It seems to me that one simply cannot call oneself a biblioblogger if one does not post something about the announcement of the NIV 2011. So, here’s my obligatory post, since I still fancy this as a biblioblog of sorts.

Here’s the link to the appropriate website: NIV Bible 2011 – New International Version updated.

But, to really call oneself a biblioblogger, one must also comment on this announcement. So here are two quick takes:

1. I like the TNIV. I’ll have to wait and see if the NIV2011 caves to the exclusivists who view the inclusive language of the TNIV as somehow a marring of God’s Word. I hope they don’t cave, but the whole language of “mistakes” makes me doubtful.

2. I think the CBT is comprised of good biblical scholars, even if right-leaning to a fault some times. But, my suspicion of corporate behemoths (i.e., Zondervan –> Harper Collins –> News Corporation) makes me wonder if there is not something else behind this decision. Even the working name, “NIV 2011,” smacks of underhanded marketing strategy. Soon enough we will all be needing to “upgrade” to the latest version of the NIV. There will be alpha and beta versions that you can buy in advance of the official release. The new version will be more stable and better able to resist viruses. Sometime down the road, in an effort to appear more creative, the numbers behind NIV will disappear or become secondary to the release names. We could have NIV Vista or NIV Snow Leopard.