Top-Selling Bible to Be Issued in Gender-Neutral Version

Associated Press ^ | Monday, January 28, 2002 | Associated Press

[FourtySeven]

The International Bible Society said Monday that America's best-selling modern Bible is about to get an update using gender-neutral wording, despite past criticism of that idea from conservative Christians.

The revision will be called "Today's New International Version," or TNIV. The original "New International Version," which has sold more than 150 million copies worldwide since 1978, will remain on the market.

[concerned about politics]

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophacy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophacy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." ( Revelation 18-19)

[Psalm 73]

They also need to take out John 14:6 and Romans 1:27, as they are breeding grounds for intolerance and exclusion.
We don't want to alienate Homosexual Wiccans. : )

[RogueIsland]

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's life-partner"?

[Dave S]

If those are your best examples then what is all the panic about? Were the disciples only interested in saving the souls of men or people.

Might I suggest if you dont want it, dont buy it. Both versions plus many others will continue to be available.

[senorita]

I don't know if they are going to use "it" in place of "he" or "she"; but the current versions of the NIV Bible and the NAS have deleted verses that mention the blood of Jesus. (A very important part of Christianity is that Christ shed his blood for us). People apparently are bothered by these verses and the translators omitted them. Personally I think the King James Version is the best.

[michaelje]

It's about time !

[biblewonk]

The Noticably Inferior Version gets more inferior.

[xzins]

Where is it made clear that the neutral is required?

The context. If you're talking to a football team and you say, "I want all you ANTHROPOI (Men) to gather together for the team photo," then you know you're talking to MALES. You know from context that only males are members of the team.

If, however, you look at the stands which includes womena and children and men and say, "I want all you ANTHROPOI to stand for the national anthem," then it's important to know that in Greek "anthropoi" can also be neutral plural. At that point you have to decide: "Should I just use the literal translation of "men" or should I realize that women and children are also supposed to show respect at the playing of the national anthem?" In this case, the context would dictate the use of the neutral plural "People" instead of the masculine plural, "men."

[Citizen Tom Paine]

This is idiotic. The Masoretic Hebrew text clearly uses third person singular verb forms (meaning he) for Elohim and YHWH.

Greek (Koine) clearly uses third person singular verb forms for Theos.

This is perhap one of the most ridiculous things that I have heard of recently.

[concerned about politics]

From the mouth of God himself....

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophacy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophacy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." ( Revelation 18-19)

[FourtySeven]

Yeah, I don't know how I missed that. I read this article twice looking for that. Thanks!

[MassExodus]

Stupidest thing I've ever heard, but not at ALL surprising, in fact - expected.

"We ain't seen NOTHIN' YET!"

Just wait until they meld all of the Worlds religions together for the betterment of the "Global Community".

Anti-Christ won't be far behind.

One World Faith - Ooooh, I'm warm and fuzzy already... /Sarcasm.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

if you take a closer look I think you'll find they eat their young, too.

[Helix]

It's been a looong time since my Ancient Greek course, but if I remember correctly they didn't use a word similar to "people" when referring to a group of men and women. They almost always used the masculine plural. In a way, it's similar to the way we use "mankind".

[DallasMike]

It's been a looong time since my Ancient Greek course, but if I remember correctly they didn't use a word similar to "people" when referring to a group of men and women. They almost always used the masculine plural. In a way, it's similar to the way we use "mankind".

Exactly. This is a controversy about nothing.

[Faraday]

Gender...schmender. I'm waiting for the Morality-neutral version.

[Dave S]

I AM 46 yrs old.........never thought I'd actually see man re write God's word.

Theyve been doing it for millenia. The Bible wasnt written in English. Every translation is a rewrite.

[xzins]

looong time since my Ancient Greek course

You remember correctly. When talking of a group of MALES, remember, they'd use the same word as for a group of people. That's why sorting out an accurate "interpretation" is more important here than an accurate word-by-word "translation."

[AppyPappy]

Correct me if I am wrong but didn't they use the masculine because men were considered above women?

[maestro]

??Coming soon,......another FEMINIST PAGAN PUBLICATION:

Top-Selling KORAN to Be Issued in Gender-Neutral Version