Brethren, if you are planning on buying a new NIV Bible, there is something you need to be aware of. Their first translation came out in 1973, and was followed by a revision in 1997. The ’97 version was a “gender inclusive” rendering, and died quickly. A gender inclusive version involves the elimination of masculine pronouns when they were intended to include both sexes.
The NIV publisher, Zondervan, has now brought out a newer attempt to appeal to those who find the masculine pronouns objectionable. They will no longer produce the older NIV.
As an example of what they have done, note I John 4:16: “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them.” The NASV reads: “God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” The NIV not only does not follow the original pronouns, but it doesn’t even use good grammar, as it has a singular “whoever” and then a plural “them.” Furthermore, it changes the sense of a personal relationship with the Father to an abstract collective.
Revelation 3:20: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Poor grammar again, mixing singular and plural parts of the sentence. The NASV reads: ” ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
I Timothy 2:12 tampers with the meaning. The NASV reads: “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.” But the new NIV renders the passage to read that the woman is not to “assume authority over a man.” There is a big difference. The NIV could lead one to think that if the man “gave permission,” for the woman to preach, then she has not “assumed” the authority, but has been granted the right.
So…although the NIV has been quite popular, you need to be aware of the changes in the new editions.
By Jefferson David Tant
