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The art and science of Bible translation is one of
the most demanding—and humbling of all ministry
professions. Perhaps Martin Luther said it best when
he opined that he was glad he became a Bible translator, "...otherwise
I might have died someday imagining that I was a learned
man."
The challenge of beginning with the original Bible
languages, syntax and cultures and translating them
into the receptor language, replete with its own idioms
and cultural understandings, is massive. It can never
be a work of personal preferences or accommodation
to special interests. Textual revisions result when
a better understanding of ancient languages and cultures,
new archeological findings and developments in biblical
scholarship create the need for translation changes.
As a result, readers of the TNIV will experience:
Increased Clarity: Word Updates
Some of the improvements reflected in the TNIV text
are simple word changes that reflect contemporary
English terms. For example,
-
The "sixth hour" is
accurately translated as "noon" in the modern
understanding of time. Mark 15:33.
-
A "tunic" is a "shirt." Matthew
5:40.
-
"With child" means
to be "pregnant." Matthew 1:18
Increased Clarity: Gender
Without exception, the TNIV retains gender-accurate,
masculine terminology for references to God. This
is a theological understanding and commitment that
the Committee on Bible Translation, standing in
concert with the Church throughout the ages, considers
inviolable.
There are passages in the TNIV, however,
in which the contemporary English rendition used
to refer to men and women has been translated to
accurately reflect the original language, context
and understanding. Where the NIV previously used "he," "man," or "men" to
indicate all people, the TNIV, in many cases,
renders these passages as "person," "people" or
other terminology that reflects the meaning of
the original language. In other words, where the
original language indicates that both men and women
were being addressed, the TNIV reflects
that understanding in contemporary English.
For example, in Paul's letter to Titus, referring
to God's saving grace, the TNIV, renders
2:11 this way: "For the grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all people."
And in Matthew 5:16, Jesus' call for all believers
to live a life of moral excellence before a watching
world reads, "In the same way, let your light shine
before others, that they may see your good deeds
and praise your Father in heaven."
The TNIV sometimes uses a generic plural
pronoun in the place of a masculine singular pronoun,
making it more consistent with contemporary English.
As a case in point, Paul's admonition in 1 Corinthians
11:28 for each believer to prepare for communion
is translated, "We ought to examine ourselves before
we eat of the bread and drink of the cup."
All of these TNIV revisions from its predecessor,
the NIV, reflect a better rendition of clear
gender language for the modern reader. In no cases
do these updates impose upon or change the doctrinal
impact of Scripture.
Increased Understanding: Christ and Messiah
Two terms that declare Jesus as the "anointed
one" are employed in the New Testament. The Greek
Cristos and the Hebrew Messiah received careful
evaluation. When used as the Messianic title for
Jesus, especially in Matthew, John and Acts, the
translators used the title of "Messiah." In other
passages, where the title does not reflect a particularly
Messianic overtone, translators utilized the Greek "Christ."
Increased Understanding: Jews versus Jewish
Leaders
Similar insight is achieved in the translators'
treatment of the term "Jew." The Greek word Ioudaioi,
based on the context, can be used to refer to a
more precisely identifiable group within the whole
of Judaism. In some instances, such a change accurately
dispels anti-Semitic misinterpretations of the
New Testament. So, the TNIV translates the
term Ioudaios in John 5:16 to read "...the Jewish
leaders began to persecute [Jesus]" in order to
accurately implicate those directly responsible.
Increased Understanding: Saints
The TNIV presents an updated translation
of the Greek term for hagios, traditionally translated
as "saints." The TNIV translators were concerned
to reflect the original sense of the term and avoid
confusion with the process of canonization within
religious tradition. Therefore, the TNIV replaces
the word "saint" with terms such as "God's people," "people
of God" and "believers." (A notable exception will
be found in Romans 1:7).
Other textual updates in the TNIV reflect simple
revisions in punctuation, copy editing details and
treatment of footnotes. For a more thorough review
of TNIV translation you may compare
sample passages or read the New Testament. |
