11 May GS 2001 art 38

Posted at 16:22h in CanRC, GS 2001 by

GS 2001 Article 38 – Bible Translation

Committee 3 presented its proposal on the Committee on Bible Translations. The following was adopted:

1.    Material

  • 1.1.          Report from Committee on Bible Translation.
  • 1.2.          Letters from the Churches at Burlington-Ebenezer and Owen Sound.

2.    Admissibility

The letters from the two churches are declared admissible because they interact with the report of the Committee on Bible Translation, which was sent out to the churches.

3.    Observations

  • 3.1.          The Committee on Bible Translation reports that they have had some correspondence with the NIV’s Committee on Bible Translation.
  • 3.2.          In this correspondence, they made some recommendations concerning matters submitted by the previous committee relating to 2 Sam. 5:13; Isaiah 9:20 [19]; Zech. 12:7; 12:12. Our committee was informed that the NIV Committee for Bible Translation would deal with three of these four concerns “over the next two – three years.” Thus this part of their mandate has been accomplished. The Committee has received no new comments from churches/members that need to be evaluated and/or passed on to the NIV Translation Center and thus does not see a need for this part of the mandate to be renewed.
  • 3.3.          The Committee’s mandate included the task to “monitor developments in the NIV as the text is revised.” The Committee reports that shortly after Synod 1995 an inclusive language edition appeared in England without warning. Our Committee feels that this shows that it is impossible to monitor developments and thus does not see a need for this part of the mandate to be renewed.
  • 3.4.          The Church at Burlington-Ebenezer disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation not to appoint a new Committee on Bible Translation. Ebenezer Church stresses the need to monitor developments in the text of the NIV and to provide a contact address for churches should they have concerns in the future.
  • 3.5.          The Church at Owen Sound informs Synod that it is using the NKJV. It disagrees with the committee’s recommendation not to appoint a new Committee on Bible Translation. They believe that a committee should continue to monitor and investigate matters concerning the NIV.

4.    Considerations

  • 4.1.          For the past number of years the synodical Committee on Bible Translation has served the churches with helpful reports.
  • 4.2.          Bible translation is a most significant aspect of the life of the churches. Therefore it would be beneficial for the churches to be aware of general developments in the field of Bible translation.
  • 4.3.          The committee should continue to monitor developments in case significant changes appear in the text of the NIV so that it can report to the churches and the next Synod with recommendations.
  • 4.4.          Concerns may arise concerning the text of the NIV. The Church at Burlington-Ebenezer and the Church at Owen Sound are correct that churches should have a committee where they can address those concerns.
  • 4.5.          The committee has access to the NIV Translation Committee and Translation Center. Our concerns in the past have been respected and taken seriously by the NIV Translation Committee and Center.

5.    Recommendations

Synod decide:

  • 5.1.          To thank the Committee for their work.
  • 5.2.          To appoint a Committee on Bible Translation with the following mandate:
    • 5.2.1.      To receive comments from churches and/or members about passages in the NIV in need of improvements;
    • 5.2.2.      To scrutinize these comments, and pass on valid concerns to the NIV Translation Center;
    • 5.2.3.      To monitor developments in case significant changes appear in the text of the NIV;
    • 5.2.4.      To monitor developments in the field of Bible translation;
    • 5.2.5.      To serve the next General Synod with a report to be sent to the churches at least six months prior to the beginning of Synod.
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