NIV Bible Tops List by Evangelical Leaders

Christian Post Reporter

Fri, Apr. 11 2008 02:09 PM ET

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The New International Version of the Bible is by far the most preferred translation of the Scripture, according to a new survey of U.S. evangelical leaders.

More than 65 percent of the participating leaders named the NIV as their preferred Bible in a survey conducted by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) in light of the NIV’s 30th anniversary this year.

“New Bible translations face large competition to gain a foothold in churches and homes but once established they have long staying power,” commented Leith Anderson, president of the NAE, which claims to represent 30 million evangelicals. “And, the NIV has maintained popularity and influence since it was published in 1978.”

The survey questioned the 100 members on the NAE board of directors, which included heads of evangelical denominations with about 45,000 local churches, executives of para-church organizations, and heads of Christian colleges.

In the survey, evangelical leaders were asked, “What is your preferred English Bible translation?” and were left to write in their response rather than being given a list to choose from.

Nearly half (49 percent) of those surveyed named only the NIV as their preferred translation, while another 18 percent listed a second translation along with the NIV for a total of 67 percent selecting the NIV in the survey.

Among those who chose two translations, the other version listed included the New Living Translation, The Message, the New English Bible, the New Testament in Modern English (J.B. Phillips, 1962) and the King James Version of the Bible.

One denominational leader listed the NIV, the New King James Version and the Contemporary Parallel Bible which shows multiple translations side-by-side for comparison.

But among those that do not prefer the NIV Bible, there was no clear preference in translation that dominated the field. Translations that were most mentioned were The New Living Translation, the New American Standard Bible, the Revised Standard Version, the English Standard Version and the New King James Version. There was also one response each for the Amplified Bible and Today’s New International Version (TNIV).

“Evangelicals agree that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God but have a long list of translations to pick from,” said Anderson. “Translations come and go but the Bible lasts forever.”

The NIV is the most popular modern English translation of the Bible in the world. It celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2008 with more than 300 million copies in print worldwide.

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Knight

Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:08 am
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The NIV is a good translation in the dynamic tradition. It was the translation my first Bible was in when I was a child. I will continue to recommend it for those looking for an easy-to-read translation.

However, I no longer use it. I have come to prefer a formal translation for study and reading. Originally my options were the NASB or NKJV but I found the ESV some years ago and never looked back. I still reference and read from the NASB, NKJV, and the NIV but my primary Bible is the ESV.

Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:45 pm
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The NIV is used worldwide. Other countries know about learning languages.
We Americans, though we have English Bibles, are just not as good at knowing other languages, it seems, because we are grounded in English.

freefallin

Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:38 am
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The NIV or nearly inspired version is ok... but It leaves a lot of verses out and slants a lot of how they translated the Hebrew and Greek in a way that the original authors didn't want it to be slanted... For example, the people who made NIV takes away the emphasis on the end times from alot of the letter in the way they translate most of the words... so I won't use it, I would recommend NKJV or NASB, they are the most accurate of the English translated Bibles

JHS

Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:31 am
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MUCH LIKE THE REST OF AMERICAN EVANGELICALS CHRISTIANITY, EVEN THE THE BIBLE INDUSTRY HAS BECOME BIG BUSINESS.... AND FRANKLY A JOKE,,, THECOMPLETE JEWISH BIBLE IS ACTUALLY A GOOD ONE.

ProfessorX

Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:42 pm
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The NIV is the most cleverly marketed bible. It is so watered down that devil could use it. For the best translation rendered in hebrew mindset of the time before the corruption I would suggest THE COMPLETE JEWISH BIBLE.

Sun Apr 13, 2008 6:02 pm
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The good think about the NIV is that it is accurate and easy to read and authoritative. I used to think that the KJV and the NASB were better because they had almost no marginal notes. However, I changed when I found that the English language is changing more quickly and is distributed over the world more intensly saturating it as the language of business and communication. Actually, we need more than one English translation for this very reason -- it keeps the historical and enduring integrity of the language to have an older and a newer translation of the Bible into the world's most used language. So if you didn't take Hebrew and Greek in college, the KJV and the NIV can cover about all you need. However, is not anyone suprized that the HCSB did not make it into the responses ? It has the most complete marginal notes that tell of the choices of manuscripts and includes most of the passages that other modern translations merely put in the margins.

Online4Him

Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:06 pm
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Chris333,

I too was just asking a question; no point intended. I agree that some passages do vary or were not in the original manuscripts. These instances are minute and do not alter the overall message of the Word of God. I am merely pointing out the differences between the Textus Receptus and the Alexandrian manuscripts; the latter being heavily influenced by Gnostic and Greek philosophies. It is once again, the latter which the new versions are based upon. Ultimately, everyone must do their own research and come to their own conclusions on the matter. Take care and God bless.

Online4Him

Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:59 pm
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SAFox,

"A much large problem is with interpreting the Word to come up with false doctrines like the pre-Trib. Rapture which is nowhere found in the Bible. It is only found in the writing of those who misconstrue the Word to meet an agenda."

I agree; this relatively new teaching of Futurism is a misinterpretation of biblical eschatology.

Chris333

Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:21 am
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Online4Him,

No, I haven't made a real study of this, I was only asking the question. For me, it seems that the originals are the better source to go by, not the majority. I assumed that newer versions would be based on better scholarship and older manuscripts. I also could not base my decision on comparing different versions. Many versions now explicitly state that parts of the Bible did not appear in the earliest manuscripts, the end of Mark, the story of the Adulteress, and it appears that modern scholarship agrees that they should not be there. I am sure the TP contains these though.

SAFox

Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:25 pm
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I like the Amplified my self, though I study & read from several others. Another good Bible reading site is BibleGateway.com. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit He will lead you around any problems with translations. None of them is perfect, but all the ones I have read are good enough to bring one to a knowledge of salvation in Christ & are OK when it comes to the baptism in the Holy Spirit & major points of doctrine. Other wise we would all have to learn the original language.

A much large problem is with interpreting the Word to come up with false doctrines like the pre-Trib. Rapture which is no where found in the Bible. It is only found in the writing of those who misconstrue the Word to meet an agenda.

Before you get to thinking I am off the wall, a Q or 2:

How does one get saved? How does one gain entrance to the Church/Body/Bride of Christ? How do those called the 'left behind' get saved? Why are they then left out of the Church/Body/Bride of Christ? How is it possible to be saved & left out? I do not think it is, but we have the "Left Behind" series tacitly telling us it is possible to get saved & left out of the Church of Jesus. To me this is indicates misinterpretation, not translation problems.I think we have a much larger problem with the former rather than the latter. No music instruments in Church, praying to saints, the gifts of the Spirit are no longer needed, Mary worship, Eastern meditation practices...lots of misinterpretation...

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