Blessed are those who hear the word of God, the Bible says. But which words? An effort to provide a newer, more readable version of the enormously popular New International Version Bible drew more criticism this week, as a conservative religious group presented a list of 100 Christian leaders opposed to the new translation.

The controversy centers around the translation of gender terms in the new Today's New International Version translation. Those who worked on the project insist they are merely putting the text in contemporary speech, while critics say they are changing the meaning of the Biblical passages.

"The problem with the TNIV is that it mistranslates and changes the meanings of hundreds of passages for the simple goal of removing a lot of the male-oriented language that's in the original Greek text," says Randy Stinson, president of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, the group that is spearheading objections to the TNIV.

Brothers or Siblings? Sons or Children?
The TNIV renders some words previously translated as "he," "brother," and so on, in gender-neutral terms. The changes only affect passages where it is clear the speaker is referring to both men and women, the project's translators insist.

Where the previous version rendered Hebrews 2:6 as, "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" the TNIV reads," What are mere mortals that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?"

Similarly, some passages referring to the "sons of God," are rendered "children of God."
The TNIV's translators and publishers say the changes make the passages more readable, and do not affect the meaning.

"The TNIV reflects what I would call a judicious, balanced, responsible use of gender-accurate language where human beings are involved and it's clear both males and females are in view," says Dr. Kenneth Barker, a Biblical translator who worked on the project. "We're really honoring the Hebrew and Greek lexicon better than our critics."  All references to God and to Jesus remain masculine, he points out. Barker also worked on the TNIV's predecessor, known as the New International Version. Published in 1978, the NIV is among the most popular versions of the Bible in America.

War of Words
Barker also notes that the controversial changes affect only 2 percent of the text of the New Testament. The majority of their alterations — such as changing "with child" to "pregnant" — have gone without criticism.

Also, some passages that had previously referred to "the Jews," appear as "the Jewish leaders" in new text. Those sections clearly refer to particular Jewish leaders or groups, not the Jewish people as a whole, Barker said.
The TNIV's opponents say the translation is inaccurate and misrepresents the meaning of the original text.
"The cumulative effect absolutely matters; it does change the meaning in hundreds of passages," Stinson says. He says the TNIV reeks of political correctness.

Barker points out that he and many other translators who worked on the project do not advocate a liberal stance on the role of women in the church and other controversial issues.

Like many Biblical scholars, he insists there is no such thing as a translation free of interpretation.

Other popular Bible translations, such as the Revised Standard Version, have generated similar controversy, he says.
"Any break with tradition is going to raise some people's hackles," Kraft says.

Gadflies or Groundswell?
While Stinson's group presents its list of religious leaders unhappy with the TNIV, the Bible's publishers point to an ever-expanding list of prominent supporters. "We have received more positive responses than we have negative responses," Barker says.

Opponents of the TNIV claim a growing following, however.
The president of the 16-million-member Southern Baptist Convention, James Merritt, has joined the opposition's ranks, he says.

"We're not advocating that people boycott or burn their NIVs," Stinson says. "We would hope that they would go back to the drawing board."