Macathur Favors Gender-Neutrality

As some of you know, there is a MacAthur NIv study Bible. I don't have it. But in the past he has come down strongly against both the older TNIV and the curent NIV. It's ironic because he uses inclusive terminology in his commentaries (as does Wayne Grudem).

There was a paper than came out in 2002 by David W. Miller. I don't think it is accessible these days. You'll have to check because my internet access is blocked to a number of Christian sites. But I do have a part of a paper he wrote defending the TNIV. It's called The Improved Gender Accuracy of the TNIV Over The NIV.

Miller did the research, I'm just reporting it.

"Here is a list of his [MacArthur's] gender-neutral phrases from his commentary on Romans 8:14-15 where he interprets 'son(s)' as 'child' or as 'children' or as 'boy or girl' (The Macarthur New Testament Commentary Romans 1-8 ,pp.429-37).

'believers are eternally related to Him as His children' (p 429)
'can be certain he is God's child' (p 430)
'God's children are secure in Him' (p. 431)
'a child of God will not always feel secure' (p. 431)
'even for the obedient child of God' (p. 431)
'our heavenly Father wants His children to be certain' (p. 431)
'Even the child of God cannot discern' (p. 431)
'God's Spirit sovereignly leads His children in many ways' (p. 431)
'God leads His children by illumination' (p. 431)
'even God's own children' (p. 433)
'the Spirit leads God's children' (p. 433)
'The humble child of God knows' (p. 433)
'our Heavenly Father's great desire for His children (p. 434)
'our adoption as God's children' (p. 434)
'Because God's children share in flesh and blood' (p. 434)
'permanently adopted as children of God' (p. 435)
'adoption...the action by which a husband and wife decide to take a boy or girl' (p.435)
'the adopted child attains all the rights' (p.435)
'God...seeks out unworthy men and women...and makes them His children' (p. 436)
'an adopted child, especially an adopted son' (p. 436)
'According to Roman law, a father's rule over his children was absolute' (p. 436)
'believers...are indeed God's adopted children' (p. 437)
'just as every child does to his eartly father.' (p. 437)
'In Him...we become a true child (p. 437)
'being God's adopted children was clearly understood' (p.437)
'chose every believer to be His beloved and eternal child' (p. 437)

"From the many quotes above, it is clear that MacArthur believes that gender-netral terms like 'children of God' are the correct interpretation of 'sons of God.' It seems odd that someone with such a strong and repetitive gender-neutral interpretation of 'sons' as 'children' would be against a translation that merely clarifies such an interpretation."

 

I 'speeled' ! Oh boy!

 

Well, there are a few guys here who don't read very carefully. Just take a gander at DWM's last paragraph in my initial post.

 

Continuing David Miller's article:

"The Greek word pater(es) is another one of those words with more than one meaning,one of which is primary and the other that is less common. The primary meaning of pater(es) is father(s), but a secondary meaning is parent(s), especially in the plural. Rather than quote the lexical authorities, I will quote the fundamentalist commentator, John Macarthur, on pateres from his commentary on Ephesians 6:4 (NIV --'Fathers,do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in theb training and instruction of the Lord.'). The TNIV retains the literary primary translation of 'fathers,' in Ephesians 6:4, but MacArthur argues for the more liberal gender-inclusive definition of 'parents' (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary:Ephesians, p.316)'

'Though pateres (fathers) usually referred to male parents, it was sometimes used of parents in general. Paul has been speaking about
both parents in the preceding three verses, and it seems likely that he still has both in mind in this term in verse 4. The same word is used in Hebrews 11:23 to refer to Moses' parents.'

Is John Macarthur to be castigated as some liberal theologian for promoting a gender-inclusive definition of pateres in Ephesians 6:4? Of course not! Is MacArthur in error in thinking that pateres means parents instead of fathers in Ephesians 6:4? I think so, and so do the TNIV translators. Paul just used the more specific Greek word for parents (goneus) in verse one, 'Children, obey your parents...' and switched to pateres in verse four. It seems Paul wanted to focus upon the father's role as the leader-parent in the raising of the children. But there is room for disagreement here without accusing those who differ of having a liberal feminist agenda than one has the right to accuse Macarthur of having such an agenda in his commentary on Ephesians.

As he interprets 'sons of God' as 'children of God in Romans 8, MacArthur repeatedly does the same in Hebrews 12...(The Macarthur New Testament Commentary: Hebrews, p.337.

It is the disciplined child who respects his parents. The surest way for a parent to lose, or never gain hsi child's respect is never to correct or punish him, no matter how terrible the child's behavior. Even when they are growing up, children instinctively know that a parent who disciplines fairly is a parent who loves and cares. They also realize that a parent who always lets them have their own way is a parent who does not care. 'we had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them,' because of what that discipline proved and produced.

If one of the most highly respected and highly conservative commentators uses the word 'parent(s)' repeatedly and exclusively in his single paragraph interpretation of 'earthly fathers,' then why should there be such concern if the TNIV translated it that way? The hue and cry against the TNIV in this area is especially strange since it is universally agreed that pateres can mean parents!"

 

In short --a big fat NO. Do you believe MacArthur is a feminist in disguise? ;-)

 

Yes, but what's your point?

 

You said His. Are you speaking of God? The pronoun for MacArthur would be his.

What passage are you referencing? Several were mentioned.

And please make an effort to reword your post. You are extremely unclear.

 

I will no longer try to translate your posts. Make an effort to be understandable.