Zondervan Plans 2011 Update Of NIV Bible
The New International Version (NIV) of the Bible has proven to be a bestseller, with some 350 million copies of the English language book published since it was first released in 1978. Updated in 1984, the NIV is currently the most popular of all English translations of the Bible and will soon be the beneficiary of a fresh update which will be released in 2011.
Incorporating Common English Terms
Zondervan, a HarperCollins company, announced on Tuesday that an updated version of the NIV will be published late next year, to reflect more contemporary English phraseology. Biblica, which is the translation sponsor and copyright holder for the NIV, says that the modified version will incorporate today’s English vocabulary, specifically the common English now spoken.
2011 will also mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, the most popular and perhaps the most well known of all English translations. Thanks to several updates the KJV remained the most popular English translation through the first half of the twentieth century, before more modern versions including the NIV began to appear.
Committee on Bible Translation Oversight
The Committee on Bible Translation (CBT), which was formed in 1965 and consists of fifteen scholars and translators from across the English speaking world has been tasked with overseeing the revision.
“The new 2011 NIV is all about maintaining and enhancing the original values of the NIV for today’s readers,” said CBT Chairman, Professor Douglas Moo. “We’re looking for a translation that is above all accurate – that says what the original authors said in the way they would have said it had they been speaking in English to the global English-speaking audience today. We’re looking for a translation that offers clarity – where understanding comes naturally and readers can quickly grasp the original authors’ ideas and the cadence of their language. We’re looking for a translation that is suitable both for in-depth study and for outreach – a translation that Christians can share with their neighbors without hindrance whether they are experienced Bible readers or interested newcomers.”
Revised NIV or NIV3?
Once the CBT has finished its work, Zondervan will begin to publish both print and digital versions of the updated NIV with copies made available to the public in early 2011. No word yet as to how the 2011 edition will be identified – perhaps it will be called the Revised NIV or maybe the NIV2 (or NIV3).
Source: Zondervan
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