To Use Only Sustainable Bible Translations

WHEREAS, We accept without reservation that the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament are “the written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice” (Const. Art. II); and

WHEREAS, Passages of Holy Scripture are used throughout the hymnals, catechisms, and other printed resources of the Synod: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16 KJV); translations should be both consistent (for memorization and instruction) and faithful; and

WHEREAS, As Luther writes in the Small Catechism Preface (9), “Choose, therefore, the form of words which best pleases you, and adhere to it perpetually” (H.E. Jacobs ed., Book of Concord, [Philadelphia: General Council, 1908], 360); and

WHEREAS, Our printed resources must use accurate and consistent translations of Holy Scripture from the original biblical languages into the language of the people: “For I testify unto every man that he are th the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Rev. 22:18–19 KJV); and

WHEREAS, The copyright for the English Standard Version (ESV) is not controlled by the Synod but is owned by Crossway, a pan-Reformed entity that does not subscribe to a Lutheran understanding of the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (see cross way.org/statement-of-faith); and

WHEREAS, Crossway retains the right to change the text of the ESV and has done so on multiple occasions making hundreds of changes (see bible-researcher.com/esv2011changes.pdf), with the result that the prior versions are no longer licensed, similar to the situation that occurred when the 1984 New International Version of the Bible (at one time, a primary translation used by the Synod) was withdrawn by its copyright owners, forcing the Synod to change translations after only 25 years; and

WHEREAS, This creates an untenable situation with respect to printed materials of the Synod, because although Concordia Publishing House (CPH) asserts that it has the right to use the prior translation to reprint existing materials, Crossway is not obligated to allow CPH to issue newly published written resources of the Synod that use the original versions of the ESV and moreover, if one buys a non-CPH ESV Bible today, it will differ from what CPH produces; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary or political considerations should not impact the faithful translation of God’s Word, yet the ESV has chosen to replace the word “slave” in its original translation with the word “bond servant” in many verses because, according to the ESV editors, “the word ‘slave’ currently carries associations with the often brutal and dehumanizing institution of slavery particularly in nineteenth-century America” (esv.org/preface) as though we should be ashamed to be called “aslave of Christ” (1 Cor. 7:22 ESV pre-2011); and

WHEREAS, Such continuing changes in translation create a sort of “plastic text” which hinders the common ali ty of text necessary for memorization, and undermines confidence in the translation as a whole; therefore be it

Resolved, That in order for the Synod to discern for itself the preferred translation of Holy Scripture, the Synod, CPH, and agencies of the Synod be directed to use—for Scripture quotations in their printed materials used for public worship and teaching (i.e., hymnals and catechisms)—only sustainable translations of Holy Scripture, meaning translations that either are in the public domain, or have a copyright license that allows the Synod, in its sole discretion, to continue to use and republish such translations and make new derivative works there of in the future from the consistent translations, without being subject to the veto power or permissive rights of any outside body.