Leoncio, Froilan 7 April 2015Introduction to the Bible- Reflection Paper (Chapter 3 Lesson 15) Pastor Edwin Buyson

THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSIONThis module discussed at length the story behind the New International Version, the best-selling version of the Bible today. It was released by the International Bible Society in 1973 (New Testament) and 1978 (full Bible). The NIV was made by more than one hundred scholars who worked directly from the best Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic texts available. The revisionists were a trans-denominational group so that it would be free from sectarian bias. The translated text went through three revisions and was examined for its faithfulness to the original languages used by the source manuscripts and for its English style.The NIV aims to provide an accurate translation and one that would have clarity and literary quality and so prove suitable for every use possible. The authority and infallibility of the Bible as Gods Word in written form is valued and it is recognized as potent to shed unique light on our path in a dark world.The NIV is a "thought-for-thought" or dynamic or functional equivalence translation rather than a word-for-word translation (literal or formal equivalence). I believe that its greatest strength is its readability. We are to be cautious however that, although true to all Bible translations, the NIV may be more of an interpretation rather than being a faithful translation of the available ancient texts. The latest revised edition released in 2011, Todays New International Version (TNIV), is criticized for having a gender-neutral translation replacing gender-specific words, like man, woman, he, or she, with gender-neutral words like person, they. This does not reflect the original language of the Scriptures.I think that the science and art of Biblical translation must be more objective rather than subjective. Although a translation can itself be an interpretation, translators must strive to present just what the text says rather than what the translator thinks it presents. Comments can be limited to marginal notes, like what the scribes did. The painstaking process that the scribes of the ancient times performed to ensure that not a jot or tittle be added or removed from the Word of God.