The Today’s New International Version (TNIV) is an English Bible translation that was published in segments from 1996 to 2005. The TNIV is a revision of the New International Version (NIV) Bible that aimed to use more gender-inclusive language.
The NIV was first published in 1978 and quickly became one of the most popular modern English Bible translations. However, as time went on, some raised concerns about the NIV’s use of masculine language. For example, the NIV often used words like “man,” “he/him/his,” and “brothers” when referring to groups that included both men and women.
In the 1990s, the Committee on Bible Translation, the group responsible for the NIV, decided to begin work on an updated NIV translation that would use more gender-inclusive language where appropriate. The goal was to ensure the translation reflected changes in English usage and more accurately conveyed passages that were not specifically gender-oriented.
The TNIV New Testament was published in 1996, followed by the full Bible in 2005. Some of the key changes in the TNIV included:
- Using “brothers and sisters” instead of just “brothers” when referring to groups of men and women
- Changing “son(s) of God” to “children of God”
- Using plurals like “they/them/their” to replace masculine singular pronouns
- Using gender-inclusive terms like “person” and “human being” instead of “man” or “mankind”
Overall, the TNIV aimed to speak more directly to a 21st century audience in an accurate, clear, and natural way. The translators used the most up-to-date biblical scholarship to determine when passages were meant to be gender-inclusive or gender-specific. This enabled them to use inclusive language for generic references but retain masculine language for passages about specifically male individuals.
Reception and Controversy
The release of the TNIV was met with some controversy and opposition within the evangelical Christian community. Some of the concerns that were raised included:
- Accusations that the TNIV had a “feminist” agenda or was the result of political correctness. Critics argued it distorted the meaning of Scripture.
- Claims that masculine language in the Bible reflects divine intent and should not be changed.
- Concerns that the TNIV was an “inaccurate” translation, altering the meaning of the original Greek and Hebrew.
- Objections to inclusive terms like “parent” instead of “father” when referring to God.
In 2002, the Southern Baptist Convention officially rejected the TNIV and urged Christian bookstores not to stock it. Some other evangelical leaders and groups spoke out against the TNIV as well. They had concerns about both the specific translation decisions and the broader issue of “gender neutral” language.
On the other side, some evangelical scholars and church leaders endorsed and promoted the TNIV. They argued it was an accurate, clear, and accessible translation suitable for teaching, preaching, memorizing, and reading God’s word. Supporters contended that the TNIV did not change any essential doctrines and its language was necessary to communicate effectively today.
Over time, more evangelicals grew divided over whether inclusive language itself was good or bad. Division grew within denominations like the Southern Baptist Convention. As with any new Bible translation, it took time for the TNIV to gain wider acceptance in some circles.
Accuracy and Fidelity to Original Languages
One of the key points of debate regarding the TNIV was whether it accurately reflected the meaning of the original biblical texts. Here is an overview of how the TNIV translators approached this issue:
- They used the most current biblical scholarship and reference materials to assess the meaning of words in their original ancient Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic contexts.
- Special attention was given to passages regarding gender and sexuality to determine if the original audience would have understood generic versus specific masculine meanings.
- The goal was to determine the author’s intended meaning for each passage and represent that as accurately as possible in natural modern English.
- Masculine terms were retained whenever it was clear the author was referring to specifically male individuals rather than a general group.
- Inclusive language was used in places scholars determined the original intent was generic rather than gender-specific.
- The NIV’s original policy of using inclusive terms for groups of mixed gender when plausible in context continued in the TNIV.
- The translators saw accurate meaning as their highest goal, even above style and readability.
The Committee on Bible Translation included respected biblical scholars from various seminaries and backgrounds. They asserted the TNIV did not change any biblical doctrine and in many cases more accurately reflected the meaning of the texts than older translations did. Some examples included:
- “Brothers” becoming “brothers and sisters” when referring to groups of believers, per earliest church understanding (Acts 1:16)
- “Son of Man” retained as Jesus’ self-designation, rather than changed to “human being” (Luke 6:22)
- “He who believes in me…” as likely generic rather than only masculine (John 5:24)
- Using Greek word “anthropos” to mean “human being” rather than just “man” (Matthew 4:4)
However, some scholars disagreed with particular translation choices in the TNIV. Overall though, there was general consensus among evangelical Bible scholars that the TNIV was accurate to the meaning of the original texts, even if reasonable debates existed over specific passages.
Readability, Clarity, and Comprehensibility
The TNIV used contemporary English vocabulary and language structures to make the Bible clearer and more understandable to a modern reader. Some of the characteristics of the TNIV translation included:
- Use of common, everyday English words and phrases
- Avoidance of archaic or obsolete language
- Emphasis on clarity and natural expression
- Short, straightforward sentence structure
- Ordering sentences to convey meaning logically
- Placing information in a sequence that makes sense to English readers
- Format and punctuation to enhance comprehension
Here are some examples of where the TNIV improved upon the NIV’s readability:
- “Gird up the loins of your mind” becomes “prepare your mind for action” (1 Peter 1:13)
- “Whoever acknowledges me before men” becomes “whoever acknowledges me before others” (Matthew 10:32)
- “Saints” becomes “God’s people” for clarity (1 Corinthians 14:33)
- Quoted speech is formatted as such for easier reading (John 3:3)
By following English language conventions, the translators sought to make the Bible’s meaning as clear as possible for a contemporary reader. The use of inclusive language also aimed to help readers feel the passages originally meant for all people were addressing them directly.
Critics argued some traditional phrasing was changed too drastically. Supporters felt the TNIV struck the right balance of updating language while retaining faithfulness to the texts. Several studies found the TNIV scored high in understandability for English readers.
Translation Philosophy and Approach
The translators of the TNIV had an established translation philosophy they continued from the original NIV:
- Translate entire thoughts (rather than just words) to clearly convey the intent
- Balance word-for-word precision and readability
- Use common, everyday English but retain meaning
- Allow theological interpretations to come through the text rather than translator commentary
- Accessibility for the widest possible readership
Some key elements of their approach included:
- Optimal Equivalence: Striving to convey equivalent meanings between the original texts and modern English rather than literal word-for-word translation.
- Meaning-Based: Uses wordings to represent the author’s intended meaning rather than just matching Greek/Hebrew vocabulary.
- Context-Sensitive: Takes into account the biblical context for each passage and book during translation.
- Discourse Structuring: Arranges sentences to clarify relationships between ideas and improve flow.
The translators aimed to balance these ideals. They wanted to avoid either being too literal (difficult readability) or too loose (inaccurate meaning). The goal was the “middle ground” of optimal equivalence translation philosophy.
This approach meant the TNIV avoided distorting passages to sound inclusive if the original meaning was clearly masculine. At the same time, it facilitated inclusive language for passages intended to apply to all people. The translators saw this as the most accurate way to convey what biblical authors meant to their original audiences.
Ongoing Revisions and the End of the TNIV
The TNIV underwent ongoing revision after its initial release in 2002. The publisher, Zondervan, released revised editions in 2005, 2007, and 2011. These included updates based on newly available scholarship as well as feedback from reviewers.
One of the concerns expressed by critics was that masculine terms for God and Jesus were replaced with more generic terms. The TNIV had originally used “Father” for God over 700 times but began revising to greater use of “Father” by the 3rd edition to reflect the Greek.
However, confusion arose when both the 2002 and 2005 editions were still in circulation, leading to complaints about inconsistencies. There were some corrections of errant footnoting and translation choices as well.
By 2009, the originally intended inclusive language had begun to fade from prominence in the TNIV, some argue due to pressure from critics. The publisher and translator committee decided that, rather than continue revising the TNIV, they would start over with a new translation.
This new translation, the NIV 2011, rolled back many of the gender language changes. The translator committee determined some accuracy had been sacrificed for the sake of inclusiveness. They wanted to remedy this in the new translation.
As a result, the TNIV was officially discontinued in 2009, ceasing publication in 2011 when the NIV 2011 replaced it. The TNIV had a relatively short lifespan as an active translation, but it represented an important transition point in the gender language debate among Bible translators.
Influence and Legacy of the TNIV
Although not as widely adopted as the older NIV, the TNIV still had significant influence:
- It began a widespread conversation about gender accuracy in translation that continues to this day.
- It increased awareness of the need for language updates among younger generations.
- It demonstrated that inclusive language did not necessarily undermine accuracy or reception when done responsibly.
- It became widely used in some denominations and churches as their primary Bible text.
- It paved the way for future translations to utilize inclusive language judiciously.
The TNIV was released during a time of transition regarding views of gendered language and roles in the church. It evoked strong initial backlash but also opened doors for future translations.
Modern translations like the Christian Standard Bible and the Common English Bible have continued trends the TNIV started. They use inclusive language where scholars deem it accurate but avoid altering passages intended as gender-specific.
Some lessons learned from the TNIV include:
- Change often brings intense reactions, but also increased dialogue.
- Ongoing revisions are helpful to address legitimate concerns.
- Consulting the widest range of unbiased scholars improves accuracy.
- Pastoral wisdom and sensitivity should balance academic debates.
The Committee on Bible Translation continues their work on new editions of the NIV. They aim to incorporate advances in scholarship while learning from the TNIV experience. Time will tell whether English Bible translation continues trending in an inclusive direction or returns to more traditional gender language.
Reading and Study Resources
For those interested in further study, here are some recommended resources on the TNIV:
- The Committee on Bible Translation website provides background on their approach – https://www.niv.com/about-the-niv/
- Blog posts detail decisions on controversial passages – https://www.niv.com/tniv-inclusive-language-debate-posts/
- Apologetics website offers an evangelical defense – https://www.bible-researcher.com/tnivdefense.html
- Critical review from a conservative perspective – https://www.gotquestions.org/TNIV.html
- Article on how the TNIV changed the gender conversation – https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2016/may-web-only/how-tniv-bible-rewrote-rules-of-engagement-for-evangelic.html
For those seeking a more thorough study, published books include:
- The Challenge of Bible Translation – Accuracy and readability considerations.
- Truth in Translation – Making doctrine and meaning clear across cultures.
- How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth – Comparing different translation theories and approaches.
The TNIV aimed for a middle ground between formal and dynamic equivalence. Its inclusive language brought both praises and critiques. While no longer in print, its impact can still be seen in today’s Bible translation landscape.