Preface to the ESV Bible

“This Book [is] the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is Wisdom; this is the royal Law; these are the lively Oracles of God.” With these words the Moderator of the Church of Scotland hands a Bible to the new monarch in Britain’s coronation service. These words echo the King James Bible translators, who wrote in 1611: “God’s sacred Word… is that inestimable treasure that excelleth all the riches of the earth.” This assessment of the Bible is the motivating force behind the publication of the English Standard Version.

Translation Legacy

The English Standard Version (ESV) stands in the classic mainstream of English Bible translations over the past half-millennium. The fountainhead of that stream was William Tyndale’s New Testament of 1526; marking its course were the King James Version of 1611 (KJV), the English Revised Version of 1885 (RV), the American Standard Version of 1901 (ASV), and the Revised Standard Version of 1952 and 1971 (RSV). In that stream, faithfulness to the text and vigorous pursuit of accuracy were combined with simplicity, beauty, and dignity of expression. Our goal has been to carry forward this legacy for a new century.

To this end each word and phrase in the ESV has been carefully weighed against the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, to ensure the fullest accuracy and clarity and to avoid under-translating or overlooking any nuance of the original text. The words and phrases themselves grow out of the Tyndale-King James legacy, and most recently out of the RSV, with the 1971 RSV text providing the starting point for our work. Archaic language has been brought to current usage and significant corrections have been made in the translation of key texts. But throughout, our goal has been to retain the depth of meaning and enduring language that have made their indelible mark on the English-speaking world and have defined the life and doctrine of the church over the last four centuries.

Translation Philosophy

The ESV is an “essentially literal” translation that seeks as far as possible to capture the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. As such, its emphasis is on “word-for-word” correspondence, at the same time taking into account differences of grammar, syntax, and idiom between current literary English and the original languages. Thus it seeks to be transparent to the original text, letting the reader see as directly as possible the structure and meaning of the original.

In contrast to the ESV, some Bible versions have followed a “thought-for-thought” rather than “word-for-word” translation philosophy, emphasizing “dynamic equivalence” rather than the “essentially literal” meaning of the original. A “thought-for-thought” translation is of necessity more inclined to reflect the interpretive opinions of the translator and the influences of contemporary culture.

Every translation is at many points a trade-off between literal precision and readability, between “formal equivalence” in expression and “functional equivalence” in communication, and the ESV is no exception. Within this framework we have sought to be “as literal as possible” while maintaining clarity of expression and literary excellence. Therefore, to the extent that plain English permits and the meaning in each case allows, we have sought to use the same English word for important recurring words in the original; and, as far as grammar and syntax allow, we have rendered Old Testament passages cited in the New in ways that show their correspondence. Thus in each of these areas, as well as throughout the Bible as a whole, we have sought to capture the echoes and overtones of meaning that are so abundantly present in the original texts.

As an essentially literal translation, then, the ESV seeks to carry over every possible nuance of meaning in the original words of Scripture into our own language. As such, it is ideally suited for in-depth study of the Bible. Indeed, with its emphasis on literary excellence, the ESV is equally suited for public reading and preaching, for private reading and reflection, for both academic and devotional study, and for Scripture memorization.

Translation Style

The ESV also carries forward classic translation principles in its literary style. Accordingly it retains theological terminology—words such as grace, faith, justification, sanctification, redemption, regeneration, reconciliation, propitiation—because of their central importance for Christian doctrine and also because the underlying Greek words were already becoming key words and technical terms in New Testament times.

The ESV lets the stylistic variety of the biblical writers fully express itself—from the exalted prose that opens Genesis, to the flowing narratives of the historical books, to the rich metaphors and dramatic imagery of the poetic books, to the ringing rhetorical indictments in the prophetic books, to the smooth elegance of Luke, to the profound simplicities of John, and the closely reasoned logic of Paul.

In punctuating, paragraphing, dividing long sentences, and rendering connectives, the ESV follows the path that seems to make the ongoing flow of thought clearest in English. The biblical languages regularly connect sentences by frequent repetition of words such as “and,” “but,” and “for,” in a way that goes beyond the conventions of literary English. Effective translation, however, requires that these links in the original be reproduced so that the flow of the argument will be transparent to the reader. We have therefore normally translated these connectives, though occasionally we have varied the rendering by using alternatives (such as “also,” “however,” “now,” “so,” “then,” or “thus”) when they better capture the sense in specific instances.

In the area of gender language, the goal of the ESV is to render literally what is in the original. For example, “anyone” replaces “any man” where there is no word corresponding to “man” in the original languages, and “people” rather than “men” is regularly used where the original languages refer to both men and women. But the words “man” and “men” are retained where a male meaning component is part of the original Greek or Hebrew. Similarly, the English word “brothers” (translating the Greek word adelphoi) is retained as an important familial form of address between fellow-Jews and fellow-Christians in the first century. A recurring note is included to indicate that the term “brothers” (adelphoi) was often used in Greek to refer to both men and women, and to indicate the specific instances in the text where this is the case. In addition, the English word “sons” (translating the Greek word huioi) is retained in specific instances because of its meaning as a legal term in the adoption and inheritance laws of first-century Rome. As used by the apostle Paul, this term refers to the status of all Christians, both men and women, who, having been adopted into God’s family, now enjoy all the privileges, obligations, and inheritance rights of God’s children.

The inclusive use of the generic “he” has also regularly been retained, because this is consistent with similar usage in the original languages and because an essentially literal translation would be impossible without it. Similarly, where God and man are compared or contrasted in the original, the ESV retains the generic use of “man” as the clearest way to express the contrast within the framework of essentially literal translation.

In each case the objective has been transparency to the original text, allowing the reader to understand the original on its own terms rather than on the terms of our present-day culture.

The Translation of Specialized Terms

In the translation of biblical terms referring to God, the ESV takes great care to convey the specific nuances of meaning of the original Hebrew and Greek terms. First, concerning terms that refer to God in the Old Testament: God, the Maker of heaven and earth, introduced himself to the people of Israel with the special, personal name, whose consonants are YHWH (see Exodus 3:14-15). Scholars call this the “Tetragrammaton,” a Greek term referring to the four Hebrew letters YHWH. The exact pronunciation of YHWH is uncertain, because the Jewish people considered the personal name of God to be so holy that it should never be spoken aloud. Instead of reading the word YHWH, they would normally read the Hebrew word adonai (“Lord”), and the ancient translations into Greek, Syriac, and Aramaic also followed suit. When the vowels of the word adonai are placed with the consonants of YHWH, this results in the familiar word Jehovah that was used in some earlier English Bible translations. As is common among English translations today, the ESV usually renders the personal name of God (YHWH) with the word Lord (printed in small capitals). An exception to this is when the Hebrew word adonai appears together with YHWH, in which case the two words are rendered together as “the Lord [in lower case] God [in small capitals].” In contrast to the personal name for God (YHWH), the more general name for God in Old Testament Hebrew is ’elohim and its related forms of ’el or ’eloah, all of which are normally translated “God” (in lower case letters). The use of these different ways to translate the Hebrew words for God is especially beneficial to the English reader, enabling the reader to see and understand the different ways that the personal name and the general name for God are both used to refer to the One True God of the Old Testament.

Second, in the New Testament, the Greek word Christos has been translated consistently as “Christ.” Although the term originally meant “anointed,” among Jews in New Testament times the term came to designate the Messiah, the great Savior that God had promised to raise up. In other New Testament contexts, however, especially among Gentiles, Christos (“Christ”) was on its way to becoming a proper name. It is important, therefore, to keep the context in mind in understanding the various ways that Christos (“Christ”) is used in the New Testament. At the same time, in accord with its “essentially literal” translation philosophy, the ESV has retained consistency and concordance in the translation of Christos (“Christ”) throughout the New Testament.

A third specialized term, the word “behold,” usually has been retained as the most common translation for the Hebrew word hinneh and the Greek word idou. Both of these words mean something like “Pay careful attention to what follows! This is important!” Other than the word “behold,” there is no single word in English that fits well in most contexts. Although “Look!” and “See!” and “Listen!” would be workable in some contexts, in many others these words lack sufficient weight and dignity. Given the principles of “essentially literal” translation, it is important not to leave hinneh and idou completely untranslated, and so to lose the intended emphasis in the original languages. The older and more formal word “behold” has usually been retained, therefore, as the best available option for conveying the original sense of meaning.

Textual Basis

The ESV is based on the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible as found in Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (2nd ed., 1983), and on the Greek text in the 1993 editions of the Greek New Testament (4th corrected ed.), published by the United Bible Societies (UBS), and Novum Testamentum Graece (27th ed.), edited by Nestle and Aland. The currently renewed respect among Old Testament scholars for the Masoretic text is reflected in the ESV’s attempt, wherever possible, to translate difficult Hebrew passages as they stand in the Masoretic text rather than resorting to emendations or to finding an alternative reading in the ancient versions. In exceptional, difficult cases, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Syriac Peshitta, the Latin Vulgate, and other sources were consulted to shed possible light on the text, or, if necessary, to support a divergence from the Masoretic text. Similarly, in a few difficult cases in the New Testament, the ESV has followed a Greek text different from the text given preference in the UBS/Nestle-Aland 27th edition. In this regard the footnotes that accompany the ESV text are an integral part of the ESV translation, informing the reader of textual variations and difficulties and showing how these have been resolved by the ESV translation team. In addition to this, the footnotes indicate significant alternative readings and occasionally provide an explanation for technical terms or for a difficult reading in the text. Throughout, the translation team has benefited greatly from the massive textual resources that have become readily available recently, from new insights into biblical laws and culture, and from current advances in Hebrew and Greek lexicography and grammatical understanding.

Publishing Team

The ESV publishing team includes more than a hundred people. The fourteen-member Translation Oversight Committee has benefited from the work of fifty biblical experts serving as Translation Review Scholars and from the comments of the more than fifty members of the Advisory Council, all of which has been carried out under the auspices of the Good News Publishers Board of Directors. This hundred-member team, which shares a common commitment to the truth of God’s Word and to historic Christian orthodoxy, is international in scope and includes leaders in many denominations.

To God’s Honor and Praise

We know that no Bible translation is perfect or final; but we also know that God uses imperfect and inadequate things to his honor and praise. So to our triune God and to his people we offer what we have done, with our prayers that it may prove useful, with gratitude for much help given, and with ongoing wonder that our God should ever have entrusted to us so momentous a task.

Soli Deo Gloria!—To God alone be the glory!

The Translation Oversight Committee

See a complete list of the Translation Oversight Committee, the Translation Review Scholars, and the Advisory Council.

Explanation Of the Features Included In Editions

Editions of the ESV Bible includes a number of valuable features to encourage the reading and study of the Bible. A brief description is provided below explaining the purpose and use of these features.

Section Headings

Section headings have been included throughout the text. While the headings are not part of the Bible text itself, they have been provided to help identify and locate important themes and topics throughout the Bible.

Textual Footnotes

Several kinds of footnotes related to the ESV text are provided throughout the ESV Bible to assist the reader. These footnotes appear at the bottom of the page and are indicated in the ESV text by a superscript number that follows the word or phrase to which the footnote applies (e.g., “Isaac[2]”).

The footnotes included in the ESV Bible are an integral part of the text and provide important information concerning the understanding and translation of the text. The footnotes fall mainly into four categories, as illustrated in the examples below.

Types of Textual Footnotes

1. Alternative Translations. Footnotes of this kind provide alternative translations for specific words or phrases when there is a strong possibility that such words or phrases could be translated in another way, such as: “Or keep awake” (see Matt. 26:38); and “Or down payment” (see Eph. 1:14). In such cases, the translation deemed to have the stronger support is in the text while other possible renderings are given in the note.
2. Explanation of Greek and Hebrew Terms. Notes of this kind relate primarily to the meaning of specific Greek or Hebrew terms, as illustrated by the following examples:
   1. Notes about the meaning of names in the original languages, such as: “Isaac means he laughs” (see Gen. 17:19); and “Simeon sounds like the Hebrew for heard” (see Gen. 29:33).
   2. Notes that give the literal translation of a Greek or Hebrew word or phrase deemed too awkward to be used in the English text, such as: “Greek girding up the loins of your mind” (see 1 Pet. 1:13).
   3. Notes indicating that absolute certainty of the meaning of a word or phrase is not possible given our best understanding of the original language (e.g., Hebrew words occurring so infrequently in the Old Testament that their meaning cannot be determined with certainty). Such words are identified with a note stating that “The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain” (see, e.g., Josh. 17:11).
   4. Notes that indicate the specialized use of a Greek word, such as: “brothers,” translating the Greek word adelphoi (see, e.g., the extended note on Rom. 1:13, corresponding to the first occurrence of adelphoi in any New Testament book, and the abbreviated note, e.g., on Rom. 7:1, corresponding to subsequent occurrences of adelphoi in any New Testament book); and “sons,” translating the Greek word huioi (see, e.g., Rom. 8:14).
3. Other Explanatory Notes. Footnotes of this kind provide clarifying information as illustrated by the following examples:
   1. Notes clarifying additional meanings that may not otherwise be apparent in the text, such as: “Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13.”
   2. Notes clarifying important grammatical points that would not otherwise be apparent in English, such as: “In Hebrew you is plural in verses 1-5” (see Gen. 3:1).
   3. Notes clarifying when the referent for a pronoun has been supplied in the English text, such as: “Greek he” (see, e.g., Mark 1:43).
   4. Notes giving English equivalents for weights, measures, and monetary values.
4. Technical Translation Notes. Footnotes of this kind indicate how decisions have been made in the translation of difficult Hebrew and Greek passages. Such notes occasionally include technical terms. For an explanation of these terms the reader is referred to standard Bible study reference works. See further the section on “Textual Basis” for an explanation of the original-language texts used in the translation of the ESV Bible and how the translation of difficult passages has been resolved.

Manuscripts Used in Translating the ESV

Each word and phrase in the ESV has been carefully weighed against the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, to ensure the fullest accuracy and clarity and to avoid under-translating or overlooking any nuance of the original text.

The words and phrases themselves grow out of the Tyndale-King James legacy, and most recently out of the RSV, with the 1971 RSV text providing the starting point for our work.

Archaic language has been brought to current usage and significant corrections have been made in the translation of key texts. But throughout, our goal has been to retain the depth of meaning and enduring language that have made their indelible mark on the English-speaking world and have defined the life and doctrine of the church over the last four centuries.

The ESV is based on the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible as found in Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (2nd ed., 1983), and on the Greek text in the 1993 editions of the Greek New Testament (4th corrected ed.), published by the United Bible Societies (UBS), and Novum Testamentum Graece (27th ed.), edited by Nestle and Aland.

The currently renewed respect among Old Testament scholars for the Masoretic text is reflected in the ESV’s attempt, wherever possible, to translate difficult Hebrew passages as they stand in the Masoretic text rather than resorting to emendations or to finding an alternative reading in the ancient versions.

In exceptional, difficult cases, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Syriac Peshitta, the Latin Vulgate, and other sources were consulted to shed possible light on the text, or, if necessary, to support a divergence from the Masoretic text. Similarly, in a few difficult cases in the New Testament, the ESV has followed a Greek text different from the text given preference in the UBS/Nestle-Aland 27th edition.

The footnotes that accompany the ESV text inform the reader of textual variations and difficulties and show how these have been resolved by the ESV Translation Team. In addition to this, the footnotes indicate significant alternative readings and occasionally provide an explanation for technical terms or for a difficult reading in the text.

Throughout, the Translation Team has benefited greatly from the massive textual resources that have become readily available recently, from new insights into biblical laws and culture, and from current advances in Hebrew and Greek lexicography and grammatical understanding.

Translation Team

The ESV publishing team includes more than 100 people. The twelve-member Translation Oversight Committee has benefited from the work of more than fifty biblical experts serving as Translation Review Scholars and from the comments of more than fifty members of the Advisory Council, all of which has been carried out under the auspices of the Good News / Crossway Board of Directors.

This 100-member team, which is international and represents many denominations, shares a commitment to historic evangelical orthodoxy, and to the authority and sufficiency of the inerrant Scriptures.

Also on the translation team:

• Translation Oversight Committee
• Advisory Council

 

Translation Oversight Committee

The people listed below comprise the Translation Oversight Committee, including 12 voting and two adjunct members.

Dr. Clifford John Collins, OT Chairman

Associate Professor of Old Testament Covenant Theological Seminary
S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.Div., Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary
Ph.D., University of Liverpool

Dr. Lane T. Dennis, Publishing Chairman

President, Good News Publishers-Crossway Books
B.S., Northern Illinois University
M.Div., McCormick Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Northwestern University

Dr. Wayne A. Grudem

Professor and Chairman, Department of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
B.A., Harvard University
M.Div., Westminster Theological Seminary
Ph.D., University of Cambridge

Dr. Paul R. House, OT Associate Chairman

Professor of Old Testament Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry
B.A., Southwest Baptist University
M.A., University of Missouri-Columbia
M.Div., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Ph.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Dr. R. Kent Hughes

Senior Pastor, College Church in Wheaton
B.A., Whittier College
M.Div., Talbot Theological Seminary
D.Min., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Dr. Robert H. Mounce, NT Associate Chairman

President Emeritus, Whitworth College
B.A., University of Washington
B.D., Fuller Theological Seminary
Th.M., Fuller Theological Seminary
Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

Dr. William D. Mounce, NT Chairman

Professor of New Testament Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
B.A., Bethel College
M.A., Fuller Theological Seminary
Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

Dr. J. I. Packer, ESV General Editor

Board of Governors and Professor of Theology Regent College (Vancouver, BC)
B.A., Oxford University
M.A., Oxford University
D.Phil., Oxford University

Dr. Leland Ryken, Literary Chairman

Professor of English, Wheaton College
B.A., Central College
Ph.D., University of Oregon

Dr. Vern Sheridan Poythress

Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Westminster Theological Seminary
B.S., California Institute of Technology
Ph.D., Harvard University
M.Div., Westminster Theological Seminary
Th.M., Westminster Theological Seminary
M.Litt., University of Cambridge
D.Th., University of Stellenbosch

Dr. Gordon Wenham, OT Associate Chairman

Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies, The College of St. Paul and St. Mary (Cheltenham, England)
B.A., Cambridge University
M.A., Cambridge University
Ph.D., King's College, London University

Dr. Bruce Winter

Warden, Tyndale House (Cambridge, England)
B. A., University of Queensland
M.Theo., SEA Graduate School
Ph.D., Macquarie University

Adjunct Members

Rev. David Jones

ESV Associate Editor
Good News Publishers-Crossway Books

Rev. E. Marvin Padgett

Vice President, Editorial
Good News Publishers-Crossway Books

The positions listed above reflect the positions held during the translation process. They may have changed since.

Translation Review Scholars

The following people comprise the team of more than fifty Translation Review Scholars. The Translation Review Scholars are an international team from many denominations who were chosen to review selected books of the Old or New Testament in conjunction with the Translation Oversight Committee, based on their special expertise in the original languages and specific books of the Bible.

Dr. T. D. Alexander

Director of the Christian Training Centre
Union Theological College Belfast
B.A., The Queen’s University of Belfast
Ph.D., The Queen’s University of Belfast

Dr. Clinton E. Arnold

Professor of New Testament Language and Literature
Talbot School of Theology
B.A., Biola University
M.Div., Talbot Theological Seminary
Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

Dr. David W. Baker

Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages
Ashland Theological Seminary
A.B., Temple University
M.C.S., Regent College
M.Phil., University of London
Ph.D., University of London

Dr. William D. Barrick

Professor of Old Testament
The Master’s Seminary
B.A., Denver Baptist Bible College
M.Div., San Francisco Theological Seminary
Th.M., San Francisco Theological Seminary
Th.D., Grace Theological Seminary

Dr. Hans F. Bayer

Associate Professor of New Testament
Covenant Seminary
M.A., Ashland Theological Seminary
M.Div., Ashland Theological Seminary
Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

Dr. Gregory Beale

Professor of New Testament
Wheaton College
B.A., Southern Methodist University
M.A., Southern Methodist University
Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Cambridge University

Dr. Ronald Bergey

Professeur d’Hébreu et d’Ancient Testament
Faculté libre de Théologie réformée Aix-en-Provence, France
B.S., Philadelphia College of Bible
M.A., Jerusalem University
Ph.D., Dropsie University

Dr. Daniel I. Block

John R. Sampey Professor of Old Testament Interpretation
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.Ed., University of Saskatchewan
B.A., University of Saskatchewan
M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Ph.D., University of Liverpool

Dr. Craig L. Blomberg

Professor of New Testament
Denver Seminary
B.A., Augustana College
M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

Dr. Darrell L. Bock

Research Professor of New Testament Studies
Dallas Theological Seminary
B.A., University of Texas at Austin
Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary
Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

Dr. Irvin A. Busenitz

Vice President for Academic Administration
Professor of Bible Exposition and Old Testament
The Master’s Seminary B.A., Grace College of the Bible
M.Div., Talbot Theological Seminary
Th.M., Talbot Theological Seminary
Th.D., Grace Theological Seminary

Mr. Edward H. Chandler

Ph.D. (cand.)
Catholic University of America
M. Div., Covenant Seminary

Dr. Daniel L. Gard

Dean of Graduate Studies
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN
B.A., Carthage College
M.Div., Concordia Theological Seminary
M.A., University of Notre Dame
Ph.D., University of Notre Dame

Dr. Robert P. Gordon

Regius Professor of Hebrew
Cambridge University
M.A., Cambridge University
Ph.D., Cambridge University

Dr. Gene L. Green

Associate Professor of New Testament
Wheaton College
B.A., Wheaton College
M.A., Wheaton College Graduate School
Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

Dr. Michael Grisanti

Associate Professor of Old Testament
The Master’s Seminary
B.A., Pillsbury Baptist Bible College
M.Div., Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Th.M., Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Dr. George H. Guthrie

Associate Professor of Christian Studies
Union University
B.A., Union University
M.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Th.M., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Dr. Scott J. Hafemann

Professor, Hawthorne Chair of New Testament Greek and Exegesis
Wheaton College
B.A., Bethel College
M.A., Fuller Theological Seminary
Dr. Theol., University of Tübingen

Dr. Charles D. Harvey

[current position not on file]
B.A., Taylor University
M.Div., Reformed Theological Seminary
Ph.D., University of Edinburgh

Dr. Richard S. Hess

Professor of Old Testament
Denver Seminary
B.A., Wheaton College
M.Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Th.M., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Ph.D., Hebrew Union College

Dr. Harold W. Hoehner

Senior Professor of New Testament Studies
Dallas Theological Seminary
B.A., Barrington College
Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary
Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Cambridge University

Dr. David M. Howard

Jr. Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
B.S., Geneva College
M.A., Wheaton College
Ph.D., University of Michigan

Dr. Gordon P. Hugenberger

Senior Pastor
Park Street Church, Boston, MA
B.A., Harvard University
M.Div., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Ph.D., College of St. Paul and St. Mary

Dr. Philip Johnston

Professor of Old Testament
Wycliff Hall, UK
B.A., University of Cambridge
B.D., Queen’s University, Belfast
M.Th., Queen’s University, Belfast
Ph.D., University of Cambridge

Dr. Reggie McReynolds Kidd

Associate Professor of New Testament
Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, FL
B.A., College of William and Mary
M.A.R., Westminster Theological Seminary
M.Div., Westminster Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Duke University

Dr. Nobuyoshi Kiuchi

Professor of Old Testament
Tokyo Christian University
B.A., Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Ph.D., The Council for National Academic Awards

Dr. Andreas J. Köstenberger

Associate Professor of New Testament
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Mag. et Dr. rer. soc. oec., Vienna University of Economics
M.Div., Columbia Biblical Seminary
Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Dr. V. Philips Long

Professor of Old Testament
Regent College
B.A., Wheaton College
M.Div., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Cambridge University

Dr. Ernest Lucas

Professor of Old Testament
Bristol Baptist College
M.A., Regent’s Park College
Ph.D., University of Liverpool

Dr. Dennis R. Magary

Associate Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
B.A., Fort Wayne Bible College
M.Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
M.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dr. Walter A. Maier, III

Professor of Old Testament
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN
B.A., Concordia College
M.Div., Concordia Theological Seminary
M.A., Harvard University
Ph.D., Harvard University

Dr. J. Gordon McConville

Professor of Old Testament
Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education
B.A., Cambridge University
M.A., University of Edinburgh
Ph.D., The Queen’s University of Belfast

Dr. Christopher Mitchell

Theological Editor
Concordia Publishing House
B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.Div., Concordia Seminary
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dr. Leon Morris

Former Principal of Ridley College
Melbourne, Australia
B.Sc., Sydney University
Th.L., Australian College of Theology
B.D., London University
M.Th., [university not on file]
Th.D., Cambridge University

Dr. Russell Nelson

Professor of Religious Studies
Division Chair
Concordia University College of Alberta
B.A., Concordia Senior College
M.Div., Concordia Seminary in Exile, St. Louis
Ph.D., Harvard University

Dr. Raymond Ortlund, Jr.

Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Augusta, GA
B.A., Wheaton College
Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary
M.A., University of California-Berkeley
Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

Dr. Douglas A. Oss

Pastor
Capital Christian Center, Salt Lake City, UT
B.A., Western Washington University
M.Div., Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Westminster Theological Seminary

Dr. John N. Oswalt

Research Professor of Old Testament
Wesley Biblical Seminary
B.A., Taylor University
B.D., Asbury Theological Seminary
Th.M., Asbury Theological Seminary
M.A., Brandeis University
Ph.D., Brandeis University

Dr. Iain Provan

Marshall Sheppard Professor of Biblical Studies
Regent College
B.A., London Bible College
M.A., Glasgow University
Ph.D., Cambridge University

Dr. Paul R. Raabe

Professor of Exegetical Theology
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO
B.S., Concordia Teachers College
M.Div., Concordia Theological Seminary
M.A., Washington University
Ph.D., University of Michigan

Dr. Thomas Renz

Professor of Old Testament
Oak Hill Theological College-London, UK
M.Div. (equivalent), Freie Theologische Akademie, Giessen, Germany
Ph.D., Bristol University

Mr. Max Rogland

Ph.D. (cand.) Leiden University
B.A., B.Mus., University of Washington
M.Div., Covenant Theological Seminary

Dr. Allen Ross

Former Professor of Old Testament
Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry
Th.D., Dallas Seminary
Ph.D., Cambridge University

Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner

Professor of New Testament Interpretation
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.S., Western Oregon University
M.Div., Western Conservative Baptist Seminary
Th.M., Western Conservative Baptist Seminary
Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary

Dr. Moises Silva

B.A., Bob Jones University
B.D., Westminster Theological Seminary
Th.M., Westminster Theological Seminary
Ph.D., University of Manchester

Dr. Frank S. Thielman

Associate Professor of Divinity
Beeson Divinity School
B.A., Wheaton College
B.A., Cambridge University
M.A., Cambridge University
Ph.D., Duke University

Dr. Willem A. VanGemeren

Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Studies
Director of the Ph.D. in Theological Studies
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Diploma, Moody Bible Institute
B.A., University of Illinois, Chicago
B.D., Westminster Theological Seminary
M.A., University of Wisconsin
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin

Dr. James W. Voelz

Professor of Exegetical Theology
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo.
A.A., Concordia College
B.A., Concordia Senior College
M.Div., Concordia Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Cambridge University

Dr. Daniel B. Wallace

Professor of New Testament Studies
Dallas Theological Seminary
B.A., Biola University
Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Dr. Dean O. Wenthe

President
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN
B.A., Concordia Senior College
M.A., University of Notre Dame
M.Div., Concordia Seminary
Th.M., Princeton Theological Seminary
Ph.D., University of Notre Dame

Dr. Walter W. Wessel

Former Professor of New Testament
Bethel Seminary-West
B.A., UCLA
M.A., UCLA
Ph.D., University of Edinburgh

Dr. Robert W. Yarbrough

Associate Professor of New Testament
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
B.A., Southwest Baptist College
M.A., Wheaton College Graduate School
Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

The positions listed above reflect the positions held during the translation process. They may have changed since.

Advisory Council

The Advisory Council includes people from many denominational backgrounds from around the world. All are widely recognized for their evangelical leadership, and are people who love God’s Word and affirm the inerrancy of the Bible.

Rev. Eric J. Alexander

Retired Pastor, St. George’s-Tron Parish Church
Scotland, UK

Dr. Don H. Argue

President, Northwest College
Kirkland, WA

Dr. Hudson T. Armerding

President Emeritus, Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL

Dr. S. M. Baugh

Associate Professor of New Testament
Westminster Theological Seminary
Escondido, CA

Rev. Alistair Begg

Senior Pastor, Parkside Church
Bainbridge, OH

The Rt. Rev. Bishop Wallace Benn

Bishop of Lewes, Church of England
Eastbourne, UK

Dr. Harold O. J. Brown

Professor of Systematic Theology
Reformed Theological Seminary
Charlotte, NC

Lady Elizabeth Catherwood

Editor, London, UK

Sir Fred Catherwood

President, Evangelical Alliance
London, UK

Dr. Bryan Chapell

President, Covenant Theological Seminary
St. Louis, MO

Dr. Edmund P. Clowney

President Emeritus, Westminster Theological Seminary
Escondido, CA

Dr. Jack Cottrell

Professor of Theology
Cincinnati Bible Seminary
Cincinnati, OH

Dr. Jack Deere

President, Evangelical Foundation Ministries
Dallas, TX

Rev. Jon M. Dennis

Associate Pastor, Holy Trinity Church
Hyde Park, Chicago, IL

Dr. Mark Dever

Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church
Washington, DC

Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III

Pastor, First Presbyterian Church
Jackson, MS

The Rev. Sinclair Ferguson

Senior Pastor, St. George’s-Tron Parish Church
Scotland, UK

Dr. Ajith Fernando

National Director, Youth for Christ
Sri Lanka

Rev. Dr. Paul Gardner

Vicar, St. Johns Church
Hartford, UK

Dr. Timothy George

Dean, Beeson Divinity School
Birmingham, AL

Dr. Scott J. Hafemann

Professor, Greek and Exegesis
Hawthorne Chair of New Testament
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL

Rev. David Helm

Senior Pastor, Holy Trinity Church
Chicago, IL

Dr. Carl F. H. Henry

Theologian and Founding Editor of Christianity Today
Watertown, WI

Rev. Todd Hunter

National Director, Association of Vineyard Churches, USA
Anaheim, CA

Dr. W. Bingham Hunter

Sr. Vice President for Education and Academic Dean Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Deerfield, IL

Rev. Phillip D. Jensen

Rector, St. Matthias Church
Sydney, Australia

Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, Jr.

Former Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Deerfield, IL

The Rev. Dr. Arthur A. Just, Jr.

Dean of Chapel and Professor
Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, IN

Dr. Kenneth Kantzer

Dean Emeritus and Distinguished Professor
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Deerfield, IL

Dr. Robert Lewis

Teaching Pastor, Fellowship Bible Church
Little Rock, AR

Mr. Max Lucado

Minister, Oak Hills Church of Christ
San Antonio, TX

Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer

Pastor, Moody Church
Chicago, IL

Rev. Ranald Macaulay

L’Abri Fellowship, Cambridge, UK

Mrs. Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

L’Abri Fellowship, Cambridge, UK

Dr. James MacDonald

Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel
Rolling Meadows, IL

Dr. Dennis R. Magary

Associate Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Deerfield, IL

Dr. Walter A. Maier III

Professor of Old Testament
Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, IN

Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

President
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Louisville, KY

Dr. Joel H. Nederhood

Director of Ministries Emeritus
Back to God Hour
Grand Rapids, MI

Rev. Raymond C. Ortlund

President, Renewal Ministries
Newport Beach, CA

Dr. Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.

Pastor, First Presbyterian Church
Augusta, GA

Dr. Douglas A. Oss

Pastor, Capital Christian Center
Salt Lake City, UT

Dr. John N. Oswalt

Research Professor of Old Testament
Wesley Biblical Seminary
Jackson, MS

Dr. Dorothy Kelley Patterson

Assistant Professor of Women’s Studies
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Wake Forest, NC

Dr. Paige Patterson

President, Southern Baptist Convention
President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Wake Forest, NC

Dr. David Peterson

Principal, Oak Hill College
London, UK

Dr. John Piper

Senior Pastor, Bethlehem Baptist Church
Minneapolis, MN

Dr. Robert S. Ricker

President, Baptist General Conference
Arlington Heights, IL

The Rev. Dr. Joseph F. Ryan

Pastor, Park Cities Presbyterian Church
Dallas, TX

Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner

Professor of New Testament Interpretation
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Louisville, KY

Dr. J. Julius Scott, Jr.

Professor of Biblical and Historical Studies
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL

Dr. R. C. Sproul

Chairman, Ligonier Ministries
Lake Mary, FL

Dr. Joseph M. Stowell

President, Moody Bible Institute
Chicago, IL

Mrs. Joni Eareckson Tada

Founder and President, Joni and Friends
Agoura Hills, CA

Dr. Mark R. Talbot

Associate Professor of Philosophy
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL

Dr. Willem A. VanGemeren

Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Deerfield, IL

Dr. John F. Walvoord

Chancellor, Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas, TX

Dr. Gregory Waybright

President, Trinity International University
Deerfield, IL

Dr. Luder G. Whitlock

President, Reformed Theological Seminary
Jackson, MS

Dr. Tetsunao Yamamori

President, Food for the Hungry
Scottsdale, AZ

Dr. Robert W. Yarbrough

Associate Professor of New Testament
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Deerfield, IL

Rev. John W. Yates II

Rector, The Falls Church
Falls Church, VA

The positions listed above reflect the positions held during the translation process. They may have changed since.

 

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (c)2001 Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  All rights reserved.  Note:  Words identified as being spoken by Jesus are in red.
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