Endorsement of the TNIV
Since I am unfamiliar with the TNIV, I thought I would check out some links to it in light of the discussion that has gone on here in the past couple of days. I found the following statement that was released by a group of evangelicals:
In light of troubling translation inaccuracies - primarily (but not exclusively) in relation to gender language - that introduce distortions of the meanings that were conveyed better by the original NIV, we cannot endorse the TNIV translation as sufficiently accurate to commend to the church.1
Among the signers of this statement are Albert Mohler, Paige Patterson, and John Piper. Others who oppose the translation are James Dobdon, Jerry Falwell, Dennis Rainey, Pat Robertson, Charles Colson, and Janet Parshall. All do so on the basis of its gender inclusive language, and some state that gender inclusive language is a threat to society and the church.
I have to say that when these particular people condemn something, it counts as a rousing endorsement in my book. It is also very telling that those on the list who are opposing the TNIV are either theologians (Mohler, Piper), evangelists (Falwell, Robertson), or have no formal training in biblical studies or theology (Colson, Parshall). Not a one of the “church leaders” who are listed as opposing the TNIV is a biblical scholar.
This raises the interesting problem of them opposing a translation of the Bible on theological grounds. In other words, the TNIV disagrees with their theology, so they cannot accept it. This is odd, because as evangelicals these people claim that their theology comes from the Bible instead of their theology influencing the Bible. They seem to have it backwards.
I may have to get me a TNIV.
- Taken from the website of The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. [back]
On May 8th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Not a one of the “church leaders†who are listed as opposing the TNIV is a biblical scholar.
I agree your perspective. To be fair, though, Wayne Grudem was trained as a New Testament scholar at Cambridge. He did his doctoral dissertation on the gift of prophecy in 1 Corinthians, and I believe it was done (ironically) under Morna Hooker.
On May 8th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Buy one. Its an excellent translation.
On May 8th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
I wouldn’t mind having one, although I am not sure how much I would use it in practice. I have an NRSV that I use for most of my English language study and an ESV that is small enough for travel. If I could get the TNIV for Logos as a decent price (i.e., free), I would make use of it.
On May 8th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
For the record, while I’m sure that Piper would not object to the label “theologian” he did his doctoral work in New Testament at the University of Munich and his first teaching position was for “Biblical Studies.”
On May 8th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Whoops… I have a missed word in my last comment. It should read: “I agree with your perspective.”
By the way, you may already know this, but to any readers who do not, the TNIV is available in full and searchable on the TNIV website for free: http://www.tniv.info/
On May 10th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
They gave free copies of the wide margin additions of the TNIV to all the seminarians at MacDiv last year so I have my own copy.
I think, like all translations, one must be discerning (personally the TNIV not my most favorite but it certainly has a place among the translations). And while I too find it interesting that folks like Dobson and Colson have come out against the TNIV, perhaps your comments about judging a translation on theological grounds need to be nuanced. Especially as a biblical scholar, you know that translating these ancient texts is very subjective, and that the product of translation is already an interpretation of the original.
On June 28th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
I’ve been doing a little bit of research on the TNIV and stumbled across your blog. For the record - John Piper is both a Greek and NT scholar of the first order. It is exactly because he is such a scrupulous student of the Greek NT that he rejects the TNIV. The changes they are making are not warranted ased on the Greek text. Additional, it is fallacious thinking to say that because the group of people who oppose the TNIV are not strictly Biblical theologians, therefore their conclusions about the TNIV are incorrect.
Kindly,
Nathan
On June 28th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Piper does have a degree in NT studies, but he does not work as a NT scholar. He functions primarily as a theologian.
I agree that it would be fallacious to say that because the people who signed the statement are not biblical scholars their conclusions are incorrect. But I didn’t say that. I said that they were wrong because they were basing their opposition to the TNIV on theology instead of careful biblical study.
The point that none (or very few) are biblical scholars is relevant because they are issuing pronouncements on whether or not a particular translation is a good one. Very few on the list have the training necessary to make that call. Certainly Colson and Parshall don’t.
Janet Parshall making official statements about a biblical translation when she cannot read Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek is simply absurd. Other than her political connections and her ability to rabble rouse on the radio, she has little other claim to fame. Listening to her declarations about a biblical translation makes about as much sense as listening to me make claims about a particular medical procedure. No one should have an operation based on my opinion, and no one should choose a Bible translation based on what Parshall says about it.
On September 21st, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Speaking of the TNIV. There is a great audio version of the TNIV I found called The Bible Experience. A Hollywood production group recorded over 200 top actors, pastors, musicians, with sound effects and music. I have the NT, but the full Bible is coming in October. I found it a great way to engage the Bible. There are some “making of” videos on YouTube. Or you can check it out at zondervan.com/tbe.