TNIV

[DeWayneTN]

Based on some conversations from this past week, what are your impressions of the TNIV Bible? This is the translation that put a more gender-neutral spin on the NIV, replacing some phrases the translations believe were intended for everyone (like "children of God" instead of "sons of God" or "blessed is the person" instead of "blessed is the man"). It has been surrounded by some controversy but I wonder if that was just jumping the gun or was it legitimate?

[Paully_44]

From what I have read, I like it.

That version is up on Biblegateway

My version of choice is The Message with the NIV coming in close, but I may start using TNIV more now.

[Poimen]

Never read it. I disagree with the whole fundamental translation philosophy of the NIV(s). It is essentially more a paraphrase than a translation.

However, the use of gender neutral terms is not improper, depending on the terms and context. Some of the Greek terms translated with a male gender slant into Old English did not have the same gender application Greek, from what I've read.

In that case, unless there is qualifying content surrounding the term that indicates gender specificity, it would seem more accurate to use a more neutral, universal term. For instance, women do not become "sons" of God. They become "daughters" of God. So, where the term rendered son, refers to both men and women, it is no injustice to translate it "child" or "children."