biker Bible

Garin at scooterism.com has blogged on an edition of the TNIV for bikers. It is called Hope for the Highway.

TNIV, James Dobson and the Church of the Nazarene

Dennis Bratcher has written an interesting article, from a Nazarene and Wesleyan perspective, reflecting on the controversy about TNIV and what lies behind it. The issue is clearly not quite as simple as that all Baptists and/or Calvinists are anti-TNIV, but the main opposition does seem to come from that direction.

To start with I was puzzled by the reference to

several high-profile members of the Church of the Nazarene ... openly and aggressively advocating ideas and theologies that are alien to the tradition of which they claim to be a part.

But I understood this when I discovered that (if Wikipedia is to be trusted here) James Dobson is a member of this church.

Hat tip: Henry Neufeld.

Adam did what?

A recent post on the Coded for Worship blog asks: "Adam did what?" The blogger, Andy, compares the ESV and TNIV translations of Gen. 4:1:

I’ve decided to read through the Bible twice before the end of the year. Once for story’s sake with the TNIV. The second time to be a content-focused (more in-depth) reading using the ESV, the Bible version that I use 95% of the time. By the time I’d reached chapter 4 of Genesis, I began to think that I’d put the TNIV back on the shelf. I thought this because, as I took as sip of my coffee and started reading verse 1 of chapter 4, I stopped dead in my tracks.

Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.
-Genesis 4:1 (TNIV)

Adam did what?! I mean, I know what Adam did (he knew Eve), but do you really have to tell me that they made love? Does it really need to be correctly stated that they consummated the first marriage in history? I’m sure there are entire papers written on both the defense and criticism of this one verse in this particular translation. I’m not going to add to that collection. But I will say this: I’m wondering if the TNIV is going to be worth my time.

Then again — I suppose that for someone who didn’t grow up in an area so heavily influenced by the Christian sub-culture that exists here in “the south,” reading the phrase “Adam knew his wife” might make about as much sense as a hearing kid asking his mom if he can help her “salt hay” in front of a skillet full of fried eggs.

The ESV translation of Gen. 4:1 is:

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD."

I think that for most current speakers of English, the word "knew" communicates far less accurately what Adam did than does the wording of the TNIV. Another win for the TNIV!

Other bloggers on The Books of the Bible

Some other bloggers have posted about the new Bible format, The Books of the Bible, which uses the TNIV text. Check out the following posts and comments on them:

• The Bible in order - it is about time - thanks IBS
• neat Bible format, comes recommended
• How Awesome!!! “The Books of the Bible”
  
• The Books of the Bible
  
• A breath of fresh air
• More Bibles
  
• Reading the Bible Without Distractions
  
• finally, a “readers” bible
• Arrived today....
  

Review of changes in the TNIV

Suzanne McCarthy at Better Bibles Blog has posted a Review of changes in the TNIV. As she points out, many of the helpful revisions which make the TNIV more accurate than the NIV, which is/was already an accurate version, are not gender language related. Read Suzanne's post for specific examples of good revisions the TNIV makes to the NIV.

Psalm 23: The Bible Experience

Zondervan has just emailed us with news of progress on the Old Testament of The Bible Experience, dramatized TNIV audio:

Hey guys! I’ve got some Old Testament tracks hot off the presses! You can use these on the various blogs etc. where you would like to. We actually got the first complete Bible TBE off of the boat last week, and it looks incredible to see it all done. In some ways it’s hard to believe it’s really done. And now the fun stuff begins: the promotions and introducing people to the world of the Bible in a fresh, new way!

Click here to listen to Psalm 23.

We've got some other OT TBE samples we can share, also, as time goes on.

Enjoy! And pass the word around that it will not be long (November 2007) before the entire Bible in TBE format will be available. It would make great Christmas or Hanukkah gifts -- hint, hint!