Christianity Today is reporting that Bill Mounce, who was a key figure in the ESV, has joined the NIV translation committee. Bill is a good friend from Aberdeen days and has interacted with Mark Strauss, another good Aberdeen friend, over these translations as well as the TNIV for the last several years. This includes an exchange of papers that will be a part of the ETS meetings this year.

That key figures on the two "sides" are talking to each other and now working together side by side is a very positive development for evangelical Bible translation work. As one who has worked on several translations or study Bibles, ranging in philosophy from the New Living Translation and Voice to the ESV Study Bible and NET translation, I appreciate what different translations are able to do for readers. So my hope and prayer is that this new found dialogue will benefit everyone and that we can step back from trying to tout one translation as clearly superior to another. Each serves a purpose, given the translation method adopted. That we battle over this, when in many languages one good translation does not exist, is an indication we are slow to appreciate both our needs in the larger body and the benefits of the wealth of spiritual resources we have. At least today one step in honor of our Lord's prayer in John 17 was taken.

For the article, see

http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2009/10/new_testament_c.html