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Featured ESV or NIV pew Bible change

Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by thomas15, Feb 16, 2012.

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  1. thomas15

    thomas15 Well-Known Member

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    My pastor asked me my opinion on a possible change in pew Bibles and an official recongnition of a standard translation for reading from the pulpit. We currently use the NIV (1984). Pastor received a MacArthur SB in the ESV from his wife for Christmas and has used it since while preaching. Some in the assembly are asking to update the NIV to either the NIV 2011 or the ESV.

    My thoughts are as follows:

    1. There really isn't enough of a difference between the NIV 1984 and 2011 to justify spending the money on new pew Bibles

    2. The differences between the NIV and ESV are due to translation goals and philosophies, a mediating vs. more literal rendering so the question regarding the need for a dynamic vs. literal text should be answered before an actual translation is considered.

    3. Personally I'm a fan of the NIV (1984) and question the global need for the ESV in the first place, given that we already have the NASB and NRSV but in this particular situation I think I would have difficulties arguing the NIV 2011 over the ESV as the official church translation. In areas where I have compared the NIV 2011 to the NLTse I actually perfer the NLT, not based on a knowledge of the greek but based on my subjective sense of literary satisfaction.

    4. If a dynamic or mediating translation is on the plate, I would like to see the HCSB as a consideration. If a literal translation is being considered, I would like to see the NASB and the NKJV being considered along with the ESV.

    Any comments would be appreciated.
     
    #1 thomas15, Feb 16, 2012
  2. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    You cannot get the '84 anymore so if you want to stick with the NIV, you will be replacing it with the '11 which will have different wording which will be confusing - not to mention there is some controversy over it.

    As a church, we have decided to go to the ESV. We have been using the NIV'84 as our hand-out Bible but we can't get it anymore and we're not confident in the '11 so we're doing the ESV. We don't have pew Bibles because we want everyone to have their own Bible. If someone doesn't have their own Bible, we give them one to take.
     
    #2 annsni, Feb 16, 2012
  3. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Don't buy new pew Bibles. You don't need them and its a waste of money if you've already got them.

    That is what I told a church who asked me about this issue. They were in a similar place as you, had the NIV84, and were thinking of switching. The reality is that on any given Sunday your members/regulars will have about 10 different translations in their various hands. Add to this the increasing number of tablet, smart phones, etc and it becomes less and less necessary to have a new physical text in the back of the pew. Your Pastor will preach from his choice, plus others if he desires. There doesn't seem to be the need to buy new pew Bibles.

    I completely agree with your first point btw. Though the NIV11 is helpful in some areas of its upgrade those aren't nearly enough to justify a new slew of pew Bibles.

    Just some thoughts. We have NIV84 in the back of our chairs and aren't going to change those. If someone wants a newer translation I'll hand them a physical one (if I have it) and go about my day using my iPad with all the translations available on it.

    As a side note: It will be interesting to see (in 2 generations) how many churches are even having a conversation about pew Bibles. :)
     
    #3 preachinjesus, Feb 16, 2012
  4. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    A 2011 NIV MacArthur Study Bible has already been published.


    The differences betwen the two are not as great as the ESVites have shrilly maintained. Aside from poor grammer in the ESV both are very close indeed.
     
    #4 Rippon, Feb 16, 2012
  5. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    The wording is just about the same in the majority of the text. That's not confusing at all.


    Read articles about the 2011 NIV by Rod Decker,Thamas Nass and Daniel Wallace before getting the ESV.
     
    #5 Rippon, Feb 16, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2012
  6. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    No need - We've already been ESV for a few years amongst the pastors. Well, ESV and NASB. We've used the NIV because that's what most of the congregation had. Our senior pastor preached from the KJV until recent years because thats what he grew up with. But now we're pretty much going to the ESV. We like it. Nuff said.
     
    #6 annsni, Feb 16, 2012
  7. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    There is "controversy" over all matter of things. That shouldn't preclude it from consideration.
     
    #7 Rippon, Feb 16, 2012
  8. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    There is always the need to seek out factual information on a given subject. I think the authors I mentioned who deal with the 2011 NIV (and incidentally the ESV too) such as Decker,Wallace and Nass should be sought out. They dispel the misinformation that has come down the pike.
     
    #8 Rippon, Feb 16, 2012
  9. Squidward

    Squidward Member

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    My church keeps paperback ESV Bibles on the edges of the platform and offers them to those that do not have a Bible. I'm also not a fan of pew Bibles. Encourage regular members to bring a Bible.
     
    #9 Squidward, Feb 16, 2012
  10. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    No, we considered it and made a decision.
     
    #10 annsni, Feb 16, 2012
  11. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    The problem with pew Bible is that when the pastor says "Underline that in your Bible", they don't then get to take it home!! LOL
     
    #11 annsni, Feb 16, 2012
  12. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    I consider that you didn't really "consider" the matter without considering the treatment of the 2011 NIV by the authors mentioned earlier. :)
     
    #12 Rippon, Feb 16, 2012
  13. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Whatever you say.......
     
    #13 annsni, Feb 16, 2012
  14. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    I suggest your pastor look into the recent dialogue between Grudem, Moo, and Clendenen at Liberty University, representing the ESV, NIV11, and HCSB respectively.
     
    #14 TCGreek, Feb 16, 2012
  15. DaChaser1

    DaChaser1 New Member

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    of those 3, probably the HCSB fits the bill best, as more literal then the NIV, and easier to read then the ESV!
     
    #15 DaChaser1, Feb 16, 2012
  16. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    I would recommend the HCSB, then the NKJV, and last the NASB 95 as a pew Bible.
     
    #16 Van, Feb 16, 2012
  17. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    As you know, we're talking strengths and weaknesses of each version here.

    Personally, I will not recommend the HCSB over either the NIV or the ESV.
     
    #17 TCGreek, Feb 16, 2012
  18. DaChaser1

    DaChaser1 New Member

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    why, from what I can determined, its appears to more closely follow lliterally the greek text behind it then the NIV does, and does a better job 'flowing" then the ESV does!
     
    #18 DaChaser1, Feb 17, 2012
  19. mandym

    mandym New Member

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    Way to much thought in this. Its not rocket science. Find one most everyone likes and move on.
     
    #19 mandym, Feb 17, 2012
  20. DaChaser1

    DaChaser1 New Member

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    yes, would add that find which version easiest for them to read with understanding!
     
    #20 DaChaser1, Feb 17, 2012
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