FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Mimi Haddad, President
Christians for Biblical Equality
(612) 872-6898
cbe@cbeinternational.org

New Bible Translation Is More Accurate and Clear

MINNEAPOLIS – February 4, 2002 – Christians for Biblical Equality applauds the International Bible Society and Zondervan for publishing Today’s New International Version (TNIV), a gender accurate Bible translation based on the New International Version.

“Because we believe the Bible is God’s word, it is of the utmost importance that it is translated with precision,” says President Mimi Haddad. “Because the TNIV uses gender accurate language, it is faithful to the both the intentions of the original authors and the objectives of Bible translation, while reaching a wide audience with its clarity and accuracy.”

Haddad emphasizes that the phrase “gender neutral” is misleading, implying that the translation eliminates gender differences. A better term is “gender accurate,” because “men” becomes “men and women” only when it is faithful to the original Hebrew and Greek texts. These changes in masculine pronouns only apply to people, such as changing “brothers” to “brothers and sisters” or “sons of God” to “children of God.” The TNIV does not alter the male references to God.

“Critics have said that this translation is politically correct,” says Haddad. “I disagree. This translation is biblically correct. When the original texts clearly include both men and women, why shouldn’t we translate them that way?”

Using gender-accurate language is also essential for evangelism, according to Haddad. “Imagine a young woman reading the Bible for the first time, coming across a verse that seems to say that a man is saved by faith (Romans 3:28),” says Haddad. “While we may know that Scripture is saying that a person is saved by faith, the woman may not receive that message. We want to make sure that God’s word is allowed to speak to today’s readers.”

According to Haddad, many highly respected scholars who hold differing opinions on the leadership of women endorse the TNIV. “This is a clear indication that this translation is not motivated by a feminist agenda, but rather represents the consensus of scholarship on Bible translation,” Haddad suggests.

Christians for Biblical Equality is a non-profit organization of Christian men and women who believe that the Bible, properly interpreted, teaches the fundamental equality of men and women of all racial and ethnic groups, all economic classes, and all age groups. For more information on the organization or its response to this issue, visit its Web site at http://www.cbeinternational.org or call 612-872-6898.

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Today’s New Version Bible vs. The 1978 Version

Today’s New International Version Bible updates the 1978 New International Version. Some examples:

MATTHEW 5:9

NIV: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

TNIV: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

ROMANS 3:28

NIV: “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.”

TNIV: “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from observing the law.”

JOHN 6:35

NIV: “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

TNIV: “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

  See also http://www.zondervanbibles.com/home.asp

http://www.tniv.info/pdf/TNIV_NewTestament.pdf