BEN F. VICK, JR.
I have been asked by several about the English Standard Version. My thoughts are that it is better than the New International Version, but not as reliable in a few places as the King James Version or New King James Version. Note just a few changes which are not for the better.
1. “Exposed” for “burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10.
2. “Dress for action like a man” for “gird up your loins.” May express the meaning but more commentary than accuracy in translating. (Job 38:3; 40:7).
3. Jer. 1:17 – “dress yourself for work.”
4. 1 Corinthians 11:3,5,6,10. Though the Greek word (γυνή) can be translated “wife” or “woman,” the context determines which should be used. This does not deal with husband-wife relations.
5. ““Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward”” (Matthew 10:40–42).
“Because” is not the correct translation. The Greek word is εἰς which NEVER means “because of” but always looks forward. Here this Greek word is translated “in” (3 times). Willmarth in The Baptist Quarterly of July 1877 says in a footnote: “So in Matt.x.41: εἰς ὄνομα προφήτου, in the name of a prophet, i.e., εἰς marks the direction of the mind to the character of the one received….” (p. 298, Bales reprint – p. 6).
εἰς (eis) is the same word in Matthew 26:28 and Acts 2:38 which reads “for [εἰς] the remission of sins.”
6. The subheading in my English Standard Version on Matthew 24:3-14 is “Signs of the Close of the Age.” This certainly not a reference to the Christian Age. Neither does it refer to the end of the Mosaic Age which ended at the cross (Col. 2:14). The Lord is giving signs for the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
7. Is there a difference in: “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” (John 13:15 ESV) and “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15 KJV)?
8. I do not believe the ESV is based on a better text than the KJV or NKJV.
9. The text of ESV on Malachi 2:16 reads: "For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her..." KJV reads: "For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away...." Is there a difference?
TRUTH
1. Is not relative. Adam and Eve learned this the hard way (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:1-5).
2. It can be known (John 8:32; Acts 10:34;2 Tim. 1:12; 1 John 2:3).
3. It has no voice of her own; she must be taught and defended (Phil. 1:7,17; Jude 3; 1 Cor 9:3).
4. It can set us free (John 8:32; Rom. 8:2).
5. It is narrow (Matt. 7:13-14; John 14:6).
6. It is broad (Psa. 119:96).
7. It cuts (Heb. 4:12; John 16:7-11; Acts 2:38).
8. It hinders one from sin (Psa. 119:11; 1 John 2:1)
9. It will endure (Psa. 12:6-7; 117:2; 119:89; Matt. 24:35; 1 Peter 1:23-25).
10. It sanctifies (John 17:17; Eph. 5:26).
11. It will strengthen (Acts 20:32;1 Peter 2:2).
12. We should buy it and never sell it (Prov. 23:23).
13. It must be obeyed (1 Peter 1:22; Rev. 22:14).
14. It will judges us in the last day (John 12:48; Rev. 22:14).