Honoring God and His Word on the Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the ESV

This article is part of the ESV 25th Anniversary series. “The Most Valuable Thing That This World Affords” A poignant historical anecdote is narrated in the Preface to every one of the more than 300 million copies of the English Standard Version of the Bible that have been distributed since its initial publication. At every British coronation service, the ascending monarch is handed a Bible as the following words are publicly uttered: “This book is the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is wisdom; this is the royal law; these are the lively oracles of God. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this book, that keep, and do the things contained in it. For these are the words of eternal life; able to make you wise and happy in this world, nay wise unto salvation and so happy for evermore, through faith which is in Christ Jesus, to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” This conviction that the Bible is the most precious earthly treasure any human could ever possess has always fueled the living church’s posture toward Scripture. And it has fueled Crossway’s stewardship of the English Standard Version. The blessing God has given this translation, the care wit...