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THE

INSPIRATION-TRANSMISSION-TRANSLATION

OF THE

WORD OF GOD

 

The New International Version (1)

Lesson #24

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    In 1955, Howard Long was attempting to study the Bible with someone and saw that the wording of the KJV was difficult for the individual.

 

B.      Because of this, Mr. Long went on a 10 year campaign in an attempt to bring into existence a Bible in modern English.

 

C.     After 10 years, his denomination, the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) and the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) embraced his vision for a new version, the New International Version.

 

D.    It is this version that we will review in this lesson.

 

I.                   THE BACKGROUND OF THE NIV

 

A.    A small team of individuals met in Chicago, IL in 1965 and agreed to start work on the NIV.

 

B.      They decided they would not use any previous translation but would rely on the very best manuscripts available in the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic.

 

C.     They used what is called “the dynamic equivalent” method of translating.

1.      Some refer to this as a “thought-for-thought” process instead of a “word-for-word” process.

2.      “In the NIV, some passages are translated with more of a ‘this is what the translators think the text means’ instead of ‘this is what the text says’”

       (https://www.gotquestions.org/New-International-Version-NIV.html).

 

D.    The translation process was said to be “painstaking.”

1.      Each book of the Bible has a translation team.

1.      Two lead translators

2.      Two translation consultants

3.      One English style consultant (if necessary)

2.      Another team of five scholars reviewed their work.

3.      From there, each book wen to a general committee of 8 to 12 scholars.

4.      Finally, outside critics gave their feedback.

5.      Every year a committee comes together to review the work in detail

 

E.      The NIV was first published in 1978.

1.      The New Testament was published in 1973.

2.      The initial printing was for 1 million copies.  They sold out before all were printed.

3.      The version was update in 1984 and 2011.

 

F.      In 1986, the NIV became the best-selling Bible in modern English.

1.      It is the No. 1 seller on the Top Ten List of Bibles sold.

2.      19% of Bible readers read the NIV.

 

G.     Biblica (previously known as the New York Bible Society) is the worldwide publisher and copyright holder of the NIV.

 

H.    In 2005, the Today’s New International Version was published.  This was a gender-neutral Bible.

 

II.                THE ARCHAISMS IN THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION

 

A.    Comparison with the KJV

 

NIV                                              Passage                                  KJV

 

Abasement                                   Ezra 9:5                                  Heaviness

Annotations                                 II Chron. 13:22                                   Story

Armlets                                         Num. 31:50                            Chains

Curds                                            Gen. 18:8                                Butter

Duplicity                                       Luke 20:23                              Craftiness

Exasperate                                                Eph. 6:4                                  Provoke

Gauntness                                     Job 16:8                                   Leanness

Glint                                              Hab. 3:11                                Light

Haunt                                           Ps. 44:19                                 Place

Magi                                              Matt. 2:1                                 Wise men

Negev                                           Gen. 12:9                                South

Wadi                                             Num. 34:5                              River

 

B.      Other archaisms

1.      Abutted (Ezek. 40:18)

2.      Brooches (Exo. 35:22)

3.      Cors (I Kings 4:22)

4.      Denari (Matt. 18:28)

5.      Drachmas (Ezra 2:69)

6.      Filigree (Exo. 28:20)

7.      Fomenting (Isa. 59:13)

8.      Gadfly (Jer. 46:20)

9.      Gaunt (Gen. 41:3)

10.  Goiim (Gen. 14:1)

11.  Hoopoe (Lev. 11:19)

12.  Jowls (Deut. 18:3)

13.  Mina (Luke 19:16)

14.  Nubims (Dan. 11:43)

15.  Offal (Exo. 29:14)

 

III.             THEOLOGICAL TERMS CHANGED IN THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION

 

A.    Godhead (Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:20; Col. 2:9)

1.      KJV:  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

2.      NIV:  For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.

 

B.      Propitiation (I John 2:1-2)  atoning sacrifice

 

C.     Regeneration (Tit. 3:5)  rebirth

 

D.    Mercyseat (Heb. 9:5)  the atonement cover

 

E.      Calvary (Luke 23:33) the place of the Skull

 

F.      Remission (Acts 2:38)  forgiveness

 

G.     Jehovah (Exo. 6:3)  the Lord

 

H.    Immutable (Heb. 6:18)  unchangeable

 

I.        Omnipotent (Rev. 19:6)  almighty

 

J.        Comforter (John 16:13)  Counselor

 

K.     Infallible (Acts 1:3)  convincing

 

L.      Fornication (Matt. 19:9)  marital unfaithfulness

 

M.   Lucifer (Isa. 14:12)

 

N.    Damnation (John 5:29)  to be condemned

 

O.    Brimstone (Rev. 21:8)

 

IV.             THE DEITY OF CHRIST IN THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION

 

A.    I Timothy 3:15

1.      KJV:  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:  God was manifest in the flesh…

2.      NIV:  Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:  he appeared in a body…

 

B.      The words “only begotten Son” are translated “only Son” (John 1:14; 1:18; 3:16; I John 4:9).

 

C.     Philippians 2:7

1.      KJV:  But made himself of no reputation…

2.      NIV:  But made himself nothing…

 

D.    I Peter 2:8

1.      KJV:  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence…

2.      NIV:  A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.

 

V.                A CONTRADICTION IN THE ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION

 

A.    In Matthew 5:17, Jesus says:  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

 

B.      Ephesians 2:15 – by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations, His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace.

 

C.     NOTE:   This contradiction is in most of the modern translations.  Why can’t revisions of the version make a correction to this contradiction?

 

 

VI.             COMPLETE VERSES OMITTED FROM THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION

 

A.    Matthew 17:21; 18:11; 23:14

 

B.      Mark 7:16; 9:44; 9:46; 11:26; 15:28

 

C.     Luke 17:36; 23:17; John 5:4

 

D.    Acts 8:37; 15:34; 24:7; 28:29

 

E.      Romans 16:24

 

F.      I John 5:7

 

G.     NOTE:  There are many partial verses omitted as well (Ex., Col. 1:14)

1.      KJV:  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

2.      NIV:  In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 

H.    Brackets with explanations (Mark 16:9-20; John 7:53-8:11)

 

VII.          THE WORD “HELL” IN THE NIV

 

A.    The word “hell” in not found in the Old Testament in the NIV (See Ps. 9:17)

1.      KJV:  The wicked shall be turned into hell…

2.      NIV:  The wicked return to the grave…  NOTE:  If the word is supposed to be “grave” in this verse, then there is no punishment at all.  The righteous also have to go to the grave.

 

B.      The word “hades” is transliterated instead of translated “hell” except in …

1.      Matthew 11:23 – depths

2.      Luke 10:15 - depths

3.      Luke 16:23 – hell

4.      I Corinthians 15:55 – death

 

VIII.       INCONSISTENCY OF TRANSLATION

 

A.    Sarx is translated “flesh” in most translations.  In the book of Galatians alone, it is translated “human effort” (Gal. 3:3); “the ordinary way” (Gal. 4:23, 29), and “sinful nature” (Gal. 5:13) in the NIV.

 

B.      Kelm is translated as “articles,” “accessories,” and “utensils.”

 

C.     Shekar (strong drink) is translated as “beer” (I Sam. 1:15); “other fermented drink” (Lev. 10:9); and “drinks” (I Sam. 5:11).

D.    The word “repent” is never used in reference to God in the NIV.

1.      God relents (Jer. 18:8)

2.      God turns back (Jer. 4:28)

3.      Changed his mind (I Sam. 15:29)

4.      Is grieved (Gen. 6:6)

5.      Compassion (Ps. 90:13)

6.      Has pity (Joel 2:14)

7.      Get relief from (Isa. 1:24)

8.      Comforts (Zech. 1:17)

 

E.      The word translated “seed” in the KJV is translated “offspring” and “descendant” in the NIV.  The wording of the Old Testament makes no preparation for Paul’s argument in Galatians 3:16 (See Gen. 22:18).