The article is filled with innuendo and sensationalism, containing unconscionable slander ("The Feminist Seduction of the Evangelical Church"). The very first paragraph states that if the Committee on Bible Translation (CBT) has its way, people "will not be able to buy a new copy of the version they trust." CBT has made no such decision. IBS was not consulted about the piece, which tries to paint a conspiracy of CBT and radical feminism. The CBT is a group of evangelical Bible scholars who are the guardians of the NIV text and who believe in the authority and infallibility of Scripture.

IS IBS PLANNING TO PUBLISH A "GENDER-NEUTRAL" BIBLE?

Terms such as "gender-neutral," "unisex," or "inclusive-language" tend to carry a negative slant. CBT's intent is to constantly review critiques, analyze new textual finds such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, and note changes in the English language. The focus is on maintaining complete accuracy to the original text in the face of these findings and changes. The message never changes, not even the slightest bit, but the way of expressing that exact meaning does. So where a masculine, feminine, or neuter noun or adjective is changed, it can only be revised in order to be more unmistakably accurate.

CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE?

Sure! A generation ago "man" often included men and women, and it still does sometimes. But nowadays when people read "man" they often don't understand that women are intended to be included as well. So to avoid misunderstanding and ambiguity, we need to be precise.

Here's an example: When Paul is giving the exhortation about self-examination before going to the Lord's Supper in 1 Cor. 11:28, the NIV currently says, "A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup." A young reader today might say, "What about women? Don't they have to examine themselves?" A generation ago we might have said, "Obviously Paul meant men and women," but today we need to be more accurate and precise in order to convey that Paul meant all of us, and not just men. So, the new rendition would put it more clearly, "We ought to examine ourselves before we eat...."

BUT IN THE BIBLE GOD IS CALLED "HE" AND CHRIST IS CALLED "SON." WILL THESE PRONOUNS BECOME INCLUSIVE, TOO?

Of course not! Where the masculine or feminine was intended, no change will occur. For example, where an orphan is called "fatherless," it will not become "parentless." "Son of God" will never become "Child of God," as another English version has it. God's "kingdom" will never become "dominion" as that same version states. Only those changes which contribute to accuracy will be allowed

HOW CAN YOU BE SURE OF THIS?

For two reasons: First of all, IBS won't publish an inaccurate NIV. We don't have to, and we won t. Secondly, we believe in CBT. Each member is an evangelical scholar who signs the Lausanne statement (or its equivalent) on the authority, inspiration, and infallibility of the revelation of the Word of God. These scholars constantly monitor each other's work to ensure its quality and trustworthiness. We at IBS are confident of their reliability in these days of compromise.

Dr. Eugene F. Rubingh, Vice President, Translations, International Bible Society