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

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!

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.