NIV: New International...or Non-Inspired? Conclusion

NIV: New International...or Non-Inspired? Conclusion
Brad Reiches
Mar 3 2006 01:55AM

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Friday, March 3, 2006
GodThoughts Wired! 

New International... or Non-Inspired?"

CONCLUSION

The NIV's penchant for "personal preference" rather than actual "translation" is clearly seen in Psalm 40:4 and Amos 2:4 where the Hebrew word for "lies," kazab, is simply left untranslated (remember Deuteronomy 4:2).  These "personal interpretations" become more grevious the deeper one studies.  In verses such as Proverbs 8:18 and 21:21 the NIV editors have chosen to render the Hebrew word, tsedeqah, which has been commonly understood to mean "righteousness," throughout the ages, as "prosperity." 

Now, before you NIV enthusiasts dig too deeply in your concordance to try and justify this radical change, please note that your argument is not with me, but with the NIV editors themselves.  In regard to this very issue Herbert M. Wolf, an NIV Committee member, ADMITS! that the switch from "righteousness" to "prosperity" is "non-literal."  He writes:

"Non-literal translations enhance accuracy...The word

tsedeqah-normall rendered "righteousness" is translated

'prosperity', perhaps understood as the reward of righteous

living...The abstract quality of 'righteousness' does not fit."

-The NIV:  The Making of a Contemporary Translation, p. 129

Hmmm...as the Harvard Theological Review observes, "Non-literal translations cannot enhance accuracy when the editor's theology is substituted for the Greek word."  And the Bible warns,

"No prophecy of scripture is a matter

of ones own interpretation..."

2 Peter 1:20-21

Further, let's take a look at Job 16:20.  The NASB says, "My friends are my scoffers," while the NIV declares, "My intercessor is my friend." TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MEANINGS!  And then Ecclesiastes 8:10:  The NASB describes, "Those who used to go in and out from the holy place, and they are soon forgotten..." while the NIV translates, "Those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive praise."  "Soon forgotten?"  or, "Receive praise?"  C'mon!  Are they both right?  Are you expecting me to believe that BOTH are the inspired word of God despite their completely different meanings?

"If truth is relative, then no one is ever wrong-

EVEN WHEN THEY ARE.  As long as something is true to me,

then I'm right even when I'm wrong."

Norman Geisler, Systematic Theology, Volume 1, p. 745

  Or have we finally reached the day that Isaiah prophesied:

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;

who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever

in their own sight."

Isaiah 5:20

And sadly, I'll leave you with a final thought to chew on as I close this study (for now), and move on to "lighter" issues next week (I know some of you are thinking, THANK GOD!).  G.A. Riplinger writes, "The NIV aided the AIDS epicemic when their editors and literary consultants silenced all of God's warnings against the means of transmission of the HIV virus - sodomy (Webster's sodomy:  copulation between members of the same sex or with animals).  The NIV's Dr. Virginia Mollenkott jabs, 'My lesbianism has always been a part of me.' (Episcopal, Witness, June, 1991).  Her pro-homosexual book, Is the Homosexual My Neighbor? echos her NIV's assertion that the bible censures only criminal offences like 'prostitution' and 'violent gang rape,' not sincere homosexuals...drawn to someone of the same sex."

Heaven help us!  After reading these HORRENDOUS accusations I went back, yet again, to my NIV.  Surely Riplinger is wrong, "I thought."   Surely she must be mistaken, but no.  I looked up every single reference to homosexuality in the entire Bible and, SURE ENOUGH! 

If all we had was the NIV, then it could be argued that, indeed, "the bible censures only criminal offences like 'prostitution' and 'violent gang rape,' not sincere homosexuals...drawn to someone of the same sex." 

Well, thank God that the NIV is NOT the only "bible" available to us.  We still have access to the inspired word of God.  And the inspired word of God calls homosexuality* (in all of its perverse forms) sin.

NIV:  New International Version...or Non-Inspired Version?**

*For a detailed discussion on homosexuality, click on, What Does The Bible Say About Homosexuality.

**For additional study, click on "NIV:  I Flat Out Don't Trust It."

NIV: