The English Standard Version (ESV) Bible is a new, essentially literal Bible translation that combines word-for-word precision and accuracy with literary excellence, beauty, and depth of meaning. It is, in my estimation the best overall translation found.
First, it is a word-for-word translation as opposed to others that are more thought-for-thought. The Bible says every word was “breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). For this reason, the ESV seeks to translate the original Greek and Hebrew words with the greatest possible accuracy and precision.
Second, the ESV is special because it carries forward the great historic stream of Bible versions in English-with literary excellence, beauty, and depth of meaning, in a fresh and compelling way.
The ESV is unique and special. It’s the Bible to read and treasure through all your life-a great choice for young and old, for daily reading and personal study, for church and family, for teaching and preaching, and for memorizing the words of life.
What this means for GRF is that all our sermons, discipleship material, everything used corporately in the church will be the English Standard Version. Please feel free to use your favorite version and bring it with you to corporate worship if you like. We are in no way saying that the ESV is the only good translation. What we are saying is that if you like to follow along word-for-word with the teaching and preaching, you’ll want to bring your ESV.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brian
