- At the Western Wisconsin District's teacher-pastor conference in Watertown yesterday (June 7, 2011) John Braun, a member of the Translation Review Committee, announced that the Committee is recommending adoption of the 2011 NIV for our NPH publications. (http://www.wels.net/news-events/forward-in-christ/bible-revision-new-international-version-2010) I hope that the Synod-in-convention this July seriously considers an alternative to Zondervan's rapid and unilateral revision and to our Committee's recommendation: a joint project of the WELS and the ELS to produce a confessional Lutheran Bible translation. I can't think of a better gift to the Church-at-large for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation than a translation that captures the majestic promises of the Messianic psalms, that is clear about our roles as women and men, and leaves fashionable gender politics out of Scripture. These are just a few issues with the NIV 2011 and other translations. We want a Bible that is allowed to speak for itself. We can do this! I believe that our congregations would rally around an opportunity to support a project of this magnitude and importance. In the spirit of being proactive, having our own translation doesn't make us a cult. (Those who consider us a cult already do, and many of them currently belong to our synod or have already left it.) Instead of isolating us from communion of saints, our own translation will give us something valuable to share with the wider Church. I don't want to be held captive to every future change that Zondervan, Biblica, and the Committee on Bible Translation deem necessary. (Their decision not to offer the NIV 1984 alongside this new revision strikes me as odd. I've asked them to comment on this strange business decision, but have received no answer. I asked John Braun to pass along my question to them.) Let's not settle for the "best current option." Let's spend the time and treasure now to bring the Scriptures to life with clarity and boldness! We can do this by God's grace. In Christ and Him crucified, Pastor Luke Boehringer
- Pr. Benjamin Tomczak said...
- On Monday, the South Central District met for pre-Synod Convention business and sent a memorial to the Synod in Convention resolving "that we urge the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in its 2011 convention to commission a thorough study of the other leading options among the current Bible translations for use in our publications (An American Translation [AAT, Beck], English Standard Version [ESV], Holman Christian Standard Bible [HCSB], New American Standard Bible [NASB], and New King James Version [NKJV]), to be reported to the constituency of our synod; and be it further "resolved, that we urge this study to be conducted with the serious consideration that one of these other translations may be more appropriate for use in WELS publications; and be it further "resolved,that we urge the 2011 convention to make no decision regarding which translation the WELS will use in its official publications." For the full memorial with whereas' and what not, go to http://scdwels.wordpress.com/reports/ This is not to speak against your motion, Luke, of producing a Lutheran translation and (perhaps also) study Bible. We discussed, briefly, the merits of a translation, and one of our pastors (and co-author of this memorial) spoke positively for our ability to do what your asking -- produce such a translation. He also pooh-poohed, as you did, the cult-like aspect of such a project. He honestly believes the day of a "universal" translation across English-speaking Christendom (a la KJV and NIV84) is over. It's a translation time of the Judges. What a thought -- celebrate the anniversary of the Reformation with not just a new hymnal (which is planned for 2024) but with a new Bible translation! Here's the "meantime" question, which my Lutheran grade school teacher wife brought up -- what do our schools do in the meantime while we're up in the air about a translation (and perhaps for a time without the "approved" NIV unless Biblica extends our usage permission past 2013)? Grace and peace, Pr. Benjamin Tomczak
