The ESV is merely an update of the more “theologically-liberal” RSV, as some say, with only an 18% change in the text. Passages such as 2 Corinthians 1:12 from the ESV make the translation snobbish, IMO: “For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.”

Really? We behaved in the world “with simplicity”? And “supremely so toward you”? Are you kidding? Who talks like this? It is my prayer that the TNIV becomes the number one best selling translation the world over, surpassing the NIV.

NETS is different from the NET Bible.

Here are the links for each:
NETS: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/nets/edition/
NET: http://net.bible.org/home.php

Unfortunately I am a hop, skip and a plane away from any of the “major” seminaries. My seminary has a decent selection, but our bookstore doesn’t carry the NRSV… Wierd eh?

University and mainstream seminary (Princeton, Union, etc.) bookstores are good places to find Bibles aimed at academic audiences.

I am curious where you find these “bookstores aimed at an academic audience”. I have not found any such stores in my area! I would love to find some of these though . Furthermore, I hardly ever see NRSV’s in bookstores except for a small selection at Barnes and Noble. The NRSV is overwhelmingly what my professors recommend, however, I do not have the same passion that they do for the version… us young whippersnappers…

0521714877
0521681316
019528884X
0195288319
0195288378

I could extend this list with direct variations (different color/style leather, different sizes, variations not including the Apocrypha, annotations) at length. I would guess that there are probably at least 15 different editions of the NRSV in print in fine leather (there are numerous bonded leather and artificial leather versions as well, if you wish).

Note that the first volume listed was published less than six months ago!

The nicest NRSV I’ve seen has this ISBN: 1570361584. It is out of print, but readily available new, and is based on the Urbino Bible.

I can’t speak to the situation to bookstores — in a bookstore I visit (admittedly, bookstores aimed at an academic audience), it is actually the most common translation. However, that bookstore also stocks NEBs and REBs, so it may not be characteristic of the “average bookstore”.

I think the RSV and NRSV are still by far the most widely accepted translations among secular academics.

This is true. I believe that the NRSV has now surpassed the RSV among academics. The NRSV has not been sidelined at all. It is not used much by evangelicals (other than evangelicals within the NCC) but it is widely used by Bible scholars.

I don’t think that the best selling book is necessarily regarded as the most important or best — I have yet to hear of The Da Vinci Code being assigned in an English Literature class. The English translations editions I see cited frequently by secular academics are (in descending order of popularity): RSV, NRSV, KJV, and — after a significant drop-off: NJPS, NAB, and NEB.

I think the biggest news in academic circles last year was the publication of the New English Translation of the Septuagint (it is a stunning piece of work). I think the NETS will continue to be an important resource for academics and serious Bible students over the next few decades, but I’ll eat my hat if it cracks the CBA top ten.

It may very well be that the RSV and NRSV are too formal for many readers, but I think they are both well within the range of most educated native English speakers. Their “mind share” is much greater than their market share.

T. you’re more optimistic about the TNIV than I am.

As NRSV is being side-lined this isn’t really leaving a translation that is widely accepted by academics. We might as well return to the KJV and just in time for the 400th anniversary. (I’m still holding on to my CEV though…)