Better Study Bibles
John Hobbins has offered his thoughts on what needs to be improved in study editions of various translations. I agree wholeheartedly. Having an edition of a translation that was more forthcoming with information on the text critical decisions that were made in producing the translation would be a huge step forward.
Of course, the problem is one of economics. There is a relatively small number of people who would be interested in such a tome. I won’t hold my breath for a “raising of the bar,” as Hobbins puts it, of study editions for Bible translations. But, I will hope that we might see at least some movement in this direction in the future. One never can tell.
Allow me to state that the ESV Study Bible will be the BEST. STUDY. BIBLE. EVER.
I don’t know that I really agree with that, and it doesn’t address Hobbins’ post, but it’s a required statement.
The ESV study Bible does look interesting. Unfortunately I doubt they will deal with any text critical issues.
Be on the lookout for the New Testament Text and Translation Commentary coming out this fall; it will interact with all the major English translations of the NT (sorry John Hobbins) and discuss TC decisions that are reflected in the translation.
Also, the NLT Study Bible (September 200
does have some notes that deal with textual criticism. There will be more information forthcoming on that project in the next month or so.
Full disclosure: I work at Tyndale House, the publisher of both books I mentioned. The Text and Translation Commentary is edited by Philip Comfort, a NT text critical scholar and member of the NLT translation committee.
Thanks for this link!