I know of a few Calvinists, Reformed they call themselves, who use and teach the English Standard Version like many use the KJV. This blogger tells us of an attack against the NIV, the TNIV and the NLT by Ligonier Ministries:
The whole point of this so-called talk was subtle and dishonest attacks against the NIV, TNIV and the NLT. It was suggested that these translations are just about money and they are a “war on the word of God”. In the end, this whole things leads to a pied-pipering to the English Standard Version. All I have to say is bye, bye Ligonier Ministries, RC Sproul, and Renewing Your Mind. My time is short and there’s better things to listen too that don’t waste my time and fill me with dishonest rhetoric.
Frankly, I like the NLT. It lacks the dry committee feel of the ESV, and of course, there are other problems with it (see here.) I like the style of it, and indeed, sometimes I like the NIV. (Of course, I generally like to study the originals). The ESV is purposely translated to appeal to the Reformed. Fine. But as the author above said, dishonest rhetoric is not needed at this time.
I am not saying give up your ESV’s. Keep them. Read them. Enjoy them. Just leave the onlyist arguments to the kind folks who defend the KJV.
