Gender and the Bible

Christian Century, July 3, 2002 by John Dart

However, the CBMW principles have been challenged too. Ellis W. Deibler Jr. of Wycliffe Bible Translators first said that TNIV, like any other translation, "has its weaknesses." But, he added, it was "totally misleading" to call the new translation inaccurate. "Every one of the [904] examples cited is a case of difference of opinion on how a certain term ought to be translated in English," Deibler said.

The most disappointing aspect of the TNIV controversy, Deibler said, is that over 100 "recognized evangelicals" endorsed CBMW positions, among them Charles Colson, Bill McCartney, Pat Robertson and Bruce Wilkinson. "Those individuals have all had outstanding ministries of various kinds," Deibler said. "But their ministries have not been in Bible translation. They were not trained in principles of Bible translation."

RELATED ARTICLE: Multiple choice.

Today's New International Version (TNIV) of the Bible offers English usage updated from the NIV, notably with gender-inclusive choices--much like what the New Revised Standard Version did for the RSV a decade ago. Two relatively new Bible versions, the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) and the English Standard Version (ESV), backed by ultra-conservatives, have adopted generic terms as well, though in more limited instances. Here are some samples:

Mark 1:17

NIV--"... I will make you fishers of men."

TNIV--"... I will send you out to catch people."

NRSV--"... I will make you fish for people."

John 15:23

NIV--"He who hates me hates my Father as well."

TNIV "Those who hate me hate my Father as well."

NRSV--"Whoever hates me hates my Father also."

Mark 4:9

NIV--"He who ears to hear, let him hear."

TNIV--"Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear."

NRSV--"Let anyone with ears to hear listen."

HCSB--"Anyone who has ears to hear should listen."

Matthew 15:14

NIV--"If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall ..."

TNIV--"If the blind lead the blind, both will fall ..."

NRSV--"And if one blind person guides another, both will fall ..."

ESV--"And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall ..."

1 Timothy 2:5-6

NIV--"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men ..."

TNIV--"For there is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, Christ Jesus, himself being human, who gave himself as a ransom for all people ..."

NRSV--"For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all ..."

HCSB--"For there is one God / and one mediator between God and man, / a man, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself--a ransom for all ..."

ESV--"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all ..."

--J.D.

John Dart is the CENTURY's news editor.