Apprentice 2 Jesus

An Anglicostal Connecting to a Real World

Translations

Dan

Over the past two years or so I have looked to switching my personal study and reading to the TNIV. I had heard from Gordon Fee, one of the translators, and I liked what I read in updates from the NIV. I was never a huge fan of the NIV.

Well, huge controversy arose over the TNIV being “gender inclusive.” Reformed scholars and leaders, along with James Dobson, worked hard to trash the reputation of the TNIV. What was missed was the fact that the TNIV had improved the NIV!

I have been grateful to receive the TNIV Renaissance Bible from Zondervan as a gift when I responded to Rick Mansfield’s blog. But over time it became clear Zondervan was not backing the TNIV. They kept coming out with new NIV editions, but nothing new with the TNIV.

Seeing the writing on the wall, I have retained the use of the TNIV in preaching, but I’ve been preparing myself for the day the TNIV will disappear by reading the NRSV alongside the TNIV.

Now, this news is released today. The Committee for Bible Translation will go back into study and the NIV and the TNIV are on the table. By 2011 the goal is to have a completely updated NIV. So, will it be the TNIV, or the NIV? Or, will it be something completely new?

Controversy isn’t new with Bible translation. I ran across this video about the translation of the RSV and the NRSV. It’s a long documentary, but well worth viewing. It goes without saying, “There is nothing new under the sun!”

Tags:

Date:

Up next:

Before:

4 responses to “Translations”

  1. Matt Spear Avatar
    Matt Spear

    “Well, huge controversy arose over the TNIV being ‘gender inclusive.’ ”
    Could you explain a little more? I’m not sure I totally understand what this version’s controversy is. This is actually my first time hearing of this translation.

    Reply
  2. Lance Goldsberry Avatar
    Lance Goldsberry

    Accuracy in translation and literary quality should be the driving forces in determining which translation of the Bible to use, not ideology, left or right. Personnally, I think that the NRSV standing as it does in the Tyndale-King James-RSV tradition could be the ecumenical Bible of the future. Despite its many critics, it is available in several editions, and with the complete deuterocanon found in the Septuagint, it can be used by Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, Anglicans. However, its inclusive language is too much for some. I thought perhaps the ESV could fill this same role, standing in that same venerable tradition of Tyndale-KJV-RSV, but it is available only in one edition with the Apocrypha (which I do not trust at this point to stay in print), and it is not as an ambitious translation as the NRSV. This Tyndale-KJV-RSV tradition provides a back drop for the English language, with much familiar phraseology for Bible memorization and liturgical use.

    Reply
  3. apprentice2jesus Avatar
    apprentice2jesus

    The “gender inclusive” controversy was stirred up by some conservatives in evangelical circles. Namely, James Dobson (Focus on the Family) has been vehemently opposed to any translation that uses gender accurate terms. (Such as Paul addressing the church and it says “Brothers,” but a translation says “Brothers and sisters.”)

    While Dobson is not to blame 100 percent, he made many publishers sign an agreement years ago not to use gender accurate language. For him, he felt, probably, it was a slide into liberalism.

    Right down the road from his office in Colorado Springs, International Bible Society (the holder of the NIV rights) released the TNIV. Dobson and many conservative scholars came out against it… hard. They didn’t see how the NIV was actually improved. They only saw “gender inclusive.” (Now, the NLT is gender inclusive, but he didn’t raise any fuss over that one.)

    So, the TNIV has never gained traction because Zondervan, the publisher, won’t get behind it. Now, they’re dumping it altogether and going with a “new” NIV, which may look a lot like the old NIV. Hopefully not.

    Reply
  4. apprentice2jesus Avatar
    apprentice2jesus

    Lance, I agree with your assessment on the beauty of translation. I’m still using the NRSV as my “back up.”

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.