“I HAVE USED THE RSV AND NRSV WITH GREAT SUCCESS IN MY CLASSES
HERE AT HARVARD. THIS IS THE BEST EDITION AVAILABLE (IN ENGLISH)
IF ONE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE REALLY SAYS.”
— Harvey Cox
“
FOR LEADERS: WHY USE THE NRSV IN YOUR CHURCH?
THE NRSV REPRESENTS THE HIGHEST SCHOLARSHIP AND ACCURACY: The NRSV is considered by scholars to be the most accurate translation available today. The Society of Biblical Literature has chosen it as its main translation, and it is the translation used by all three of the major academic study Bibles—the Oxford Annotated Bible, the New Interpreters Bible, and the HarperCollins Study Bible. Independent university scholars overwhelmingly agree that it does the best job of rendering into English the Bible’s original Hebrew and Greek.
The NRSV is the latest revision of translations in the line of the King James version, continuing the process of updating that beloved and influential translation with the latest in scholarship. As the NRSV committee puts it, “The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible is an authorized revision of the Revised Standard Version, published in 1952, which was a revision of the American Standard Version, published in 1901, which, in turn, embodied earlier revisions of the King James version, published in 1611.”
Each of these revisions became necessary as important strides in biblical studies and the unearthing of more ancient biblical manuscripts rendered the previous translation out of date. The NRSV came about when it became clear that advances in the interpretation of Semitic languages related to Hebrew and newly discovered texts in the Dead Sea area necessitated changes to The Revised Standard Version. For the Old Testament, the NRSV committee was able to make use of the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (1977, 1983), which is a rendering of the Hebrew and Aramaic texts that dates back to the early Christian era. For the New Testament, the Committee used the most recent version of the Greek New Testament (1966, 1983), a text prepared by an interconfessional and international committee and published by the United Bible Societies.
THE NRSV LEAVES INTERPRETATION TO THE READER
Unlike many other translations available today, the NRSV is essentially
a literal translation, with paraphrasing kept to a minimum. The
committee sought to follow in the King James Bible tradition of elegant
prose, but to revise when necessary for clarity or to conform to modern
English usage. The translation committee’s rule was “As literal
as possible, as free as necessary.” This literal focus allows the
reader to do the paraphrasing and interpreting in group and individual
study and in prayer.
THE NRSV IS INCLUSIVE
One area where paraphrasing was occasionally deemed necessary was gender
language. Since there is no singular pronoun in the English language that refers
to both men and women, other English translations have used “he” or “him” in
cases where both men and women were indicated, therefore restricting or obscuring
the original text. The NRSV addressed this imbalance by rephrasing or using
first person plural (“we”) as long as the change did not distort
the meaning of the original passage. The NRSV did not change the pronouns used
for God, just the places where the context refers to both men and women. At
the time the NRSV was first published, in 1989, this gender inclusivity was
controversial and groundbreaking. Now many new versions follow the NRSV’s
lead.
THE NRSV IS ECUMENICAL
The NRSV is one of the few ecumenical translations that was produced
by scholars who represent all church traditions: Catholic, Orthodox, and
Protestant. More denominations have chosen the NRSV as their official
translation than any other on the market. It is truly the “standard” version
for English-speaking people across all denominations.
SUGGESTIONS FOR USING THE NRSV IN YOUR CHURCH
Take a survey among church members—informal or printed—as to
what translation they are currently using. Many members may not even know.
Print or announce the survey results and follow up with information about
the NRSV, orally or in a handout or in a seminar.
Give NRSVs to each small-group leader in your church and encourage them to use them in their small groups.
Print out some of the information about the NRSV and invite small groups to spend a session discussing why they use the translation they do, what criteria are most important in a translation, and compare several different translations of the same passage or verse.
Start to use the NRSV for the lectionary or Scripture reading and/or print out the passage in the bulletin and invite congregational comment on the translation.
Place a few copies of the NRSV in pews and in the church foyer or library and invite members of congregation to peruse them. Then take a congregational vote as to whether they would like to switch all the pew Bibles to NRSV.
