Misleading Bible translations in the NIV

July 13th, 2013

Peter Nolan

Over the past several decades a number of new versions of the Holy Bible have been marketed, some of which have numerous inaccuracies in translation. If one is not very familiar with any version, it is very easy to become confused or worse still, steered into error by some of these. A few have been translated by those of a particular religion and have included portions which justify their particular doctrines. Whether or not these were unintentional is of no consequence except to those who wrote them. However, in any fairly recent translation, sincere diligence should be given to find out whether or not they are trustworthy.

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We might mention here that there are minor errors in every translation including the King James Version. However, good scholars have studied these writings and have been able to find whether are or not they endanger the reader insofar as his soul’s destiny. In this article we want to look at the New International Version (NIV) and show where there are a number of errors that could assuredly lead one astray from the truth.

The NIV was translated by a group of Greek scholars who are Calvinistic and premillennial in theology. Both of these doctrines are false. Some places have been interpreted in such a way as to approve of some of these false teachings. Notice these following samples.

(1) Romans10:10

(KJV) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

(NIV) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

This may look benign enough but it is not. The KJV tells one that he must believe (and what he is to believe is the gospel of Christ and that he was the Son of God), and that leads him to righteousness, not justification, and confession is made unto (towards) salvation. He is still not saved. Let us look at two examples which show the truth here.

On the road to Damascus, Jesus appeared to Saul of Tarsus as a blinding light. In fact it did blind Saul who was soon to be called Paul. When he asked, “Who art thou Lord?” Jesus spoke to him and told him, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest”. When Saul heard this, you may rest assured he then believed in Jesus as the Son of God, and when Annanias baptized him, his sins were washed away. Read this account in Acts 22 and you will see.

The other case is that of the Ethiopian eunuch who was returning from worship in Jerusalem and reading the Old Testament prophesy of Jesus. Red this incident involving Philip and the conversion of this man to Christianity. You will see precisely what he had to do to have his sins forgiven. Acts 8:26-40

(2) Psalms 51:5

(KJV) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

(NIV) Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

The NIV translation of the above is without excuse. The true scripture does not remotely refer to the child as a sinner. The reference here is directed toward the mother and there is no excuse to deny it. However, the scholars believe it has more meaning of the conditions surrounding the time of his being conceived and born. Some even speculate that David here is speaking as the child which he fathered with his illicit affair with Bathsheba. Regardless of what the psalm portrayed, it could not have been in reference to the child. First because it does not even infer that it meant him. Secondly and most importantly, there are numerous scriptures which plainly teach that the child does not inherit the father’s (or mother’s) sins. See Romans 14:12 and Ezekiel 18:20

(3) Ephesians 5:19

(KJV) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord

(NIV) speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord

At least two items in these verses change the meaning of the phrase, eventhough slightly. First you will notice that the ‘spiritual songs’ are translated to be ‘the Spirit’ with a capital S. The capital S indicates that these songs come from the Holy Spirit, which is not true at all. It only has reference to songs which are concerning the Spirit, Jesus or God the Father. Spiritual in nature and meaning.

The other variable, is the ‘making melody in your heart’ and ‘make music from the heart’. Making melody in your heart means more ‘a cheerful’ feeling towards God. To ‘make music from your heart’ could be interpreted to mean several things. Even the introduction of musical instruments that you played from the heart. Besides, to translate it differently in this case was unnecessary and helped in no way. The KJV is clearer.

(4) 1 John 4:3

(KJV) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

(NIV) But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Here again no clarity is enhanced in this translation, plus it left out a very important fact. The confession that ‘Jesus had come in the flesh’. There is much difference in simply acknowledging Jesus and confessing that he came in the flesh.

(5) Luke 2:22

(KJV) And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

(NIV) When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

Here the facts are confused. the KJV specifies that at the end of Mary’s purification period, they brought him to Jerusalem. The NIV actually sounds as if the time had come to purify Jesus. And even allowing that they might have meant Mary, it is worded to sound as if the time to ‘start’ the purification. A very poor effort to translate this passage.

(6) 1 Timothy 3:16

(KJV) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

(NIV) Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels,

was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

Another one which failed to improve the clarity of the verse, perhaps harmed it. Instead of using the term ‘God’ (referring to Jesus as God in the flesh) they used the term ‘He’ which identifies no one. And assuredly does not infer that Jesus was God.

It is suggested that the interested scholar read a couple of chapters from each of the two versions. You will find some discrepancies almost anywhere you go, some of little consequence, some more serious.

It is possible that modern English may be beneficial at times in understanding a statement or phrase in the Bible. However, the student should be very careful to compare anything, especially which may appear to mean something different than what he has heard, to check it carefully with one of the versions which have been proven trustworthy. The KJV, NKJV, ASV and the NASV are good ones to refer to in case of questions.

Source Article from http://www.examiner.com/article/misleading-bible-translations-the-niv?cid=rss