The story of the Revised Standard Version Bible

The Revised Standard Version (rsv) Bible is a popular and celebrated translation of the Bible. The New Testament version was first printed in 1946, followed by the Old Testament translation in 1952. The aim of the RSV Bible is, according to its translators, "To put the message of the Bible in simple, enduring words" to make it an easy-to-read Bible. The following article provides you with an overview of the Revised Standard Version Bible.

History

The RSV is an authorised version of the 1901 American Standard Version, which itself was a revision of the much loved 1611 King James version. The latter version, for centuries, had been the definitive English translation of the Bible. Aside from being available in book format, it is also available as an online Bible. American Standard Version
However, by the mid 19th century, Biblical Studies had advanced to such an extent that many experts now felt that a complete new translation was required. This led to the English Revised Version in 1881, followed by the American Standard Version in 1901. Clear and modern English In 1937, it was felt the American Standard Version required further revision in order to create a new Bible written in clear and modern English, in order to compete with the King James' version. The RSV was born, and scholars set to work. The first complete copy of the RSV edition of the Holy Bible was presented to President Truman in 1952.

Updated use of language

Lord Lord, or God, was used instead of Jehovah. The King James' version used Jehovah four times, but the RSV only uses Lord or God. Thou Second person's names, such as "thee", "thou", and "thy" were only used to describe God. Greek The RSV used the latest and modern translations of the Greek text. The translators felt that due to the many advancements in Biblical studies, and the discovery of ancient manuscripts, the RSV could recover the original meaning of the Greek text. As much as the King James' version was admired, it was felt that some translations were "full of mistakes". NRSV The National Council of Churches updated the text further in 1989, to include gender neutral language in the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Criticisms

Translation Although widely popular, some Biblical scholars have questioned the translation of certain words. Examples of these include the wording "Steadfast love" instead of the usual translation of "mercy" (Psalm 136), and "young woman" instead of "virgin" (Isaiah 7-14).