The Spiritually Intriguing TNIV
Mark Reno
Member of the DBS Advisory Council
Given at the DBS Meeting, July 2005
One evening earlier this year, I went online to check
my email, glancing quickly at the news to see if there were any
significant political, economic, or sporting blurbs to catch my eye. I had
no idea that a small article in the religious section would ultimately
pique my curiousity and provide me with material that I hope to share with
you tonight. The Headline said "Rolling Stone Magazine rejects Bible Ad".
Now, let me say that I know very little about the magazine save that it is
widely considered the bible of the rock and roll culture for young adults.
After looking into the article, I learned that Zondervan publishing was
attempting to advertise their newest version of the Bible, The TNIV
or Today's New International Version. The ad ultimately did run
after Rolling Stone magazine took flack from critics for not allowing
"spiritual material" to be placed. The ad, run in February did not mention
the Name of God but did refer to the TNIV's slogan "Timeless
truth: today's language."
In the article Zondervan's president of Bible
publishing Paul Caminiti is quoted as saying,
"We believe that the Bible is relevant for
rolling Stone readers, We've always believed that they were a
cornerstone in our campaign to squarely market to spiritually
intrigued 18-34 year old young people, many of whom live outside
the embrace of the church."
The news release also stated that other media outlets
that will carry the TNIV advertising campaign include Modern Bride,
The Onion, and Mtv. com. Being a member of the catered to group of 18-34
year olds, I was skeptical at the choice of outlets for the advertising
campaign. We will see that this should not be a shock as Zondervan is not
prone to take the moral high road, starting at the ownership.
At Dr. Waite's recommendation, I chose this topic for
my brief presentation to you this evening. He was gracious enough to refer
me to his book- NI-Vile, a most helpful look into the TNIV,
a seeming spin off from the NIV Inclusive Language edition, that was
released in Great Britain.
Purpose and Plan of the TNIV
I have already mentioned one of the many reasons that
the TNIV was brought about. It seems that there is a drive to
appeal to "sprititually intrigued" young adults, those being 18-34 years
old, that is. Being the S. School superintendent of my church, this
immediately brought questions to my mind. Would this be a version that
would supposedly apply to others outside my privileged age range, our
would I be out of luck should I need it to teach my middle school class or
help with a question some more mature adult would have? I was curious to
know the logic behind appealing to my peers and went to look at
Zondervan's website to see what information they might have. I went to the
section on Bible Translations and was greeted with a line graph,
displaying the modern versions of the Bible on various places on the line.
The left side being labeled Word-for word, and the right side was labeled,
Thought for thought. For sake of illustration, we will say that the
extreme left (word for word) would be a number 1, while the extreme right
(thought for thought) would be a 10. The Kjv, resided about a 2, with the
interlinear being the most extreme left while the TNIV and it's parent
translation the Niv being snuggly suited right at the 5 mark, making it a
happy medium for those who wish for literal translation and/or dynamically
equivalent translation.
Moving forward, the website had a helpful evaluation
for the versions that the company sells. I went to compare three: the KJV,
the Niv, and the TNIV. The reading levels for the three were given
as 12.00, 7.8 and n/a, respectively. The readability for the King James
was given as difficult to read.........traditionally loved and accepted by
all Christians.... timeless treasure. The Niv's readability was mentioned
as "highly accurate and smooth reading version in modern english......
Most read, most trusted." The TNIV's readablity was " A highly
readable, accurate translation written in Modern english.... the classic
translation in today's language,,,,,, combines uncompromising accuracy
with the clarity of contemporary language."
Another motive for the Tniv is to make it more gender
inclusive, as if the KJV is ignoring the fairer gender, or leaving them
out of precious passages of Scripture. In the book NIVile, the
Associated Press is quoted as saying "The International Bible Society
said Monday that America's best selling modern Bible is about to get an
update using gender Nuetral wording despite past criticism of that idea
from conservatives." Even World magazine had an article by Susan
Olasky in 1997, just after the threat of this version was made known to
the public. It was labeled "The feminist seduction of the Evangelicals".
This supposed helpfulness helps to skew the meaning of 1 Timothy 3:11.
Where the passage is referring to the wives of deacons, the TNiv is quoted
as saying only 11 In the same way, the women a are to be worthy of
respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in
everything. It appears that this allows for women deacons and makes me
wonder where this trend will stop. By changing the qualifications for
spiritual leadership, the translators go from trying to achieve gender
inclusiveness to Biblical homicide.
Various Erroneous Changes in the TNIV
These changes start in Genesis 1:26 where the Bible
says 26 ¶ "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over
the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over
every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." The TNIV
changes it to "God created Human beings". This same chanage occurs
in verse 27 and in chapter 5 verse 2, Adam is changed to human beings.
Exodus 35:35 and Exodus 38:23 change workman to engravers. Numbers 31:28
changes men of war to soldiers. I guess the United States military
practices are now affecting the judgement of supposed Bible translators.
Psalms 1:1 changes from 1 ¶ "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the
counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in
the seat of the scornful." to 1 "Blessed are those who do not walk
in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in
the company of mockers,"
Matthew 4:4 and 4:18 change men and man to Men and
women. In John 3:1 the word man to describe Nicodemus is simply removed.
Later in the passage, the places where it refers to man being born again,
you will find that the passages are chaneged to "anyone" or "no-one."
While this may not seem highly significant, keep in mind that those that
released the NIV in 1978 stated that they had no intention of revising it.
After several revisions and a completely different translation, I wonder
just when they will be satisfied. 1 Corinthians 15:21 says "For since
by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead." but
the TNIV states 21 "For since death came through a human being,
the resurrection of the dead comes also through a human being." This
almost makes you wonder if there is going to be a time where the Lord's
prayer starts off with "our parent". So it was with great
skepticism that I read the following paragraph in the introduction to the
TNIV, found in a version, easily downloaded.
"From the beginning the translators have been
united in their commitment to the authority and infallibility of the
Bible as God’s Word in written form. For them, the Bible contains the
divine answer to the deepest needs of humanity, sheds unique light on
our path in a dark world and sets forth the way to our eternal
well-being. Out of this deep conviction, the Committee has held to
certain goals for the NIV and for the present revision: that it would
be an accurate translation and one that would have clarity and
literary quality and so prove suitable for public and private reading,
teaching, preaching, memorizing and liturgical use. The Committee has
also sought to preserve a measure of continuity with the long
tradition of translating the Scriptures into English."
By this time I had had enough of the purpose for making
this enlightening translation and started to look into the background of
those producing the Tniv. I again referenced Zondervan themselves and Dr.
Waite's book.
The introduction to the TNIV references the
Committee for Bible translation as the self- governing body of people
designated to produce this work. Upon further examination I found that the
members came from multiple countries such as The United States, Great
Britain, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia. I have no problem with this
international flavor as it would prevent a patriotic bias that might
prevent accurate translation. However, I do have a serious issue with the
denominational spectrum used to produce something deemed by some to be
God's word. The following denominations had representation on the
Committee. Anglican, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Brethren, Christian
Reformed, Church of Christ, Evangelical Covenant, Evangelical Free,
Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Nazarene, Presbyterian, Wesleyan. The
reason quoted was to prevent sectarian bias. I would think that this would
promote confusion as I cannot see how these denominations could possibly
agree on the fundamental beliefs of the Scriptures.
2Co 6:17 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be
ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will
receive you." I can't agree that the CBT followed this verse.
Furthermore, look at the owners of the copyright, and the publisher.
Zondervan publishing. Rupert Murdoch, owner of Harper Collins, controls
Zondervan by way of ownership. I will try to state this delicately but
accurately. Rupert Murdoch has published other material that would hardly
be considered religious at all, including pornographic magazines and 2
books, titled Making Out and The Book of Lesbian Sex and
Sexuality. My mind frankly wonders if the latter title may have
something to do with the demasculinization of the TNIV. Could the
feminist agenda that would push for abominable materials such as the
previous titles be actively involved in not only condoning but promoting
immorality in the translation we now have in our bookstores? The answer if
not abundantly clear to you yet should become clearer momentarily. 1Co 6:9
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind." This verse is
changed to 9 "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the
kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor
idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals."
Gone is the reference to those who are effeminate. And now those who abuse
themselves with mankind are narrowed down to "practicing homosexuals".
I suppose that would be relevant to man's definition of "practicing,"
instead of the objective statement. Romans Chapter 1 has some very strong
things to say about those that are Homosexual, those who are an
abomination to God, like Sodom and Gamorrah. 26 "For this cause God
gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the
natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the
men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward
another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in
themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as
they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to
a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. "
To make this accurate to today's modern permissive
mindset, the TNIV states 26 "Because of this, God gave them over
to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for
unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations
with women and were inflamed with lust
for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other
men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the
knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they
do what ought not to be done."
Dr. Waite could tell us how one of the NIV's
translators Virginia Mollenkott was an open lesbian, and how this created
issues for Bob Jones University. In the magazine Witness, she
states clearly that her Lesbianism has always been a part of her, while
the translation staff tries to contend that her immorality wasn't known
and wouldn't have affected her judgement anyway. I must say that Romans
1:28 says that she has been given over to a reprobate mind. As concerned
Christians, we should be concerned. It is apparent that there is a
definite influence towards the outright feminist movement in the TNIV,
that stemmed from the parent translation the NIV.
Lastly, but definitely not least is treatment of the
deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1Timothy 3:16 is a dear and precious
passage to believers everywhere. For in it we find that Jesus came to
earth and took on him the body of a man, let me read it for you. 16 "And
without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in
the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the
Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." The
TNIV plainly says of the truth. 16 "Beyond all question, the
mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the
nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory."
I was horrified to see that Jesus was not taking on the
body of a man. Also every person appears in a body, but is not manifest in
the flesh. The TNIV website states that "without exception, the
TNIV retains gender accurate, masculine terminology for references
to God."
Looking at one last passage, lets review Philipians
2:5-8 The King James Version plainly says 5 "Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought
it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation,
and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of
men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
The TNIV states: 5 "In your relationships with one
another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had: 6 Who, being in
very nature d God, did not consider equality with God something to be used
to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very
nature e of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in
appearance as a human being, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to
death—even death on a cross." "Jesus being equal with God" is
being referred to as "did not consider equality with God something to
be used to his own advantage; " There is a difference between stating
that Jesus was equal to God, and stating that equality with God wasn't
somthing to be used to his advantage. Also, instead of Jesus being in
fashion as a man, we now have him as a "human being."
Conclusion
Friends, I fear that the proverbial camel has more than
his nose in the tent. If we do not cry out strongly against the de-masculinization
of God Almighty and stand strong for separation, we might find ourselves
further inundated with continual moral issues, including the immorality
known as Sodomy. Also, by using the guise of modern language, we are
setting precedents for continual revision and allowing for modern
tendencies and human trends to affect what people consider God's word. One
last verse for you to consider. I state this as a spiritually intrigued 23
year old. Jer 6:16 "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and
see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein,
and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk
therein."
Will you be one who will continue to ask for the "old
paths"?
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