Translation Comparison Brad Norman May 23, 2011 Introduction The 2011 NIV is not a worthy successor to the 1984 NIV because of the many inappropriate changes that have been made. Several other translations deserve consideration for the role of general use in the church. They include the New American Standard Bible (NASB), the English Standard Version (), and the Holman Christian Standard Bible (). History NASB 1901 The American Standard Version (ASV) was published, making heavy use of Elizabethan English. 1952 The Revised Standard Version (RSV) was published as a revision of the ASV, making limited use of Elizabethan English. But it had liberal tendencies and did not gain general acceptance within evangelical circles. 1963 The NASB New Testament was released. 1971 The NASB full Bible was released, making limited use of Elizabethan English. It was a revision of the ASV that was more conservative than the RSV. 1995 The NASB underwent a significant revision that removed all traces of Elizabethan English and made the translation slightly more readable. 1971 The RSV New Testament underwent a revision. 2001 The was published as a conservative revision of the RSV in modern English with no traces of Elizabethan English. 2007 The underwent a minor revision. 2008 The Study Bible was released with great public acclaim. The first printing of 100,000 copies was surpassed with pre-publication orders. 1984 Arthur Farstad, general editor of the New King James Version (NKJV), which was published in 1982, began a new translation project in which the New Testament would be based on the same Greek text used for the NKJV. 1998 Farstad died just after coming to an agreement with Lifeway Christian Resources to fund and publish the new translation. Farstad s death resulted in Edwin Blum taking leadership of the project and the Greek text changing to the one used as the basis for virtually all modern translations. 1999 The New Testament was released. 2004 The full Bible was released. 2009 The underwent a minor revision. 2010 The Study Bible was released and was also made available to read online for free. Philosophy NASB Formal Equivalence or Literal (Strong) 11th Grade Reading Level Formal Equivalence or Literal (Moderate) 10th Grade Reading Level Optimal Equivalence (Formal/Functional Blend) 8th Grade Reading Level NIV Functional or Dynamic Equivalence (Mild) 8th Grade Reading Level 1
Analysis I. Gender Passages A. Positive NIV Changes 1. Luke 10:16 NASB The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me. The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me. Whoever listens to you listens to Me. Whoever rejects you rejects Me. And whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me. NIV 1984 He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me. NIV 2011 Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me. 2. John 6:35 NASB Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. I am the bread of life, Jesus told them. No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again. NIV 1984 Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. NIV 2011 Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 3. 1 John 5:12 NASB He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn t have the Son of God does not have life. NIV 1984 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. NIV 2011 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. B. Negative NIV Changes 1. Changes from Singular to Plural Pronouns a. Matthew 16:24 NASB Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. Then Jesus told his disciples, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. NIV 1984 Then Jesus said to his disciples, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 2
NIV 2011 Then Jesus said to his disciples, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. b. John 14:23 NASB Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Jesus answered, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. NIV 1984 Jesus replied, If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. NIV 2011 Jesus replied, Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. c. Revelation 3:20 NASB Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me. NIV 1984 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. NIV 2011 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. NASB 2. Changes from Third Person to Second Person Pronouns a. Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and a wealth. a. mamona, Gr for Ara mammon; i.e. wealth, etc, personified as an object of worship No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. a a. Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money. NIV 1984 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. NIV 2011 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. b. John 15:5 NASB I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. NIV 1984 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. NIV 2011 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 3
c. 2 Corinthians 9:7 NASB Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. NIV 1984 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. NIV 2011 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. NASB 3. Changes Driven by Feminist Motivations a. Acts 7:20 It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely a in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father s home. a. Lit to God At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God s sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father s house, At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in God s sight. He was cared for in his father s home three months, NIV 1984 At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. a For three months he was cared for in his father s house. a. Or was fair in the sight of God NIV 2011 At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. a For three months he was cared for by his family. a. Or was fair in the sight of God NASB b. Romans 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; a. Or deaconess I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant a of the church at Cenchreae, a. Or deaconess I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant a of the church in Cenchreae. a. Others interpret this term in a technical sense: deacon, or deaconess, or minister NIV 1984 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant a of the church in Cenchrea. a. Or deaconess NIV 2011 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon ab of the church in Cenchreae. a. Or servant b. The word deacon refers here to a Christian designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Phil. 1:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8,12. c. 1 Timothy 2:12 NASB But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to be silent. NIV 1984 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. NIV 2011 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; a she must be quiet. a. Or over her husband 4
II. Jewish Passages A. John 19:7 NASB The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God. We have a law, the Jews replied to him, and according to that law He must die, because He made Himself a the Son of God. a. He claimed to be NIV 1984 The Jews insisted, We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God. NIV 2011 The Jewish leaders insisted, We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God. B. John 19:12 NASB As a result of this Pilate a made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king b opposes Caesar. a. Lit was seeking to b. Or speaks against From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, If you release this man, you are not Caesar s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar. From that moment Pilate made every effort a to release Him. But the Jews shouted, If you release this man, you are not Caesar s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar! a. Lit Pilate was trying NIV 1984 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar. NIV 2011 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar. C. Acts 21:11 NASB And coming to us, he took Paul s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, This is what the Holy Spirit says: In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And coming to us, he took Paul s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit, This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. He came to us, took Paul s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, This is what the Holy Spirit says: In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into Gentile hands. NIV 1984 Coming over to us, he took Paul s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, The Holy Spirit says, In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles. NIV 2011 Coming over to us, he took Paul s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, The Holy Spirit says, In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles. 5
III. General Passages A. Genesis 18:5a NASB and I will a bring a piece of bread, that you may b refresh yourselves; a. Lit take b. Lit sustain your heart while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves. a a. Lit may sustain your heart NIV 1984 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed NIV 2011 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed B. Exodus 20:3 NASB You shall have no other gods a before Me. a. Or besides Me You shall have no other gods before a me. a. Or besides Do not have other gods besides Me. NIV 1984 You shall have no other gods before a me. a. Or besides NIV 2011 You shall have no other gods before a me. a. Or besides C. 1 Samuel 10:9a NASB Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed a his heart; a. Lit for him another heart When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. When Saul turned around a to leave Samuel, God changed his heart, b a. Lit turned his shoulder b. Lit God turned to him another heart NIV 1984 As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul s heart, NIV 2011 As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul s heart, D. Psalm 37:1 NASB Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers. Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! Do a not be agitated by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong. a. The lines of this poem form an b acrostic. b. A device in Hebrew poetry in which each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet NIV 1984 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; NIV 2011 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; E. Psalm 38:21 NASB Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, do not be far from me! Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me! LORD, do not abandon me; my God, do not be far from me. NIV 1984 O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. NIV 2011 LORD, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. F. Isaiah 42:8 NASB I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to a graven images. a. Or idols I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. I am a Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another or My praise to idols. a. Or The LORD; the personal name of God in Hebrew; Yah is the shortened form of the name. 6
NIV 1984 I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. NIV 2011 I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. G. Amos 4:6 NASB But I gave you also cleanness of teeth in all your cities And lack of bread in all your places, Yet you have not returned to Me, declares the LORD. I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places, yet you did not return to me, declares the LORD. I gave you absolutely nothing to eat a in all your cities, a shortage of food in all your communities, yet you did not return to Me. This is the LORD s declaration. a. Lit you cleanness of teeth NIV 1984 I gave you empty stomachs a in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me, declares the LORD. a. Hebrew you cleanness of teeth NIV 2011 I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me, declares the LORD. H. Matthew 1:25 NASB a but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. a. Lit and was not knowing her but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. a And he named Him Jesus. a. Other mss read to her firstborn son NIV 1984 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. NIV 2011 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. I. Matthew 6:9 NASB Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. a a. Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy. NIV 1984 This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, NIV 2011 This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, J. Matthew 7:1 NASB Do not judge so that you will not be judged. Judge not, that you be not judged. Do not judge, so that you won t be judged. NIV 1984 Do not judge, or you too will be judged. NIV 2011 Do not judge, or you too will be judged. K. Matthew 23:32 NASB Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers sins. a a. Lit the measure of your fathers NIV 1984 Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers! NIV 2011 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started! 7
L. Matthew 24:30a NASB And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth a will mourn, b a. Or all the tribes of the land b. Lit will beat; that is, beat their breasts NIV 1984 At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. NIV 2011 Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth a will mourn a. Or the tribes of the land M. Luke 3:15 NASB Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were a wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was b the Christ, a. Or reasoning or debating b. I.e. the Messiah As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were debating in their minds a whether John might be the b Messiah. a. Or hearts b. Or the Christ; the Greek word Christos means the anointed one. NIV 1984 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. a a. Or Messiah NIV 2011 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. N. John 3:16 NASB For God so loved the world, that He gave His a only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. a. Or unique, only one of His kind For God so loved the world, a that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. a. Or For this is how God loved the world For God loved the world in this way: He gave His a One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. a. Or one of a kind, or incomparable, or only begotten; the Greek word can refer to someone s only child such as in Lk 7:12; 8:42; 9:38. It can also refer to someone s special child as in Heb 11:17. NIV 1984 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, a that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. a. Or his only begotten Son NIV 2011 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 8
O. Romans 3:25 NASB whom God displayed publicly as a a propitiation b in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, c because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; a. Or a propitiatory sacrifice b. Or by c. Lit because of the passing over of the sins previously committed in the forbearance of God whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. God presented Him as a a propitiation b through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. a. The removal of divine wrath. Jesus death is the means that turns God s wrath from the sinner. b. Or as a propitiatory sacrifice, or as an offering of atonement, or as a mercy seat; 2Co 5:21; Heb 9:5 NIV 1984 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, a through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished a. Or as the one who would turn aside his wrath, taking away sin NIV 2011 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, a through the shedding of his blood to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished a. The Greek for sacrifice of atonement refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Lev. 16:15,16). P. 1 Corinthians 7:36 NASB But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let a her marry. a. Lit them If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, a if his b passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry it is no sin. a. Greek virgin; also verses 37, 38 b. Or her But if any man thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin, a if she is past marriageable age, b and so it must be, he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married. a. = a man s fiancée, or his daughter, or his Levirate wife, or a celibate companion b. Or virgin, if his passions are strong, NIV 1984 If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting along in years and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. NIV 2011 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong a and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. a. Or if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage Q. Galatians 5:14 NASB For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. a a. Lv 19:18 NIV 1984 The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself. a a. Lev. 19:18 NIV 2011 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself. a a. Lev. 19:18 9
R. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 NASB so that you will a behave properly toward outsiders and a not be in any need. a. Lit walk b. Lit have need of nothing so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. so that you may walk properly a in the presence of outsiders b and not be dependent on anyone. c a. Or may live respectably b. Non-Christians c. Or not need anything, or not be in need NIV 1984 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. NIV 2011 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. S. Revelation 1:1 NASB The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and a communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, a. Or signified The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants a the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant b John, a. Greek bondservants b. Greek bondservant The revelation of a Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His b slaves what must quickly c take place. He sent it and signified it d through His angel to His slave John, a. Or Revelation of, or A revelation of b. The strong Greek word doulos cannot be accurately translated in English by servant or bond servant ; the translates this word as slave, not out of insensitivity to the legitimate concerns of modern English speakers, but out of a commitment to accurately convey the brutal reality of the Roman empire s inhumane institution as well as the ownership called for by Christ. c. Or soon d. Made it known through symbols NIV 1984 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, NIV 2011 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, T. Revelation 22:7 NASB And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who a heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. a. Lit keeps And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. Look, I am coming quickly! The one who keeps the prophetic words of this book is blessed. NIV 1984 Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book. NIV 2011 Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll. Conclusion The clear choice as an alternative to the NIV is the. It is basically just as readable as the NIV while being considerably more literal. It is not quite as literal as the NASB or the, but this sacrifice is worth the significant increase in clarity. The NASB and the both hold an important place for detailed Bible study. However, the is more suitable for general use and especially public reading and proclamation. And its many helpful notes and cutting-edge freshness also make it very beneficial for detailed Bible study. The is worthy of a strong recommendation for use in the church. 10