Subject: is the NIV a good bible to read? |
Bible Note: bjanko, I assure you that nothing derogatory was meant by my statement. "You write," Saying the NIV "sacrifices accuracy" is also derogatory. Many people who do not care for the NIV speak this way and make this derogatory comment with impunity." That doesn't mean I'm using speaking with impunity. I am not. I'm simply stating facts (the NIV does not tell us when it removes relative pronouns or articles) and rendering opinions based on these facts (this is not faithful to the original Greek text). The NIV does not accurately convey the Greek text itself. You wrote, "Sometimes, of course, the NASB does a better job because it sticks closer to the original." That is exactly my point. In order to make the text more readable the NIV sacrifice accuracy. The NASB is more accurate because it sticks closer to the original. This is all I am saying. I'll be blunt. I prefer many translations over the NIV, but that doesn't mean I hate it. I would encourage the believers to use other translations (when studying Scripture at least), but will not condemn anyone for using it. My favorite Old Testament professor at Liberty reads the NIV, studies from the NASB, and teaches from the KJV. I read from the NKJV and NLT, study from the NKJV, KJV, and original Greek, and teach from the NKJV. He is twice the scholar I am and then some, and he reads from the NIV. I would recommend for someone who desires to read an accurate translation of the originals to use the NKJV Greek - English Interlinear New Testament (It's not the NKJV text itself, but a word for word translation from the Majority Text). I don't possess one, but have heard wonderful things. Another good resource is Interlinear Hebrew - Greek - English Bible edited by Jay Green. The NT is based on the TR and the OT on the Masoretic text. God bless In Christ koinekid Upholding Scriptural Accuracy, Integrity, Immutability, and Relevancy: Working towards the glory of God and the salvation of man |