TNIV Response Center

TNIV Response Center - Register Your Concerns About This Bible Translation
What do J. I. Packer, Jack Hayford, Howard G. Hendricks, Alistair Begg, R. Kent Hughes, Bill Bright, David Jeremiah, D. James Kennedy, Joni Eareckson Tada, Erwin W. Lutzer all have in common? They are do not endorse the latest translation of the Bible called Today's new International Version or the TNIV for short.

Their main complaint is that the TNIV translates in a Politically Correct manner. My words not theirs. Here's an excert from the website.

The TNIV translation obscures many biblical references to "father," "son," "brother," and "man." For example, in Hebrews 12:7, the NIV says "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" But the TNIV translates Hebrews 12:7, "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their parents?" The reference to God as Father is lost. In numerous other verses male-oriented meanings that are present in the original language are lost in the TNIV.

I am not a Greek scholar but I have played one on TV. Well, maybe not but I have taught Bibliology for the past seventeen years. Some of these passages seem to me poor translations while others are a slight improvement. To me there was no need for a new translation since we have had several good new ones in the last few decades. Since this translation really does not update the common English language from recent translations, I see no need for it except to pander to a certain segment of society.

The publisher Zondervan says it is to help the younger generation to be interested in reading the Bible.

For Zondervan, more people engaging the Bible more means reaching 18- to 34-year-olds with the Bible in compelling, innovative formats, all supported by the most readable and reliable translation for today’s generation—the TNIV.

Well we already have several translations that meet that need. I don’t begrudge them for trying to attain market share. After all they are a business and must grow and make profits. I just do not like what looks like a liberal bent in the translation. The translators may be superb and very conservative but the translation appears to be a step backwards in translations not forwards. Add annotations to current Bibles that help those 18-34 year olds but don’t change the translation if no language update is needed.