Proclaimer Blog
That bad? Really?
Well now. Dare I say it? I realise this is a political hot potato, but I quite like the new NIV (2011 the edition). I noticed recently that the Southern Baptists (who have their own translation, more of that in a moment) recently voted to reject the new NIV – though it was a motion from the floor rather than the resolutions committee. For what's it worth, here is the text of the resolution:
- WHEREAS, Many Southern Baptist pastors and laypeople have trusted and used the 1984 New International Version (NIV) translation to the great benefit of the Kingdom; and
- WHEREAS, Biblica and Zondervan Publishing House are publishing an updated version of the New International Version (NIV) which incorporates gender neutral methods of translation; and
- WHEREAS, Southern Baptists repeatedly have affirmed our commitment to the full inspiration and authority of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:15-16) and, in 1997, urged every Bible publisher and translation group to resist “gender-neutral” translation of Scripture; and
- WHEREAS, This translation alters the meaning of hundreds of verses, most significantly by erasing gender-specific details which appear in the original language; and
- WHEREAS, Although it is possible for Bible scholars to disagree about translation methods or which English words best translate the original languages, the 2011 NIV has gone beyond acceptable translation standards; and
- WHEREAS, Seventy-five percent of the inaccurate gender language found in the TNIV is retained in the 2011 NIV; and
- WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention has passed a similar resolution concerning the TNIV in 2002; now, therefore, be it
- RESOLVED, That the messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, June 14-15, 2011 express profound disappointment with Biblica and Zondervan Publishing House for this inaccurate translation of God’s inspired Scripture; and be it further
- RESOLVED, That we encourage pastors to make their congregations aware of the translation errors found in the 2011 NIV; and be it further
- RESOLVED, That we respectfully request that LifeWay not make this inaccurate translation available for sale in their bookstores; and be it finally
- RESOLVED, That we cannot commend the 2011 NIV to Southern Baptists or the larger Christian community.
Wow! It's quite a statement. I've been reading the NIV2011 in my quiet times and (whisper it to Southern Baptists) quite enjoying it. And, as yet, Bible translation in the UK has not quite become the acid test of orthodoxy that one friend (a US seminary professor) says it has become in the US. I'm grateful for that. At the moment the only other real option is the ESV which I use to study, but I'm pretty sure I would struggle to preach from regularly in the context where I serve. My favourite translation, the HCSB (ironically the Southern Baptist one) is great but just a little quirky (shame, perhaps this will get ironed out in a revision?).
If you want a critical assessment then there are some good resources from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (trust me!). There's a good evaluation of the HCSB here – which they mostly like apart from the quirks; it has the potential to be the new NIV with a bit of work. Also their translation committee's status on reviewing the NIV (not yet fully complete) here and another fuller report on the ESV here.
I guess what I'm saying is that the NIV (2011 as it will become) is the only option for the situation I'm in and, personally, I'm fine with that! There are things about EVERY translation I don't like and that will need to be explained. I'm no scholar, so perhaps should reserve judgement, but I can't see that the Southern Baptist motion is entirely balanced.
That bad? Don't think so.