An update to the popular NIV Bible that sought to resolve problems over gender-inclusive language found in the controversial TNIV Bible is still drawing criticism from evangelicals.

"Our initial analysis shows that the new NIV(2011) retains many of the problems that were present in the TNIV, on which it is based, especially with regard to the over 3,600 gender-related problems we previously identified," said CBMW in a statement.

The council acknowledged that some changes like references to “man” and “mankind” instead of a gender-neutral equivalent resulted in greater accuracy in translating the Hebrew or Greek text.

In Revelations 3:20, for instance, the CBT did not use masculine singulars (him, he) as found in the NIV nor gender-neutral plurals (them, they) but mixed gender-unspecific singulars and plurals (that person/they).

Revelations 3:20

NIV(1984):   Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

TNIV(2005):   Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me.

NIV(2011):   Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

But its complaints were not limited to gender-related passages. The CBMW said the new NIV's rendering of beloved passages like Psalm 23 could alone present challenges in its path to gain wider acceptance. The familiar phrase "valley of the shadow of death" found in verse 4 is replaced by the words "darkest valley" – a holdover from the TNIV.