"Starting with its next update, America's most popular modern Bible is going to be gender neutral," the International Bible Society released a few weeks ago. The new version will be called "Today's New International Version," or TNIV, with a New Testament on sale in April and the full Bible expected by 2005. The original "New International Version," which has sold more than 150 million copies worldwide since 1978, will remain on the market. Both versions, are especially popular in the Bible market. Scott Bolinder, executive vice-president and publisher at Zondervan, said "There is no social agenda," with the revision, although anyone with half a brain can clearly see that there is. The new translation has cost $2 million to date.

Zondervan of Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is owned by HarperCollins and holds North American rights for both versions, did not disclose any other financial terms. The bottom line is simply this: these publishers do not care about the integrity of the Word of God. They have proven this time and time again. They care about making a buck. Those that defend the modem versions are blind and want to stay that way. My best advice is simply this: avoid this perversion of the Bible just like you avoid all the rest of them. Remember, if this thing were Godly, it would never have been the most popular modern version of the Bible in the first place.

- Trumpet Editor.

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