Why I Use the TNIV

For a long time I’ve been a bible translation junkie.  For some reason I became interested in how the bible was translated and how different people translated it a long time ago.  Since I was born in 1980 and therefore a teenager in the 90’s my first bible was the famous NIV Student Bible.  I used this until my senior year when I began using the ESV.  I used the ESV for most my time in seminary, but recently have made a switch to the TNIV (Today New International Version).  The TNIV has been much-maligned and while the heavy criticism seems to have passed, there are still sites on the web devoted to objecting to the TNIV http://www.no-tniv.com being one of those sites.

I remember when I was in college I first heard about the TNIV in the student newspaper @ Grove City.  The article cited Dr. T. David Gordon as objecting to the TNIV because of it’s use of “gender neutral language”.  As someone who grew up using the NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) in church I was used to gender neutral translations but didn’t know it.  So, I checked it out using James 3:1

NIV: Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

ESV: Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

TNIV: Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

As I would discover in seminary, the key objection to the TNIV is how it translates adelphoi, the masculine plural of adelphos (brother).  Now, there is no debate that sometimes in the New Testament adelphoi clearly means a group of people including both males and females.  The issue is when did the author intend this.  I remember in his article Dr. Gordon making the point that the TNIV had translated the debate away.  Now, as someone who holds different views on the role of men and women in the church I don’t have this same objection.  But, here’s a better example of why I think the gender neutral update is a good thing.

TNIV: When an evil spirit comes out of anyone, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’

NIV: When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.

ESV: When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’

Now, here’s a case where even the ESV has rejected the more traditional langauge in favor of the gender neutral “anyone” or “a person”.

Finally, and here’s the real reason I use the TNIV – it’s just plain more readable.  I work with Jr. and Sr. High age kids and they’re not stupid by any means – but I need to be using a translation that uses langauge they can understand.  So here’s my last example:

ESV: But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

NIV: When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

TNIV: When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

For my use, the TNIV and NIV are simply more readable than more literal translations like the ESV.  And here is a classic case – “When he came to his senses” – what great use of English idiom in translation.  No one would dispute that the TNIV/NIV is easier to read something like the ESV (although many would contend that they’re not as accurate) and updated langauge in the TNIV makes it my recommendation to anyone looking to buy a bible for a teen (or anyone else for that matter).  It’s now the main translation that I use in ministry as well as for my own personal use.  Now, it’s not the only translation – I still keep my others close at hand, and since I know Greek and Hebrew it makes it even easier to use multiple translations.  But, when it comes to preaching, teaching, and recommending – the TNIV all the way for me.

The Bible

A number of weeks ago I posted my list of “Top 20 books” and at the beginning I said I was going to leave the bible off the list because it was in a totally different category. One commentor asked what category I would put the bible in. So, here’s my attempt to answer that question:

The books on the list are all very good books – or I would not have included them. However, none of those books are “my book”. The bible is “my book” as it has become part of my story, or more aptly I’ve become a part of it’s story. I’ve had a long relationship with the bible, better at some points, not so good at others. There was the time when it was just intimidating, then the time when it began to open new worlds, then the time when it became a book of theological data, to becoming a living testimony to God’s work in the world. Lately, it’s become the later and now a story book. The bible is the story book of the Christian family – it’s not something you read once and then put away, it’s something you pull out and read often, because it tells the story of those who went before you. Like the old family stories you read them and tell them over and over again because reading them helps you understand who you are.  What makes the bible more than just a story book is that our ancestors in the faith have taught us that God still speaks through these old old stories. For me the bible is something to be wrestled with, to be challenged by, and to see into new worlds with. John Calvin described the bible as the spectacles through which we see God, and I love that description. I do not “believe in the bible” nor am I a “bible believing Christian.” I put my faith in the one to whom the bible points – Jesus of Nazareth and his Father in Heaven and his Spirit poured out in the world.   The bible helps me understand where as a follower of Jesus I’ve come from and where, as a follower of Jesus, I’ll be going in the future.  The bible excites me, angers me, challenges me, and intruiges me all at the same time.

Even the genuius of Karl Barth cannot compare…

Why I Went Shopping on Black Friday

Black Friday has come to symbolize the epitomy of American Consumerism. Crazed shoppers head out at 5 or 6 am the morning after eating too much to buy things they don’t need and end up standing in long lines and getting into knock down brawls to get gifts – stealing from one another’s carts and everything.  Yes, it sounds like the epitomy of evil to me.  Therefore, it’s not unusual to hear Christian Social Action groups advocating that Christians refrain from shopping on Black Friday.
So why did I venture out?  Frankly, my pocket book compelled me.  We have been in need of a bigger hard drive for my work computer for quite some time as doing video editing quickly consumes disk space.  I had been using my own personal drive for a while but didn’t want to continue to do that.  So, Staples had a external hard drive advertised for $99 that was 400 GB.  In case you don’t know, this is an incredible deal – normally, these cost in the range of $200-$250.  If I was able to get something that the church has a need for and save the church money, I do not understand why I fell into some “consumeristic trap”.

If you’re wondering – did I buy other things?  Of course.  My dad needed a new printer (his died) but we saved about $80 there.  The internal hard drive on Renee and I’s desktop had been threatening to die for about three months, so I bought a replacement for when it does (saved another $80 there).  Finally, we bought a new desk chair for our desk (which we had needed) and saved maybe 10 or 20 there.

As far as I can see if I am buying things that are (1) Needed (2) At a good price I do not see why I am being anything other than a good steward.

And, for the record, Staples was very peaceful and orderly.  No pushing, no fights, no stealing.  There was a line for certain items but all in all, it was a fine shopping experience.

Thanksgiving, Youth Specialties, etc.

This past week was Thanksgiving here in the United States, so that afford Renee and I a little while to get to my hometown of Spencerport to see my family . I realized that I hadn’t actually been home to see my parents since May (for Renee’s bridal shower) and admittedly felt a little bad about that. Although, in my defense I had a whirlwind of activity between May and now.

I am starting to feel like life has settled into a pattern of sorts. Minus Renee switching jobs this week I feel like we’ve hit somewhat of steady pace and I am starting to feel settled into somewhat of a routine

This week I am off to Charlotte for the National Youth Workers Convention. This is my second year going, as I went last year when it was here in Pittsburgh. Last year I went somewhat unsure where my calling was – and out of NYWC came a clear understanding that my calling was in fact to youth ministry. Now that I’ve gotten that far, I’m not sure what I’m looking for or what I’ll hear when I’m there. Either way, I am looking forward to it.

After I return from that our senior high group is off to Camp Crestfield for a retreat with just our group which should be a lot of fun. We’ll be watching and discussing “The God Who Wasn’t There” and talking about other questions of faith – should be a good time.

This past Sunday I preached my second sermon ever on “Evil”. I preached my first sermon on evil while in seminary at the PTS Chapel. It was entitled “Welcome to the Seminary: The Devil’s Playground”. Sunday it was on demons and the “ordinary” demons that haunt our lives and keep us from following Christ into the world. I preached the same message at all three services, but the 11:00 edition was far and away the best (in my and other’s opinion). I’ll link to it once I get the recording online. I’ve learned that preaching on evil is never easy and never fun, but always worthwhile as people need to know that the evil they face is real – and how it can be dealt with.

I’m headed back to school – kinda – this term.  I’ve decided to audit History of Christian Social Thought @ PTS this term.  Should be interesting… plus, with an audit there’s no papers and no grades.

Borderline Insane…

It has been a long time since I’ve run Cross Country competitively (seven years to be exact) but I still enjoy running and have tried to make it part of my general routine (with less success that I would have liked) ever since.

Lately I’ve been slowly getting back into the running habit, and had it on my to-do list for today.  Except that the weather was awful and my eating schedule was off so by the time I felt ready to run it was after 5 o’clock and dark outside and raining hard… but some reason that little piece of insanity that gets embedded into anyone who runs cross country sticks with me when it comes to weather as I happily threw on a light fleece and headed out in the dreadful weather.

However, my wife is more insane than I am 

PTS Board Meeting

Today was the final day of festivities for the Board of Directors @ Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and my first meeting with the board.

While much of the board’s work is approving the recommendations of the administrators, these two days gave me a chance to see the work of the board first hand and to see PTS from a whole different side.  I have to say that while I was excited about the future of my alma mater prior to the board meeting  my excitement grew steadily throughout the meeting, and much of it has to do with the leadership of our new president Bill Carl.

Last year when Bill began his term I was skeptical (to be honest) because I couldn’t really get a sense of where Bill was leading the seminary and what his agenda was.  It seemed to me that at first he was trying to make friends with everyone (which I couldn’t blame him, that’s what you need to do).  On Tuesday night Bill presented his vision and I have to say I was impressed.  Like most vision-related stuff I would nuance some words here and there, but Bill seems content to lead Pittsburgh Seminary in a natural and Spirit-led direction toward a model of seminary education that is “missional” in nature.  One might say that Bill is looking to guide Pittsburgh toward being a “missional seminary”.

There are of course challenges and issues ahead, but I think good things are going to happen at PTS.

My First Vacation Day!

Today is my first official day of vacation since I started @ HPC on July 1st. How am I spending such a day? At the board of directors meeting of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary for my first of six board meetings across my three year term.

The top 20 books that have most influenced me…

So Ben Myers has posted a top 20 list of the books that have most influenced him… so I thought I’d come up with my list of top 20 most influential books. I am going to exclude the bible from the top 20, not because it hasn’t influenced me but rather because it’s in a whole different category

1. Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics – IV/1-2 (These two books completely shattered my world during my first two years of seminary as they opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking theologically)
2. Tony Jones, Postmodern Youth Ministry (The best book on Youth Ministry as it doesn’t offer a model, but rather things to think about as one does ministry)
3. Andrew Purves and Charles Partee, Encountering God (I’ve only read it once but given that I took a total of 10 classes in seminary from the authors their thoughts have shaped how I think)
4. Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics III/4 (While not as influential as IV/1-2 this volume on ethics helped me understand how ethics can be intensely situational yet rooted in the command of God. It also reinforced my belief that in ministry its more important to teach people how to think, rather than what to think)
5. Andrew Purves, Reconstructing Pastoral Theology (I took the man for six courses… need I say more?)
6. John Franke and Stanley Grenz, Beyond Foundationalism (I read this book during my last year of seminary and I finally felt that I had found my place in the theological spectrum. This book also helped me understand how eschatology integrated into the day to day life of the church as the “orienting principle” for the church’s mission)
7. John Franke, The Character of Theology (Similar to the book above, this prequel of sorts helped me get a grasp on how to think about the theological task in a postmodern world)
8. Jurgen Moltmann, The Crucified God
9. Jurgen Moltmann, The Trinity and the Kingdom
10. Jurgen Moltmann, Theology of Hope (I didn’t discover Moltmann until late in my seminary career, but two of the professors who I learned the most from in seminary were shaped by him. While often at odds with Barth, I found him challenging and enjoyed the fact that he stretched me to think of categories in different ways)
11. NT Wright, The New Testament and the People of God (I’m actually in the midst of reading this one, but while I was in seminary and dating Renee long distance I used to spend hours in my car driving back and forth. NT Wright has more free audio available online than anyone else I know so I used to listen to his lectures off of my iPod. Wright helped me get inside the bible the world of the bible and to better understand Jesus’ intensely political message without simply collapsing it into either left wing socialism or right wing moralism)
12. Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace (I read this book at the end of my time in college and while now I probably wouldn’t get much out of it, I remember really be challenged and yet refreshed by the concept of the discipline of living in grace)
13. Doug Fields, Purpose Driven Youth Ministry (I’ve read this book twice – first while I was just out of college and again while I was in seminary. While Doug and I aren’t on the same page on everything, it’s given me a helpful way to think about ministry
14. Athanasius, Against the Arians (I haven’t read the whole thing, but read significant parts for classes and papers. Really shaped my understand of the atonement as Christ’s whole life, not just his death)
15. Cornelius Plantinga, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be (I only read a short except from this book, but it’s a phrase that I’ve found so apt at describing the world that it’s become a hallmark in nearly every sermon I preach or lesson I teach)
16. T.F. Torrance, The Christian Doctrine of God (I feel bad putting Torrance down this low on the list because he should be higher, but alas. This book was my first serious attempt at working through the Doctrine of the Trinity)
17. John Calvin, Institues of the Christian Religion (Ditto for Calvin, he shouldn’t be down this low. Once I left seminary I realized how much his understanding of the church and it’s sacraments had shaped my own)
18. David Bosch, Transforming Mission (Read this book for Missiology and am still being challenged by it)
19. Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society (This book should be required for every person planning to do ministry in at least the United States)
20. Brian McLaren, Generous Orthodoxy (McLaren, like Wright, has shaped me more through his lectures that I’ve listened to than his writing, but I read this book in the midst of seminary and came to a greater understanding of how he thought

Honorable Mention:

• Stanley Grez, A Primer on Postmodernism
• Alister McGrath, Scientific Theology
• Dan Kimball, Emerging Worship
• The Book of Confessions of the PC(USA) – Particularly The Barmen Declaration and The Confession of 1967

So there you have it. The numbering isn’t really right – Bosch and Newbigin would definitely be higher on the list. But, what this list proves is that I’m (1) A total dork (2) Shaped heavily by the Post-Conservative/Neo-Orthodox Reformed tradition