Baptist Spirituality

2011 NIV vs. SBC: The battle over the bestselling Bible translation

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Joe LaGuardia

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During the 2011 Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Phoenix held several weeks ago, messengers passed a resolution that “respectfully requested” Lifeway not to carry or sell the newly revised New International Version (2011).

A Baptist Press article reports:

“The resolution came to the floor when Indiana pastor Tim Overton persuaded messengers to address the 2011 version of the popular translation that his resolution said had “gone beyond acceptable translation standards” regarding gender. His resolution said 75 percent of the flawed gender translation in the TNIV appears in the new NIV. Southern Baptist messengers expressed their disapproval of the TNIV in a 2002 resolution.”

Bob Allen of the Associated Baptist Press also ran a story on the decision.

As a person interested in Bibles and Bible translations, I could not help but seek out any responses to the resolution.  You may find the PDF version of the Committee of Bible Translation’s (the Committee responsible for the NIV) response in full.

For a different take on the whole debate, I found a little chestnut of a blog on the subject from Rev. John Armstrong, who has a disliking for the resolution.

Enjoy, and comment to tell me what you think about the NIV debate!

One response to “2011 NIV vs. SBC: The battle over the bestselling Bible translation”

  1. bitznbitez Avatar
    bitznbitez

    The focus by Baptists on the gender issues primarily have been on the roles within the family and on the question of gender roles in their churches.

    But when you look at the changes in the more inclusive translations, NIV2011 included, the most startling change is the gender of deity. Its enabling the return of the worship of goddess, and that is already happening within the older mainline protestant denominations.

    Thats my take on it.

    Reply

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Hello,

I’m Joe

Welcome to Baptist Spirituality. The mission of Baptist Spirituality is to discern the Holy Spirit’s work in the lives of individuals, congregations, culture, and the world through writing, poetry, and other creative avenues of expression.

Here you will find articles exploring the intersection of faith and culture with topics ranging from biblical scholarship, culture and the arts, politics, science, to theology.

About Joe… Joe LaGuardia, DMin., is pastor, writer, and chaplain residing in Florida. He is author of three books and regular contributor to Smyth & Helwys’ Formations Series. His articles have appeared in USA Today, Baptist News Global, Christian Ethics Today, TCPalm, and Rockdale Citizen.

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