Bible Version Comparison, The Holman Christian Standard Bible

THE HCSB

(2003)

The Holman Christian Standard Bible is the latest of the new versions to be found. On the Holman website they proudly announce "This fresh rendering of God's Word is translated directly from the original biblical languages (emphasis added) with a reader-friendly style geared to contemporary English usage."  OK, lets see if it is translated from the Original Languages which by the way would be Textus Receptus & the Hebrew Old Testament...

FYI, the front of this book tells me that I need to make the following statement before I quote these verses out of the Holman CSB:

• Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations marked HCSB have been taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

The one verse I have been able so far to narrow down as the indicator of weather or not we have a counterfeit Bible is (KJV)1st Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that (1) perish foolishness; but unto us which (2) are saved it is the power of God. The verse in the HCSB is quoted as: 1st Corinthians 1:18 For to those who are (1) perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are (2) being saved it is God’s power.

Using my trusty Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible and my Greek & Hebrew bible text taken from the original, lets look at if this particular verse was taken from the original autographs by Holman. We will focus on two things here. First about those who are lost (perishing) and then on the part concerning Salvation (Saved or being Saved)

• (1) Does the original say perishing or does it say them that perish? The word used in the Greek here is: apollumi, ap-ol'-loo-mee; to destroy fully (reflex. to perish, or lose), lit. or fig.:--destroy, die, lose, mar, perish. It is a verb that shows action, so perishing or perish could be used without loss of meaning.
• (2) Does the original say we are saved or are we in the process of being saved? In other words a continual work. The word used in the Greek here is: sozo, sode'-zo; from a prim. sos (contr. for obsol. saos, "safe"); to save, i.e. deliver or protect (lit. or fig.):--heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole. It is also a verb that has a finality about it and not a process. So with no mistake about it we ARE SAVED and not in the process of it.

Then the following is just another example of the same perversion of the Word:

• (KJV) 2nd Corinthians 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
• (HCSB) 2nd Corinthians 2:15 For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing
  • The HCSB again argues with the finality of our salvation.

Reading further on I came across an instance that totally confuses me about the HCSB. I direct your attention to the following verses that the bible says allows or makes possible our salvation:

• (KJV) Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
• (HCSB) Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift-- 2:9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
  • This is what I can't figure out. First they say we are being saved in 1st Corinthians and then as a direct contradiction in Ephesians say we "are" saved even though the word saved is the same in the Greek (sozo) for 1st Corinthians, 2nd Corinthians & Ephesians!

Here is an interesting concept... Since it's unpopular these days to tell an adulterous woman that the Bible says they should not remarry, otherwise they are making the new spouse commit adultery, lets just take it from the text of the Bible and everybody can be happy. "and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." has been completely removed from the HCSB.

• (KJV) Matthew 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
• (HCSB) Matthew 19:9 And I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
  • Wouldn't this open the door for folks to go through marriage like socks in a drawer? (KJV) John 4:16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 4:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

I would guess that like the other versions, the concept of sodomy and the resulting judgment because of it was just as distasteful to the HCSB editors!

• (KJV) Mark 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.
• (HCSB) Mark 6:11 If any place does not welcome you and people refuse to listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
  • " Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city." was completely omitted from the text!

Certain words missing from the HCSB are Gods Holy Name "Jehovah", "New Testament" which is the very thing Jesus came to establish, "sodomite" which describes the one major thing that causes a stench in the nostrils of God, & "damnation" which is the result of our fall from Gods presence. The reason I picked these words out of numerous ones removed or replaced are that these have a certain significance that even in todays English language have the same meaning and power. So why remove them?

I also found certain verses which changed meaning completely by changing circumstances in the HCSB. For instance:

• (KJV) Exodus 14:25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
• (HCSB) Exodus 14:25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerve and made them drive with difficulty. “Let’s get away from Israel,” the Egyptians said, “because the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”
  • Can someone please tell me if they see a difference in swerving and completely falling off???

This one is a bit tricky until you see what is being implied here in Acts 13:

• (KJV) Acts 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
• (HCSB) Acts 13:33 God has fulfilled this to us their children by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm: You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
  • Was there any time when Christ was not "THE" eternal, everlasting, without beginning or end, Son of God? In all actuality there is absolutely no Greek text that reads the way that the HCSB has this verse interpreted. In fact, for some strange reason the HCSB agrees with the Jehovah Witness (New World Translation) version of the bible!

How about the Virgin Birth? Notice Joseph is mentioned by name in the KJV but in the HCSB, Joseph is called the father of Jesus.

• (KJV) Luke 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
• (HCSB) Luke 2:33 His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about Him.

How does the HCSB deal with the unity of the Godhead?

• (KJV)1st John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
• (HCSB)1st John 5:7 For there are three that testify:
  • It would seem that the HCSB editors didn't consider the most powerful verse in the Bible about the Godhead (Holy Trinity) to have enough validity to remain in the scriptures. The HCSB completely removes these words of the utmost importance from this verse: "in heaven, The Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."

The word “fornication” is found in the KJV fourty four times. Guess how many time you will find it in the HCSB? Zero! Not one single time. Fornication isn't even a "so called" archaic word. So why remove it?

• (KJV) 1st Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
• (HCSB) 1st Corinthians 7:2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

Hey, check this out! It has long been understood that we have to behave ourselves and follow the leadership of the Spirit of God after we are saved. It seems to me the HCSB removed that burden from us. How about that?

• (KJV) Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
• (HCSB) Romans 8:1 Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus,

Well, so much for their statement that they translated the HCSB directly from the original biblical languages. Lord please help us.

About the Author

Tim Davis is an author, pastor, police chaplain, and webmaster. If you have any questions about the above article, please visit the PCIM Christian Community Message Board and start a thread.