Top-Selling US Bible Due for Translation Update in 2011

The New International Version of the Bible will get an update in 2011 as scholars adapt translations to contemporary English usage, USA Today reports. The top-selling Bible translation in North America has not been updated for 25 years, with a proposed 1997 edition scuttled after provoking a contentious debate among religious scholars over the use of gender-neutral language.

The “inclusive language” approach, which sees phrases like “sons of God”—not specifically masculine in the original—changed to “children of God,” was released as the Today’s NIV, or T-NIV. Despite the new title, the translation was still highly controversial, and will be taken out of print when the new NIV is released. The translation team promises to review every gender-related decision and submit revisions for public comment. (More Bible stories.)