Revised Standard Version of the Bible
The Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible is a translation that emerged in the mid-20th century, aiming to provide a modern, readable version of the scriptures while staying true to the biblical texts' original meanings. Building on the foundations of the American Revised Version (ARV) from 1901, the RSV was developed by a committee of scholars who sought to incorporate new manuscript discoveries and critical scholarship. The translation process was initiated in the 1930s, with the New Testament being published in 1946, followed by the Old Testament in 1952 and the Apocrypha in 1957.
The RSV gained recognition as a significant Protestant Bible of the 1950s, appealing to a diverse audience and serving both liturgical and personal study purposes. Its ecumenical approach considered perspectives from various religious traditions, including Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Jewish viewpoints. While it quickly became a staple among mainstream Protestant communities, the RSV also prompted a resurgence of interest in the King James Version, recognized for its literary qualities. The translation's legacy has continued through a variety of subsequent adaptations and new translations, reflecting evolving linguistic and cultural contexts. Despite its initial intention to offer a timeless text, the RSV illustrates the complexities of American religious and social dynamics during its time.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible
Identification First major translation of the Protestant Bible in half a century
Date Changes spanned from 1946 to 1957
The Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible was an interdenominational Protestant attempt to modernize the language of the Bible for both private and public worship and study. While widely received, the RSV stirred up considerable controversy among Christians.
For three hundred years, the Authorized (King James) Version of the Protestant Bible had been formative and normative for the English-speaking world. By the 1880’s, it was evident that a new translation was needed. Better ancient biblical texts (such as the Codex Sinaiticus) had been recovered, and the English language had changed. While at least 150 translations of all or parts of the Bible had been published between 1611 and 1881, none was considered official, and none caught the public imagination. By 1885, a revised version was produced in Great Britain, and it was adopted, with some changes, for use in the United States as the American Revised Version (ARV) in 1901. Perhaps because of its stodgy presentation, the ARV was not widely read. Meanwhile, the potential audience for a readable English Bible was evidenced by the explosion of the number of English speakers, from six million in 1611, to more than 600 million by 1989.
In 1929, Thomas Nelson Publishers surrendered the copyright on the ARV to the International Council of Religious Education. Within a year, an American Standard Bible Revision Committee of eight Old Testament and eight New Testament scholars met. Three scholars familiar with the literary needs of Bible translation joined them. However, because of the Great Depression, the committee met only once.
In 1938 the revision committee was reformed, with a group of thirty-two American and Canadian scholars, divided into Old and New Testament sections. The committee desired a readable modern text, utilizing the latest manuscript discoveries, critical scholarship, and historical insight. In spite of World War II, translators worked diligently, publishing revised versions of the New Testament in 1946, the Old Testament in 1952, and the Apocrhypha in 1957.
A New Audience
The RSV became one of the most noted translations of the 1950’s in striving to meet the varied requirements of Bible readers at that time. It was a book suitable not only for both liturgical and devotional use but also useful for study and for appreciation as a literary classic. The Bible was produced from an ecumenical perspective—pan-Protestant with consideration of Roman Catholic , Jewish, and humanist viewpoints. It attempted to do justice to legitimate scholarly disagreement yet also meet the need for a genuinely popular book. This was to be a book for a new audience, that of the United States amid a 1950’s religious awakening.
Impact
The RSV received an amazing variety of responses. While it quickly became the mainstream Protestant Bible of the decade, it also triggered a revival of interest in the King James version, both by religious conservatives and by those with a passion for literature, who regarded the Authorized Version as an English-language classic. The revision sparked a proliferation of translations that sought to find relevance among the faithful in the next decades, including the Living Bible (1971), The Good News Bible (1976), the Cotton Patch versions (1970’s, cast in the African American dialects of the Deep South), and even a New Revised Standard Version (1989). Furthermore, the text of the RSV, while reflecting the conservative religious mood of the United States during the 1950’s, was soon eclipsed by the social changes of the 1960’s, and pressure was felt to address issues such as inclusive language (which was ignored by the RSV). Though intended to be timeless, the RSV remains a reflection of American letters and Protestant religion in 1950’s.
Bibliography
Bruce, F. F. The English Bible. London: Oxford University Press, 1961. A definitive study by an accomplished scholar.
Daniell, David. The Bible in English. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 2003. A thorough examination of the translations of the Bible and the impact successive versions of it have had on the people and communities that read them.
Greenslade, Stanley L., ed. The Cambridge History of the Bible. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1963. An authoritative text on the Bible in English.
MacGregor, Geddes. A Literary History of the Bible. Nashville: Abindgon, 1968. A readable and reliable study of the Scriptures as both a religious and cultural phenomenon.