NASB – Is regarded by most scholars to be the most literal, word-for-word translation of the Bible in the English language. It is considered a “complete equivalent” translation (a “word-for-word” method of translation) and seeks to transmit the words and structure of the original language in an uncompromising effort to maximize transparency to the original documents.
Born on a farm near St. Jacob, Illinois on May 7, 1898, F. Dewey Lockman was the grandson of an itinerant Christian preacher and the child of farmers. In 1916, Dewey’s family moved to Southern California where he eventually met his future wife, Minna. After a courtship of a year and a half, they were wed and settled in Garden Grove, California. Young Dewey worked hard in the oil fields and toiled for various orchard owners, while at the same time tending his own produce.
On November 27, 1927, his life would change forever. Lockman was converted to Christianity during a tent meeting in Garden Grove. “It was a miraculous conversion and I cried for three days,” he recalled years later. “God was good!”
Dewey, along with his wife (who had already received Christ) obeyed God’s commandment and became tithers. At first, the Lockmans tithed the traditional 10 percent of their annual income. But as their citrus ranch began to prosper, the Lockmans began increasing their tithe to 15 percent, 20 percent, and then to 40 percent. God continued to bless their acres of prime citrus and they eventually began tithing 90 percent of their income to the Lord’s work. On December 3, 1942 the Lockman Foundation, a non-profit corporation, was established to promote the gospel.
In 1959, Mr. Lockman sensed the need for a translation of the Bible that would be clearly readable in the current English language but, more importantly, would aim at a precise translation of the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic - rendering where practical, the original order of words and phrases. A group of scholars and pastors were organized with this vision in mind. This project, the New American Standard Bible, would incorporate new information taken from the Dead Sea Scrolls. In addition, it would be a literal, word-for-word translation of the Bible modeled after the scholarship and accuracy of the American Standard Version published in 1901.
More than fifty scholars devoted in excess of twenty-five thousand hours over a ten year period to complete the New American Standard Bible and it was first made available on August 28th, 1971 at a public dedication service held at Mr. Lockman’s home church, First Baptist Church of Anaheim, California.
Since its completion in 1971, the New American Standard Bible has been widely embraced as the most literally accurate English translation from the original languages. Millions of people, students, scholars, pastors, missionaries, and laypersons alike trust the NASB. In 1995, the NASB was updated, increasing clarity and readability. Vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure were carefully reviewed for greater understanding and smoother reading.
The New American Standard Bible has been produced with the conviction that the words of Scripture as originally penned in the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, were inspired by God. Since they are the eternal Word of God, the Holy Scriptures speak with fresh power to each generation, giving wisdom that leads to salvation so that men and women may serve Christ for the glory of God.