Ephesians 5:21-32 – Mutual Submission and the TNIV
August 21, 2007 3 Comments
The TNIV (Today’s New International Version) made some significant changes from the NIV. Many of them include gender inclusive language in places where the context is clear that people in general are being spoken to rather than just the males. There were some changes in language, grammar, and structure as well. One of those structure changes is found in Ephesians 5 where the TNIV finally moved the NIV heading between 5:21 and 5:22 back between 5:20 and 5:21 to show that 5:21 contextually goes with what follows and to show that submission is mutual and not just of wives to husbands. They also changed the heading from “Wives and husbands” to “Instructions for Christian Households.” Thank you TNIV!
On a side note I wonder what they will call the updated TNIV when it comes out some day? Here are some suggestions:
- The Revised Today’s New International Version (RTNIV)
- The New Today’s New International Version (NTNIV)
- The Revised and Expanded Today’s New International Version (RETNIV – sounds Russian)
- Today’s Version of Yesterday’s New International Version (TVYNIV)
- Tomorrow’s New International Version (TNIV – confusing)
- Today’s New International Version 2.0 (TNIV2.0)
What suggestions would you give Zondervan?
About mattdabbs
Kingdom Living 
Sounds like they made some practical and needed changes, and I lol about your suggestions for new names.
New and updated versions are coming out so fast now it is hard to keep up with them.
I can’t stand Gender Inclusive language. Say what It says the way It said it. If there is any one thing in our lives that should not be politically correct it should be Scripture.
My choices as a consumer are use yesteryear’s English or today’s politics. It is a pretty sorry choice.
My suggestion to Zondervon, the Reasonably Literal Version.
It doesn’t get any better than RETNIV!