A Note about Translations

The New International Version (NIV) is used as the standard version here. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations are from the NIV.

Like all translations, the NIV has some textual difficulties, specifically a few passages in the New Testament. These passages are disputed on textual grounds, but when such questions arise the reader can usually improve the “majority opinion” by resorting to the alternate renderings given in the margin. Despite this relatively minor problem, it must be acknowledged that the NIV is far in advance of the older versions in utilizing the latest archaeological discoveries and textual analyses to understand the Old Testament text.

The NIV is also an improvement upon others in its adoption of more modern, easier-to-understand language throughout. A modern English translation needs to be faithful to two masters:

  • Firstly, of course, it ought to be faithful to the original languages in which the inspired writers presented God’s message.
  • Secondly and equally importantly, it ought to be faithful to the language (i.e., modern English) in which that original message must now be read and understood.

It is the writer’s opinion that, among readily available translations, the NIV fulfills both these criteria better than any other.

Furthermore, the NIV has been for some time the most popular and widely used modern version. This can make it, for now, the most useful for communicating truths to the modern world.