Rewording Bible to include women unnecessary
Changes not needed for spiritual reassurance
Sarah Van Tassel
Issue date: 2/4/02 Section: Editorial/Opinion
"America's best-selling modern Bible is about to be updated. Don't expect an entirely peaceful response," the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported last week.
I first would like to say that I am not writing this in protest, yet I am not writing in agreeance either. I am simply writing what I believe based on my faith as a Christian. Again, I do not mean to offend anyone by writing this. In fact I am really writing to hear you, the readers' response.
The "New International Version" Bible will be revised into a version which is designed to be more up-to-date, I suppose easier to read and comprehend.
That appears to be a good idea, then everyone can understand the word of the Lord. Unfortunately, I can't look at this in such simple terms and cannot look past some issues that seem to be evident.
I believe there are places in the Bible where wording is confusing and difficult to understand, I would like clarification too. But rewording the Bible seems to be a severe action to take. Is it really necessary to go and change the Bible?
I think that since there are books upon books that deal specifically with translation of the language and comprehension guides in addition to those, there should be no need for such drastic measures.
I think that there is a possibility that some of the words and verses are already slightly different from their original form due to the translation from Hebrew. If there is already a chance for differences, why push those variances any further?
Those are just some questions I found myself asking when I read the news.
What does concern me though is why in this new version, which they changed so much, they had to rename it "Today's New International Version." People who read the Bible need reassurance that God loves both men and women. Thirty percent of all the changes in this new version Bible deal with changing of all the words 'man' and 'son' into 'people' and 'children.' I strongly believe that God loves everyone, male and female.
I do not need reassurance in a few simple words to make me feel loved. And I am a women's studies minor — so don't think I am not a fan of equal rights for women, I just believe man is all inclusive, as in human being, in some references.
True, some references are just for men and some just for women, but people familiar with the Bible should be able to pick out places where all humankind is included, even with the usage of the word man. In those references I believe there is not one particular sex attached to the meaning.
People who do need to see in writing that they are included may need to re-evaluate their faith.
I first would like to say that I am not writing this in protest, yet I am not writing in agreeance either. I am simply writing what I believe based on my faith as a Christian. Again, I do not mean to offend anyone by writing this. In fact I am really writing to hear you, the readers' response.
The "New International Version" Bible will be revised into a version which is designed to be more up-to-date, I suppose easier to read and comprehend.
That appears to be a good idea, then everyone can understand the word of the Lord. Unfortunately, I can't look at this in such simple terms and cannot look past some issues that seem to be evident.
I believe there are places in the Bible where wording is confusing and difficult to understand, I would like clarification too. But rewording the Bible seems to be a severe action to take. Is it really necessary to go and change the Bible?
I think that since there are books upon books that deal specifically with translation of the language and comprehension guides in addition to those, there should be no need for such drastic measures.
I think that there is a possibility that some of the words and verses are already slightly different from their original form due to the translation from Hebrew. If there is already a chance for differences, why push those variances any further?
Those are just some questions I found myself asking when I read the news.
What does concern me though is why in this new version, which they changed so much, they had to rename it "Today's New International Version." People who read the Bible need reassurance that God loves both men and women. Thirty percent of all the changes in this new version Bible deal with changing of all the words 'man' and 'son' into 'people' and 'children.' I strongly believe that God loves everyone, male and female.
I do not need reassurance in a few simple words to make me feel loved. And I am a women's studies minor — so don't think I am not a fan of equal rights for women, I just believe man is all inclusive, as in human being, in some references.
True, some references are just for men and some just for women, but people familiar with the Bible should be able to pick out places where all humankind is included, even with the usage of the word man. In those references I believe there is not one particular sex attached to the meaning.
People who do need to see in writing that they are included may need to re-evaluate their faith.