The KJV, Tyndale, and Translating the Good News

The infamous N.T. Wright recently presented a paper in London at the International SBL conference on Bible Translation. I've given the link here: N.T. Wright SBL Monarch's Message.

This is a must read for anyone involved in the current dialog and debates about which Bible translation(s) to use, and whoever has interest into the story and development of the 1611 King James Bible.

NNIV, Good or Bad? Why?

I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but here we go!

I've been following many blogs and comments on the NNIV (or the NIV 2011), and there's a little love, but a lot of hate. And personally, as I've stated in a previous post (http://bibleimmersion.blogspot.com/2011/06/some-other-blog-comments-on-niv2011.html), I haven't been in the habit of reading any Bible translation in general (I read the Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek). So it's hard for me to get behind many who strongly favor this or that translation, because all of them fall so short in so many ways.

Actually, the more I look at the NET (http://bible.org/netbible/index.htm), the more I like that one. But that's a post for another day. This is what gets me. A lot of people saying in general why they don't like the NNIV without giving compelling specific verses. Many just cite "gender neutral language" or "obscures messianic prophecies," etc.

This post is my invitation to all the list ONE specific verse (or a few passages, I suppose, if necessary. But be CONCISE!!!) that the NNIV treats exceptionally well or exceptionally bad. Then we can look at it and get some discussion going. Let's see how this goes...

Various Opinions on the NIV2011

If you want some more voices on the new NIV, check out the following:

http://ancienthebrewpoetry.typepad.com/ancient_hebrew_poetry/2011/06/dissatisfaction-with-the-new-niv-among-biblical-bloggers.html#more

http://www.wels.net/news-events/forward-in-christ/bible-revision-new-international-version-2010

I've attached here the pdf of a PowerPoint I presented on the NIV 2011. You may not get everything out of this from just the document, but for what it's worth:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1089433/Bible%20Immersion/NIV2011.pdf

Overall, I see the NIV2011 as a slight improvement over the NIV1984. However, change, when it comes to Bible translations, is always painful.

I do have to say though, even since I made the decision back in 2003 to (for personal use) read the Bible nearly exclusively in the original languages, I find it hard not to laugh deep down inside when people harshly condemn or intensely praise any one translation, because any translation leaves so much out. As I've put it before, translating the Bible is like getting only a backpack to take treasure from a great storehouse. Any translation HAS to leave something out.  But of course, I understand the need for an accurate and understandable vernacular translation.

By the way, I think the esteemed former bishop of Durham would agree...
http://youtu.be/7hVVNYIPK_Q