An intersting question was addressed by the ESV translation oversight committee today.

How did you determine the Greek text used for translation—did the Textus Receptus play any role?

The answer is pretty simple:

In almost every case, we used the standard critical text used in scholarship today, represented by the United Bible Society’s Nestle-Aland people. And so we pretty much stuck to that because it was very safe and very well-accepted by the academic community.

But if you continue to read the response, you’ll see that he addresses the question behind the question here…

The thing I appreciate most about this reply is the gracious tone of it. Not even necessarily the content, but the tone. Too often, those in translation scholarship circles have just outright dismissed the Textus Receptus, something that is near and dear (and a bit of a sacred cow) to many believers.

I think it is also helpful that they gave some credence to the TR, but only in that it contains phrasiology that some are “expecting” to see. One of the things I appreciate about the ESV is that it is pursuing accuracy without being bound by traditionalism or doctrinal presupositions, but are doing so in a manner of love and not arrogance.

Another good Q/A from the ESV Bible Translastion Oversite Committee Interview, on the subject of Footnoted Verses

There are several places where “extra” verses are placed in the footnotes, e.g., Matthew 12:47, and others like Mark 16 where the “extra” verses are bracketed out but in the main text. How did you make decisions like that and why have you differed from other translations in some places?

I LOVE the fact that the committee is taking this avenue of transparency and open-ness. A snip from their reply:

When the ESV was done, we wanted not simply the familiar thing, but the best thing—the thing was closest to what God actually said.

I love the admission in their reply that what is “original” to the text isn’t always cut-and-dried. There IS some question out there about what belongs and what doesn’t (granted, they are very small, and relatively inconsequential sections).

It is important to note that these “questionable” sections (a few verses here and there) do not affect the message or meaning of ANY of the scriptures.

update They have added a second post about this question. A different member of the committee answers the unspoken question “Why does this happen?”

It happens because we do not possess the original writings that the Apostle Paul or Luke the Evangelist wrote. They wrote one copy of what they wrote, and then that one copy became the source of many copies. And those copies in turn were copied. And in the course of that copying, errors sometimes crept in. The endeavor for the ESV was to present to the English reader as closely as possible what the Apostle Paul actually wrote, what Luke the Evangelist actually wrote, and so on. The fact is that there is very little difference between all these various copies. It’s only in a very few places that there are significant or noticeable differences. We can thank the Lord that that is so.

Amen.

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Nancy was informing me that The Last Samurai one was getting old. That and Batman Begins has unseated it as my inspirational/warrior movie for now.

I hope I don’t get sued.

I’m becoming increasinly convinced that the way to reach the emerging generation is to have a vibrant inter-generational ministry, that is focused on reaching the emerging generation (rather than catering to the desires of the older generation.)

I read this great article called “A Mad Multi-gen Strategy that Works, Dude: Bring generations together and reduce 20-something dropout.”

We’re talking about 82 year old youth leaders; helping grandparents, who would gladly give their lives for their grandkids’ sake, give their MUSIC for their grandkids’ sake.

Here are some highlights:

Fannie Hamilton sat among teenagers during the Sunday service. She used her left hand to hold up her stroke-affected right hand in praise, belting out the words to “My Glorious” by Delirious. A few minutes later, she stood next to a 16-year-old, who joined her in belting out the words to “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” She was a small group leader in our youth ministry—at the age of 82.

The typical church segregates youth ministry from “big people” church. At times, student ministries are created so we don’t have to be challenged by their new ideas. But churches that remain unchanged by new generations grow out of touch, ineffective, and inwardly focused. They also soon discover an absence of 20-somethings.

While every generation maintains its uniqueness and offers different strengths, the heartbeat of God is for one church. So many forces drive generations apart, but moderns and postmoderns can coexist. It requires humility, mutual submission, and respect for different strengths and passions. Those virtues don’t happen easily. They emerge as we teach them and model them. Sometimes that means straight talk. Len Sweet asked a seniors group, “How many of you grandparents love your grandkids? How many of you love your grandkids so much you would lay down your life for them?” Many hands were raised. Then he said, “How many of you love your grandkids so much you would lay down your music for them?”

Not so much a review, as an excited rave… but:

In short, it was better than Star Wars. That’s right, better than Star Wars.

I’m a humongous Batman fanatic. The first (Michael Keaton/Jack Nicholsen/Tim Burton) Batman movie is still in my top 10 favorite movies of all time, (though this one may just have replaced it). I’ve never bothered to watch Cloony’s Batman. I didn’t want to break anything (TV, DVD player, DVD, movie screen) after watching it.

The thing that I liked the most was the depth of emotion Christian Bale brought to Batman. “My guilt is overcome by my anger” he says once, describing how he deals with the death of his parents, and outrage over the state of Gotham city. That anger and vengance, however is brideled by an intense compassion, and respect for the judicial process of dealing with criminals. He refuses to directly kill a criminal to deal with a crime (though he will let them die, and apparently isn’t concerned with collateral damage…). I think this trait is what I’ve always loved so much about Batman.

The other great thing about this movie was character development. That is pretty much what they spent the entire movie doing. The tackled what no Batman movie or TV show (save the animated series) has attempted. Introducing one of the most complex of all of Batman’s nemeses: Ra’s Al Ghul.

Plenty of ninja fight scenes, scary villains, amazing chase scense, appropriately placed humor. Currently in my top five favorite movies. Definitely recommended.

As one radio commentator said this morning: “THAT is how you make a Batman movie!” I agree wholeheartedly and hope that Goyer and Nolan crank out a few more of these before they are done.