That appears to be the concern of some in the blogosphere concerning the translation of 1 Timothy 2:12 in the new edition of the NIV due out in 2011. The original NIV translated this verse: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” The NIV 2011 has announced a new translation which reads: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.” Craig Blomberg and Douglas Moo, both of the NIV 2011 Committee on Bible Translation (CBT), have said that this translation was chosen because it was neutral and did not take a particular theological stance on the issue of women serving in pastoral ministry. The accuracy of the new translation has seen some discussion at BibleGateway.com.
Against the new translation, The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) has said that it cannot endorse the NIV 2011 because of problematic translations like that of 1 Timothy 2:12. Other strong objections have been leveled against this translation move. Denny Burk of Boyce College fears that “readers may very well conclude that women may exercise authority over men (i.e., serve as pastors) so long as they do not ‘assume’ that authority independently.” And Kevin DeYoung of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, believes that “At worst…the NIV makes it sound like Paul is against the inappropriate assumption of authority, not women-over-men authority in general.”
What do you think? Is the NIV 2011 providing a faithful translation that could be interpreted in either direction? Or have the translators given into the pressure of Egalitarians?