jer 22:2	Hear the word of the LORD, O King of Judah, who sits on the throne of David, you, and your servants, and your people who enter these gates.	and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David, you, and your servants, and your people who enter these gates.
Jer 23:23	Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God afar off?	Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away?
Jer 29:11	For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.	For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jer 29:13	You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart,	You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Jer 31:19	For after I had turned away, I relented, and after I was instructed, I slapped my thigh; I was ashamed, and I was confounded, because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’	For after I had turned away, I relented, and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh; I was ashamed, and I was confounded, because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’
Jer 31:38	Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when the city shall be rebuilt for the LORDfrom the tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.	Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when the city shall be rebuilt for the LORDfrom the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.
Jer 32:17	Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who has made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.	‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Jer 38:10	Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, “Take three men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”	Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, “Take thirty men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”
Jer 44:30	Thus says the LORD, behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek his life, as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and sought his life.”	Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek his life, as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and sought his life.”
Jer 46:14	Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol; proclaim in Memphis and Tahpanhes; Say, ‘Stand ready and be prepared, for the sword shall devour around you.’	Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol; proclaim in Memphis and Tahpanhes; say, ‘Stand ready and be prepared, for the sword shall devour around you.’
Jer 48:3	Hark! A cry from Horonaim, ‘Desolation and great destruction!’	A voice! A cry from Horonaim, ‘Desolation and great destruction!’
jer 49:3	Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah! put on sackcloth, lament, and run to and fro among the hedges! For Milcom shall go into exile, with his priests and his officials.	Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth, lament, and run to and fro among the hedges! For Milcom shall go into exile, with his priests and his officials.
Jer 50:20	In those days and in that time, declares the LORD, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none. And sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.	In those days and in that time, declares the LORD, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.
Jer 52:31	And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he became king, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison.	And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he became king, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison.
Ezek 3:7	But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me. Because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.	But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.
Ezek 16:30	How lovesick is your heart, declares the Lord GOD, because you did all these things, the deeds of a brazen prostitute,	How sick is your heart, declares the Lord GOD, because you did all these things, the deeds of a brazen prostitute,
Ezek 21:9	Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord; Say: “A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished,	Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, say: “A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished,
Ezek 33:19	And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by them.	And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this.
Ezek 37:11	Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.’	Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’
Ezek 44:19	And when they go out into the outer court to the people, they shall put off the garments in which they have been ministering and lay them in the holy chambers. And they shall put on other garments, lest they communicate holiness to the people with their garments.	And when they go out into the outer court to the people, they shall put off the garments in which they have been ministering and lay them in the holy chambers. And they shall put on other garments, lest they transmit holiness to the people with their garments.
Ezek 46:20	And he said to me, “This is the place where the priests shall boil the guilt offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, in order not to bring them out into the outer court and so communicate holiness to the people.”	And he said to me, “This is the place where the priests shall boil the guilt offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, in order not to bring them out into the outer court and so transmit holiness to the people.”
Ezek 48:35	The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD is there.	The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There.
Dan 2:26	The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?”	The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?”
Dan 7:9	As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.	As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.
Dan 11:11	Then the king of the south, moved with rage, shall come out and fight with the king of the north. And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand.	Then the king of the south, moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the north. And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand.
Jon 2:4	Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; Yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’	Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’
Mic 4:3	He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore;	He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore;
Mic 5:2	But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.	But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Mic 7:19	He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.	He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
Hab 1:13	You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and are silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?	You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?
Zech 9:9	Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.	Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zech 14:14	Even Judah will fight against Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the surrounding nations shall be collected, gold, silver, and garments in great abundance.	Even Judah will fight at Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the surrounding nations shall be collected, gold, silver, and garments in great abundance.
Mal 2:16	For the man who hates and divorces, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”	For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”
Mal 3:10	Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.	Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

See also:
• Genesis - Deuteronomy
• Joshua - Esther
• Job - Song of Solomon
• Matthew - Acts
• Romans - Philemon
• Hebrews - Revelation

Tags: ESV

Below is the third set of changes between the ESV 2001 and 2007 editions. This post focuses on Wisdom Literature or Job through Song of Solomon.

Iyov has been diligent to check my references and most of the errors in previous posts have come from hyphenated words. In performing a bit of translational textual criticism, my hunch is that the original ESV 2001 modules for both Accordance and Logos both came from scans of the ESV Classic Reference Bible because most of the mistakes found in the etexts have been at hyphenated breaks that occur in this specific edition. The Logos module of the 2001 edition is slightly more up to date than the Accordance module, but this isn't too surprising since Logos and Crossway seems to have a fairly close business relationship as evidenced in the ESV Reverse Interlinear NT. This makes it even more interesting that OakTree would release the 2007 update before Logos.

We've also discovered that evidently Crossway has made some of these changes along the way before the 2007 release, such as changing upwards to upward in 2 Chron 31:17 as demonstrated in the last post (see also the discussion in the comments). Early releases contained the words upwards, but there have been editions of the ESV before the 2007 edition that also contained the changed word, upward. I'm not certain how many other changes were also added between the editions. Nevertheless, I'm posting here any alteration from the 2001 edition that I find.

The changes made in the Wisdom Literature below are fewer than the number in the previous post of the Historical Books. Nevertheless, some of these are more interesting. Again, comments and discussion are welcome and encouraged.

	2001 ESV	2007 ESV
Job 39:29	From there he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it afar off.	From there he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it from far away.
Psalm 2:2	The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,	The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
Psalm 8:2	Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.	Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
Psalm 10:1	Why, O LORD, do you stand afar off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?	Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
Psalm 11:4	The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test, the children of man.	The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
Psalm 19:4	Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,	Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
Psalm 28:6	Blessed be the LORD! for he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.	Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
Psalm 35:21	They open wide their mouths against me; they say, “Aha, Aha! our eyes have seen it!”	They open wide their mouths against me; they say, “Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!”
Psalm 40:6	Sacrifice and offering you have not desired, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.	In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
Psalm 40:8	I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”	I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
Psalm 40:14	Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire my hurt!	Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!
Psalm 42:3	My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”	My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
Psalm 42:10	As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”	As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
Psalm 53:6	Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.	Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
Psalm 64:5	They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, who can see them?	They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?”
Psalm 65:2	O you who hears prayer, to you shall all flesh come.	O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.
Psalm 70:2	Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire my hurt!	Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!
Psalm 80:19	Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! let your face shine, that we may be saved!	Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!
Psalm 86:14	O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seek my life, and they do not set you before them.	O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them.
Psalm 106:7	Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the Sea, at the Red Sea.	Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
Psalm 107:8	Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!	Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
Psalm 107:15	Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!	Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
Psalm 107:21	Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!	Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
Psalm 107:31	Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!	Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
Psalm 109:31	For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.	For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.
Psalm 139:16	Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.	Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Prov 6:33	Wounds and dishonor will he get, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.	He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
Prov 20:14	“Bad, Bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.	“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.
Prov 24:22	for disaster from them will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?	for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?
Prov 30:15	The leech has two daughters; “Give” and “Give,” they cry. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”:	The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”:
Eccl 7:22	Your heart knows that many times you have yourself cursed others.	Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.
Eccl 9:2	It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.	It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.
Eccl 9:7	Go, eat your bread in joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.	Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.
Eccl 10:20	Even in your thought, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.	Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
Song 4:14	nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all chief spices—	nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all choice spices—

See also:
• Genesis - Deuteronomy
• Joshua - Esther
• Isaiah - Malachi
• Matthew - Acts
• Romans - Philemon
• Hebrews - Revelation

Tags: ESV

About a week ago I read a very sincere blog entry from Tim Challies outlining three reasons why he would not go see Evan Almighty. In my opinion, his third point is the most significant:

But I think my greatest and overarching concern is this: this movie, like the one before it, makes light of our faith. When people walked out of Bruce Almighty I don't think they had a greater and deeper understanding of God. They did not have greater love for and respect for Him. The genre simply could not bring so serious and important and biblical a message. Amidst all of the laughs and vulgarity there would simply not have been opportunity to really help people understand God better, despite the filmmaker's attempts. And when people walk away from Evan Almighty they will not love God more. I don't think they will have a greater understanding of the Bible. In fact, I suspect they'll see the biblical story of the flood as being as fictional as this movie--a quaint plot but completely unrealistic and implausible. Mere fiction. This movie will not and cannot bring anyone closer to God. Rather, it will necessarily project a false image of God, a false understanding of Him. And we're being told to watch this, to enjoy this, and to bring our families to see it so they can laugh with us.

Now I want to say up front that if Tim is convicted that he should not see this movie, he should not go see it. There are certain movies I will never see because there are certain kinds of movies that I cannot see in good conscience. So I understand that. However, I would hate for him--or anyone else--not to see it simply because his concerns are overblown.

Tim speaks of his struggle over whether or not to see the first film, Bruce Almighty, and I have to admit that I had the same reservations although at the insistence of some people I highly respect, I finally got around to watching the movie. Yes, there were some objectionable parts in it, but there were also some very redeemable elements and I don't think that the movie made fun of the Christian faith--in fact, I felt that it was quite respectful of the Christian faith. And the interviews I've read with the director, Tom Shadyac, convince me that although my beliefs might not line up with his 100%, he's still serious about his Christian faith. Nevertheless, there were still some questionable elements of Bruce Almighty, and it's not a movie that I could recommend to just anyone--although I probably could to most.

Thankfully, the sequel, Evan Almighty, is a different issue altogether. I took part in an invitation for "ministry professionals" to view the film about three weeks ago. I went in hopeful but nervous with many of the same concerns and fears that Tim described. And yet, I was pleasantly surprised and even taken aback in a few places at how overt the biblical interactions were in this movie. In fact, the biblical references are so overt, I wonder how much of the movie would go over the head of someone who is completely unchurched.

If you don't know the plot by now, the story involves a recently elected congressman named Evan Baxter (played by Steve Carell) who after moving his family to Virginia (to be near DC) is visited by God, played by Morgan Freeman, reprising his role from the first movie. God wants to take Evan up on his campaign promise to "Change the World." And yet, his command upon Evan is seemingly absurd--he's told to build an ark. Yes, an ark just like in the days of Noah. In fact, over the course of the movie, Evan is transformed into a Noah character right down to physical appearance--kind of like Tim Allen's transformation in The Santa Clause.

Let me tell you some positives of the movie and why I believe it should be supported, especially by Christians.

• Most importantly, this movie does not make fun of the Christian faith. In a refreshingly welcome move, the movie is very much from a Judeo-Christian worldview. In fact, the very flavor of this movie reminds me much more of a movie I'd expect to come from Walden Media as opposed to a studio like Universal, the actual movie company. And for all the complaints about the protagonist of the first movie living with his girlfriend (although he was not a believer), the sequel is squarely family oriented focusing on Evan, his wife and his children.
• God's sovereignty is primary throughout the movie. In an almost Jonah-like fashion, Evan does not want to have anything to do with God's plans for his life. He fights them to his own peril until he finally submits. And it's significant that his submission to God's will is in the context of his not understanding why God is asking him to do these things. He doesn't understand, but he obeys nonetheless.
• The movie focuses on a number of very good themes such as faith, hope, the importance of family, and the reality that God hears us when we pray. Both parents are shown praying during times of difficulty. Evan's prayer may not be as eloquent as his wife's, but it's sincere prayer nonetheless.
• There's also a strong message that if someone really wants to change the world, it's not necessarily going to be done in Washington D.C., but it will have to start at the local level with self, family, and neighborhood.
• Morgan Freeman still puts a good face on God. Freeman who tends to gain roles as the local wise man or the conscience of a film works well in this role. For all those who might have a dim view of God (for whatever reason), it's difficult not to like Freeman (although I would imagine God might have straighter teeth if I ever saw him in a theophany).
• Contrary to concerns I've heard voiced, this movie is not about global warming. The threat imposed in the movie has to do with a greedy politician (John Goodman) who has cut corners in his building projects. And in case you're wondering, the politician's party affiliation is never mentioned.
• There's also no conflict with God's promise in Genesis to never flood the world again. God promised never to flood the entire world again. He never said that local floods would not occur.
• There is almost no language in the film (the worst is seen in the trailer; I personally don't use the slang term for urination, but it is in the KJV, isn't it?) and very little objectionable material. What's there was probably done to keep the movie from having a strictly G rating. The movie is rated PG "for mild rude humor and some peril." This is a movie you can feel comfortable watching with your entire family, church groups, pastor, your mom, etc.

Are there any theological problems with the film? Yes, a few, but I don't believe they have to ruin it. Just keep in mind that Hollywood would never produce a perfectly Christian film. But nevertheless, Evan Almighty goes a long way toward being a responsible Christian film that does not make fun of the faith and suggests that spiritual and ethical issues should be a part of everyday life.

Here's a short list of the theological problems:

• There's a reinterpretation of the Noah story at one point that gives less emphasis to judgment and more on the point of Noah and his family working together. The judgment aspect isn't altogether denied, but it's still a bit squishy in my opinion.
• Evan's guide to building the boat is Ark Building for Dummies, which is authored by God. On the inside of the book, the author's bio mentions that he he is the father of 6 billion people and lives in everyone and everything (or something to that effect). Obviously, this idea of living in everyone and everything sounds a bit pantheistic, but the movie does not portray a pantheistic view of God, so I would suggest this is merely poor wording (although you could always take it in the sense of the nephesh of God that is in every living thing). As for the fatherhood issue, take it along the lines of Acts 17:28-29. Of course on a lighter note, one wonders what it would do to the Canon for God to author an entire book about ark building
• The overarching theological problem with any of these kinds of movies is that the central figure of the Bible, Jesus Christ, is left out. The Old Testament always seems safe to cover, but Christ ever remains the most controversial figure in history and often is too taboo for Hollywood films. Nevertheless, the Bible that Evan reaches for in the movie contains both testaments and allusion is made at one point to "Ask and you will receive" which comes from Matt 7:7 or 21:22.
• And not quite a theological problem, but this movie has been criticized for being highly marketed to the church. But it's a double-edged sword isn't it? We complain when Hollywood ignores us, and then we criticize when they pay us attention. I would suggest simply using discernment toward any kind of marketing from any source period, and be wise in making decisions so that marketing is not always a controlling factor.

Granted, Evan Almighty isn't going to make any of the American Film Institute's top 100 lists. It might not even make the money of its predecessor. But it's a fairly good movie that can be enjoyed with the whole family and lead to spiritual discussions afterwards. Yes, some parts are cheesy, and the movie starts off a bit slow, but it builds along the way. The climax is--dare I say it--breathtaking on the big screen, and when the credits rolled, the audience I saw it with (again, mostly "ministry professionals" and their families) cheered and applauded.

Tim Challies was concerned that this movie would not cause viewer to love God more. Well, I have no way of knowing what kind of reaction it would have on any person. But I do know that I see lots of movies that don't cause me to love God more, but the themes of this movie are positive and come from a biblical (albeit not perfectly biblical) perspective. This would be a great movie for churches to use as discussion starters. If anyone is convicted not to go to this movie, it is between that person and God, and I won't try to circumvent that. But just be sure that any such convictions are based on the facts and not the fears of imagined perceptions.

This post is my second in an attempt to create an exhaustive list of the changes made between the 2001 and 2007 editions of the English Standard Version. Again, I am posting them without comments of my own, but encourage discussion in the comments of this post.

Below is the list of changes beginning in Joshua and going through Esther (although no changes actually occur in the latter book):

	2001 ESV	2007 ESV
Josh 10:14	There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD obeyed the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel.	There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel.
Josh 11:5	And all these kings joined their forces and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight with Israel.	And all these kings joined their forces and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
Judges 2:20	So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he said, “Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice,	So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he said, “Because this people has transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice,
Judges 6:17	And he said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speaks with me.	And he said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me.
Judges 6:21	Then the angel of the LORD reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.	Then the angel of the LORD reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.
Judges 6:24	Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it, The LORD is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.	Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it, The LORD Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.
Judges 8:1	Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight with Midian?” And they accused him fiercely.	Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they accused him fiercely.
Judges 11:6	And they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our leader, that we may fight with the Ammonites.”	And they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our leader, that we may fight against the Ammonites.”
Judges 11:8	And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is why we have turned to you now, that you may go with us and fight with the Ammonites and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”	And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is why we have turned to you now, that you may go with us and fight against the Ammonites and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
Judges 11:9	Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me home again to fight with the Ammonites, and the LORD gives them over to me, I will be your head.”	Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me home again to fight against the Ammonites, and the LORD gives them over to me, I will be your head.”
1 Sam 1:14	And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put away your wine from you.”	And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.”
1 Sam 10:3	Then you shall go on from there further and come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.	Then you shall go on from there farther and come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.
1 Sam 11:3	The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.”	The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days’ respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.”
1 Sam 13:18	another company turned toward Beth-horon; and another company turned toward the border that looks down on the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.	another company turned toward Beth-horon; and another company turned toward the border that looks down on the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
1 Sam 16:14	Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.	Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.
1 Sam 16:15	And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.	And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you.
1 Sam 16:16	Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.”	Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.”
1 Sam 16:23	And whenever the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.	And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.
1 Sam 17:19	Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.	Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
1 Sam 23:14	And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.	And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.
1 Sam 23:15	David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the Wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.	David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.
1 Sam 27:11	And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “Lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’ ” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines.	And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines.
2 Sam 8:4	And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for a hundred chariots.	And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots.
2 Sam 18:9	And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great terebinth, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.	And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak,and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.
2 Sam 24:23	All this, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “The LORD your God accept you.”	All this, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the LORD your God accept you.”
1 Kings 2:24	Now therefore as the LORD lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.”	Now therefore as the LORD lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today.”
2 Kings 5:5	And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothes.	And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.
2 Kings 5:22	And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two festal garments.’ ”	And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’”
2 Kings 5:23	And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two festal garments, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi.	And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi.
2 Kings 19:15	And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: “O LORD the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.	And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: “O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.
2 Kings 21:6	And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.	And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
2 Kings 22:16	Thus says the LORD, behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read.	Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read.
1 Chron 4:31	Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-su-sim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David reigned.	Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David reigned.
1 Chron 7:9	And their enrollment by genealogies, according to their generations, as heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty warriors, was 22,200.	And their enrollment by genealogies, according to their generations, as heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty warriors, was 20,200.
1 Chron 19:19	And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Syrians were not willing to save the Ammonites any more.	And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Syrians were not willing to save the Ammonites anymore.
2 Chron 1:5	Moreover, the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the LORD. And Solomon and the assembly resorted to it.	Moreover, the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the LORD. And Solomon and the assembly sought it out.
2 Chron 9:18	The throne had six steps and a footstool of gold, which were attached to the throne, and on each side of the seat were arm rests and two lions standing beside the arm rests,	The throne had six steps and a footstool of gold, which were attached to the throne, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests,
2 Chron 21:2	He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Judah.	He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
2 Chron 21:19	In course of time, at the end of two years, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great agony. His people made no fire in his honor, like the fires made for his fathers.	In the course of time, at the end of two years, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great agony. His people made no fire in his honor, like the fires made for his fathers.
2 Chron 30:14	They set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for burning incense they took away and threw into the Kidron valley.	They set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for burning incense they took away and threw into the Kidron Valley.
2 Chron 31:17	The enrollment of the priests was according to their fathers’ houses; that of the Levites from twenty years old and upwards was according to their offices, by their divisions.	The enrollment of the priests was according to their fathers’ houses; that of the Levites from twenty years old and upward was according to their offices, by their divisions.
2 Chron 33:6	And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.	And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
2 Chron 34:24	Thus says the LORD, behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book that was read before the king of Judah.	Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book that was read before the king of Judah.
2 Chron 34:32	Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.	Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin join in it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
2 Chron 36:9	Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.	Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.
Ezra 6:21	It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by everyone who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the LORD, the God of Israel.	It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the LORD, the God of Israel.
Ezra 7:8	And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.	And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
Neh 1:9	but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’	but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’
Neh 3:15	And Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the City of David.	And Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David.
Neh 9:29	And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey.	And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey.
Neh 9:35	Even in their own kingdom, enjoying your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works.	Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works.
Neh 11:30	Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its villages. So they encamped from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.	Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its villages. So they encamped from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.
Neh 13:24	And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but the language of each people.	And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people.

See also:
• Genesis - Deuteronomy.
• Job - Song of Solomon
• Isaiah - Malachi
• Matthew - Acts
• Romans - Philemon
• Hebrews - Revelation

Tags: ESV

A mild revision of the English Standard Version has been released this year, and this new series which I will roll out over the next few days will attempt to provide an exhaustive list of changes between the 2001 and 2007 editions of the ESV. The first glimpse of these changes was seen last year when the ESV Reverse Interlinear became the first publication to contain the revised New Testament. At that time, I offered a preliminary survey of changes between the two editions simply based on my search for differences in the text.

Earlier this week, OakTree Software released the updated edition of the ESV as a separate module from the original one. The changes between the editions are relatively minor, but I had petitioned OakTree earlier this year to keep the modules separate for sake of comparison. For whatever reason, Crossway and the Standard Bible Society opted not to release a list of the changes in spite of the fact that there was earlier indication that they would. Evidently, the changes were such a tightly kept secret that they wouldn't even give a list of changes to OakTree, but rather gave them a brand new etext that had to be prepped along with footnotes and cross-references. Undoubtedly, a simple list of corrections would have made the update a much easier task, but as Helen Brown noted in the comments over at the Accordance Blog:

If Crossway had supplied a list of corrections, our work would have been trivial, but we had to start over with a new etext and redo all three modules. In order to stay in business we do have to try to cover our costs.

Her last statement is in reference to the $10 upgrade fee (very reasonable in my opinion) charged to those who had the original ESV text in Accordance.

Now that I have both the 2001 and 2007 ESV editions available as separate modules in Accordance, I can use the comparison tool to find what should be an exhaustive list of changes between the editions. As I've already said, the changes are fairly minor in the big scheme of things. Unlike the significant change in the 1996 and 2004 editions of the NLT, the ESV update is really more of the standard "second run" with a few minor fixes that most translations experience (consider the 1978 and 1984 editions of the NIV, but compare John 1:18 in both).

Some of the changes are related to spelling or grammar, and a few reflect mild theological change (see Num 21:3 for instance). I am going to list the changes without commentary (other than to say Gen 30:35 is quite the chuckler), but I encourage discussion of the significance of any of these changes in the comments for this post. Over the next few days, I will display changes throughout the entire Bible between the two editions of the ESV.

For now, here is the Pentateuch:

	2001 ESV	2007 ESV
Gen 2:19	So out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.	Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.
Gen 24:60	And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands, and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate them!”	And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands, and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him!”
Gen 25:20	and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to be his wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean.	and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife.
Gen 26:17	So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the valley of Gerar and settled there.	So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there.
Gen 30:35	But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in charge of his sons.	But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in the charge of his sons.
Gen 37:22	And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; cast him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father.	And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father.
Gen 37:24	And they took him and cast him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.	And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
Gen 38:12	In course of time the wife of Judah, Shua’s daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.	In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua’s daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
Gen 44:18	Then Judah went up to him and said, “O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself.	Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself.
Ex 17:15	And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD is my banner,	And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD Is My Banner,
Ex 20:11	For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.	For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Ex 22:16	If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife.	If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife.
Ex 29:27	And you shall consecrate the breast of the wave offering that is waved and the thigh of the priests’ portion that is contributed from the ram of ordination, from what was Aaron’s and his sons.	And you shall consecrate the breast of the wave offering that is waved and the thigh of the priests’ portion that is contributed from the ram of ordination, from what was Aaron’s and his sons’.
Ex 32:31	So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Alas, this people have sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold.	So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold.
Lev 19:31	Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.	Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.
Lev 20:6	If a person turns to mediums and wizards, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.	If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.
Lev 20:24	But I have said to you, ‘You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ I am the LORD your God, who have separated you from the peoples.	But I have said to you, ‘You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples.
Lev 20:27	A man or a woman who is a medium or a wizard shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.	A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.
Lev 23:6	And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.	And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.
Lev 26:46	These are the statutes and rules and laws that the LORD made between him and the people of Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai.	These are the statutes and rules and laws that the LORD made between himself and the people of Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai.
Num 4:7	And over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; the regular show bread also shall be on it.	And over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; the regular showbread also shall be on it.
Num 21:3	And the LORD obeyed the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah.	And the LORD heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah.
Num 21:14	Wherefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD, “Waheb in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon,	Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD, “Waheb in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon,
Num 21:18	the well that the princes dug, that the nobles of the people delved, with the scepter and with their staffs.” And from the wilderness they went on to Mattanah,	the well that the princes made, that the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter and with their staffs.” ¶ And from the wilderness they went on to Mattanah,
Deut 9:26	And I prayed to the LORD, ‘O Lord GOD, destroy not your people and your heritage, whom you have redeemed through your greatness, whom you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.	And I prayed to the LORD, ‘O Lord GOD, do not destroy your people and your heritage, whom you have redeemed through your greatness, whom you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
Deut 18:11	or a charmer or a medium or a wizard or a necromancer,	or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead,

See also:
• Joshua - Esther
• Job - Song of Solomon
• Isaiah - Malachi
• Matthew - Acts
• Romans - Philemon
• Hebrews - Revelation

Tags: ESV

I received in the mail today a copy of the Twentieth Century New Testament which I purchased on eBay for an extremely reasonable price. This is the 1904 revised edition, which to my knowledge was also the final edition. The copy is in excellent shape for a century-old book with a strong and intact binding and pages that while yellowed are in good condition. Here are a few photos that were on the eBay page:







I haven't had a whole lot of time to spend with it yet, but I note that the gospels begin with Mark under the conviction that this was the first gospel written. Also Paul's letters begin with 1 Thessalonians since most believe this was the first letter written by Paul. Also it's worth noting that James is included before Paul's letters.

The Twentieth Century New Testament (TCNT) shows a concern almost a century old that the KJV used outdated and archaic language with the risk that modern readers exposed only to the 1611 translation might consider the Bible to be irrelevant, merely an ancient document of history. It's also worth noting that the TCNT is one of the first translations based on the Westcott and Hort text.

I ran a search for the title through the theological journals I have in Accordance and I found a review in Bibliotheca Sacra from 1963. The review itself, written by S. D. Toussaint, was in reference to a recent Moody Press reprint of the TCNT. Below is an edited version of the review with pertinent information retained:

This is not a mid-twentieth century translation but a pre-twentieth century work based on the text of Westcott and Hort. It [was] first published in 1900 and made by twenty unnamed men and women from “various sections of the Christian Church.”

The 1900 publication has the books arranged in a chronological order. Significantly, Mark is given as the earliest gospel; strangely, Titus is placed after 2 Timothy. [The TNTC provides] an introduction to each book containing data concerning authorship, date, sources, etc. Some of these occasionally reveal a liberal view. (In the introduction to Revelation it is stated concerning its authorship, “There is at present no certain clue to his identity").

...The preface of the original translation...does not claim this is a verbal translation but it also denies being a paraphrase. It asserts: “…The effort has been made to give the exact force and meaning in idiomatic modern English.” Despite this fact, it definitely tends toward a paraphrase. Aside from this shortcoming, the translation does have a number of advantages. The books are divided into sections and paragraphs; outlines are incorporated into the books; quotations are indicated by finer print; and measures, values, and titles are given in the nearest English equivalents.

This translation may prove to be useful to the Bible student who would like to add another translation to his already extended shelf of “twentieth century” renditions.

Tags: Translations

Okay, I finally get it. You see, I was less than enthusiastic over the first film, but it was after all, mostly an origin story. Having read comic books as a kid, I love super hero movies as an adult. But origin stories bore me because I already know their origins. I suppose, though, that they're necessary for the uninitiated. So after slogging through the origin story in the first film, cheesy dialogue and a lack of character depth, I was hoping for much more in the sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. And yet the sequel also has flat characters and cheesy dialogue. Further, it lacks the emotion and personal journey of the Spider-Man trilogy and the superb character development of the X-Men movies (well, at least some of the characters in the X-Men movies).

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer picks up with our fearless foursome where the last movie left off. Although Johnny Storm, Sue Storm (soon to be Sue Richards) Reed Richards, and Ben Grimm have hero names (Human Torch, Invisible Woman, Mr. Fantastic, and the Thing, respectively), their identities are known and therefore not secret. Superman, Batman and Spider-Man never had to worry about celebrity status in their private lives, but the Fantastic Four do. So the beginning plotline of the movie revolves around Sue and Reed's attempt to get married in the midst of a paparazzi nightmare. Security is so tight, not even Stan Lee can crash the party (literally). But ultimately, it's the arrival of the Silver Surfer, whose presence symbolizes the end of earth's existence, that puts a real damper on their wedding plans.

So back to the part I now get. I think some of my disillusionment with the Fantastic Four movies stemmed initially from my comparison of them to the Spider-Man and X-Men trilogies. If you don't know this, the Fantastic Four is just as much a part of the A-list of Marvel Comics characters as these other guys. And granted, there have been a few stinkers in terms of Marvel adaptations: the Punisher immediately comes to mind as well as the Daredevil, which I like somewhat except when Ben Affleck is ruining it for me. So the FF movies aren't as bad as those two examples. I'd even put them on a level above the recent Ghostrider. Regardless, I've finally come to understand what the creative minds behind the FF movies are doing. I figured it out by looking at the movie's rating. Both FF movies have been rated PG as opposed to PG-13. The latest installment's PG rating is for "sequences of action violence, some mild language and innuendo." Now the mild language (and it is pretty mild) and the sexual innuendo are completely unnecessary because as opposed to all the other super hero movies of late, the FF movies are much more along the lines of family fare. The fight scenes are much less brutal and the themes are less serious. Understanding the two movies along these lines makes me like them a bit more and certainly less critically. This is the stuff of Saturday morning fare, and when seen in that regard it's well done.

In spite of poor reviews, the first movie did fairly well financially--not groundbreaking, but fairly well--and the sequel should do the same. This means we will probably see more, and that's fine with me. This particular movie is finally hitting a level of I've wanted to see in the genre for quite a while--the aspect of heroes coming into contact with other heroes. And it's fitting that the Silver Surfer should be the focus of the movie because if memory serves, he was first presented in the FF comic books to begin with. And for what it's worth, although the purists will probably nitpick it to death, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is probably the most immersive movie we've seen so far into the Marvel mythos. Not only is there no attempt to tone down the characters to make them more believable, but we also get introduced to unimaginable characters like Galactus the planet eater. This is the stuff of the comic books that the movies have tended to shy away from in their attempt to be more believable and more grounded.

So don't take the FF movies too seriously. This is good popcorn fun, and even better something you can enjoy with the whole family.

Tony Kummer of Said At Southern Seminary asked me if I wanted to review one of the songs on Derek Webb's new CD, The Ringing Bell. If you're interested, check my review of song number 7, "Can't Be Without You."

According to a forum post on Amazon.com, the minimum requirements for the developer's seed of the upcoming Leopard release of OS X lists the following:

• an Intel processor or a PowerPC G4 or G5 processor
• a DVD drive
• built-in FireWire
• at least 256 MB of RAM for a PowerPC based Mac, and 512 MB for an Intel-based Mac
• a built-in display or a display connected to an Apple-supplied video card supported by your computer [The Installer may not support your video card.]
• at least 6 GB of disk space available, or 8 GB if you install the developer tools

Presumably the final minimum requirements would not be that different. However, it's notable that PowerPC G3 processors were included in Tiger's specs, but not in Leopard's. So if these remain as the final minimum requirements, it would mean the first release of OS X that won't run on G3 Macs.

Tags: Macintosh, Apple

I've mentioned a number of times that I have a particular homemade method of making annotations in my Bible. Over the last couple of years, this has become one of the most requested posts I've been asked to write. I remember one particular commenter stating that he had been looking for a really good academic method for a very long time. Well, my fear is that the final product may disappoint. There's nothing profound here and certainly nothing specifically academic in nature. My "system" (if you want to call it that) is simply something that has worked for me both in my own study and in my teaching.

I actually developed it while I was in college, and although I've tweaked it along the way here and there, it's not overly changed from the way it was years ago. I have to admit that the actual structure is based on the colors available in a pack of Stabilo Boss Dry Highlighters. The pack came in five colors. I never figured out what to do with the orange, so I used it elsewhere. However, here is how I arranged my categories:

YELLOW = General and miscellaneous notes that do not fall into other categories.
RED = Dates, chronology, date of composition
GREEN = symbolism, metaphor, literary features
BLUE = Messianic, Christological

With each of the dry highlighters, I use a corresponding pen for my annotations with the exception of the first category for which I use a black pen. In other words, I highlight in yellow, but the corresponding note is in black, unlike the other colors for which I have matching highlighter and pens.

The main Bible I take notes in is a NASB wide-margin single column reference Bible from Foundation Publications. I would be willing to use a more contemporary version such as the TNIV or NLT, but no adequate wide margin Bible is available in these translations. I make these annotations whenever I study a passage (using commentaries and other reference works) for personal edification or teaching others. I make different kinds of notes in a Greek NT, usually grammatical issues relating to the Greek text or a gloss of a rarely used word that is not in my memorized vocabulary.

Here are some random examples of the kind of annotations I've got marked in my NASB wide-margin Bible:

GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

• In Gen 45:4, I have the word alive highlighted in yellow. In the margin I have the words "meaning 'enjoying health and well-being.'" I have no idea where I got this information--probably from a commentary. I will list a source for extended notes, but not short comments like these.
• Sometimes I merely write annotations without highlighting anything specific. For instance, In the top margin above 2 Sam 13, I have "reminder" bullets: • Absalom and Tamar were David's children by Maacah, daughter of the king of Gesure; and • Amnon Was David's son by Ahinoam, the Jezruelitess.
• At Neh 4:3, I have highlighted in yellow the words "break their stone wall down." In the margin are the words, "Actually archaeological discoveries have revealed Nehemiah's wall to be four feet thick--NAC." In this case, I did note the source: the New American Commentary. I could have just as easily noted the author instead of the series, but more than likely, the series would make a more familiar reference in this case.
• At Neh 3:13, Zanoah is highlighted in yellow with the accompanying note, "13 mi. sw of Jerusalem."
• Sometimes the notes will reflect alternate translations. In Neh 5:7, I highlighted the words "I consulted with myself" and in the margin have the note "lit. 'my heart took counsel upon me.'"
• Certain books like Job are heavily annotated. In this case, I was doing personal study through Job at one point, and then I've taught the book a few times.
• In many places throughout the Bible, I'll highlight a word in yellow, and in the margin or very close to it, write the actual underlying original language word.

DATES AND CHRONOLOGICAL ISSUES

• In Jer 1:2, I highlighted in red the phrase, "the thirteenth year of his reign." The corresponding note (written in red ink) says 627 BC.
• I highlighted in red the Hebrew month "Nisan" with the corresponding note "spans March-April; 1st month of the Persian year." Similarly at Neh 9:1, I highlighted the phrase "the twenty-fourth day of this month" with the annotation "Oct 30, 445 BC."
• I have a note in red at Acts 6 that these events occur five years after Pentecost.
• At the beginning of books, I often try to list suggested dates of composition. For instance in Matthew, I have a number of suggestions including on the more conservative side: "60's <70" from Carson, Moo, & Morris' NT Intro and "After 70" from Kümmel's more progressive NT Intro. Because these types of annotations come at the beginning of the book, I sometimes write other introductory notes in red as well such as suggested authors, but I don't do this consistently, it seems.
• I occasionally use red for brief outlines and structural notes.

SYMBOLISM/METAPHOR/LITERARY

• I highlighted "with fasting, in sackcloth and with dirt upon them" in green and my corresponding note written in green says "mourning and humility." This kind of note seems unnecessary after a while. I simply "know" that kind of information. Do I really need to make a note of it? And yet, I tend to add that kind of notation anyway for teaching purposes as it reminds me to mention it in an instructural setting.
• In Job 1:2 I have highlighted "Seven sons and three daughters" with the annotation "The symbolism of the numbers imply that Job had an ideal family." This kind of note gets a lot of play in a book like Revelation, where I have quite a bit of green.
• In Psalm 74:19, turtledove is highlighted with the simple annotation "Israel."
• A passage like Eccl 12:3-6 is loaded with symbols. "watchmen of the house" = arms, "mighty men" = legs, "grinding ones" = teeth, etc. I have all of these highlighted in green with accompanying annotations written in green.
• I use green for the many euphemisms in a book like Song of Solomon.

MESSIANIC/CHRISTOLOGICAL

• This turns out to be my least used color, perhaps because it could be overdone, especially in the gospels and become meaningless. Often annotations that could receive blue treatment simply get highlighted in yellow.
• Since the NASB wide margin that I use has a cross reference system, I often will highlight in blue the cross references between the testaments referred to in messianic prophecies. Surprisingly, often I find that the references aren't included both ways and I will have to write one of them in using a blue pen.
• In Rev 5:5, I have Lion highlighted in blue with an annotation written in blue that says "conquering warrior messiah." Then in v. 6, I have the accompanying Lamb highlighted in blue with the note "sacrificial death; links the Messiah to the passover lamb." I also have a note written in blue with v. 6, but not directly related to anything specifically highlighted, that says "Here John joins the OT Davidic Messiah and the Suffering Servant of Isaiah (Isa 52-53)." I really should have listed my source for that because I doubt it was my own original conclusion. It may have come from John Newport's book, The Lion and the Lamb.

Obviously, there are thousands of other examples, but the above are a sampling which I believe gives the flavor for what I am doing.

The actual Stabilo Boss Dry Highlighters are no longer made, but are still available on eBay. I have stocked up on enough to last for a very long time. The dry highlighters I usually see in stores these days are the Staedtler dry highlighters. To me these are a perfectly suitable replacement, except for the yellow pencil which makes me continue to seek out the older highlighters.

For years, I used ballpoint pens for my corresponding notes, with green ballpoints always the most difficult to come by. Noticing that some of my oldest notes were starting to bleed through, and I began to look for something else. A number of readers for this blog suggested the Pigma Micron pens. These are what I use exclusively in my Bibles now, and having experimented with different nib sizes, settled on a 01 point for writing in my Bibles. I like these pens so much, I use the larger nibs for grading papers and writing in my Moleskine journal.

I also discovered that Pigma Micron has a brown pen. I like the color brown for a pen, having used brown ink the last couple of years in the Mont Blanc I carry with me everyday. I incorporated brown into my Bible notetaking recently (the first new color added since the originals) by using it as the color for notable quotations that I sometimes find room for in the top or bottom margins of the page.

When I was teaching out of the NASB in which I take notes, I could truly say this was my primary Bible. At one time, I was studying with this Bible, teaching from it, and occasionally preaching from it. I really feel there's great value in using the same Bible for both preparation and delivery. Because I have chosen to teach from a more contemporary version, I have to leave my NASB at home and rely on typed notes and any annotations I may have had room to write in the limited space of the Bible I've been using. Of course, I always taught from pages of notes as well anyway, but in conjunction with the annotations in my Bible. Obviously, not everything could fit into a Bible's margins. But not having the same Bible for both phases definitely has its drawbacks.

And every Sunday morning as I pack up my bag of books to take to church, I am often tempted to chuck the contemporary versions and go back to my trusty NASB instead. Again, I've been willing for two years to make a complete jump to newer translations. The publishers just don't seem to want to comply.

Tags: Wide-Margin, Bible study

A couple of weeks ago Claudio Duckardt emailed me asking my opinion of the New Life Version of the Bible. Although I do have a copy of it, I haven't yet spent enough time with it to give an informed opinion. However, since Claudio is positive toward it, I asked him if he would write a guest review.

---

Review of the New Life Version of the Bible
by Claudio Duckardt

This is a review on the NLV Bible, but I cannot really proceed without speaking about the KJV for a moment. I grew up on the KJV. It has served God’s people well. Millions still use it as a primary Bible. However, there is no doubt that it is difficult to read and follow. I don’t think the problem is so much the archaic vocabulary as its grammar and syntax. Nevertheless, there is no denying how beautiful and poetic it reads. This translation is considered THE Bible for many.

As I said, I was raised on the KJV, but rarely read more than a few verses in one sitting since I could not understand many of the passages. For years, I neglected much of the Bible, especially the Old Testament. I will never forget how excited and happy I was when I discovered modern versions. These Bibles made God’s word understandable, warm, alive, and personal. I finally learned what the Bible was all about. Sure, the KJV-only camp criticized me, but I didn’t care. I am in complete agreement that language is fluid, and God’s word must reflect these updates or His message will become obscured.

One thing that has always bothered me, however, is the textual issue. As you know, the KJV is based on the received (or traditional) text while most modern translations are based on the critical one. As a result, many verses found in the KJV are not found in the body of most modern translations. Don’t get me wrong…. all mainstream Bible translations are God’s word. I am not suggesting that one stream of manuscripts is better or worse than the other. Yet, I have often thought that there should be a dynamic equivalent translation follows the received text. We as Christians owe it to ourselves to have Bibles from both streams. After all, the superiority of one text over the other is based on theory. Sure, the NKJV was translated from the traditional text, but can also be a difficult read. I have often thought it would be nice to have a dynamic equivalence Bible based on the traditional stream of texts.

Well, there is and has been an easy-to-read Bible that is very similar in spirit to the traditional family of English Bibles, the New Life Version. This version uses a base of only 850 vocabulary words (not including names of people and places) in its text. It is not a direct translation from the Hebrew and Greek. Instead, it was “translated” from a more literal Bible into simple English, with most received text readings in place. The reader my be thinking “Ah ha! Paraphrase!” but it is actually pretty accurate. While the preface and official website (www.newlifebible.org) does not say which version was used, this Bible seems to use the KJV as its basis. The NLV is not well known, but has been available in its complete form since 1986.

At first glance, this version may seem like just another paraphrase. It is much more than that. First, a little history about the NLV. Between 1946-1961, a Canadian missionary couple, Gleason and Kathryn Ledyard, had the privilege of spreading the Gospel to Eskimos that lived in the Canadian artic. They actually lived in igloos with the Eskimos! Mr. Ledyard had a strong desire for the natives to read a Bible in simple English. The versions available at that time were not approachable by new English speakers. Together with his wife, he decided to simplify the text to make the Bible more accessible to their Eskimo friends. However, the couple had a few rules. First of all, no changes would be made to the text in order to avoid making the version a paraphrase. Second, no footnotes would be included. All of the verses (again, as in the KJV) would be included in the text, but asterisks and parenthesis would be used to indicate readings not in some of the ancient witnesses (even though critical text readings are used in some instances). Thirdly, other than proper names of people and places, only 850 Basic English words would be used. Their version of the New Testament was completed in 1969. The Old Testament followed a few years later. Their completed Bible was completed in 1986.

Some Bible terms were simplified to make it more understandable. “Noah’s ark” becomes “Noah’s boat”; “Gentiles” become “people who do not know God or are not Jews”; “glory” becomes “shining-greatness”; “idolatry” becomes “worshiping false gods.” While some of these terms seem childlike, it must be remembered that originally this Bible was designed for beginning English speakers.

STRENGTHS OF THE NLV
The main strength of this version its use of simple sentences and vocabulary. This makes the NLV great for people who have never read the Bible or speak English as a second language. Difficult terms are simplified (much like the NLT). Let me compare a few verses between the KJV and NLV.

GENESIS 3:1-5
KJV	NLV
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.	1 Now the snake was more able to fool others than any animal of the field which the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say that you should not eat from any tree in the garden?" 2 Then the woman said to the snake, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the gar-den. 3 But from the tree which is in the center of the garden, God has said, 'Do not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.' " 4 The snake said to the woman, "No, you for sure will not die! 5 For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad."
EXODUS 3:11-14
KJV	NLV
11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? 12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. 13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.	11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I to go to Pharaoh and bring the people of Israel out of Egypt?" 12 God said, "But I will be with you. And this will be something special for you to see to know that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this mountain." 13 Then Moses said to God, "See, I am going to the people of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they might say to me, 'What is His name?' What should I say to them?" 14 And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Say to the Israelites, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "
PSALM 23
KJV	NLV
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.	1 The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need. 2 He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters. 3 He makes me strong again. He leads me in the way of living right with Himself which brings honor to His name. 4 Yes, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of anything, because You are with me. You have a walking stick with which to guide and one with which to help. These comfort me. 5 You are making a table of food ready for me in front of those who hate me. You have poured oil on my head. I have everything I need. 6 For sure, You will give me goodness and loving-kindness all the days of my life. Then I will live with You in Your house forever.
Job 36:26-31
KJV	NLV
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. 27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: 28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. 29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? 30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. 31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.	26 See, God is honored, and we do not know Him. We are not able to know the number of His years. 27 For He takes up the drops of water that become rain, 28 which the clouds pour down. Much rain falls on man. 29 Can anyone understand how the clouds are spread out, or how He thunders from His tent? 30 See, He spreads His lightning around Him and covers the bottom of the sea. 31 For by these He judges the people and He gives much food.

The NLV’s New Testament keeps intact most of the readings found in the KJV.

For example, compare the Lord’s Prayer between both versions:

MATTHEW 6:9-13
KJV	NLV
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.	9 "Pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, Your name is holy. 10 May Your holy nation come. What You want done, may it be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us the bread we need today. 12 Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. 13 'Do not let us be tempted, but keep us from sin. *Your nation is holy. You have power and shining-greatness forever. Let it be so.'

The following are other examples of the NLV following the KJV’s lead:

MARK 7:15-16
KJV	NLV
15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.	15 It is not what goes into a man's mouth from the outside that makes his mind and heart sinful. It is what comes out from the inside that makes him sinful. 16 You have ears, then listen!"
LUKE 9:55-56
KJV	NLV
55But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.	55 Jesus turned and spoke sharp words to them. (*He said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you have. 56 The Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives. He came to save them from the punishment of sin." They went on their way to another town.)
JOHN 5:2-4
KJV	NLV
2Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.	2 In Jerusalem there is a pool with five porches called Bethesda near the sheep gate. 3 Inside these porches lay many sick people. Some were blind. Some could not walk. Some could not move their bodies. 4 (*An angel of the Lord came at certain times and made the water move. All of them were waiting for it to move. Whoever got in the water first after it was moving was healed of whatever sickness he had.)
ACTS 8:36-37
KJV	NLV
36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.	36 As they went on their way, they came to some water. The man from Ethiopia said, "See! Here is water. What is to stop me from being baptized?" 37 (*Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." The man said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
1 JOHN 5:6-7
KJV	NLV
6This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.	6 Jesus Christ came by water and blood. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. The Holy Spirit speaks about this and He is truth. 7 There are three Who speak of this in heaven: the Father and the Word and the Holy Spirit. These three are one.

By now, the reader can see that the NLV does indeed follow the KJV. As I had mentioned earlier, most verses that do not agree with the critical text are either in parenthesis or are marked with an asterisk, but not consistently.

DISADVANTAGES OF THE NLV
The fact that this version includes most readings found in the received text will be a disadvantage for those that favor the critical one. Another problem with the NLV is that it may be too simple for the seasoned Bible reader. Some Biblical terms are perhaps represented too vaguely in the NLV. The term “circumcise,” for instance, is rendered “religious act of becoming a Jew.” “Pharisee” becomes “proud religious law-keeper.” Too many Biblical words are represented by entire phrases in order to make this version readable. However, it is important to keep in mind that the Ledyards wanted to make sure non-native English learners could read Scripture in English.

Barbour Books picked up the rights to publish the NLV recently and offers several, very inexpensive editions. I picked my favorite copy up directly through the New Life Version website, but I don’t think they will be producing any more editions once their stock runs out. Mine is large print with a very strong vinyl cover. It includes several beautiful illustrations and appears to have a sewn binding. All of this for only $14.50, plus $4.50 for shipping. I also have the Barbour edition, hard cover, and its nice too. You can pick one of these up through Amazon.

All in all, I think that the NLV Bible would make a welcome addition to any Bible collection. While perhaps not good for serious study, it is great during personal devotionals and just plain quiet time with God. I haven’t read through entirely through it, but I think it is similar in spirit to the first edition of the NLT. It was produced through a true labor of love. As I dive into it, I can picture many Eskimos living in the cold Antarctic reading and understanding the Word of God for the very first time. We can enjoy it too, and read an edition of the Bible that is both dynamic and traditional.

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Claudio Duckardt can be reached at Cduck1965@aol.com.

Tags: Translations, NLV

Top Ten Bible Versions: My Picks

Top Ten Bible Bible Versions: A Few Introductory Words

The Holman Christian Standard Bible (Top Ten Bible Versions #1)

Today's New International Version (Top Ten Bible Versions #2)

     Follow-Up Regarding the TNIV

The New American Standard Bible (Top Ten Bible Versions #3)

     Is a Paraphrase in the Eye of the Beholder?

The New Living Translation (Top Ten Bible Versions #4)

     Addendum to my Review of the NLT

Eugene Peterson's The Message (Top Ten Bible Versions #5)

     Follow-Up to the Message: What Is the Proper Use of a Bible Paraphrase?

The Revised English Bible (Top Ten Bible Versions #6)

The New Jerusalem Bible (Top Ten Bible Versions #7)

The Good News Translation (Top Ten Bible Versions #8)

The Wycliffe New Testament [1388] (Top Ten Bible Versions #9)

The Modern Language Bible: New Berkeley Version (Top Ten Bible Versions #10)

Top Ten Bible Versions: The Honorable Mentions (KJV, NET Bible, Cotton Patch Version, NRSV)

Top Ten Bible Versions: Final Thoughts (For Now)

Tags: Translations, Top Ten

I first announced my Top Ten Bible Versions series on May 6, 2006, and it took a year to complete because I posted on lots of other things in the process. My goal was to write personalized reviews for some of the Bible translations that have been significant to me. Although the first few translations represented a "top tier" of translations I use regularly, later entries were more categorical in nature.

My Own Journey. I've been collecting English translations of the Bible for over two decades and now own a number approaching ninety different translations. Believe it or not, there are still quite a few in circulation that I still do not have (but I have a list!). Two of my most recent acquisitions include an original 1959 edition of Verkuyl's Berkeley Version of the BIble (the first edition with the Old Testament, and the precursor to the edition I reviewed) and the New Testament Transline which was sent to me by Wayne Leman. It may be the most literal modern translation I've seen so far.

Even after taking original language courses in seminary and working these texts into my study practices, I still publicly teach from English translations. I do this for two reasons. A common translation serves as a better common ground base between myself and those in my classes, although I can certainly supplement with my own translation as I need to. Further, my language skills are not good enough yet. I've tried it, and while I can certainly prepare for a focus text, as soon as a question is raised about another passage and we turn there, I run into a word I either do no know or can't remember, and so it's not yet practical for me to use the Greek and/or Hebrew exclusively.

Although I've always celebrated the variety of translations available, up until two or three years ago, I was squarely in the formal equivalent camp in regard to what I used as a primary translation both in public and in private. It was primarily the needs of my audience--the result of my experience teaching both high school students at a private school for about five years and my long term experience teaching adults at church--that made me change my translational tool belt around a good bit. Although I personally preferred more literal translations, especially the NASB, I was never the kind of person I occasionally run into who thought that dynamic/functional equivalence was an illegitimate method of translation. However, like a lot of people, I naively assumed that literalness was always equated with a greater degree of accuracy. However, it was in my experience teaching that I realized if a literal translation does not communicate the message of the original--if the readers or hearers cannot understand it because of its literalness--it is not more accurate; it is less so. I've tried to demonstrate this in a number of my posts with my favorite being "Grinding Another Man's Grain" (also see "This Is Why" and "Literal Is Not More Accurate If It's Unintelligible").

Since I began this series, my own practices have changed somewhat. When I began writing it, I was attempting to make the HCSB my primary translation in public and in private with the TNIV, NLT, and NASB in secondary roles. The HCSB and TNIV have switched places a good bit in much of my use over the last few months. In private I have gone back to taking notes in my wide-margin NASB because I haven't found a suitable replacement edition in any of the more modern translations that I use. This is too bad because I can't legitimately call any translation a primary one for myself until I can take the edition with which I've written my notes in private and teach from that same Bible in public. Nevertheless, when I am asked, I currently only recommend three translations for primary Bibles: the TNIV, NLT and the HCSB.

An Admitted Bias. I admit that I am biased toward newer translations for primary Bibles because they represent not only the latest scholarship, but usually the most current English--although certainly both factors are on a relative scale. That doesn't mean that the older translations are useless. I simply can't recommend them for anything other that secondary purposes--to be read in parallel with a primary translation or to be read for devotional use.

I freely admit that I cannot recommend something like the King James Version, as prominent as it is in Christian and literary history, as a primary Bible. I cannot recommend it for two reasons. The first is that it is based on a deficient textual tradition. This is where my bias for the most recent scholarship comes into play. And although I respect those who hold to a favorable tradition toward the Textus Receptus or the Majority Text, I would politely disagree. In my experience, most of those with whom I've come into contact who favor a TR position often are simply using it as an excuse to justify King James Onlyism. Otherwise, why wouldn't they use the New King James Version? This is certainly not always the case, but I find a lot of people who say they favor the TR, but claim the NKJV as corrupt and practically put the KJV on its own level of inerrancy. Really, I have little patience with this, and simply cannot take such positions seriously.

Secondly, I cannot recommend the KJV to the average church member simply because of my experience in teaching the Bible to adults over the last two decades. Over and over I've seen people struggle with the KJV, often failing to understand what they just read, and stumbling through the text when trying to read it aloud. In many cases I've given these people a modern translations and watched light bulbs go off over their head as suddenly the Bible has new relevance. And I don't know of a worse Bible to give to a child than the KJV. In the end, it simply comes down to a communication issue. I want to see God's Word communicated as clearly as possible

For those who appreciate the KJV on a historical and literary level, we have no argument. I agree that it's place is secure in those regards.

The Bible Wars. It genuinely saddens and even distresses me that adherents of modern translations would fight over which version is supposedly better. I am appalled at some of the rhetoric thrown around toward certain translations often as a smokescreen for promoting another version. Yes, there are certainly translations I recommend over others--I've admitted that. But one thing I've tried very hard to do on this blog is not to promote one version at the expense of another. I really do believe in reading the Bible in parallel. Bible versions are different simply because they often have different goals and purposes. I also acknowledge that certain translations simply connect and resonate with individuals. Sometimes it is a personality factor (and Bible translations have personalities of their own) and sometimes it is for other reasons.

There is some good news though. Sometime near the end of 2006, I set up Technorati and Google search RSS feeds on a number of particular translations. I especially targeted translations such as the TNIV and NLT which I thought had been unfairly attacked more than any other versions. On this blog I went on the offensive promoting these translations, and on the greater blogosphere, I went on the defensive defending them whenever I thought they were given unfair treatment. The good news is that I see fewer and fewer of these kinds of negative posts. When I first started looking for them, I saw multiple posts every week. Since they often made the same charges over and over again, I began compiling a file of my own arguments so that I wouldn't have to retype so much information every time. I can honestly say now that sometimes entire weeks go by, and I really don't find that much to address. It's certainly still out there, and I don't think a ceasefire has been called in the Bible wars, but maybe we've seen a lull in the fighting and things will continue to die down a bit.

It's really pointless in my opinion. I mean who would go into Baskin Robins and try to convince people only to get chocolate mint when there are 30 other flavors to choose from? However, most of the folks who do this kind of thing with Bibles honestly think they are correct in their arguments. They somehow think they are defending God's honor and God's Word. The nonsense about the TNIV removing the masculinity of the Bible is just that--nonsense. All modern translations have moved away in some degree from masculine universals. Even the ESV, the most conservative of the new translations, has made a number of changes in this regard from the RSV. In many instances "sons" has been changed to "children" and "a man" has been changed to "anyone." These changes are certainly legitimate, but I don't think it's fair to label the TNIV or the NLT as translations that remove masculinity when even the most conservative of the modern translations (and not just the ESV, but also the NASB95) have done the same thing to at least some extent.

Further, the most recent argument I hear being thrown around is that dynamic/functional equivalent translations violate the command in Rev 22:18-19 to not add to or take away. Such an assertion is problematic on multiple levels. First, the actual command really applies only to the original manuscripts (this is why I favor newer translations because they are based on the most up to date editions of our Greek and Hebrew texts that are the results of very strong convictions to represent the original words of the biblical writers as accurately as possible). But if someone is just counting by numbers, every translation adds or takes away words to communicate the message of the original. Further, to say that translations like the TNIV or NLT violate Rev 22:18-19 would also eliminate the first major translation of the Bible, the Septuagint. The Septuagint itself does not follow one strict model of translation, and the student of the LXX will discover that some portions are quite literal and others are quite dynamic, even paraphrased at times. Are we going to level restrictions that would even eliminate the translation that the apostles, New Testament writers, and Jesus himself used? I think not. Really, to make such a claim as this reveals little more than a lack of knowledge for translation and translation history, and it serves to simply scare the average church member and cause unnecessary mistrust of certain versions.

The Current State. There seems to be a Bible for everyone, doesn't there? In the end this should be something to celebrate because it allows God's Word to communicate to the largest number of people possible. But do we have too many? The claim is often made that English speakers have countless translations which come only at great effort and expense while there are still some language groups that do not have the Bible at all in their language. This may be true. Our culture seems to find a way to bring gluttony into everything, and so perhaps we do so as well with Bibles. But nevertheless they are here. We can't untranslate any of them. And the reality is, as demonstrated in the various categories of my Top Ten, most of them fulfill a particular kind of niche.

So are all the niches filled? The English language will continue to change and textual criticism will improve, so there will be a need for new translations in the future. But I cannot imagine the need for any new translations right now. Perhaps the Orthodox Study Bible (OSB) that I mentioned earlier this week is a legitimate exception. This will be the very first official translation of the Bible for English-speaking believers in the Orthodox Church, so that seems like a legitimate niche. But I really cannot imagine any other niche that needs to be filled. Anyone thinking of forming a new committee to create a brand NEW translation should really rethink that idea--in my opinion.

Speaking of niches and the OSB, I'm really surprised that we haven't seen more translations based on the above mentioned TR/MT texts that have been released in recent years. I find that holders to the Textus Receptus/Majority Text/Byzantine textform traditions to be very vocal about their convictions. But I'm surprised that I haven't seen more translations based on this. It is well known that the HCSB was originally based on Farstad & Hodges Majority Text edition back when Farstad was till alive (Lifeway, who bought the copyright moved it to the eclectic text after Farstad's death). The edition of the Majority Text released two decades ago by Farstad and Hodges seemed to be readily embraced by a number of adherents (or at least a very vocal number). But in my own collection of translations, I only count one Bible version based on it, and it was self-published by the translator--certainly not a significant project in the big scheme of things. The text edition in vogue right now for many of these folks seems to be Byzantine Textform produced in 2005 by Maurice Robinson and the late William Pierpont. Who knows if we will see a translation based on this edition sometime in the future, especially since Robinson commands a significant amount of influence at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Or maybe if the upcoming OSB isn't too sectarian, and if it could be released simply as a text edition, it might do it for these folks.

But one thing we definitely don't need is yet another modern language update to the King James Version. There are half a dozen or more of these already: some in print, some only available online. I'll say it again... I don't know why the NKJV isn't enough for these folks.

Regardless, your options are out there. No one has an excuse not to read the Bible because it's supposedly too hard to understand. Certainly, there are still concepts that require serious study, but from a contemporary language perspective, all bases seem to be covered right now.

Here on This Lamp we will continue to review Bible translations. If I've reviewed 10 I suppose I still have a few dozen more to go. I have a life goal to read through all these, too, but unless I receive a gift of longevity, I may not be able to accomplish that goal--especially at the rate they seem to be published.

My thanks goes to you readers who have interacted in the comments providing feedback and occasionally even offering a guest blog entry. Keep it coming; there's still lots to discuss.

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Up next: Top Ten Bible Versions: The Complete Boxed Set

Tags: Translations, Top Ten

I got to see an advanced screening of Evan Almighty last night, and I was expecting to deliver a review here on my blog today. However, before the movie began an official looking woman said that anyone associated with media outlets is not allowed to publish reviews before the movie's release date on June 22. Does this blog count as a media outlet? Am I really not allowed to say anything about the movie? If only I had been out in the lobby getting some popcorn when that announcement was made!

Evidently the studios are courting the church pretty strong for this movie because I got two "ministry professional" offers for four free tickets. The subject matter makes it fitting, of course. Evan Almighty is a sequel to the film Bruce Almighty which starred Jim Carey. This time around, Steve Carrell stars as the principal character, Evan, whom God (again played by Morgan Freeman) tells to build a boat. [Hey! That's not a review. That's no more information than what you'd get from the trailer]. Tom Shadyac, a professing Christian, is also back as the director.

There's so much I want to tell you, BUT I CAN'T! If I said I liked the movie, and the audience of other "ministry professionals" (and friends) seemed to like the movie, and if I said there was applause from the audience at the end...would that be a review? It might be, so I guess I can't mention any of that. Too bad. I'll have to write the review now, while the movie is fresh on my mind, and post it at midnight on June 22.

I can tell you, however, about ArkALMIGHTY, which had a pretty good presence at our screening with flyers, hats, t-shirts and such. ArkALMIGHTY is billing itself as a kind of craigslist of local ministry needs. The website describes the concept like this:

ArkALMIGHTY is a good deeds program that matches up the needs in your congregation with the talents and skills of the members of your church. Gathering the needs of your attendees, these requests are compiled on a Craigslist-type website administered by your church. Then, the members of your church can easily search through the needs and find ways they can help.

Maybe there’s a single mom in your midst who doesn’t know how to teach her son to throw a baseball, or an elderly person who needs a ride to the doctor, or a young couple who would love advice on saving for a home. Maybe there’s a college student who could use help moving into her first apartment, or a widow that could use a helping hand washing her windows, or a recently laid-off worker who could use help polishing up his resume. There are countless needs out there that, up until now, have had no way to be met. But now they do, thanks to ArkALMIGHTY.

The ArkALMIGHTY.com website is designed to enable youth groups and churches to easily get involved in practical and tangible volunteer outreach. Can you balance a checkbook? Can you hang a picture frame? Can you throw a spiral? You might not think of these everyday activities as volunteering, but for the people around you who can’t do them, your ability and your willingness to help is exactly what they need. You’d be amazed how a simple act of kindness can change lives.

Entire churches can sign up to take part in ArkALMIGHTY--which in fact, is the model that's encouraged. And that might be a good thing because I'm not sure the average church is often overly plugged into the minutiae of real needs in its own community.

By the way, both the movie [I hope this reference doesn't count as a review] and the ArkALMIGHTY website use A-R-K as an acronym for "acts of random kindness." But wouldn't a program like ArkALMIGHTY count more as deliberate, purposeful acts of kindness rather than random ones? And isn't a goal of performing deliberate acts of kindness better than performing random ones? Okay, maybe now I'm being nitpicky.

Come back on June 22 for my review of Evan Almighty...

Over at Sword in the Fire, Theron Mathis has posts (here and here) regarding a possible February, 2008, release date for the Orthodox Study Bible. The New Testament edition of the OSB has been out for a while, but the Old Testament project is a much bigger deal as it will represent the first complete translation of the Septuagint into English in well over a century and a half. The NT is based on the NKJV as the Eastern Orthodox Church recognizes the Textus Receptus as an authoritative NT text. The final OSB will be the first major complete Bible translation in English for Eastern Orthodox believers. The Bible will also have appeal to other Christians interested in patristic studies.

Theron himself worked on part of the OT project, specifically in translating segments of 1 & 2 Samuel, all the way back in 1999. The interesting twist (to me) is that at the time, Theron was a recent graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (where he learned biblical Greek), but also a new convert to the Orthodox Church. Now that the OSB project is nearing its end Theron says he more excited about its release than the new Harry Potter novel.

I would hope so...

Tags: Translations

In case you missed the early announcement post by Ben over the weekend at TNIV Truth or if you haven't seen the official press release from Zondervan, the TNIV audio Bible Inspired By...The Bible Experience has won the "Audie" audio book of the year. Here's an excerpt from Zondervan's press release:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 4, 2007 – The most ambitious and bestselling audio presentation of the Bible ever produced, Inspired By… The Bible Experience (New Testament), has been named Audiobook of the Year, the most prestigious award for excellence in audiobooks, by the Audio Publishers Association (APA).

The award recognizes the audiobook that made the greatest impact on the audio publishing industry. To date, the New Testament edition of Inspired By… The Bible Experience has sold more than 300,000 units in eight months to become Zondervan’s fastest-selling new Bible, outselling perennial bestsellers. The combination of the product’s original score, theatrical production, world-class talent and use of the most accessible Bible translation, the TNIV (Today’s New International Version), also earned Inspired By… The Bible Experience a second Audie in the Inspirational/Spiritual category. The winners were announced during the Audies ceremony on Friday, June 1, in New York City.

Tags: TNIV, Zondervan, The Bible Experience

Robert Parmelee of BibleMemory.us is celebrating the first birthday of his scripture memory website by offering free memberships. Even before, BibleMemory.us was a bargain at $5 for a year's membership, but from this point forward, the program will be free for everyone.

BibleMemory.us offers specific tracks for Bible memorization or you can create your own. A number of Bible versions are offered including ASV, ESV, HCSB, KJV, The Message, NASB95, NCV, NIV, NKJV, and TNIV. If you don't see your translation of choice, let Robert know and he might be able to accommodate you.

Don't think that Bible memorization is just for the kids at AWANA! Pick it up today as part of your own spiritual disciplines. BibleMemory.us is a great place to start.

“I have treasured Your word in my heart
        so that I may not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11 HCSB)

Links:
• BibleMemory.us main program site
• BibleMemory.us Blog
• This Lamp Archives: "BibleMemory.us Now Available in TNIV"