Revised Standard Version

Revised Standard Version
source
Name	Revised Standard Version
Abbreviation	RSV
Full name	Revised Standard Version
NT published	1946
OT published	1952
Complete Bible	1952
Translation type	Formal equivalence
Publisher	National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Religious affiliation	Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholic Church

Revised Standard Version. The Revised Standard Version (RSV) is a Bible translation that was published by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and has been widely used by Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic churches. The RSV was first introduced in the mid-20th century, with the New Testament being published in 1946 and the complete Bible in 1952, and has since become a standard reference for Biblical scholarship and theology at institutions such as Harvard University, University of Oxford, and Yale University. The RSV has been praised for its accuracy and clarity by scholars such as C.S. Lewis, Karl Barth, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Introduction

The Revised Standard Version was a major revision of the American Standard Version (ASV), which was published in 1901 by the American Bible Society. The RSV was designed to be a more modern and readable translation, while still maintaining the accuracy and reliability of the ASV, and was influenced by the work of Bible translators such as William Tyndale and John Wycliffe. The RSV was also influenced by the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were discovered in 1947 near Qumran, and the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible that was widely used in the Hellenistic period. The RSV has been used in a variety of contexts, including worship services at churches such as St. Peter's Basilica and Westminster Abbey, and has been cited by scholars such as Pope Benedict XVI and Rowan Williams.

History

The Revised Standard Version was first proposed in 1929 by the International Council of Religious Education, which was later merged into the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. The translation process took over 15 years to complete, with a team of scholars from various denominations and institutions, including Princeton Theological Seminary, University of Chicago, and Cambridge University. The RSV was published in several stages, with the New Testament being published in 1946, the Old Testament in 1952, and the complete Bible in 1952, and was widely reviewed by scholars such as Rudolf Bultmann and Gerhard von Rad. The RSV has undergone several revisions since its initial publication, including the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition (RSV-2CE) in 2006, which was published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and has been used in Catholic Churches such as Notre Dame Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Translation Philosophy

The Revised Standard Version was translated using a formal equivalence approach, which seeks to translate the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts as literally as possible, while still conveying the meaning and context of the original text, as seen in the work of Bible translators such as Jerome and Martin Luther. The RSV translators sought to avoid paraphrase and interpretation, instead opting for a more literal translation that would allow readers to interpret the text for themselves, as advocated by scholars such as Friedrich Schleiermacher and Adolf von Harnack. The RSV also sought to use more modern and readable language, while still maintaining the poetic and literary style of the original text, as seen in the King James Version and the New International Version. The RSV has been praised for its accuracy and clarity by scholars such as N.T. Wright and John Piper, and has been used in a variety of contexts, including Biblical studies at institutions such as Dallas Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Reception and Criticism

The Revised Standard Version has received widespread acclaim for its accuracy and clarity, and has been widely used by scholars and clergy from a variety of denominations, including Anglican churches such as Church of England and Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The RSV has been praised by scholars such as C.S. Lewis and Karl Barth for its faithfulness to the original text, and has been used in a variety of contexts, including worship services and Biblical studies at institutions such as University of Cambridge and University of Edinburgh. However, the RSV has also been criticized for its use of formal equivalence, which some argue can result in a less readable and less engaging translation, as seen in the criticism of scholars such as Eugene Peterson and Walter Brueggemann. The RSV has also been criticized for its lack of inclusivity, with some arguing that the translation uses language that is not inclusive of women and other groups, as seen in the criticism of scholars such as Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza and Phyllis Trible.

Versions and Editions

The Revised Standard Version has undergone several revisions and editions since its initial publication, including the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition (RSV-2CE) in 2006, which was published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and has been used in Catholic Churches such as Archdiocese of New York and Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The RSV has also been published in a variety of formats, including study Bibles, devotionals, and audio Bibles, and has been used in a variety of contexts, including Biblical studies at institutions such as Fuller Theological Seminary and Asbury Theological Seminary. The RSV has been translated into several languages, including Spanish, French, and German, and has been used by scholars such as Pope John Paul II and Desmond Tutu.

Influence and Legacy

The Revised Standard Version has had a significant influence on Biblical scholarship and theology, and has been widely used by scholars and clergy from a variety of denominations, including Presbyterian Church (USA) and Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. The RSV has been praised for its accuracy and clarity, and has been used in a variety of contexts, including worship services and Biblical studies at institutions such as University of Oxford and Harvard University. The RSV has also been influential in the development of other Bible translations, including the New International Version (NIV) and the English Standard Version (ESV), and has been used by scholars such as Timothy Keller and John MacArthur. The RSV continues to be widely used today, and remains a standard reference for Biblical scholarship and theology at institutions such as Yale University and Princeton University. Category:Bible translations