The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) is an English translation of the Bible published in 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers, which is owned by LifeWay Christian Resources. The CSB aims to be a readable, accurate, and shareable translation that conveys the meaning and heart of the original biblical texts.
The CSB is a revision of the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), which was first published as a full Bible in 2004 and revised in 2009. The translation philosophy of the CSB remains largely the same as the HCSB – seeking to find a balance between word-for-word (formal equivalence) and thought-for-thought (dynamic equivalence) translation approaches. The goal is to create an accurate, readable translation suitable for personal Bible study, devotional reading, and use in churches.
Some key features of the Christian Standard Bible include:
- Readable style using modern English while remaining faithful to the meaning of the original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek).
- Gender-inclusive language where the meaning allows it.
- Use of Yahweh as the personal name of God in the Old Testament.
- Footnotes providing alternate translations and explanations.
- In-text citations indicating Old Testament quotations in the New Testament.
Translation Philosophy
The translators of the CSB used an “optimal equivalence” approach when rendering the original biblical texts into English. This involved adhering closely to the original wording and grammar where possible while using natural English word order and idioms where needed for readability.
The goal was to create a thought-for-thought translation that is also as word-for-word faithful as possible. The translators wanted to express the meaning and intent of the original authors in a way that sounds good in English and is easily understood by modern readers.
The CSB uses a conservative, mediating approach – not as literal as formal equivalence translations like the English Standard Version (ESV), but not as free and meaning-based as dynamic equivalence translations like the New International Version (NIV) or New Living Translation (NLT). In terms of the translation spectrum, the CSB falls between translations like the ESV and NIV.
Translation Team
The CSB translation team consisted of 100 scholars from 17 denominations. Some key contributors included general editors Edwin Blum, Kenneth Barker, and Philip Comfort, along with translator William Barrick and stylist Janet Taylor.
Most of the translators came from LifeWay Christian Resources and Southern Baptist seminaries. All members of the translation team affirmed the Baptist Faith and Message statement of faith. The diverse group of translators helped ensure the translation would be suitable for a range of evangelical Christians.
Manuscripts Used
The CSB is based on the most up-to-date manuscript discoveries and scholarly research available when it was produced. For the Old Testament, the translators used the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible as their primary basis. The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text preserved by the Masoretes between the 7th and 10th centuries AD.
For the New Testament, the CSB relied on the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece and the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament as the main Greek text. These eclectic texts draw from a variety of ancient Greek manuscripts to determine the original wording.
The CSB departs from the traditional Greek text occasionally where alternative readings better fit the context or align better with Old Testament quotations. Footnotes indicate where these textual variants occur. The translators also frequently consulted the Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, Samaritan Pentateuch, Syriac Peshitta, Latin Vulgate, and other ancient versions.
Readability
The translators of the CSB paid special attention to crafting a very readable text in clear, contemporary English. They modified word order, vocabulary, and sentence structure as needed to smooth out rough literal renderings from Hebrew and Greek.
Terms like “behold,” “shall,” “thou,” and “doest” are replaced with more common equivalents in modern usage. Uncommon words and concepts receive clarifying alternate translations or footnotes.
The CSB vocabulary sits at around a 7th-8th grade reading level. The translators employed English stylistic consultants near the end of the process to further refine the readability. The result is a highly readable translation suitable for personal reading, study, devotional use, and reading aloud.
Notable Translation Features
Here are some additional noteworthy translation features in the Christian Standard Bible:
- Gender-inclusive language – The CSB translates some generic masculine words inclusively (e.g. “people” instead of “men”) where the original language permits it. However, the CSB still uses masculine pronouns for God.
- Yahweh – The divine name Yahweh is used for God throughout the Old Testament instead of LORD/LORD like some translations.
- “Christ” preferred – The title “Christ” is used frequently instead of just “Jesus.” E.g. “Christ Jesus” instead of “Jesus Christ.”
- Old Testament quotes – Quotes from the Old Testament in the New Testament are indicated via footnotes.
- “Slave” used – The Greek word doulos is translated “slave” rather than “servant” or “bondservant.”
These kinds of translation choices were made to most accurately convey the intent of the original texts for modern English readers in the estimation of the translation team.
Translation Spectrums
Every English Bible translation falls somewhere along two spectrums that represent different translation philosophies.
The first spectrum is word-for-word vs. thought-for-thought. Formal equivalence translations adhere closely to the original wording and phrasing, while dynamic equivalence translations focus more on conveying ideas in natural idiomatic language.
The second spectrum is literal vs. liberal. Literal translations take a more conservative approach to the text, while liberal translations make larger adjustments in wording and style for readability and modern sensitivities.
The CSB falls in the middle on both spectrums. It is an optimal equivalence translation – neither overly literal nor excessively liberal. The CSB strikes a balance between accuracy and readability. Here is approximately where the CSB fits among other major English translations:
Word-for-Word Thought-for-Thought
KJV, NASB, ESV, HCSB/CSB, NIV, NLT
Literal Liberal
KJV, NASB, ESV, HCSB/CSB, NIV, NLT
As this shows, the CSB takes a mediating position – more literal than versions like the NIV and more readable than versions like the ESV. This makes it a good choice for personal reading, study, and devotional use for a broad range of evangelicals.
Translation Revisions
The CSB is essentially a revision of the HCSB that was first completed in 2004 after a seven-year translation process. Some of the more substantial updates from the HCSB to CSB included:
- Updated text critical decisions and manuscript discoveries
- Softened some HCSB phrasing to improve readability
- Removed the transliteration system for proper names
- Updated many footnotes
- Changes to some word choices for readability/clarity
- Additional consistency between print and digital versions
In one estimate, the text of the CSB contains about 100,000 changes from the HCSB, mostly minor revisions for readability and style. The name change from HCSB to CSB also provided an opportunity to increase brand recognition for marketing purposes.
CSB Translation Philosophy
According to the translators, the guiding translation philosophy for the CSB involved the following key priorities:
- Faithfulness – Accurately convey the meaning of the original biblical texts
- Clarity – Use clear, natural English for readability and understanding
- Literary excellence – Create a text enjoyable to read aloud
- Trustworthiness – Follow a conservative, mediating approach true to evangelical theology
- Beauty – Craft a beautiful, eloquent English text
The goal was to strike the right balance between these priorities to produce an English Bible optimized for study, devotional reading, church use, and evangelism. The CSB fits within the mainstream of English Bible translations.
Translation Examples
Here are some examples that illustrate the readability and style of the Christian Standard Bible translation:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
In these and other passages, the CSB provides an accurate yet highly readable translation that is suitable for personal reading and study. By smoothing out literal Greek and Hebrew phrasing into more natural English, the result is an accessible translation for contemporary readers.
Study Bible Editions
The Christian Standard Bible is available in various study Bible editions to benefit deeper study of the text:
- CSB Study Bible (2017) – The standard study edition with notes and helps from evangelical scholars.
- CSB Ancient Faith Study Bible (2019) – Featuring notes and articles from the Ancient Faith restoration movement.
- CSB Legacy Notetaking Bible (2020) – With lined margins and thick paper for notes.
- CSB Disciple’s Study Bible (2021) – With detailed notes on discipleship and Christian living.
- CSB She Reads Truth Bible (2016) – Targeted at women with devotions from She Reads Truth ministry.
These study Bibles provide historical background, exegetical insights, theological perspectives, practical applications, and other enriching supplemental content alongside the CSB text.
Comparison to Other Translations
The Christian Standard Bible aims for a middle ground between translations like the ESV and NIV. Here is a brief comparison between the CSB and several other popular English Bible versions:
- CSB vs. ESV – The ESV is more literal than the CSB. The CSB flows better for reading, while the ESV adheres more closely to the original wording and phrasing.
- CSB vs. NIV – The CSB and NIV have similar goals for readability and understanding. The CSB is somewhat more literal than the meaning-based NIV.
- CSB vs. NLT – The New Living Translation is much more dynamic and idiomatic than the CSB. The CSB strikes a better balance between literalness and readability.
- CSB vs. NET – Both translations contain extensive footnotes. The NET Bible is more interpretation-oriented, while the CSB sticks closer to traditional renderings.
- CSB vs. KJV – The King James Version contains archaic language unlike the very readable CSB. But both follow formal equivalence approaches.
The CSB offers an excellent alternative for those desiring readability and understanding without going fully into dynamic equivalence territory.
Conclusion
The Christian Standard Bible is a major recent Bible translation that updates the former Holman Christian Standard Bible. The CSB combines accuracy with readability using an optimal equivalence translation philosophy.
The CSB aims to strike a balance between formal and dynamic equivalence. The translators smoothed out literal Hebrew and Greek renderings into more natural-sounding English for contemporary readers. The result is an accurate yet highly readable and accessible English translation.
The CSB is well-suited for personal study, devotional reading, church use, and evangelistic purposes within the mainstream evangelical Protestant tradition. For those desiring faithfulness and clarity from a mediating translation, the CSB is an excellent option.