GS 2013 art 185

GS 2013 Article 185 – Book of Praise – Bible Translation in Prose Section

1.         Material:

Letters from the churches at Barrhead (8.3.4.9), Carman-West (8.3.4.12b and 8.3.7.7), Glanbrook (8.3.4.19), Grand Rapids (8.3.4.20), Lincoln (8.3.4.26), Smithville (8.3.4.31), Smithers (8.3.4.3), Grand Valley (8.3.4.1) and Abbotsford (8.3.7.3)

2.         Observations:

  • 2.1.      Synod Carman 2013 decided to recommend to the churches the use of the ESV and leave it in the freedom of the churches to use the NKJV, NASB and the NIV1984 (Article 95, Recommendation 4.3).
  • 2.2.      Several churches mention in their letters that the Bible translation recommended to the churches should also be the translation which is used in the Book of Praise.

3.         Considerations

The ESV is now the recommended Bible translation in the churches. Synod Fergus 1998 considered “the NIV has been recommended to the churches, so it would be consistent to change the RSV quotations to the NIV in the confessions and prose section of the Book of Praise.” In line with this it would be consistent now to change the NIV quotations to the ESV in the confessions and prose section of the Book of Praise.

4.         Recommendation:

Synod decide to mandate the SCBP to change the NIV quotations in the confessions and prose section of the Book of Praise to the ESV before publishing the final version.

ADOPTED