Adventures in the NIV2011

I've been a fond reader of the 1984 edition of the NIV for a number of years. This is my Bible version of choice, and I use it for my own devotional reading, small group work, preaching and pastoral visitation. I had briefly courted the idea of using the ESV for ministry but found it to be too partial a revision of the RSV and very wooden in places (more so than the NASB in my opinion). The NIV has always come in for considerable criticism, partly because the 'N' stands for New (!) and partly because its translation philosophy isn't to everyone's liking. For me it is a highly readable and accessible version, and one which comes with the commendation of people like D.A. Carson, whose expertise in Biblical languages is undisputed.

During the course of last year the Committee on Bible Translation decided to phase the NIV1984 out, and replace it with the NIV2011 - released in print in the earlier part of this year. This is an exercise in planned obselescence on the part of the CBT and represents something of a gamble given the original NIV's devoted readership.

I was recently purchased a copy of the NIV2011 Bible in One Year and over the next while I'm going to try to steadily read through this new version and to blog about it as I do. I'm aware that the NIV2011 isn't without controversy (especially over gender-inclusive language) and while I'll tackle some of these issues I also want to simply offer some early responses to how the text reads.

I trust you'll join me on this journey and interact with what I have to say. I'm approaching this project with an open mind, but also with the prayer that the NIV2011 might prove as helpful and faithful a version of Scripture as I have found the 1984 to be.