3 Things Pastors and Teachers Like about the CSB

Since the launch of the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) translation in 2017, we’ve heard a lot of great feedback from a diverse group of men and women. We’ve received responses from Christians in urban centers to rural areas, from pastors and teachers as well as Christian authors and scholars. And their feedback has surprised us in one way: it’s been consistently similar in what they like about the CSB.

Here’s what they’re saying:

1. The CSB lets pastors choose a Bible that’s both trustworthy and readable.

There’s a choice we used to hear about from pastors: whether to choose the most theologically reliable Bible or the Bible that the most people will be able to read and understand.

But this doesn’t have to be a trade-off.

The CSB is helping church members from different ages and backgrounds and educations dig into Scripture in the same translation. It’s a translation that a dad can read aloud to his young children and then use for his own personal Bible study. A translation that a young woman who had grown up without ever hearing the gospel can read and understand — and continue to read for decades to come. It’s a translation a church can use for sermons and also give away in neighborhoods and on college campuses.

“The Christian Standard Bible is an impressive achievement, balancing textual readability and exegetical accuracy in a way that makes this translation both elegant and enduring.” — Jared Wilson, managing editor of For the Church

“I preach and teach from the Christian Standard Bible because of the accuracy, precision, and beauty of the text. I’m excited to finally have one translation that is both faithful to the authorial intent of the biblical writers and written in English that communicates to this generation.” — Derwin Gray, lead pastor of Transformation Church in Indian Land, S.C.

“As I travel around the country teaching the Bible to women, I encourage them to draw on the promises of God as their main source and sustenance for life. The Christian Standard Bible lines up perfectly with my core ministry goals — theological soundness and accessibility for the everyday person.” — Lisa Harper, Bible teacher and author

“As a pastor, I want a Bible translation that is trustworthy for preaching and study, but accessible enough for my people to read and understand for themselves. For this reason, I’m delighted to commend to you the Christian Standard Bible.” — Alistair Begg, senior pastor of Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio

2. The CSB communicates truth with clear language.

How God has chosen to communicate to us matters. Our God creates beauty, and His Word is a beautiful collection of historical narratives, laws, poems, songs, prophecies, and letters. The CSB purposes to reflect this beauty.

“The Christian Standard Bible is a landmark achievement — beautifully combining accuracy and accessibility in a way that makes it ideal for Bible study, reading, teaching, and preaching. I look forward to seeing how King Jesus uses this translation to edify the church and equip God’s people for mission in the world.” — Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.

“We want to share God’s story with our neighbors clearly, truthfully, and imaginatively. With its faithfulness and plain language, the Christian Standard Bible shows the kind of reverence for God’s words that empowers us to meet our mission.” — Rich Perez, pastor of Vision and Teaching at Christ Crucified Fellowship in Uptown, N.Y.

“God’s Word is beautiful, good, and true. The Christian Standard Bible’s trustworthiness and clarity helps the She Reads Truth community not only engage God’s Word, but want to engage it.” — Amanda Bible Williams, chief content officer of She Reads Truth

3. The CSB is helping people actually read their Bibles.

This is the feedback that we’re most excited about. A Bible can have the most incredible cover and features, but that’s worthless if people aren’t actually picking it up and reading it.

When we read God’s Word, our lives are changed. And if the CSB encourages just one person to pick up their Bible or to share it with somebody else, we know the work of all those scholars and translators and printers was worth it.

“This translation will help believers and non-believers around the world be able to read, understand, memorize, obey, and proclaim God’s Word.” — David Platt, president of the International Mission Board

“The Christian Standard Bible provides a clear trustworthy translation of the Holy Scriptures in a style that the reader can clearly hear the voice of God in print speaking to their soul.” — Tony Evans, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas.

“I am excited to see the release of a translation that is both accessible and preach-able. The Christian Standard Bible’s faithful rendering of the original manuscripts will serve me well as a preacher, and its expression in contemporary English will serve my congregation well when they read and share God’s Word with others.” — Eric Mason, lead pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia, Pa.

Developed by more than 100 scholars from 17 denominations, the Christian Standard Bible® faithfully and accurately captures the Bible’s original meaning without compromising readability, helping you understand, experience, and share God's Word. Learn more about the Christian Standard Bible and read it for yourself.