The Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy: Muting the Masculinity of God's Words [Paperback]

Wayne A. Grudem (Author), Vern Sheridan Poythress (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2000

"The Bible is God's own Word to us." Translating the words of God has become an even more daunting task in recent years as the pressure of "political correctness" and various activist agendas have sought to influence the landscape. No issue has become more controversial than gender-neutral Bible translations. Vern Poythress and Wayne Grudem examine the translation practice of replacing the generic "he" and the specific "father" with the gender-neutral "they" and "parent." While translators may be well intentioned in seeking not to offend, Poythress and Grudem contend that the results are subtly changed meanings of the original texts and less-than-accurate translations. Throughout, however, the authors seek to build a dialogue that will result in understanding both sides of the gender-neutral controversy and the challenge of producing accurate Bible translations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Vern S. Poythress is presently Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary. He received a Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard University, a Th.D. in New Testament from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, a M.Litt. in New Testament from the University of Cambridge, a Th.M. in apologetics from Westminster Theological Seminary, an M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a B.S. from California Institute of Technology. He has published books on Christian philosophy of science, theological method, dispensationalism, and biblical law, and written articles in the areas of mathematics, philosophy of science, linguistics, hermeneutics, and biblical studies. He and his family currently live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wayne A. Grudem is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He received a Ph.D. in New Testament from the University of Cambridge, England, an M.Div. from Westminster Seminary, Philadelphia, and a B.A. from Harvard University.He has published seven books and is a co-founder, past president, and currently vice president of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. He and his wife, Margaret, live in Libertyville, Illinois.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Broadman & Holman Publishers (November 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805424415
• ISBN-13: 978-0805424416
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,824,297 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Have Reservations about the TNIV? -- Read This Book!!, February 14, 2002

By 

David R. Bess (Charleston, WV) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy: Muting the Masculinity of God's Words (Paperback)

Gender-neutral "translations" of the Bible have been on the market for more than a decade, but with the recent introduction of the TNIV by Zondervan and the International Bible Society, they are suddenly getting much more attention and scrutiny. Poythress and Grudem are very scholarly and thorough in their approach to the gender-neutral translation issue.

I must say that unless a person has an INTENSE interest in this subject (as I do as a pastor), purchasing the small booklet "What's Wrong with Gender Neutral Bible Translations?" would be a much better investment of money AND time. (It is available from the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood for a modest fee.)

This book describes how the modern feminist agenda has influenced the translators of the Bible, compelling them to mute the patriarchalism inherent in the ancient texts. It may be polite and politically correct today to avoid using the "generic he" and other masculine language in written documents. The authors assert, however, that translators cannot avoid masculine overtones and at the same time accurately translate the Scriptures.

This volume identifies and describes in detail the numerous arguments used by scholars who support gender-neutral language in Bible translations. It then proceeds to show the fallacies present in their reasoning. Poythress and Grudem are far from intellectual lightweights -- they each hold degrees from both Harvard and the University of Cambridge.

I recommend this book highly to any pastor or scholar who is interested in a superb intellectual rebuttal to the gender-neutral Bible translation rationale that has been promoted over the last decade.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!, March 25, 2003

By 

Marcelino Carvalho (Fortaleza, Ceará Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy: Muting the Masculinity of God's Words (Paperback)

If you are facing the question: Do gender sensitive translations distort Scripture in places where those who have concerns about such translations claim they do? You must read this book.
The book by Carson ("Inclusive language") and Mark Strauss ("Distorcing Scripture") defend the possibility of certain kinds of gender sensitive translations as a matter of translation theory, even though in principle it does not hold to the possibility of such rendering. The book by Poythress and Grudem, using a truly independent work, prove that most of what such translations do is flawed, and they clarify the issues in the gender-neutral Bible debate.
In fact, The Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy examines all aspects of that question, from global considerations right down to the fundamental aspects, remembering all the time that we need to realize the final form in which Scripture is authoritative is its written form.
This is the best book on its theme!