Bible translation
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV): history, style and where to read it
The New Revised Standard Version was published in 1989 by the National Council of Churches as a revision of the Revised Standard Version. It is the translation most used in university and seminary study, produced by an ecumenical team of Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox and Jewish scholars. The NRSV is not available in The Living Bread yet.
At a glance
| Full name | New Revised Standard Version |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | NRSV |
| First published | 1989 (updated edition 2021) |
| Publisher or sponsor | National Council of Churches; Society of Biblical Literature (updated edition) |
| Language | English |
| Translation philosophy | Word for word (as literal as possible, as free as necessary) |
| How it reads | Scholarly, steady |
| In The Living Bread | Not yet in The Living Bread |
Who made the NRSV and when
The Revised Standard Version of 1952 was the work of an American committee under the National Council of Churches. A new committee, drawn from Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Jewish scholarship, revised it, and the NRSV appeared in 1989. It uses a Hebrew text of the Old Testament that takes account of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were not available to earlier translators.
The Updated Edition of 2021, prepared with the Society of Biblical Literature, refreshed the text in light of scholarship, with attention to the language used about people and to manuscript discoveries since 1989. The NRSV is published in editions with and without the deuterocanonical books.
How the NRSV translates
The NRSV's motto is as literal as possible, as free as necessary. It stays close to the original wording, and where the original refers to people in general it often chooses inclusive English. Its ecumenical committee produced footnotes that carefully record variant readings.
Readability and typical use
The English is dignified and slightly formal, midway between the ESV and the NIV in ease. It is a steady reading text for adults.
Strengths
Widely trusted in the academy, thorough footnotes, and an edition that includes the deuterocanonical books, making it useful across Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox traditions.
Cautions, stated fairly
Its inclusive language choices are debated among readers, and some evangelical readers prefer other texts for that reason. It is a copyrighted text and its use in other formats depends on license.
Familiar renderings, in our own words
The NRSV often resolves a tricky Hebrew reading by following an ancient version, with a footnote saying so, which makes it very helpful for seeing where the text itself is uncertain.
Who should choose the NRSV
Choose the NRSV if you work in academic or ecumenical settings or want the deuterocanonical books in a modern translation. The Douay-Rheims on our shelf is free and includes those books.
Where to read the New Revised Standard Version
Not yet in The Living Bread The NRSV is not available in The Living Bread yet. We would rather say so plainly than send you to a page that cannot show it. In the meantime you can read the NIV or the NASB inside the app, or the free Berean Standard Bible here. To read the NRSV itself, go to its publisher, National Council of Churches; Society of Biblical Literature (updated edition).
Our AI answers and MCP server never quote copyrighted translations, only public domain text. Compare every translation to find the closest match to the one you were seeking.
Related translations
- English Standard Version (ESV)Word for word (essentially literal). Literary, dignified.
- New American Standard Bible (NASB)Word for word. Precise, a little formal.
- New International Version (NIV)Balanced. Clear, everyday English.
- Christian Standard Bible (CSB)Balanced (optimal equivalence). Clear, modern, readable.
- Berean Standard Bible (BSB)Balanced, leaning literal. Modern, clear.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the NRSV a Catholic or Protestant Bible?
- It is ecumenical. It was made by scholars from Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox and Jewish communities and is used across traditions.
- Can I read the NRSV in The Living Bread?
- Not yet. The NRSV is not available in The Living Bread. For the deuterocanonical books free here, the Douay-Rheims is on our shelf.
- How does the NRSV differ from the RSV?
- The NRSV revised the RSV, adding newer manuscript evidence such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and updating language, including more inclusive wording for people in general.
The Word became flesh
The NRSV is one of many faithful ways into the same story. Whichever translation you choose, the point of Scripture is the One it gives you: Jesus Christ, who said that we are to love one another as he loved us. Read a little each day, read it with someone, and ask him to open the page.
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