New American Standard Bible (NASB), Complete Publication (July 31, 1970)

On July 31, 1970, the complete New American Standard Bible was first published, bringing to completion the work that began with the NASB New Testament in 1963. The project was sponsored by the Lockman Foundation, based in Southern California, and guided by a simple conviction: God’s Word must be handled with reverence, not reshaped to suit the spirit of the age.

The Lockman Foundation and Quiet Servants

Founded by Dewey Lockman, the Foundation labored largely out of public view, supporting teams of translators, editors, and proofreaders who gave years to careful review. Their “heroism” was not dramatic but steadfast—long meetings, repeated drafts, and patient correction—paired with prayerful dependence on the Lord. In an era of cultural upheaval, their steady commitment modeled faithfulness: doing the next right thing, even when few noticed.

Translation Aim and Method

The NASB was shaped by a word-for-word approach, seeking to render the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek with clarity while preserving the contours of the original text. That discipline required humility: letting Scripture speak on its own terms, even when a smoother, more fashionable phrasing might have been easier to sell. Such restraint served pastors and teachers who needed a text suitable for close study, careful exposition, and doctrinal precision.

Church Use and Spiritual Fruit

The 1970 milestone strengthened preaching and discipleship by providing a dependable English Bible for families, missionaries, and classrooms worldwide. It supported memorization, serious reading, and the kind of line-by-line study that forms spiritual maturity over time. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

Enduring Reminder

This publication stands as a reminder that loving God includes loving His Word—guarding it, teaching it, and passing it on plainly to the next generation. “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).