church of Christ - Articles NIV to TNIV

church of Christ at 26th and Connecticut
Joplin, Missouri

Phone
417-781-2326
Fax
417-781-2326

   Worship Schedule

Sunday
    Bible Class              9 am
    Morning Worship    10 am
    Evening Worship      6 pm

Wednesday
     Devotional & Class   7 pm

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From NIV to TNIV

Notice how many of the things criticized in the NIV (that is, the New International Version), have been changed in the TNIV (that is, Today's New International Version):

From "abolishing" to "setting aside"

In the NIV, Christ says in Matthew 5:17, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." But then the NIV speaks of Christ "abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations" in Ephesians 2:15. Concerning this seeming contradiction, Jack Lewis wrote, "Could not kataluein ('abolish'; Matt. 5:17) and katargein (also rendering 'abolishing'; Eph. 2:15) be distinguishing to avoid anyone’s supposing that there is tension between the two verses?" (The English Bible from KJV to NIV, page 327). The TNIV does distinguish the verses by replacing "abolishing" with "setting aside" in Ephesians 2:15.

From "marital unfaithfulness" to "sexual immorality"

The NIV condemns divorce and remarriage except for "marital unfaithfulness" (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). Ben F. Vick Jr. wrote: "The Analytical Greek Lexicon defines the Greek word as fornication, whoredom, concubinage, adultery, incest, lewdness, uncleanness. One might be unfaithful to his marriage vows and, yet, not be guilty of fornication. A husband might fail to provide for his wife, or a wife might refuse to obey her husband; but neither could be accused in such instances of fornication. They would be guilty of marital unfaithfulness but not fornication. The NIV opens the door for other causes for a divorce than on the ground of fornication" (A Review of the New International Version, pages 3-4). The TNIV has replaced "marital unfaithfulness" with "sexual immorality."

From "hell" to "Hades"

This criticism was actually made of the KJV (that is, the King James Version), but it would apply to the NIV as well. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the KJV and NIV say that the rich man is in "hell" (Luke 16:23). Warren W. Wiersbe wrote: "The King James Version uses the word hell in Luke 16:23, but the Greek word is not 'hell' but 'hades.' It is the temporary realm of the dead as they await the judgment. The permenant place of punishment for the lost is 'hell' the lake of fire" (The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 1, page 241). The TNIV has replaced the word "hell" in this passage with the word "Hades."

From "the grave" to "the realm of the dead"

Speaking of "Hades," this word was translated "the grave" in Acts 2:27, in the NIV, making Jesus say: "you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay." Concerning this translation of this verse, Max Patterson wrote, "There is no excuse for translating 'hades' as the 'grave'" (An Outline History of the English Bible, page 73). The TNIV has replaced "the grave" with "the realm of the dead." This verse is actually a quotation of Psalm 16:10, where the Hebrew word "Sheol" is also translated "the grave" in the NIV and "the realm of the dead" in the TNIV. The TNIV made the same change in several other passages.

From "perfection" to "completeness"

In the NIV, 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 read, "For we know in part and we prophecy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears." Wayne Jackson wrote concerning this: "The passage in 1 Corinthians 13:10 contains a mistranslation which suggests that miraculous gifts will continue until 'perfection comes,' rather than 'when the perfect [complete] comes,' that is, the completed revelation of divine truth" (The "Bible Translation" Controversey, page 13). The TNIV says: "For we know in part and we prophecy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears."

From "and" to "through"

Max Patterson also wrote: "In Colossians 3:16, the NIV makes 'teaching and admoinishing (counseling) one another' a separate item from 'singing.' 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and counsel one another with all wisdom, and as you sing ...' is not supported by the language" (An Outline History of the English Bible, pages 73-74). The TNIV has revised the verse so that the "teaching and admonishing" is no longer a separate item from the "singing." The TNIV says: "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."