Holman New Testament Commentary With Psalms and Proverbs: Black Bonded Leather

Rating:
Summary: This translation work really deserves 5 stars
Review: The HCSB has been coming out in stages, now available with the NT, Psalms and Proverbs. This release is only a pocket size edition, but that makes it very handy, fitting well into your front pocket, briefcase, or purse. Print size is functional. With each release improvements have been made, such as great footnotes. Certain improvements have also been made in wording, such as "One and Only Son" replacing "only Son" in John, chapters 1 and 3. There is now a glossary in the back for words that need explanation, such as "LORD of Hosts." Words detailed in the glossary are bulleted in the text.

Read other reviews for the HCSB by calling up "HCSB" or "Experiencing God" in the Amazon "Search" feature. In short, this Bible is unique in the following ways: It is conservative and literal. What separates it from NASB or ESV is that it uses real world modern sentence and paragraph structure, and, while keeping theological jargon (such as redemption, justification, etc.), the translators chose not to use the obscure KJV-ish words found in most "literal" translations, such as temperate, sober-minded, licentious, uttermost, sodomite, only-begotten, discreet, etc. The HCSB uses real in-use words, replacing "sober" with "sensible," "sodomite" with "homosexual," "debauchery", in most its occurrences, with "sexual promiscuity,"etc.

Another impressive feature is that the translators usually footnote when they digress from the literal. Usually the dynamic renderings are used to give the reader clarity. By giving you the footnote, they keep the process honest. I appreciate that.

To those who haven't viewed the HCSB, it reads somewhere between the NKJV and the NIV. As to the gender issue, the language is not "gender neutral," but is somewhat "gender sensitive." However, the HCSB does not resort to pluralizing words that are singular. This translation also uses correct sentence structure- no run-ons or awkwardly arranged sentences like many older versions, and the ESV- and it sounds very modern. The Psalms in HCSB especially read smoother than all the other "literal" translations. I personally am trying to wean myself from studying several translations to go to one translation: this one. With the HCSB as my daily use/memory Bible and the NET Bible (incredible commentary with text) and the NASB on my shelf for reference checks, I will be set. ...

On the recommendation side, I wish the translators would put "sexual immorality" into the glossary. In older translations, "fornication" was in the text, a word with evocative impact and a dictionary definition. The phrase "sexual immorality" means "that which is considered not moral by the standard of society." It is relative, and in our amoral, post-church society, what is considered immoral? Maybe pedophilia, but little else. I don't think most translators realize what a weak rendering "sexual immorality" is. A glossary definition is needed, IMHO.

This is a Bible you can use and be proud to use, one you can share with friends, and one you can use in witnessing. It is all-purpose, accurate and reliable. Holman is a great publisher, so you know it will have backing. Buy it, read it, study it, memorize it, give it out to friends. Write a review after you check it out. OK, I'm done.