TNIV, Zondervan’s Red-Headed Stepchild
As has been noted by many blogs, the TNIV has once again fallen off of the top ten list in Bible sales in units and dollars, according to the CBA. When we see what Crossway has done with flooding the Bible market with tons of different ESV styles, sizes, and formats, one has to wonder about Zondervan and its treatment of the TNIV. We know that Zondervan can market a translation. The NIV was the first translation to finally remove the KJV from the #1 spot. You can buy a NIV of any style, size, and layout. If you want it, there is a NIV to meet that desire. But when it comes to the TNIV, it is quite the opposite. There are a few TNIV pew Bibles, one study Bible, and one reference Bible (one in expensive leather and one in cardboard, I mean, the worst bonded leather I have ever handled). The options are sparse, especially for a translation that was released in 2005. Another useful comparison is to Tyndale which released the updated NLT in 2004, only one year before the TNIV. The options and editions for the NLT, however, are vast.
As long as the TNIV choices remain what they are, the TNIV will die a slow death like the NRSV has. There will be some supporters and a few diehards, but it is hard to find a NRSV that fits exactly what one is looking for and that translation released in 1990. I believe this is one major reason why there has been little traction with the NRSV and not so much about the “gender neutral” aspect. If I cannot find an edition I like, I will not use the translation much. A case in point is the ESV Single Column Reference Bible. It is not that I think the ESV is superior to all other translations. I find it frustrating in a number of places. But I love the Single Column Reference Edition so much that I want to use it. If I had that edition in nearly any other translation, I would use it frequently. I think many people are this way, influenced more by the edition than by the translation.
It is up to Zondervan. The TNIV is better than the NIV. But will Zondervan give the TNIV a fighting chance? It does not appear so. Zondervan ought to be embarrassed that The Message sells more in copies and dollars than the TNIV. New NIV editions continue to hit the market while the TNIV sits idle. It won’t be long before the TNIV is sitting on the one shelf with all the other odd or obscure modern translations.
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Your Thoughts
3 Comments so far3 Responses to “TNIV, Zondervan’s Red-Headed Stepchild”
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Robert Jimenez
March 27, 2009 at 1:31 am
Brent, I know that for me personally having choices is really important. If I use a bible as my primary I like to have 3 editions of it. A pocket one that is easy to take anywhere. A thin-line for church, and a nice reference bible for study purposes, also used for teaching and preaching. But with the TNIV I have bought just one the expensive Reference bible, but it is really nice.
I used the HCSB for several years, and I own a few copies, same thing with the ESV. I only have one copy of the NLT, but it is a nice compact with very readable letters, and easy to carry around.
I hope that Zondervan gets their act together and starts offering better bible styles, shapes, and sizes.
Joel
March 28, 2009 at 11:43 am
I checked out the TNIV and didn’t like it one bit. I personally like to use 2 Bibles concurrently. One being a “word for word” type of translation . Thanks to Brent, that is the HCSB study Bible. While I have found a few words that could have been better translated, I really like it overall. The other is a “thought for thought” translation. For that I have found the CEV to work well. I know the CEV has errors, but the simple writing style makes it easy to put my ideas into simple words most people can understand. In study, I also refer to the old King James to make sure the other translations that I am using haven’t gone “off the reservation.” Also, during Bible class, I try to use a translation other than the one being used by the teacher. Then I can listen to one translation and double check with mine. My biggest issue with Bibles today are that the pages are way too thin. It is very difficult to turn those thin pages with no feeling in my right hand. The nice thing is , if that is your worst complaint you are doing good. There are many who have far more problems than that. I am just thankful to have the most Biblical info available to for the masses since the 1st and 2nd century.
Robert Jimenez
March 30, 2009 at 10:47 am
Joel, I found it interesting for you to say that you didn’t like the TNIV one bit, but yet you like the HCSB. I read the HCSB for several years now, and I have to say that they are closer to each other than any other translation.