New International Version (NIV) and Today's New
International Version (TNIV) are both published by Zondervan
of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Copyright to the NIV is owned by
Biblica, Inc. The NIV N.T. was first published in 1973 with the
complete NIV Bible including some revisions made in 1978 and 1984.
The TNIV N.T. was published in 2001 and the complete Bible in 2005.
The Old Testament of both was translated using the Biblia Hebraica,
and the New Testament was primarily translated from the Nestle-Aland
Critical Greek text. The TNIV is a limited revision of the 1984
NIV text. The TNIV will no longer be published primarily due to
objections that were raised over its use of gender inclusive language.
Both the NIV and the TNIV excel in the area of readability. They
use a range of vocabulary that is within the grasp of the "average"
person. Both are based on the translation theory known as "dynamic-
equivalence" (or functional-equivalence). This means the translators
look at the original text and ask,"How do we say this in English?"
The emphasis of "dynamic-equivalence" is not a word for word
approach to translation, but it is an attempt to make the same
impression on the modern reader that the text had on the original
readers. Dynamic equivalence is not the same as paraphrase.
Both translations have a good overall accuracy rating. In Gen.
2:6, the KJV says "But there went up a mist from the earth and
watered the whole face of the ground." The word "mist" is from
the Hebrew word ad. Modern Hebrew lexicography recognizes
that ad does not mean "mist." It means "spring" or "stream."
According to The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old
Testament, vol. 1, page 11, ad describes "the subterranean
stream of fresh water..." Both the NIV and TNIV say, "streams
came up from the earth." The KJV reads "slothful servant" in
Mat. 25:26. The NIV and TNIV say, "lazy servant." This
modernizes the speech and it is accurate. In Mk. 6:19 the KJV
says Herodias "had a quarrel against him," but the NIV and TNIV
say, "nursed a grudge." It is an undeniable fact that both translations
make many passages clear. The NIV-TNIV renderings in many
passages are among the very best. (Cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Phil. 2:6-11;
Heb. 1:1-4, etc.) In Heb. 6:6 the NIV reads, "if they fall away."
The TNIV corrects this and lines up with what the Greek text says,
"and who have fallen away." The TNIV makes such improvements
quite frequently.
Neither the NIV nor the TNIV is perfect. They, like all others,
have areas that need improvement. The NIV frequently rendered
the Greek word sarx by "sinful nature." It is obvious that Paul
often uses sarx in a figurative way, but to render it as "sinful nature"
may not be the best translation option. To its credit, at least the
NIV does not say, "inherited sinful nature." In Psa. 51:5 the NIV
and TNIV say, "Surely I was sinful at birth." That is simply not
what David wrote.
The TNIV seeks to employ "gender accurate language." The
traditional generic "man" becomes "person" or something similar.
This is a needed change as "man" is too gender specific in passages
addressing people or human beings in general and not males
apart from females. The KJV says in Acts 17:30, "now God
commandeth all men every where to repent." The NIV says that
"God commands all people everywhere to repent." The TNIV
reads the same way. Both the NIV and the TNIV are more
accurate than the KJV in that text because the dative masculine
plural Greek word anthropois means people or human beings
in Acts 17:30. The NIV uses the word "brothers" to translate
the plural Greek noun adelphoi. The TNIV more often reads
"brothers and sisters." The TNIV is generally more accurate in
such places. When a local congregation is addressed adelphoi
means just that; "brothers and sisters."
Neither translation is designed for use as a Bible for
detailed word studies and indepth analysis as their deviation
value from the "word for word" or "formal equivalence" method
of translation is greater than a more formal equivalence version
such as the ASV, RSV, ESV, or the NASB. But, both versions
have their place and are quite useful to the person who wants a
bible to read for extended periods in the early morning hours
and late at night.
How do I rate the NIV and TNIV on a scale of 1 to 10? I
give the NIV a 9 for readability and a 7 for accuracy (that is,
in line with its intended purpose and method of translating). I give
the TNIV a 9 for readability and 8 for accuracy (that is, in line
with it's intended purpose and method of translating).
RD
Copyright 2011
International Version (TNIV) are both published by Zondervan
of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Copyright to the NIV is owned by
Biblica, Inc. The NIV N.T. was first published in 1973 with the
complete NIV Bible including some revisions made in 1978 and 1984.
The TNIV N.T. was published in 2001 and the complete Bible in 2005.
The Old Testament of both was translated using the Biblia Hebraica,
and the New Testament was primarily translated from the Nestle-Aland
Critical Greek text. The TNIV is a limited revision of the 1984
NIV text. The TNIV will no longer be published primarily due to
objections that were raised over its use of gender inclusive language.
Both the NIV and the TNIV excel in the area of readability. They
use a range of vocabulary that is within the grasp of the "average"
person. Both are based on the translation theory known as "dynamic-
equivalence" (or functional-equivalence). This means the translators
look at the original text and ask,"How do we say this in English?"
The emphasis of "dynamic-equivalence" is not a word for word
approach to translation, but it is an attempt to make the same
impression on the modern reader that the text had on the original
readers. Dynamic equivalence is not the same as paraphrase.
Both translations have a good overall accuracy rating. In Gen.
2:6, the KJV says "But there went up a mist from the earth and
watered the whole face of the ground." The word "mist" is from
the Hebrew word ad. Modern Hebrew lexicography recognizes
that ad does not mean "mist." It means "spring" or "stream."
According to The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old
Testament, vol. 1, page 11, ad describes "the subterranean
stream of fresh water..." Both the NIV and TNIV say, "streams
came up from the earth." The KJV reads "slothful servant" in
Mat. 25:26. The NIV and TNIV say, "lazy servant." This
modernizes the speech and it is accurate. In Mk. 6:19 the KJV
says Herodias "had a quarrel against him," but the NIV and TNIV
say, "nursed a grudge." It is an undeniable fact that both translations
make many passages clear. The NIV-TNIV renderings in many
passages are among the very best. (Cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Phil. 2:6-11;
Heb. 1:1-4, etc.) In Heb. 6:6 the NIV reads, "if they fall away."
The TNIV corrects this and lines up with what the Greek text says,
"and who have fallen away." The TNIV makes such improvements
quite frequently.
Neither the NIV nor the TNIV is perfect. They, like all others,
have areas that need improvement. The NIV frequently rendered
the Greek word sarx by "sinful nature." It is obvious that Paul
often uses sarx in a figurative way, but to render it as "sinful nature"
may not be the best translation option. To its credit, at least the
NIV does not say, "inherited sinful nature." In Psa. 51:5 the NIV
and TNIV say, "Surely I was sinful at birth." That is simply not
what David wrote.
The TNIV seeks to employ "gender accurate language." The
traditional generic "man" becomes "person" or something similar.
This is a needed change as "man" is too gender specific in passages
addressing people or human beings in general and not males
apart from females. The KJV says in Acts 17:30, "now God
commandeth all men every where to repent." The NIV says that
"God commands all people everywhere to repent." The TNIV
reads the same way. Both the NIV and the TNIV are more
accurate than the KJV in that text because the dative masculine
plural Greek word anthropois means people or human beings
in Acts 17:30. The NIV uses the word "brothers" to translate
the plural Greek noun adelphoi. The TNIV more often reads
"brothers and sisters." The TNIV is generally more accurate in
such places. When a local congregation is addressed adelphoi
means just that; "brothers and sisters."
Neither translation is designed for use as a Bible for
detailed word studies and indepth analysis as their deviation
value from the "word for word" or "formal equivalence" method
of translation is greater than a more formal equivalence version
such as the ASV, RSV, ESV, or the NASB. But, both versions
have their place and are quite useful to the person who wants a
bible to read for extended periods in the early morning hours
and late at night.
How do I rate the NIV and TNIV on a scale of 1 to 10? I
give the NIV a 9 for readability and a 7 for accuracy (that is,
in line with its intended purpose and method of translating). I give
the TNIV a 9 for readability and 8 for accuracy (that is, in line
with it's intended purpose and method of translating).
RD
Copyright 2011
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