I know this will not bring favor on me from many because this post is about criticizing one of, if not the most, popular Bible translation out there.... the NIV. In our small group we are studying Spiritual Warfare and the chapter we are on now is talking about how important "sound doctrine" is and how we can fall prey to Satan if we don't know our doctrine. Well, it is kind of hard to know the doctrine if the doctrine is not even in the reference material you are using for your doctrine (i.e the Bible). Never is the omission / misrepresentation of doctrine perpetrated by the NIV seen more clearly than in the Book of Acts, Chapter 8, 34-39 and the Ethiopian Eunuch.
34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing
Now, I think we can all count and if you look at this passage you can see we go 34, 35, 36, 38, 39 .. but there is a number missing.... 37 and what does verse 37 happen to say 37 Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." The eunuch answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
Now I do not know about you, but that's a pretty important verse to omit. Granted, some versions of the NIV have this verse in the footnotes, but some don't. Even if all NIV's included this in a footnote, do we really want to put such an important teaching as believing that Jesus is the Son of God in a footnote!!!
The other problem is many people who only casually read the Bible don't even look at the footnotes. It leaves them with the impression that all you need is to be dipped into water to be saved which is of course ludicrous. Friends, if you aren't already saved before you hit the water all you are doing is getting wet!!! Baptism of the Holy Spirit whereby a new believer is placed into the body of Christ happens the instant someone trusts Christ. Baptism in water is a public proclamation of an already finished transaction.
There is nothing magical in the water itself as far as cleansing your sin. Like the old hymn asks "What can wash away my sin? NOTHING but the blood of Jesus." The scripture in Jeremiah 2:22 makes a similar point "For though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, yet your iniquity and guilt are still upon you; you are spotted, dirty, and stained before Me, says the Lord. "
I could make MANY posts showing the iniquity of the NIV version of the Bible but that would take too long and quite frankly many do not care if the NIV is accurate or not. It's in simple language and people like it that way, content be damned.
I was going to also mention the error in Isaiah 14 but I found this response on the internet and it says it as well as I could have said it so here it is.
The NIV is full of errors
Hello Sir,
I tried to find your name on your web site but could not locate it. I agree with a lot you mention on your website about eternal security and other topics, but one thing I need to tell you about, the niv bible is not what it makes out to be. I as a 30 year pastor and Bible teacher have found that there are very many subtle errors in it, errors that can not be over looked. Go to Isaiah 14 : 12 First read the KJV and you will see the correct translation from the Hebrew manuscripts, here the fallen being is called Lucifer, correct he is the fallen being. But going to the NIV you will see that this version drops the name Lucifer, and puts the name morning star there, well excuse me this name belongs to JESUS and HE NEVER EVER FELL FROM GRACE…………..
Some will argue and say yea but the devil is also called son of the dawn, and this is what is implied. No sir. Even if this is the case, the doubt should never ever have been put in the mind of the new believer as to the fallibility of JESUS. Now you may say this is just an over sight, then I want to tell you that this is but only one of the many errors in this translation. You can go to our web site and see an exhaustive study we did on comparing these two translations.
As far as saying that the NIV reads easier then the KJV, the KJV is an Anointed Bible and the Lord is faithful in helping one to read it easily and correctly if we would but ask Him.
And finally the KJV has no copyright which means one can copy any section from it as its author is God through the power of the Holy-Spirit, whereas the NIV has a copyright and you can not copy sections from it because the bible company makes money from it. It has man's ideas mixed up in it, and not all men involved in the creation of it were committed Christians.
This version is an ecumenical version which is a version mutually acceptable to all faiths and therefore very watered down, so as not to offend so called uncommitted hardliners.
Still, here are other verses which either are distorted, the meaning is lessened or they are downright inaccurate.
They omit Christ and add man - this is wrong!
John 4:42 (KJV) And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
John 4:42 (NIV) They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
NIV omits by Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 3:9 (KJV) And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 3:9 (NIV) and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
Notice the NIV omits "Christ" and "is come in the flesh". This is important to us who are saved.
1 John 4:3 (KJV) And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1 John 4:3 (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.
The NIV omits the BLOOD and question the Deity of Christ in these verses.
Colossians 1:14-15 (KJV) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Colossians 1:14-15 (NIV) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
The Word of God is our authority for salvation and to defeat Satan.
Luke 4:4 (KJV) And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Luke 4:4 (NIV) Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"
The NIV does not stand on the great doctrine of salvation by grace through faith.
The translators were out of "works" backgrounds. The NIV staff was quoted as saying, "A Christian never 'IS' but always 'IS BECOMING'". Notice how they take God's grace out of your heart.
Colossians 3:16 (KJV) ... with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16 (NIV) ... with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Let's consider the model prayer in Luke 11:2-4.
a. You will notice that the NIV changes "Our Father" to "Father", why? Because we live in an age that believes in the universal fatherhood of God, that is "everyone is a child of God". This Devil crowd uses the prayer given in the NIV as a prayer to their father, Satan. They also omit, "which art in Heaven,". We must ask, "Who is this father in the NIV?" They also omit, "Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth". What is the will of God for this earth? It is for the Lord Jesus to return and put all of His enemies under His footstool and for Him to reign in power and glory.
Luke 11:2 (KJV) And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Luke 11:2 (NIV) He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
They omit the second coming.
The devil hates the second coming because he knows his time will be over.
Matthew 25:13 (KJV) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes.
Matthew 25:13 (NIV) "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Look how the NIV attacks the rapture of the church. The whole verse is omitted.
Luke 17:36 (KJV) Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Luke 17:36 (NIV)
The Doctrine of Hell - how does the NIV treat this all important truth?
Quote NIV editor, R. Laird Harris, "Hell may stand FOR ETERNAL DEATH,". He goes on to say, "It refers to death, not to any punishment." Of course these modernist line up with all the - No Hell cults of our day.
1. Verse 44 and 46 are omitted in the NIV.
Mark 9:44 (KJV) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:44 (NIV)
2. The NIV plays into the hands of those cults who teach the annihilation of the wicked.
The idea that sinners will just be burned up and that will be it. If I were Satan, I wouldn't want people to believe in a real hell.
At least 36 times in the NIV - Hell is changed.
The NIV changes "Hell" to death in these verses ( 6 times ).
Deuteronomy 32:22 Job 26:6 Proverbs 23:14; 27:20 Isaiah 28:18; 57:9
They change Hell to "the grave" in these verses ( 22 Times).
Job 11:8 Psalm 9:17; 16:10; 18:5; 55:15; 86:13; 116:3 Proverbs 7:27; 15:24 Isaiah 5:14; 14:15 Ezekiel 31:16, 17; 32:21, 27 Jonah 2:2 Habakkuk 2:5 Acts 2:21, 31
The NIV changes "Hell" to "the depts." - ( 3 times ).
Psalm 139:8 Matthew 11:23 Luke 10:15
There is a great deal of difference between weakness and infirmity. Infirmity happens because of outside influences, but weakness speaks of one's character. Our Lord was entirely without sin.
Hebrews 5:2 (KJV) Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
Hebrews 5:2 (NIV) He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.
Daniel 3:25 (KJV) He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Daniel 3:25 (NIV) He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
The Ascension of Christ.
They leave out "I go to the Father" this attacks the all important doctrine of the ascension of Christ. If Jesus did not resurrect and if He did not ascend back to the Father, then we have no hope of salvation and we have no hope of the second coming.
John 16:16 (KJV) A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
John 16:16 (NIV) "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."
They put part of verse 8 and call it verse 7. This is corrupt and evil.
1 John 5:7-8 (KJV) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
1 John 5:7-8 (NIV) For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
There is no greater verse in all the Bible to teach the doctrine of the Trinity than (I John 5:7), yet the modern versions omit them, and textual criticism have a heyday with this verse. Yet this verse if found in "The old Syriac A.D. 170, old Latin A.D. 200, Vulgate: 4th and 5th century, Italian 4th and 5th century". Also many church fathers quoted this and it is found in "Liber Apologetic A.D. 350, Council of Carthiage A.D. 415." The idea that the True Word of God was lost for 1800 years, and then found by our Catholic friends, is an insult to God Almighty and His ability to preserve His Word.
Note: At least 70 times, the NIV omits GOD! * Jesus - 15; Christ - 25; Lord - 16; God - 13.
*Somebody must not like Jesus, Christ, Lord, and God.
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