The English Standard Version

I was only recently aware that MacArthur’s study Bible came in ESV.

But, for what it’s worth, my NKJV MacArthur does not have the words of Christ in red. Perhaps that was an editorial decision on MacArthur’s or his publisher’s part.

With regard to other study Bibles, based on your observation perhaps the more in-depth and technical a study Bible is, the less likely it is to have red letters, because the more technical Bibles are aimed at audiences who are probably already familiar with which Scriptures are the sayings of Christ and which are not. Personally, I find a Bible with no red letters easier to read on my own, but it is easier to look up a particular verse when you have the red letters.

Imagine my surprise when I got to Bible college, purchased a Greek New Testament, and … no red letters! Although, that’s probably just because I didn’t buy a TR, which of course would have kept the true original coloring.

[Charlie] a TR … of course would have kept the true original coloring.

That’s funny!

I prefer to study from Greek Uncials; they don’t have punctuation OR red letters :) .

Just kidding. I prefer non-red letter bibles.

FWIW, I seem to remember hearing MacArthur disagree with red-letter editions of the Bible. This is one area where I agree with him wholeheartedly. The red letters have a tendency to give the impression they are more inspired or more important than the black letters.

[jwolf6589] Got my new MacArthur SB the other day. What a treasure! Not as rich as the Crossway SB, but I read it better because its not in that single column format. It also is like the NIV and not as wooden or technical as the NASB & NKJV. But can anyone tell me why so many ESV SB’s do not include the words of Christ in red?

John

The manuscripts do not have the words of Christ written in red. Not even the Textus Receptus! :)

*****Moderator Note*****

Please keep this thread on the topic of the ESV. Posting or discussion of textual variants is off topic and will not be allowed. You may discuss those elsewhere.

Kathee and I are reading through the ESV and both have the ESV study Bible

I’ve read through the ESV NT. My pocket NT has the words of Christ in red (just like the original Greek :) )

The full Bible (ESV study Bible) does not have the words of Christ in red. The online edition has an option to view in red or not (handy feature). We are now reading through the OT (just finished Joshua). One nice feature of the online edition is that you can listen to it. We found that chapters that are heavy with names and places, that listening to the text while we have our Bibles open is helpful.

The articles, charts and maps of the ESV study Bible are very helpful

Minor oddities (personal preference I suppose)

The names of Hosea’s and Gomer’s children are translated (“No Mercy” and “Not My People”) instead of portrayed in Hebrew.

NKJV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea+1%3A6-9&version=NKJV&…

ESV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=HOsea%201:6-9&version=ESV

One NT passage where I believe the NKJV does a better job is 1 Tim 4:7: “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness” (ESV)

NKJV: “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.”

Greek: “τους δε βεβηλους και γραωδεις μυθους παραιτου γυμναζε δε σεαυτον προς ευσεβειαν”

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1126&t…] γραώδης is a hapax legomenon but it strikes me that the http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1126&t…] old woman angle is preferable to “silly”

Minor oddities (personal preference I suppose)

The names of Hosea’s and Gomer’s children are translated (“No Mercy” and “Not My People”) instead of portrayed in Hebrew.

NKJV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea+1%3A6-9&version=NKJV&s…

ESV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=HOsea%201:6-9&version=ESV

One NT passage where I believe the NKJV does a better job is 1 Tim 4:7: “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness” (ESV)

I thought this was a horrible decision on the part of the translators. It would have been infinitely preferable for them to put the Hebrew name and then the translation in italics / parenthesis / footnote than to just replace the name.

There’s another liberty that the translators took in the ESV - something very similar to this - that I really don’t like as well, but I can’t recall it exactly right now.