1

The New International

VersionProper Translation of God’s Word

or Vile work of Satan?

A Study of Translations

2

3

“In the authorized King James Version God

assembled, and moved with His Spirit, a team of some of the world's best scholars to translate His word into the

world's most popular language, English”

Tracy - webmaster, Jesus-is-Lord.com

4

“The KJV has been read, loved, and recognized as the inspired

word of God throughout the English speaking world for

nearly 400 years.” “the KJV remains the most

accurate, the most reliable, and the closest to the original autographs of the inspired

men.”A. G. Hobbs – author of Hobbs Tracts

5

6

NIV 1st to eclipse KJV

•In 2000 it held over 42% of the market share

•KJV held 19%

7

New International Version

•New Testament in 1973•Old Testament in 1978 •Complete Bible with the New Testament updated in 1978

•Another revision in 1983.

8

New International Version

•United States•Great Britain•Canada•Australia •New Zealand

9

New International Version

• Anglican• Assemblies of God• Baptist• Brethren• Christian Reformed• Church of Christ• Evangelical Free

• Lutheran• Mennonite• Methodist• Nazarene• Presbyterian• Wesleyan

“safeguard the translation from sectarian bias”

10

11

“Like all translations of the Bible, made as they are by

imperfect man, this one undoubtedly falls short of its goals. Yet we are grateful to

God for the extent to which he has enabled us to realize these goals and for the strength he

has given us and our colleagues to complete our

task. …”

12

“… We offer this version of the Bible to him in whose name

and for whose glory it has been made. We pray that it will lead

many into a better understanding of the Holy

Scriptures and a fuller knowledge of Jesus Christ the incarnate Word, of whom the

Scriptures so faithfully testify” (Introduction to NIV)

13

14

Methods of Translating

•Formal Equivalence–attempts to render the text word-for-word

•Dynamic Equivalence–attempts to convey the thought expressed in a source text

15

Methods of Translating

•Idiomatic or thought-for-thought translation–attempts to paraphrase the ideas of the Scriptures and use modern idioms to get the point across

16

Genesis 1:1-2 – The Message

“First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don't

see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky

blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.”

17

Genesis 1:1-2 – ASV

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. [2] And the

earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the

face of the waters”

18

19

Strengths of the NIV

•Reading level–NIV - 7th grade reading level –KJV – 12th grade reading level–NASB-U - 11th grade reading level –NKJV - 9th grade reading level

•Number of research materials available.

20

Strengths of the NIV

•Member of the “church of Christ” on the translation team–Jack P. Lewis, professor at Harding Graduate School of Religion

21

Strengths of the NIV

•The “Eclectic” text used–Merriam-Webster - “selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles”

–The goal of the translators of the NIV was to use all of the texts that are available to us today and try to “critically” ascertain the best and most accurate reading of the original author

22