Henry – a question. I just noted a request from a new attendee and new reader of the Bible at the Bible Study I attend (and teach occasionally). One or two of the faithful people there use the NIV. I have been cautious with this version and just read what I consider a mistranslation of Romans (noted here) I don’t read books myself that sell themselves based on adjectives like ‘international’ – a word that seems to me to be code for ‘conservative’. Is my gut feel out to lunch here?

Our pew Bible is REB, one that I think is reasonably good – though ‘New’ and ‘Revised’ as adjectives clearly date the translation. Like many I grew up with the AV and RSV – both also suffering from adjectives in the name. That’s why I call my own translations personal!