Ten Reasons Why the New NIV Bible is Bad for Women
Notwithstanding the doctrinal imprecision and blatant politically-correct translating agenda, there are additional reasons why I dislike gender inclusive Bibles. Undoubtedly the publishers had good intentions, and genuinely wanted to help women, but in my mind, a gender-inclusive Bible is BAD for women. Really, really bad for women!Mary Cassian of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood weighs in on the Gender-Inclusive NIV.
Gender and gender language is important. It touches on the essence of a woman’s identity, the essence of the character of God, and on the essence of the gospel. We get things so very wrong when we think we can improve on the Bible’s teaching on gender or the gender language it uses. The big picture informs us that from the very beginning, God’s plan for gender has very little to do with us and very much to do with Him. And we need to trust that even if we don’t fully understand them, the words, images and means He has chosen to display His glory are not only right, they are also good. Very good! And also very good for women!Ten Reasons Why the New NIV Bible is Bad for Women
It can also be pointed out that it is equally bad for men. For example:
From the beginning, the NIV has been a disaster. The more recent attempts with the NIV are just outright pitiful. Just get a real translation and put aside the commentaries.
5. It demeans women:The implication is also that the men who insist upon accuracy in translation are cultural bullies intent on keeping women down.
Gender inclusive Bibles imply that women are too stupid to figure out that in the Bible, the words “man” and “brothers” are inclusive terms. The male translators have to fix the words for us, since we’re not theologically astute enough or bright enough to get it on our own. Quite frankly, I feel like gender-inclusive Bibles insult a woman’s intelligence.
From the beginning, the NIV has been a disaster. The more recent attempts with the NIV are just outright pitiful. Just get a real translation and put aside the commentaries.
1 Kings 8:60 - so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.
It may be bad for women, but my wife loves hers. With a house full of translations, a couple of seminary degrees and the ability to use any Bible, we have both gravitated to the NIV for our personal ministry Bibles. We like the way it reads and the fact that others can understand it.
Yesterday I was involved in a couple of spectacular conversions in a prison. One of the guys was a Muslim and both men made hard the hard choice to leave darkness for life - (there are consquenses for such a decision.) The Holy Spirit didn’t mind at all that I had an NIV with me. He didn’t mind that we gave out Message Bibles. The lost do not care about dynamic equivilency. They just need the Savior and He is easily found in an NIV.
Yesterday I was involved in a couple of spectacular conversions in a prison. One of the guys was a Muslim and both men made hard the hard choice to leave darkness for life - (there are consquenses for such a decision.) The Holy Spirit didn’t mind at all that I had an NIV with me. He didn’t mind that we gave out Message Bibles. The lost do not care about dynamic equivilency. They just need the Savior and He is easily found in an NIV.
God can use a donkey to rebuke a prophet. God can use an NIV in the hands of a preacher. No one debates that except the most radical of KJVO people. Countering theological statements with personal anecdotes can be convincing I suppose to some.
1 Kings 8:60 - so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.
I think we should be careful about “God can use anything” statements. He does have some standards for the message and the messenger. And if my Yorkie starts talking, I’m checking myself in to the psych ward.
From the beginning, the NIV has been a disaster. The more recent attempts with the NIV are just outright pitiful. Just get a real translation and put aside the commentaries.Is this article in regards to the NIV11 or is it TNIV? I couldn’t really tell….
By the way, Dr. Moo, who is one of the editors for the NIV11 spoke extensively at this conference about the NIV11 and its process. It might be good to listen to his talk before assuming that the NIV people are somehow trying to be politically correct.
http://grts.cornerstone.edu/uploadedFiles/Website_Assets/Files/GRTS/Tal…
The one thing the NIV, Message & Co have in their favour is the fact people say, ”it’s so easy to understand”. No excuses about not being able to understand at the Judgement Seat.
[Joel Shaffer]From the beginning, the NIV has been a disaster. The more recent attempts with the NIV are just outright pitiful. Just get a real translation and put aside the commentaries.Is this article in regards to the NIV11 or is it TNIV? I couldn’t really tell….
By the way, Dr. Moo, who is one of the editors for the NIV11 spoke extensively at this conference about the NIV11 and its process. It might be good to listen to his talk before assuming that the NIV people are somehow trying to be politically correct.
http://grts.cornerstone.edu/uploadedFiles/Website_Assets/Files/GRTS/Tal…
Joel, my understanding is that she’s referring to the NIV2011. I believe that the NIV 2011 took some of the TNIV concepts and expanded upon them, which is a decision I’d disagree with.
My first Bible was an old NIV student Bible that is still very precious to me. I don’t read it a lot anymore, since I standardized on the ESV in grad school, but I’ll still pull it down and read it from time to time. It’s a good translation, but not my first choice.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
Joel, my understanding is that she’s referring to the NIV2011. I believe that the NIV 2011 took some of the TNIV concepts and expanded upon them, which is a decision I’d disagree with.Jay, did you listen to Dr. Moo? What did you think?
What a well-written column! Incredibly powerful and discerning.
Church Ministries Representative, serving in the Midwest, for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
Discussion