I got a Telegram-like email today titled They Killed the TNIV (the sender thought I’d be interested).
Those of us who’ve been following the Bible translation issue in blogosphere are all too familiar with the ant-rhetoric against the TNIV.
I had hopes that the TNIV would rise again because of a few email exchanges with someone from the marketing department at Zondervan, but…
Also, I thought that Gordon Fee’s decision to use the TNIV as the primary text for the third edition of 1 and 2 Thessalonians in the NICNT series, but the president of Zondervan has spoken:
“Whatever its strengths were, the TNIV divided the evangelical Christian community,” said Zondervan president Moe Girkins. “So as we launch this new NIV, we will discontinue putting out new products with the TNIV.” full article…
Until I say my final good-byes in 2011, I’ll still be reading, teaching, and preaching from my copy of the TNIV.
TC
Do you reference or use the NLT very much?
Do you think the NLT will overcome the NIV between now and the 2011 release?
Jay
Well, I guess then Fee’s Commentary on the Thessalonians will be collectors item then.
Jay D: I use the NLT quite a lot, but I don’t think it will overcome the NIV.
My own feeling is that this Revised NIV will come out looking like the TNIV in many ways.
Brian: I’m afraid so.
My daughter has a TNIV signed by Fee. He was reluctant at the time to sign it, but did give in. Now I am glad.
This is excellent news, assuming Zondervan actually pulls the plug on the old NIV and the TNIV both.
Sue – that’s so cool.
Nathan – assuming that this Revised NIV does well.
In the trenches with you TC…
They’ll get my TNIV only when they pry it from my cold dead fingers…
I’ll consider the 2011 version of the NIV. Then I’ll decide where to go from there.
Pingback: The future of the TNIV « Aberration blog
My understanding from This Lamp is that once the NIV 2011 comes out they will stop publishing the NIV 1984 AND the TNIV. This is great news! If they had done this with the TNIV, it would not have needed a reboot in the first place. Perhaps JimDob and his band of “not exactly telling the truth tellers” will realize the same translation philosophy behind the NLT is being used by the NIV 2011. I also like the fact they are going to call it simply the NIV, no letters or numbers following the example of the NLT.
I’m glad I recently purchased a Cambridge TNIV.
I’m reminded of the Coke, New Coke, Coca-Cola Classic fiasco.
I have a negative view on what’s just happened but I guess we just have to try to look on the bright side of things.
I am glad that I finally decided to invest in making the NRSV my main translation over the TNIV.
Maybe the 2011 NIV will make changes to the text that NT Wright has suggested. I guess we will all have to wait and see.
I actually liked the TNIV, even though I’m supposed to be of the theological bent which is no fan of it (Reformed and complementarian), so I’m sad to hear of this. But I do find the dirge-like attitude exhibited a little…early. Is there not time for another publisher to gain rights to it, or am I not seeing something here?
Kevin – perhaps there’s a bright side to all this.
Nothingman – I do like the NRSV, but places are still too archaic and rough. But it’s a first rate formal type.
I don’t think Wright is much of a factor is this regard.
Douglas – Why would another publisher want to invest in the TNIV at this point?
TC, I disagree with your title. What I am expecting, based partly on some inside information, is that the new NIV will look a lot like the existing TNIV – even if this has not yet been officially decided. I have just said more about this at my own blog.
It sure is a good thing God made the Bible an open source document. We’ll get one we all like eventually.
I’m being sarcastic.
But seriously, does this make the TNIV the Windows Vista of Bible translations?
But seriously, does this make the TNIV the Windows Vista of Bible translations?
Shane – nice one.
In response to your question: I’m not sure. It was just me thinking out loud…
They didn’t disown TNIV. That was an error by CT which they later retracted with apologies. It was NIV-I that they disowned, or at least said they had done the wrong thing with.
Mimi Haddad just wrote in the Christians for Biblical Equality E-Newsletter today:
“Many of the revisions noted in the TNIV, as well as an additional 1,200 revisions, will be incorporated into the update of the NIV, its first in twenty-four years, scheduled for completion by 2011.
…
Pray also for the CBT, Zondervan, and Biblica (who own the NIV copyright) as they strive to advance a biblically accurate and comprehensible NIV. Do communicate graciously with them at http://www.nivBible2011.com, where you may read more about these developments and submit your questions and concerns. They are eager to hear from you.”
Let’s be sure to write in and make our voices heard. Let’s also hope that some of our favorite gender revisions make their way into the new NIV.
Bridget,
Thanks for this info. Well, I hope the critics would be satisfied, but I remain a bit skeptical.
Pingback: “Top Ten Bible Translations” « slr4yl
They’ll get my TNIV only when they pry it from my cold dead fingers…
Bryon – You sure that’s not a line from a movie?
Jerry B – that’s bold, but I like it.
Yeah, calling it simply NIV will be a great selling point.
I guess for them to want to discontinue the NIV 1984 means a lot of confidence in this 2011 revision.
Stan – Do you mean as a Cambridge collectible?
Biblica’s disowing of the TNIV as a legimate update of the NIV is not acceptable. They should have been straight up.
I certainly hope so!
Everyone _loves_ Windows7. Which for all practical intents and purposes is still Vista, which I’ve been using for over two years now. (Also have used Win7′s beta and RTM.)
If they blow it (The 2011 NIV) then it’s all-the-way with NET or (if I’m comfortable enough with it by then) the NLTse.